What brought you to boating? - The Hull Truth

SSheila · 07-03-2006, 10:05 AM

Some of you were lucky enough to grow up on the water.

Others, like me, came to it as adults. If you're one who came to boating as an adult, what brought you here?

north coast · 07-03-2006, 12:24 PM

a need to get to the fish.

stvno · 07-03-2006, 01:55 PM

I grew up on the Hudson River.
My family were commercial striper, shad, eel and crab fisherman that were among the original founders of my town.
I have seen alot of this world and where ever I go I know east from west by my position to the Hudson River.

katkt · 07-03-2006, 02:24 PM

My wife............she decided to move to Fl, and then she said "when are we getting a boat". She didn't have to twist very hard. I've fished offshore just enough, to get the bug pretty bad. We are looking forward to many years on the water. God willing.
If we hadn't moved to the coast, we wouldn't own a boat.

Doug in Bermuda · 07-03-2006, 09:13 PM

Never lived more than 100yds from the ocean. Can't see it from my house but can always hear it. Can't imagine life here without a boat.

mronzo · 07-03-2006, 09:34 PM

I don't swim so well!

welder · 07-03-2006, 09:41 PM

my truck

FearNaut · 07-03-2006, 09:56 PM

I've used that excuse too! Got a bigger truck, therefore need a bigger boat!

welder · 07-03-2006, 10:08 PM

Rich , ya nailed it,

No really both my grandfathers ,one a salt water fishing fanatic and the other a self taught diver from the 50's made his own wet suit and tanks , he should have hung with coustou [sp] or died.

Oh rich, grandpa-T lives in National city San Diego on prospect St. [ Local 12 retired]

FearNaut · 07-03-2006, 10:13 PM

That's my sisters neighborhood.

It's ALWAYS easier to convince the wifen that it's time to buy a new truck than it is a new boat!

welder · 07-03-2006, 10:41 PM

Small world , ya.

SSheila · 07-03-2006, 11:08 PM

So are katkt and I I the ONLY ones on all of THT who weren't brought up boating?

I still don't get all the talk about talking the wife into a new boat, a new truck, whatever. It can't really be as bad as you guys make it out to be.....

Sheila, who recently bought herself a new truck

JALICHTY · 07-03-2006, 11:27 PM

My wife's family fished around Wyoming for many years before we got married. Starting 41 years ago we would go with her family to Jackson Lake and others every summer, even when we didn't live close by. When we moved back to Wyoming 1979, we continued to fish with her family and finally, we decided that we should get our own boat since her dad's boat would only go to fishing holes, troll for hours and then back to the dock without being able to sight-see and cruise, even when we borrowd the boat for ourselves. So about 19 years we bought our first boat and now the admiral and I boat and fish whenever we can. Plan on towing the boat around the country when we finally get retired. It's been a bunch of fun!

boatommy · 07-03-2006, 11:35 PM

grew up on an island.
thom

capt. thunder · 07-03-2006, 11:36 PM

A great place to drink beer.

Chicks dig'em.

Monstro · 07-03-2006, 11:43 PM

SShelia,

My wife was a Buckeye from a landlocked part of that state. Until she met me her experience was limited to a few hours on a ski boat in calm water. To date she has piloted over most of Florida Bay dragging me behind looking for lobster. Sailed from Ft. Myers to the Tortugas in smooth to moderate chop and from Tortugas to Key West in 12 to 14 footers. Flown the weather hull in Hobbie Cats and can back the trailer down the ramp.
We have been in some hairy situations and won a few races, caught a lot of fish and camped out on the islands. She now wants to buy a larger boat with a cabin. She misses the 25 Chris Catalina we had. She told me the she felt secure that I would handle any situation that arose. This was somewhat bolstered by some of the stories my parents told her about my adventures when I was younger.
Now when she goes back North and talks to her friends and tells them HER boating stories they look at her in amazement.
I guess it has a lot to do with opportunity, proximity and your feeling of security during the first couple of times out. I feel that there is a deep seated need in some people to be afloat. Most just haven’t figured it out.

tinmarine · 07-04-2006, 12:05 AM

Grew up on the water. Dad had a boat before he had a house. Parked the boat in the alley in downtown Detroit. (when it was safe) Moved out of the city and onto a canal before I could walk. Some of my best memories have been out on the water. Something very relaxing listening to the water watching the sun come up. Many days in the summer pops would walk in from work yell for me to load the boat and we were off. Now since the wife has recently found out that she likes boating she wants a bigger boat with a cabin. Just wish I had more time for it.

SSheila · 07-04-2006, 01:53 AM

Some interesting stories here. Thanks, everyone!

Monstro, I came to boating by sort of the opposite route that your wife took. In Nov. 2004, my husband and I bought a boat because he'd wanted a Boston Whaler since he was 15 (over 30 years ago) and we were finally to a point where we could make his dream come true.

What I didn't realize was that his lifetime of experience on the water was mostly limited to small lakes in say, a 16' aluminum boat with an 18 hp motor. We bought a 25 foot walkaround for the salt. Further, it soon became obvious that he was NOT someone upon whom I could count to be safe no matter what. On our very first outing after we bought her, when I'd had a total of 5 minutes at the helm during the sea trial (that was my sum total experience at running a boat), he decided he didn't feel well and went down below. For THREE HOURS. I knew I didn't have the maneuvering skills to get us back into our slip on a busy Sunday afternoon, so I focused on keeping us out of traffic and off the rocks. His sole interest was in getting to the fish: learning the rules of the road, maintaining the boat, all of that stuff, was of no interest to him whatsoever.

So I did what any reasonable person would do. I learned how to run the boat. I learned the rules of the road. I learned some basics of maintenance.

And I filed for a divorce.

Garett · 07-04-2006, 08:07 AM

- my love for the water,
- scuba diving wrecks and reefs,
- fishing,
- going where I can't drive or walk to,
- seeing things that I can't see any other way,
- the freedom, sun and wind on my face,
- the people.

Even though there was always a car topper in my life a 10 ft. itch was in order.........I think the lottery system is going to have to help me on my next 10 ft. itch.

CJS · 07-04-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

SSheila - 7/4/2006 1:53 AM

And I filed for a divorce.

I'm glad you got custody of the Whaler.

I grew up on Long Island, NY, and some of my earliest memories
are of going out on Dad's 17' Cobia. Long Island Sound most
weekends, and up to Lake George a few times in the summer
for a week at a time. I distinctly remember as a kid out on the
water, thinking "This is where I am supposed to be." And eventually
that's where I'm going to end up. When it's all over, whoever my fishing
buddies are at the time will take me out one last time and, after a day
of fishing, with me in the urn on the dashboard watching, they'll drop
me overboard.