Hot Weather, Age and Boating

[JimS123]

Re: Hot Weather, Age and Boating

Ok, now that I've sort of "stirred up something here", but not meaning to, I'm really wondering how many of you have a SO (wife, girlfriend) and the lady doesn't want to get up really early or go out into the heat......what happens? I think it's one thing for men to be "bold/strong" in some things they do, but not so much with the ladies. Dealing with our boat, my wife is as much a part of anything dealing with the boat as I am. If she is sick, too tired or whatever and don't want to take the boat out, it don't go out period! She doesn't like HIGH heat anymore than I do and she has to help with the launching/retrieving and cleaning of it. We ALWAYS clean out the drive with (muffs) and wash down the boat at storage when we get back. All we have where we are is brackish waters and pure salt water, so the cleaning has to be done! Now, doing any of this in really hot weather is not fun!
If any of you want to go out in sizzling heat, that is YOUR choice, but please don't tell us we're not real boaters if we chose not to! We do love our boat and boating!

Avoiding Tides, bad weather, T-storms - I don't consider that being a fair weather boater, but rather someone with common sense. I took the meaning of post #1 to be centered around old age and heat.

If mother doesn't want to get up early, then that's another story. Mine doesn't either, so that's why I bought a 14' tinny that I can handle myself. So, if the mood strikes and she's busy, I go by myself.

Personally, I have had issues with heat all my life. That's precisely why I go out in the boat. Its cooler out in the water and taking a dip is refreshing. But, I admit that I boat in fresh water and all the rinsing and flushing issues just aren't there. So, for me the boatride relieves heat and stress, it doesn't give more.

I gave up a huge promotion and lost a job because I refused to move to a saltwater area in the hot south. I may have to work longer before i can retire, but being in a fantastic boatiung area was worth it.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Hot Weather, Age and Boating

Think old---Act old---Be old! Nuff said? Born 10-08-45 you do the math. Have a younger woman (10-23-54) that makes me feel 30.

 

[pom mom]

Re: Hot Weather, Age and Boating

You're right about the peace and quiet. It makes me whole again. I also love to stargaze. Most lakes are a good, dark place to watch meteor showers. I go out in the late afternoon and stay until I run out of food, could be 2 or 3 days. I have a pontoon with an enclosure, lots of batteries and an inflatable mattress. It doesn't get much better than that for me.
The heat here in Ohio has kept me away from the water lately but with the enclosure I can go out more often on colder days. The heat does affect me more since I'm older but I'm not in the best physical condition either.
I can still remember all those daydreams before I retired about getting a boat, going fishing and not having to watch the clock anymore. I was planning on boating with my husband but he died 4 years ago. I miss him a lot but am enjoying my life as it is now.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hot Weather, Age and Boating

it seems to me, from the comments here, that the "complaints" center on the trailering/launching process and not running the boat. This is especially true for those with larger boats--say over 17'. The solution, then, is to take a hard look at how to have the boat and avoid the ramp. One is to get a smaller boat that is more easily managed. That saves some money. The other costs money--get a slip, dry storage, boat club or pay someone to do the trailer/launch/retrieve for you. Consider a dry slip at your ramp, too. After all, boating isn't free, you have to pay to play. Comes a time you have to pay a little more.

Consider allowing a younger friend/relative to use your boat on his own, in exchange for him being your ramp boy when you want to use it.

I realize that in many parts of the country, the only option is to trailer to small lakes with no facilities like I describe. In that case, you have to realize that there comes a time when your preferred boat is pounding a square peg into a round hole. Some activities with lots of "heavy lifting" have to be left behind as our physical abilities change. But with the boating you describe, seperate the two activities--what you do on the water (easy) and what you do to get there and back (hard) and keep the easy one, if you can.