Sailing as a By-product
I love to sail. I love to be on the water. There have been times when the act of sailing has been a by-product of the weekend. Here are top four things that I would rather be doing on our sailboat.

Swinging on the hook.
Ok, for you non-sailors, this is the gentle swaying motion that the boat makes when it is being held in place by the anchor. Setting the anchor is an art in itself. But, once the hook is set, it is time to break out the food and drink. Nothing fancy, just good food and your favorite adult beverage. A few of these beverages and you are ready to watch the sunset. While swinging on the hook is a great time to grab your favorite sailing magazine (I prefer Cruising World and Sail. My wife prefers her novels). Either are suitable pass times while on the hook.

Sleeping on the Water.
Sleeping on the boat for a long weekend, is like sleeping on a water bed except the entire bed moves, not just the part you lay on. It is quiet and soothing. This is one of my favorite things. As soon as the sun goes down, I can't keep my eyes open any longer. All of the stress of work goes away.

Watching the kids play.
When the kids are aboard, we have a set schedule. Swim, dry-off, eat and repeat. This schedule may be repeated up to four times a day, if not more. They too love the boating/ cruising lifestyle. Sometimes they don't understand why we have to sail. (They do like to steer.) Because the kids like to boat with us is one of the reasons why we are needing to upgrade to a larger sailing vessel.

Eating
What does eating have to do with sailing? Well nothing really. We just like to eat and drink while sailing on our sailboat. Eating is preparing ahead of time and heating on the boat. We generally don't cook on board. We cook at home and bring food on board that can easy be heated up quickly. One of the best weekends that I had on the boat was in late fall and I was the only one that was willing to face the chilly October air. On my way to the sailboat, I stopped by Domino's and picked up a large pepperoni pizza. I ate it for dinner that night, then for breakfast and lunch the next day. It was great. The cold weather kept the beer cold too.

I would be happy to do these things over the course of a weekend. If we can get some sailing in as well, then that is just the iceing on the cake. Funny how things work out that way. Who would have thought that a boat was just to sleep, eat and play on and that sailing is just a by-product.

Yes, it is time to sell the "small boat" to purchase a "large boat".

A good friend of mine has given me some good advise that I have yet to follow. He has for years suggested that I purchase a sailboat that is the most expensive (largest) that I can afford. I have resisted this line of thought, but now I see that I have been through 5 different boats in 3 years and each one larger and more expensive than the previous. My wife thinks that I am addicted to sailboats. Maybe she is right.

The there is nothing wrong with the Columbia 23t. When cruising with two growing children, there are times when you would just prefer that the kids are farther away from you than just 20 feet. Maybe another 10 feet will do. We will see.

A sailor looks at $40 here and $40 there when it comes to their boat. Any project that needs done is going to start with the opening of ones wallet. Large or small projects are going to require the constant tool of the trade.... Dollars.

My wife and I affectionatly call Target the hundred dollar store. We just can't seam to leave Target without spending a hundred dollars. WestMarine, Jamestown Distributing, Sailnet, and various other websites are quickly gaining on the demand for this sailors dollars.

Today, a sailor needs to be frugal and creative when it comes to boat projects. Planning your project and budgeting your project will help keep you on track only until you actually start the work. That is when the things that we failed to account for comes to the surface. You will get into the project only to create two more projects that will be the result of doing the first project. And there goes another $40.

One of the issues with owning a trailer sailor is where to put it. My current boat is a 1973 Columbia 23T with a fixed keel. It is a fairly large boat for its size. Because of its size, there is no missing it while it is parked in your driveway. Our housing addition has covenants about boats, trailers and vehical parking. Mostly they are rules about how long a sailboat that I own can be parked in the driveway. If it is there too long, what will the neighbors think.

During normal usage, our Columbia is parked in the drive before we escape for a weekend on local waters. You have normally loading and unloading of the boat during these times before and after the weekend. I try to make sure that it does not sit too long and gets put in storage as soon as possible. I do want to be a good neighbor. There are a few houses for sale around here and would hate for a house to not be sold because some landlubber (me) thinks that he is a sailor with a boat and trailer out front. From time to time there is a need for our sailboat to be in the driveway for an extended period of time. Making repairs and upgrades are a good reason to have it close to your tools. When she sits there for more than a couple of day, I like to make sure that I am ACTUALLY working on the boat each day. That way the neighbors see that I am truly trying to make the boat better and not just letting it rot where it sits. I am very proud of my sailboat and want to keep it well maintained and clean. This we mean that it will be safer for my family to use and enjoy. I just hope that they don't think that one day on a trailer the next day on blocks.

For now, storage off site is the solution. Maybe I just need to get them hooked on sailing and then they can park their own boat where I might see.

Old Boat No More

I have several friends that are gearheads. They purchase classic cars, fix them up, and show them off at car shows. The "Classic" car is more than 25 years old. However, a sailboat over 25 years is a "OLD" boat. Both vehicles can, over time, be abused and beaten up by owners and weather. When these gems are polished and fixed, they bring joy and pride to their current owners.

I am currently the owner of a (Formally OLD) Classic sailboat. My Classic sailboat is actually a year younger than I am. And, I am NOT old! My boat has taken 36 years to get broken in. It is just now ready for the adventures that we both crave. Just like me, she will not win any races or beauty pageants, but she will turn some heads now and then.

For now, my Classic sailboat and I are ready to roll. Where ever the asphalt sea may take us.

A man needs another sailboat, like he needs another hole in his head. I currently am one of those men. Two boats... not an extra hole. I aquired another boat against the wishes of my first mate. It was easy for her to point out the pitfalls of owning two boats. Me on the other hand, not so much. She knows when I get that glassey eyed look that comes over my face that it really does not matter what is reasonable. I only have one thing on my mind... that sailboat.

That boat is a 1973 Columbia 23T. T is for trailerable. This is the boat that gave me the glassy eyes. Boats come in a variety of sizes and shapes. However, when you see the one that you know is the right fit for your family and budget, it is a good choice. The Columbia is that fit for us.

The other boat is a Ensenada 20 swingkeel that I am sure I saved from death. A Lyle Hess designed boat that was built for cruising and not racing. This is a boat that will get you home safe and sound. I feel like I have turned my back on an old friend by purchasing a new boat. I know that she will be a great boat for the right glassy eyed sailor that says.... "This is the one!"

For now, twice the work, storage, and money. This is the price we pay for the love of the wind.