Why is it ???

[*EdC*]

OK guys,

That's the question that's been buggin' my brain this week! All winter long, I've had these Grandiose plans to get my boat in the water this year! When the decent weather finally came, I get squat accomplished!

Soo many things pulling at my time. Yard work! I've been avoiding it as much as I can. Just cursory work to keep the wife happy The snow blower needed a tune up before I put away. Lawn mower needs a new bag and I gotta sharpen the blade. Man oh Man, I gotta get some fertilizer... Dog poo in the back yard! YUK! The list goes on and on. I sometimes feel guilty sneeking a few hours to work on the boat..Especially when the wife asks "what have you been doing" Aaa, daa, umm..... Just stuff! The patio furnture needs to come out of the shed, my bird feeders need filling, the pool cover is falling in ... How about doing that STUFF! Oh, did I mention, my workshop looks like a war zone!

I try to keep a stiff upper lip, and work on the boat as much as I can. But it sure is a delicate balance. How about it guys... How do you all manage time for the toys? I could uses some new excuses

 

[sphelps]

Re: Why is it ???

I know exactly what you mean . You just have to remind your better half how much fun it will be cruzzin around in in your classic MFG ! We'll be the envy of the lake hunny ! Then add ,you'll look so great in your new suit ! I'm such a lucky guy having such a understanding wife! LOL sometimes when the going gets tough you gotta lay it on thick!


I sure hope my wife don't read this.. :redface:
Don't feel bad I have sooooooo much stuff to do around the house I think i'll never catch up!

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Why is it ???

OK guys,

That's the question that's been buggin' my brain this week! All winter long, I've had these Grandiose plans to get my boat in the water this year! When the decent weather finally came, I get squat accomplished!

Soo many things pulling at my time. Yard work! I've been avoiding it as much as I can. Just cursory work to keep the wife happy The snow blower needed a tune up before I put away. Lawn mower needs a new bag and I gotta sharpen the blade. Man oh Man, I gotta get some fertilizer... Dog poo in the back yard! YUK! The list goes on and on. I sometimes feel guilty sneeking a few hours to work on the boat..Especially when the wife asks "what have you been doing" Aaa, daa, umm..... Just stuff! The patio furnture needs to come out of the shed, my bird feeders need filling, the pool cover is falling in ... How about doing that STUFF! Oh, did I mention, my workshop looks like a war zone!

I try to keep a stiff upper lip, and work on the boat as much as I can. But it sure is a delicate balance. How about it guys... How do you all manage time for the toys? I could uses some new excuses

LMAO ..... you hit the nail on the head. That is funny Ed ..... and so very true.

I know exactly what you mean . You just have to remind your better half how much fun it will be cruzzin around in in your classic MFG ! We'll be the envy of the lake hunny ! Then add ,you'll look so great in your new suit ! I'm such a lucky guy having such a understanding wife! LOL sometimes when the going gets tough you gotta lay it on thick!


I sure hope my wife don't read this.. :redface:
Don't feel bad I have sooooooo much stuff to do around the house I think i'll never catch up!

Good luck getting that to work sp .... lol.

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: Why is it ???

It's EASY! Just ignore that other crap and do what's important! Work on the boat! The boat work will end. The other stuff NEVER will ! Gotta have priorities Ed!

HAH!

I've found that by clogging up my wifes' side of the garage with "boat stuff" she is much more anxious for me to work on it and get it finished! She is actually be GLAD I'm working on it. The sooner it's out in the yard the better!

Now if I could just get some more warm weather! It's 31 degrees in PA this AM. Gotta get the deck painted ...

Yeah! Now where did I put that bag of Turf Builder ... ? and that dead mower battery? and that gallon of weed killer? and .. and.. and ...

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Why is it ???

I have to budget my time- no honey to make honey-do lists, but a single parent and a job and property care on the side... being responsible has negatives!

Basically I have to commit to 1/2 hour per day of boat work. Then maybe once or twice a week plan a couple or three hours to complete something time consuming. At this point for me- and it will be for you someday too- the boat is ALWAYS ready to go fishing year 'round. But this time of year I have a lot little maintenance things to do which take a little time, and my built-in dry lockers want to be painted again.

Beyond the maintenance I periodically add, improve or change something. I have had the boat out 6 or 7 times since January, and in between trips this spring I am adding under-gunwale LED lighting, isolating my terminal blocks with non-conductive bases, and cleaning my zincs. In the "add" department I am currently building custom 7" elevated and swiveling bases for my Big Jon electric downriggers, and I have built a prototype extended base with a tilt-up rod holder mounted to it and I am going to make a holder on it for my downrigger weight.

Mid-summer I plan to add a top rail or cap to the transom on either side of the motor. This will provide a comfy 10" wide deck at the rear, visually hide all the wires, cables, etc., and batteries.

So back to your question: I budget my time and force myself to work on boat stuff even when I don't want to or other things beckon. 1/2 hour/day over 5 days keeps me productive and my head in the game, too. And then I take one longer period during weekends to get jobs done that otherwise would drag on or never get going.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Why is it ???

