On Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:36:50 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 6 Feb 2011 13:30:01 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

When I am working for a few months, I then want to go cruising because
that is simply different. However, after cruising a couple of weeks,
it begins to seem like work. What happens to long term cruisers, does
it seem like work after awhile?

When you say that it begins to feel like work, what exactly does that
mean?

There are always chores to be done on a boat, some routine, some adhoc
as unsheduled maintenance issues pop up. Everything seems to take
more time than it should because that's the nature of boat work.
Work spaces are cramped; the right tool or part is not always
available; other things are in the way and have to be shuffled around.
All of that is commonplace and part of the challenge.

On the other hand if you just get bored with cruising after a while,
that's a different issue. It's also a fact that you are cruising on a
boat which is on the small side of average and lacking many of the
ammenities that most of us (or our wives) consider necessary for long
term comfort. All else being equal, it's a lot easier living on a
larger boat although maintenance chores do increase with size.


I've noticed that many, maybe most, of the long term "cruisers" spend
a considerable amount of days off the boat. Many of the boats in the
marina are there because it is a safe place to leave the boat while
they fly home for the holidays, the kids wedding, Mother's
anniversary, etc. A lot get here and then tour places where either you
can't take a boat or they'd rather not sail to. Tiber, Cambodia,
China, Vietnam, etc.

Another point, this is monsoon country and the best way is to sail
while the wind is heading where you are and then roost a while when it
is blowing the other direction. So common that nearly anyone can tell
you, almost to the week, the right time to heat across the Indian
Ocean, or Australia; when the Typhoon season is in the Philippines or
Hong Kong, etc.

That together with the ongoing maintenance and the "it would be really
nice if...." modifications and the traveling make for a pretty busy
life.

"Damn, I would have another but we really do need to get started if I
ever hope to make the tide getting into the yard, so we can get the
bottom done in time to leave for Chagos".

Cheers,

Bruce