Boat Owner's 12-Step Program?

[Ex-Calif]

"Hi. My name is Dan and I think I might be a boataholic."

Just need to test the waters here - During a 2-week trip to the states I ended up dropping a grand or so at West Marine for boat "essentials."

I got back and installed all that stuff and Saturday, while at the chandlery I dropped $100 bucks on fuel line, hose clamps, battery cable and battery terminals - Oh! and some really cool telltales... I have a new $100 battery on order that delivers on Friday. The boat already has 2 but 3 can't hurt, right?

I was on my boat saturday morning. Not to sail but to install a piece of equipment. A big rainstorm came through and I stayed on board and played cards with my son while it passed. I started planning the interior refit that I didn't know I needed. I'd also like to install Solar right away and while I am at it completely rewire the boat. LED position lights would be nice...

I sailed 2 weeekends ago for 2 hours. Next weekend I am sailing in someone elses boat on saturday and on Sunday I am installing batteries and fuel lines. I might get out Sunday afternoon.

Oh, I am still waiting for the ($1200) bill for the bottom paint and new chain plates we installed while I was in the states...

So does $2400 bucks for 4 hours of sailing over 5 weekends indicate I have a "problem."

Please share! You are among friends.

[Alan Wheeler]

So does $2400 bucks for 4 hours of sailing over 5 weekends indicate I have a "problem."

No! I've just ordered four Batteries, a 150A alternator and a huge charger, installed a floor, have a re-paint coming up, have a mast install coming up, So what's ya problem??
Or maybe I have a problem.Hmmmmm.



Hi, my name is Wheels. I think I am a boataholic

[Rangiroo]

Hi.....errrm...My name is Michael and I'm a boataholic....I first noticed I had a problem about 5 years ago...I found myself spending more and more time looking at boatporn online and wasting time dreaming of sailing into the crazy blue beyond.....it got so bad I would get up in the middle of the night and flick on the computer....next thing I knew I was ordering DVD's of "Heavy Weather Sailing" and copies of "How to Sail Around the World" (all delivered in anonymous brown boxes of course!). It was affecting my work and my relationships....I mean....who wants to hang out with a middle-aged guy who talks incessantly of far-off places like Thailand and the Galapogos and uses such bad language as Tuamotu and Nuku Hiva.
I eventually succumbed totally and spent all my money on a real big boat...the wrong one as it turns out but hey....it's a disease...we all make mistakes....my problem was...instead of admitting my problem and taking the steps to fix myself....all I did was buy another boat....the "right" one this time....now I'm spending money on solar panels and woodwork and even learning a bunch of new swearwords like "Rocna" and "Balmar" and so on......I'm so bad into this that I'm selling my house....and my truck....I'm leaving everything and everyone behind sliding down this slippery slope to hit bottom....I'm scared I'm going to completely lose everything and have to go "cruising" (MORE bad language)......all I see in my future if I don't get help is long wasted days of snorkelling in big empty lagoons and doing things like watching sunsets and being forced to make my own sushi from fish I had to catch....it's bad....it's real bad....I don't know if I'll ever recover.....anyway...that's my story...I'm Michael....and I'm a boataholic.....

[vonotto]

My name is Ed,
And none of you people really have a problem, all I hear is oh my boat is so many feet long and has 4billion amps of solar power and 39 coats of bottom paint, 21 batteries, a full size fridge, 6 burner stove, navy combat radar system and a former engine off a PT boat.

I on the other hand think I may be in serious trouble and can not seem to be taken seriously. I don't even have my boat yet (though I know exactly what Im getting) yet the other day I drove 3 hours to Deale MD (yea find that on a map) to look at several boats. The sick part is I had no appointment with a broker I just walked around all the yards looking at boats. At one point a broker approached me and offered to show me a few boats. "OH I get to go inside, show me the way".

He must have seen the giant "sucker" sign on my back that I forgot to remove before leaving home, have to remember that in the future. Now remember I know which type and model of boat im going to buy, BUT the broker sensing a weak soul showed me what I now think was the boat he found drifting decks awash in the bay after a typhoon and though to make a quick buck on.

So aboard we go and even I with the smallest amount of knowledge can see the rotten interior wood and the blistered bottom, the spongy deck and engine with 8420 hours on it. BUT BUT BUT my problem kicks in and I start thinking "hey I can do woodwork" and "how hard can it be to cut up some deck and replace" and "I can probably redo the bottom of the boat on a saturday afternoon right after I rebuild the engine that morning".

Luckily my wife called at that time and asked where I was. So as soon as I told my wife I was out looking for a valve for the bathroom sink, I cut my visit with the broker short and rushed off. UH OH, as I was almost out of the small town I spotted a West Marine store and pulled in. (I have a problem remember?) I finally walked out of there after I had spent $240 on items I want for my new boat, which if you remeber I do not have yet. And where will I hide these items from my wife ?

I need help and have nowhere to turn.

[Tropic Cat]

vonotto wins....

Incidently all that West marine stuff is just going to lay around. I think I'll email you my address so you can ship it to me---LOL

My admiral is getting nervous as I have a collection of Yanmar, Westerbeke, Universal, Beta, Phasor and Lombardi sales brochures.

(remember..I have twin engines (smile))

[Ex-Calif]

Ed - Next time you feel like stopping in for a $240 fix call me - I'll talk you through it.

It's not that all boats are bad. Just bad boats are bad...

(I can't believe I said that. I must be recovering)

[Ex-Calif]

Ed - Next time you feel like stopping in for a $240 fix call me - I'll talk you through it.

It's not that all boats are bad. Just bad boats are bad...

(I can't believe I said that. I must be recovering)

[vonotto]

Its not that I needed a fix, its just that after looking at boats I had the feeling while I was in West Marine that I "needed stuff"...sort of like shopping while hungry I guess.

I guess I can use the little cord I got that holds my hat to my shirt..... while driving the wife out to dinner with the window open.

Ed.