So back to your question: I budget my time and force myself to work on boat stuff even when I don't want to or other things beckon. 1/2 hour/day over 5 days keeps me productive and my head in the game, too. And then I take one longer period during weekends to get jobs done that otherwise would drag on or never get going.

Hey Mark,
I like your thinking! It was a bit tough this week though, with five straight days of rain........

 

[yanks21]

Re: Why is it ???

Ed,
I feel for you man. I am trying to get to the boat stuff too. Guilty pleasure though it is. I have 4 kids, 3 cars, wife, yard, etc, by the way did i mention I am putting an addition on my house that has my garage full of stuff and my bed in an unfinished living room?
I will get to that boat as soon as i can find it...

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Why is it ???

Ed,
I feel for you man. I am trying to get to the boat stuff too. Guilty pleasure though it is. I have 4 kids, 3 cars, wife, yard, etc, by the way did i mention I am putting an addition on my house that has my garage full of stuff and my bed in an unfinished living room?
I will get to that boat as soon as i can find it...

HeHe.. I guess I got nothing to worry about, compaired to you! Good luck.. ya gonna need it

 

[BonairII]

Re: Why is it ???

Turn the tables on your wife.....

If she constantly has a "honey-do list" for you.....make a list for her, too. See how she likes it.


Both of you should be setting aside a few hours(or more) each week as "ME time". Use that time for boat fixin'.

 

[RMJ]

Re: Why is it ???

I have to stop myself sometimes and say" just finish something!!". Little successes can bring great satifaction. No matter how small, just complete some little task on your project everyday or at least everytime you work on it.

Rick

 

[adoseth]

Re: Why is it ???

I was lucky, My wife kept asking me when i was going to get that boat going?, so off to work i went, got it ready in about 6 weeks

 

[yanks21]

Re: Why is it ???

Isn't the hardest part figuring out which "little thing" to get to? Wait, my son tells me the mower is broken......

 

[BonairII]

Re: Why is it ???

I have to stop myself sometimes and say" just finish something!!".

Sounds like my BIL. He has done a ton of work rebuilding their house, but always has a dozen unfinished projects. He starts new projects and the partial projects never get finished.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Why is it ???

In the spring, time has always been a premium for me. Here in the northeast, winters really muck things up. Lots of clean up and such. Once the initial clean up is done, it's just maintenance.

I don't have a problem finishing things on my boat, I just get ahead of myself sometimes. Then I find, I need to go back and do this or that first, before I can move on. This is my first resto, so I can't rely on any previous experience. Especially when it means following certian steps as I go.
For example, I made all new ski racks, and installed them. Then came the cockpit sides. When they were done, I thought I could just install them. Well, I discovered I needed to install the cockpit trim first, because It couldn't be done with the cockpit sides on. Then I found rotted wood were the trim mounts, so that had to be fixed. It's frustrating, but also a learning experience. At least it's progress, even when the procedure is messed up. I'll get 'er done!

 

[yanks21]

Re: Why is it ???

I totally agree on the Northeast weather! tho we couldn't complain too much this year, kinda had it easy. Got alot done this weekend, maybe the builder will get his crap outta my garage, and I can re-glue that gunwale....

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Why is it ???

I totally agree on the Northeast weather! tho we couldn't complain too much this year, kinda had it easy. Got alot done this weekend, maybe the builder will get his crap outta my garage, and I can re-glue that gunwale....

Yea Yanks

Not a lot of snow for sure. But certainly not good enough to do much. I wish I had a garage. Been having quite a bit of rain lately, That puts a crimp into the poly work I need to do. Managed to do a bit on her Sunday. I'm shooting for a splash date around the 4th of July

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Why is it ???

I'm shooting for a splash date around the 4th of July

Wow .... that sounds great Ed. Take lots of photos or better yet a video of the splash. Make sure you get a good shot for the calendar.

 

[yanks21]

Re: Why is it ???

4th sounds good to me! gotta finish this house! I cant work on anything else, cuz i CANT FIND anything else! Tools, parts, ugh!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Why is it ???

The thing is about balancing things- it is emotionally, mentally, and relationally healthy. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes talks about not being too much one way or the other.

If you are married, what I see as a problem for many I know is that they make time for golf, or fishing, or boat time, but then fuss about the honey-do list. But they never arrange child care and take their wife out to do something SHE wants to do. Marriage is a contract, not exclusively a social or cultural role-play. But then, there are those I know who never get on to their own projects or have enough "down time" becuase they don't plan their lives well- without a spouse or kids to consider, they are busy-busy-busy and not balanced in any way. That "behaviour," sustained, becomes a life-long habit they can't escape from. Throw honey-dews and kids into the mix and what do you get?

Not saying that is everyone's problem or that anyone in particular has a problem, but our culture applauds a certain look of "success" that in order to achieve it most often requires a measure of over-scheduling and "commitment" that plain and simple produces a strong measure of habitual roles that are nothing more than socially acceptable dysfunctionality.

When I say "why is it" I can usually see in hindsight that I could have avoided "the issue" with a little fore-sight weeks and months earlier...

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Why is it ???

Hey Ed .... someone on here posted a link for MFG flags for the boat and I can't remember who it was .... was it you or do you know who it was?