"Larry" wrote in message
...
Peter Hendra wrote in
:

Larry,
This is by far the best advice anyone could hear. Congratulations on a
great posting and for taking the time to think about and write these
words to someone you will probably never meet.

You're quite welcome. Some of them bark quite loudly, especially yelling
at the crew, shouting orders, in a race...but they don't hardly ever
bite. Even then, it's all in good fun because Captain Blythe will take
his crew to dinner and party, especially if the terrified crew (plus the
boat's awful handicap) should result in a win!...(c; (It is fun crewing
on a big, slow, clunky cruiser with a big party going on. Other crews
laugh as they easily pass us and wonder why we're all smirking and
smiling. They, obviously, haven't checked the race webpage to find out
what the old, slow girl's handicap is. Hell, in order to beat us, they
have to arrive two DAYS before we do!...(c;


Somehow, from reading your postings when I get near the web over the
past few years I had somehow imagined you to be possibly in your mid
forties. Hell! You are two years older than me.

I'm 61. Cap'n Geoffrey's 68, going on 29 after a few ales. We get along
fabulously. I was introduced to him by another boater I was helping at
the time, as me and the other guy were casually cruising the docks
looking for someone to offer us free beer. We've been friends ever
since.

Cap'n call me. Says, "There's something on the chart table. Can you
figure out how to hook it up? I got it at the Miami Boat Show." "It" is
some new electronic gadget I can easily hook up....of course, assuming we
can find a suitable space to mount its display/input
device/mic/printer/plotter/drafting-table-sized marking device. We might
have to dismount something that's 2 years old the "new" wore off of, but
we'll make it fit. Cap'n is a fine wood craftsman. He's responsible for
the custom cabinetry/mounting of anything new. I'm responsible for its
electronics/electrical integration and software integration.

I KNOW better than to say, "We already have one of these from XXXXXX.
Why do we need two?" He always looks so disappointed, so we have several
chartplotters (Garmin, Raymarine, Yeoman), compasses (B&G, Raymarine
(both the compass sensor and smart heading sensor), GPS (Garmin,
Raymarine WAAS-GPS), etc. As long as I don't have to pull another cable
through the Nav to Helm wireway that's stuffed, I'm fine with it.

The only thing Navy has we don't is weaponry. SHHHH....keep him away
from boatshow weapon salesmen!

Peter, you don't need a boat. There are PLENTY of boats to play
with/on/out of sitting on docks all over. Unless you just HAVE to have a
family cruiser to take the kids out on, something none of the yachties
want on their boats I know, spending all that cash on boats and upkeep is
unnecessary. If you want to cruise around in some really nice yachts,
you need a pleasant captain who, like my friend, would love to have
someone he can trust to get her ready-for-sea...and pilot her most of the
time...so he can enjoy his guests and family...rather than being strapped
to the wheel all the time. I don't have that kind of money. I like my
position aboard.....

NOTHING beats taking the CAPTAIN'S VISA card to West Marine on a Saturday
morning for a "few parts and replenishment spares".....(c;


cheers and thanks
Peter Hendra


Cheers! Boddington's ok?....my favorite.


Larry
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I had a deal somewhat like that for 5 years, although on a more modest
scale.
At some point you just want be be your own captain...especially if you want
to try new cruising grounds and the boat owner is happy with 3 hour cruises
in your harbour.