What makes one a 'cruiser'?

[IslandHopper]

This old picture (taken from this site) is a perfect definition of the cruising lifestyle for me, it speaks volumes with no need of a poll....

[DMF Sailing]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

This old picture (taken from this site) is a perfect definition of the cruising lifestyle for me, it speaks volumes with no need of a poll....

[ Checks notes... considers responding "Yes, but is that a 'blue water' boat?" Thinks better of it ]

[Jim Cate]

^^^^^

Caption for above pic:

Honey, are sure you looked at this year's tide book?

Jim

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by BenBowSirocco

A cruiser to me is someone who prescribes to explore the globe in a sailboat.

Anyone who chooses to voluntarily and in the idea of pleasure, travel primarily upon one of the harshest environments on earth in a machine that moves at the speed of a 5 year old on a bike, all the while making every basic convenience of modern life far more complicated and loads of extra work, is a cruiser in my book.

Sailors are people who race sailboats- suffering as much as possible for short periods of time and staying in nice hotels and flying planes to their destinations.

Cruisers are trying to make a difficult activity as comfortable as possible.

If there are 10,000 boats out upon our oceans- there are 10,000 versions of the definition of cruisers- but those are an idea of mine.

This one. This is the answer.

And if you meet all criteria above except you don't move your boat, you are not a cruiser. You are a liveaboard.

[Kurlie1]

And of course ... EVERYONE ... who reads/has read/contributes to ... this forum is (by definition) a "cruiser" .... it is afterall a "CRUISERS FORUM"

[SteveSadler]

Sailors that sail somewhere else for long periods of time?

[Na Mara]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

This old picture (taken from this site) is a perfect definition of the cruising lifestyle for me, it speaks volumes with no need of a poll....

That picture really is the definition of a cruiser.

Someone doing something really unsafe involving a very heavy and expensive object in a remote location far from assistance.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

You don’t really have those aboard.

Well, actually I DO have martini glasses since I truly like martinis made with The Botanist gin and Noilly Pratt vermouth (taste fantastic- but an expensive habit that we can only afford on special occasions) I also have a pair of white ducks - just in case I get invited to the governor's palace for dinner

Sorry - no blazer, no ascot and certainly no Captains cap(shudder)

[goboatingnow]

Cruisers are just people sailing around slowly while fixing their boat. Racers sail around quickly, breaking everything and paying people to fix it.

[ozdigennaro]

You are a cruiser is you or anyone else calls you a cruiser. We don't need no stinking definitions.

[JPA Cate]

You are a real cruiser, if you routinely check the tide tables before making doctor appointments.

And I liked Tetepare's definition, although there are really so many different types of cruisers.... Some never leave their country of origin, but still cruise. Some do not cruise full time, yet cruise. And some are cruisers manque (sorry about the missing accent), like Mike and El Ping, whose boats are far from them.



Ann

[Chotu]

You’re a cruiser if you join a cruisers’ forum.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Chotu

You’re a cruiser if you join a cruisers’ forum.

Umm... sure are lots of CFers who don't even own a boat or know how to sail...

Jim

[Tetepare]

I forgot tide tables, as I’m usually on the Great Lakes. And I argue one can be a cruiser on the Great Lakes, in six months segments.

Some people cruise for a month a year, some cruised for four years two decades ago. They’re easy to spot within two sentences. They look different, smell different, act different. But most might as well have a sign above their heads. They’re approachable, broad in thinking, assured but relaxed. Am I the only one that sees this, like ghosts of the sea?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Umm... sure are lots of CFers who don't even own a boat or know how to sail...

Jim

It was a joke, Jim.

We are the standard model and relativity. Hard to believe two people with such similar backgrounds and interests can disconnect so readily online about literally everything.

I’m still holding out hope though.