Downsized boat, Upsized fun?
 

Happy New Year, all! I'm seeing a change in my boating habits, and I'm
wondering if anyone has ever felt the same. We have a small Carver f/b
that we enjoy. It's in the best marina around w/ a covered slip and
great staff, but I feel like the bigger the boat I get, the less I feel
connected to the water (I understand to many of you I haven't owned a
large boat yet...). We have owned three, a 17', 24.5', & a 26' (29'
LOA). Last month I bought a 14.5' SeaDoo jet boat to go along with the
Carver. Frankly, I felt disconnected from boating and the smaller jet
has struck a chord in me that makes me truly excited about boating this
spring.

Interestingly, many of the long-time boaters at our marina (mostly
30-45 footers) have bought Whalers, inflatables, or similar boats and
seem to use them as much or more than their cocktail cruisers.

I know most everyone loves a bigger boat. Anyone ever downsize or feel
the same way?

"BornAgain" wrote in message
oups.com...
Happy New Year, all! I'm seeing a change in my boating habits, and I'm
wondering if anyone has ever felt the same. We have a small Carver f/b
that we enjoy. It's in the best marina around w/ a covered slip and
great staff, but I feel like the bigger the boat I get, the less I feel
connected to the water (I understand to many of you I haven't owned a
large boat yet...). We have owned three, a 17', 24.5', & a 26' (29'
LOA). Last month I bought a 14.5' SeaDoo jet boat to go along with the
Carver. Frankly, I felt disconnected from boating and the smaller jet
has struck a chord in me that makes me truly excited about boating this
spring.

Interestingly, many of the long-time boaters at our marina (mostly
30-45 footers) have bought Whalers, inflatables, or similar boats and
seem to use them as much or more than their cocktail cruisers.

I know most everyone loves a bigger boat. Anyone ever downsize or feel
the same way?

Absolutly!

Being able to buzz down small tributaries and canals...beaching the boat to
get some grub...crusing just a few feet from a shore line..."feeling" the
water underneth you...blasting thru the wind on an WFO pass, while bugs are
hitting your fore-head...the spray coming over the bow while at speed...yes,
there is sometimes a magic in small jet boats, that still brings a "kid
grin" to my face. :)

yep...i agree...i expierenced the same feelings
shen gettin' into windsurfing, after a day of
sailing 30-40ft sailboats, explaining everything to
everyone...etc.....

i see the same thing in aviations, some of my buddies
that are capitans on major airlines, long for the days of
smaller, slower, flying...they love to jump in the older
plains they learned in and "putz around".....(to use
a sientific term)....

Yea...I started at 11 feet, worked my way up, over the years, to 27
feet...now back down to two 16 ft skiffs ( each in a different area of the
country)....Love it... Back to touch and feel the water again. RichG TX
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

"BornAgain" wrote in message
oups.com...
Happy New Year, all! I'm seeing a change in my boating habits, and I'm
wondering if anyone has ever felt the same. We have a small Carver f/b
that we enjoy. It's in the best marina around w/ a covered slip and
great staff, but I feel like the bigger the boat I get, the less I feel
connected to the water (I understand to many of you I haven't owned a
large boat yet...). We have owned three, a 17', 24.5', & a 26' (29'
LOA). Last month I bought a 14.5' SeaDoo jet boat to go along with the
Carver. Frankly, I felt disconnected from boating and the smaller jet
has struck a chord in me that makes me truly excited about boating this
spring.

Interestingly, many of the long-time boaters at our marina (mostly
30-45 footers) have bought Whalers, inflatables, or similar boats and
seem to use them as much or more than their cocktail cruisers.

I know most everyone loves a bigger boat. Anyone ever downsize or feel
the same way?


The big boats are great for entertaining, overnight stays and cruising. But
for just fun on the water you cannot beat the small ones. We always had a
blast when we had our 16 and 21 footers.

We have a 26' flybridge cruiser (someone once referred to it as a nice
"starter boat") that we cruise on Lake Superior. We also trailered it to
Alaska and Florida, another reason for a smaller boat. It's also fun to
be able to squeeze into a place on the dock that other boats pass up. I
also find the smaller boats tend to go out and fool around during the
day while the bigger ones sit at the dock to hang onto their spot.

Capt. Jeff

like one of these?


http://makeashorterlink.com/?P5A12172A




We have a 26' flybridge cruiser (someone once referred to it as a
nice
"starter boat") that we cruise on Lake Superior

~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
like one of these?



Actually, our Carver Santa Cruz looks identical in many ways, although,
to be honest, it probably isn't made as well ; ) Our cabin is a
little larger & cockpit a little smaller.

cool...that looks like a nice boat...i am about to put in a offer on a
20' boston whaler revenge...
it seems like a nice "day crusier", maybe an ocassional overnight, but
no head, sink, etc...
good for fishing , motoring, and skiing...i like the looks of the
flying bridge, is there much
room up there for 2 adults?

Actually, this is an exact copy of our boat.

http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/p...32&slim=quick&