The long good bye

[Hippocampus]

Hi folks
Today I get my wire transfer completing the sale of my NT42. I owned her for the briefest time I ever owned a boat. Spent 3 1/2 years putting love and money in her redoing the engine, new floor of Amtico, refinishing interior wood, redoing boat deck, replacing electronics, and generally spiffing her up. We did spend our time with her full time cruising up and down the eastern seaboard so she got more engine hours in the last three than the prior ten.

But the admiral said she’s had enough. The bride gave me a decade before the NT internationally cruising so she’s put in her time. She’s spent way more time on a boat than land for the last twenty years. And before that regional seasonal cruising. Now she wants to enjoy local friends and our families. She wants to fly to the destination not sail when we travel.

So we are downsizing yet again. Blue water international to coastal domestic. Now coastal domestic to local seasonal. I went with a new Edgewater center console. It has 500hp on the back, all the electronics you can think of and a joy stick. Whereas a boat was always occupying my time or was in my mind now it will be defined activity. It comes off a rack on a phone call. I go fishing for a day and it goes back on a rack. Other than flushing the engines and giving it a rinse I’m going to be a credit card captain for the first time in my life.

I’ve very much enjoyed my time here. The support and wisdom some display. Some are argumentative, some arrogant but the vast majority very good souls. I might stop in time to time but just wanted to give a heart felt thank you

 

[slowgoesit]

You've definitely made a positive contribution to TF. Definitely keep in touch, as your wealth of knowledge is still needed on TF by long timers, and newbies alike! Rest on your laurels, you've done your time.

 

[mvweebles]

It was only yesterday that I was thinking "Gee......haven't heard from Hippocampus for a while. Wonder what he's up to?" And now I know.......

You've been a wonderful addition to TF. I had never heard of Magnus stabilizers or Arksen boats before you introduced me to them on these very pages (and several other nerdy topics).

I wish you the very best in your next phase of life and recreation. Many thanks - TF is a better place because of folks like yourself.

Peter

 

[twistedtree]

Sorry to hear about your downsizing, and I hope you will continue to hang out here!

 

[rslifkin]

Definitely stick around, you still have plenty of good knowledge to share, and there are certainly others on here that aren't on the boat full time or doing major travel at the moment.

 

[Nick14]

Everything is impermanent, and the one constant in life is change. We all get older (if we're lucky) and needs, abilities, and priorities change.

Wishing you all the best in the new segment of your journey. I may be following in your footsteps with my own shortest boat ownership period ever as well, and perhaps also downsizing.

 

[Hippocampus]

Thanks all. Feel it’s a us v them when it’s comes to boating. The stresses on all of us are same.
Harbors turned in condos or T shirt shops. Dirt dwellers not wanting their view disturbed by boats. Marinas disappearing as the land is more valuable for other uses.
The sail v power is nonsense. I will always divert for anyone in trouble. Don’t care what they’re on big or little as long as they are on the water.
That’s my cut off. Being on the water. The crowd here has salt water in their blood. Understands the joy on being on the ocean.
Thanks again for the kind wishes.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,,
Mr. (Dr.) H. Yes. Please stay around. Your wealth of knowledge and experience is needed and appreciated.

As you're aware, our boating change is similar to yours. Trawler to go-fast day boat. I find the change enjoyable and interesting.

Calm seas.

Regards...

 

[SteveK]

Change is inevitable for all of us as we age out of this wonderful sport. Interests move on to other things. We will all be there one day.
@Hippocampus I echo others and say stay around and benefit others with your experiences and knowledge.
Best wishes.

 

[Mambo42]

Sorry to hear you are downsizing, but if that is the decision you support then who are we to say you should not do that ? So I wish you many happy days, weeks and months on your new boat as a credit card captain !
That said, you do have a wealth of experience and I always valued your contributions. That experience is not going to disappear soon, so hope you will find the time and the energy to share your knowledge every now and then, when you feel like it.

 

[KnotYet]

Fair winds and following seas, H!

 

[ranger58sb]

Hi folks
Today I get my wire transfer completing the sale of my NT42. I owned her for the briefest time I ever owned a boat. Spent 3 1/2 years putting love and money in her redoing the engine, new floor of Amtico, refinishing interior wood, redoing boat deck, replacing electronics, and generally spiffing her up. We did spend our time with her full time cruising up and down the eastern seaboard so she got more engine hours in the last three than the prior ten.

But the admiral said she’s had enough. The bride gave me a decade before the NT internationally cruising so she’s put in her time. She’s spent way more time on a boat than land for the last twenty years. And before that regional seasonal cruising. Now she wants to enjoy local friends and our families. She wants to fly to the destination not sail when we travel.

So we are downsizing yet again. Blue water international to coastal domestic. Now coastal domestic to local seasonal. I went with a new Edgewater center console. It has 500hp on the back, all the electronics you can think of and a joy stick. Whereas a boat was always occupying my time or was in my mind now it will be defined activity. It comes off a rack on a phone call. I go fishing for a day and it goes back on a rack. Other than flushing the engines and giving it a rinse I’m going to be a credit card captain for the first time in my life.

I’ve very much enjoyed my time here. The support and wisdom some display. Some are argumentative, some arrogant but the vast majority very good souls. I might stop in time to time but just wanted to give a heart felt thank you

Geez, now that you've only just now begun using separated paragraphs!



Hope you choose to stick around, or at least drop in from time to time.

Cheers, -Chris

 

[kthoennes]

I think your Post #7 is right on. Sure, our marina just expanded to 400 slips squeezed in, but I'll bet 90% are trailer-able boats that they slip just for convenience, not necessity. I do think it's getting harder run and maintain larger boats, and I'm not just talking about the money, although that's certainly part of it. Takes either a ton of work and knowledge or access to a lot of nearby boat service people, and the latter is more and more rare. My dad ran very large boats for rich people around Stuart FL for a while, generally retired and gradually downsized -- not because he couldn't still run the big ones, it's just a lot of work, in the broadest sense. Runs a relatively small center console now and still has a good time. His life is a lot simpler, more time for people and family, just as you say. Hope you hang around though, not good to lose long-time contributors.

 

[Ted]

Been on here for quite some time, don't say much but read al lot.
Always read yours for info and viewpoints. Hope you don't leave the forum
you have too much to let it go to waste.
As for changing styles "for happy wife" to one you both can live with, GOOD.
Your wife is the most important thing next to GOD.