Worst time of year for us

[drewpster]

I think it has to be said.

This is the worst time of year for those of us (you know who you are) who are in the middle of some insane "restoration". We are boaters. We love it so much that we are willing to spend hours upon hours grinding, sanding and spending every spare minute working on our beat up old boats. Our families miss us, our yards are overgrown and our boats are in a million overwhelming pieces in our yards, shops and garages. We spend every spare dime on parts, resins, cloth and engine parts. We research every move so we don?t end up swimming with a rope tied to our leg to get the boat back in. We worry about every detail from fillet to fuel line to rope chock, cleat and accent light. Our wives get irritated, our kids grow through there clothes while we are not looking and our brothers-in-law "know" it aint never getting done.
But be assured unfortunate ones! Uplift your hearts you sticky handed glassmen! Make no mistake! We will all prevail in tribute to our seagoing brethren! The job will get done and our vessels will sail! Be damned, the naysayers and avast ye landlubbers! We to, like all those brothers who sailed before us, MEET, FISH and SKI. For our day is coming!
Or we will keep on working, it will get cold again and the worst time of year will pass once again. Till next spring when the trailers go out again...and you will hear then again shouting.....avast! LOL Happy spring!

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Worst time of year for us

Ha...nice post. The brotherhood of the itchy fiberglass people.

 

[lakeorbay]

Re: Worst time of year for us

That's good stuff. Nice to know I have company and that someone understands.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Worst time of year for us

You're my new boat-resto coach!

You just summed the last 6 month of my life!

Great words drewpster...

 

[capri1600]

Re: Worst time of year for us

I make a point to do SOMETHING on my Capri 1600 project every day. I intend to be on the water next Spring and the only way I get there is to keep moving forward. I have finished the seam grinding and actually did my first two hull repairs over the weekend. They turned out great. Tonight I prep the another. Keep going guys. It does end eventually.

 

[matthewp]

Re: Worst time of year for us

here here! Amen to that!

 

[chrishayes]

Re: Worst time of year for us

Now, can you just print that on hallmark cards and send one to all of our wifes, husbands and significant others!

 

[92excel]

Re: Worst time of year for us

Agree...................

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Worst time of year for us

thi

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Worst time of year for us

This thread understands exactly how I feel! I think I have 2 boats so that I can still get on the water while I'm working on my project boat. But, noone seems to understand how much effort and thought we put into our boats.

My wife wanted me to get a new, fully functional boat... I don't think she understood that I don't feel connected to my boat until I have my blood, sweat, and tears into it.

 

[redfury]

Re: Worst time of year for us

That is the reason upon which we choose to undertake these arduous tasks...to grind steel and fiberglass, to long board lines in hulls to perfection. We take every oz. of itching fiberglass powder into our pores knowing it will ooze back out into the tenacity of our work back into that upon which has wrought us discomfort. Tis the same bond made with the first vehicle we've ever owned. No matter how much better there was "out there", this was and will always be the "best" we've ever owned. It's not because it was the best boat ever produced, but it was the best thing for us...for our souls, nay...for our salvation! It is simply not a thing that can be understood from the perspective of a bystander...you cannot feel empathy for us by looking from a distance. You have to be there, have the same mindset... having all those thoughts swirling around the grey matter. Hard choices, easy choices, choices that will require the input from many other like minded individuals who CAN empathize your particular dilemas. Those that know what its like to look at an unfinished project with enthusiasm, yet yearn for the water that is beckoning. Calling for you to join it now that it has shed its wintery blanket of ice, ready to open its arms and cradle you and your craft, lazily swaying you back and forth in the sun. But you are torn! Ready to return to the water, yet desperate to finish what you have started on land. Wishing nothing more than to finish your "gift" to the lake, yet not wanting to be parted from her any longer.

I feel your pain. My Grinding has just begun.

 

[wanttofly]

Re: Worst time of year for us

Don't know how you guys do it. I barley made it through the winter with looking at my boat. I would like to do some projects on the boat next winter, but nothing that would keep me out of the water for summer. Keep up the good work.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Worst time of year for us

I'm done till at least November

Mabe-

Perhaps-

Well-- there is the new fish finder & i want some new switches & a new speedometer &&&&&&

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Worst time of year for us

Pass the kleenex please......

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Worst time of year for us

Waxing poetic...must be the weather. Wax on, wax off grasshopper.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Worst time of year for us

I can't agree more..i have a weekend planned and i think im tossing the floor down tomorrow and wed and just gonne wire the motor and hope it floats....

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Worst time of year for us

I think this is why I picked up 2 boats in as many weeks a 74 larson 1700 shark which is almost river ready aand then a 64 Crestliner which will be a full restore to be towed behind my 63 ford f100 unibody pick up and also a boat for SWMBO and I to take out with no rugrats in tow . The youngest rugrat is 14 so we can go out by ourselves without them and figure the little 16' Crestliner will be a perfect cruiser for 2 plus I am going to paint it and the 63 F100 to match most likely Caribbean Turquoise which was an original Ford color although not one of the 3 original colors on the Del Rio.



Rick

 

[drewpster]

Re: Worst time of year for us

See what I mean?

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Worst time of year for us

See what I mean?

Drew dont mistake the fact I have 2 boats for my being wealthy. I picked up the Larson for $450.00 as the guy needed money bad and the 64 Crestliner DelRio is actually a funny story . The guy put it on craigslist for $125.00 as a boat and trailer .When I went to look at it there was already another guy there to look at it ( He thought he was going to get a water ready boat for $125.00 ) . He left pretty quickly and I asked the seller what his bottom line was and was told $100.00 as I was grabbing the money from my wallet he noticed my shirt ( Airmedic Mechanical heating and air ) and asked if I did side work . I explained to him that I didnt like side work but I owned the company so we were OK . I ended up selling him a used 2 ton AC unit for a rentl property he owns for $400.00 so in the end I got the crestliner and he gave me $300.00 . SWMBO said I could hve all the boats I wanted as long as I kept making deals like that LOL. That means in the end I have $150.00 invested in 2 boats and the floors in the Larson were redone with aluminum plate at some point recently I got it from the original owners son . The Crestliner will end up getting a full restore and I still need to find a decent outboard ( not a cheap proposition ) for it.


Rick

 

[drewpster]

Re: Worst time of year for us

See what I mean?

I wrote this in reference to my original post in this thread. I knew it would get a reaction. Allot of us resto hands on types are jonesing for the water right now. I have personally been dry docked for about three years now.
(sorry welled up right there...I'm ok)

Even if I were a wealthy man I would probably still work on boats. I would just have a much...much nicer shop! And maybe a house on the water. (one in the Keys...one in mountains) I love doing the work, I hate missing the water. (thats it...I need a tissue)