The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another 24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat pedestal and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings, ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace the deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor) for the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new carpeting (I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new marina we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped boating in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true that is.
;-)

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another 24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat pedestal and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings, ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace the deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor) for the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new carpeting (I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new marina we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped boating in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true that is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.

wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another 24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings, ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor) for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another 24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings, ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor) for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

Jim, do you have a Batteries + (plus sign!) in your area? I've had very
good luck with the deep cycle batteries they sell, and the prices are
good, too.

"basskisser" wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another
24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat
pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings,
ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to
spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in
the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace
the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor)
for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new
carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat
and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new
marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped
boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true
that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid
off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

Jim, do you have a Batteries + (plus sign!) in your area? I've had very
good luck with the deep cycle batteries they sell, and the prices are
good, too.


Thanks! The name does not sound familiar but I will check. Thanks for the
heads up!

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another 24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.


???

Dang, if you paid $150 for a gr-27 battery and box, then
you're either getting a Rolls (ok, maybe Surrette) battery
or you're getting ripped off.



Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor) for the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear slide).

That sounds pretty cool.

But don't feel bad, I just forked over ~ $4k for a bow
thruster, which I will have to put in myself... approx a
$10k job if you hire somebody else.


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true that is.
;-)


Well, at least you get something good for the price.

Fair Skies
Doug King

JimH wrote:
"basskisser" wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another
24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat
pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings,
ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to
spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in
the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace
the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor)
for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new
carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat
and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new
marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped
boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true
that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid
off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

Jim, do you have a Batteries + (plus sign!) in your area? I've had very
good luck with the deep cycle batteries they sell, and the prices are
good, too.


Thanks! The name does not sound familiar but I will check. Thanks for the
heads up!

I use the hell out of my trolling motor, and those seem to last a
season longer than about any I've had.

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another 24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings, ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor) for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

Kids? See item two on my list. IMO, giving them a good upbringing and a
decent education is more important than living well below you means so
your kids can live well above theirs after Mom and Pop have passed on.
Ours will get to spend whatever's left after the last death (I'll
probably die before my wife, just one of nature's little jokes on the
male sex), but darned if I'll scrimp and sacrifice through the last
several years of my working life or my retirement just to leave the
kids a bigger pile. Now, if one of them decides they enjoy boating
(neither of them especially do) that kid will get to inherit our last
boat as well as their half of whatever else happens to be left.

Easy come, easy go, and on your death bed "it will be the things you
could have done, but did not, that you will regret more than anything
you did."

wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another
24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat
pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings,
ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to
spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in
the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace
the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor)
for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new
carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat
and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new
marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped
boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true
that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid
off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

Kids? See item two on my list. IMO, giving them a good upbringing and a
decent education is more important than living well below you means so
your kids can live well above theirs after Mom and Pop have passed on.

Huh? Who said anything about "living well below our means"? We are doing
quite nicely, thank you.

Ours will get to spend whatever's left after the last death (I'll
probably die before my wife, just one of nature's little jokes on the
male sex), but darned if I'll scrimp and sacrifice through the last
several years of my working life or my retirement just to leave the
kids a bigger pile. Now, if one of them decides they enjoy boating
(neither of them especially do) that kid will get to inherit our last
boat as well as their half of whatever else happens to be left.

Easy come, easy go, and on your death bed "it will be the things you
could have done, but did not, that you will regret more than anything
you did."


We are enjoying life, have wisely invested our savings and are living quite
comfortably. Most importantly, we are happy with our lives.

If we can make our children's lives a bit easier (especially buying their
first house) then that will make us even happier. ;-)

Different strokes Chuck.

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
The beat goes on.

After trickle charging it for 24 hours @ 2A and letting it sit another
24
hours I tested it and get a reading of 11.6 volts.........not good.
OK........time to get a new one, but this time upsizing to Group 27.
Another $150 (including holding bracket/box) goes to the boat expenses
for
2006 and the darn thing is not in the water yet.

I have spent over $900 so far this season (helm seat, helm seat
pedestal
and
slide, A/B battery switch with field disconnect, Group 24 starting
battery,
ski mirror, epoxy barrier coat, Ipod, vinyl seat repairs)........with
another $700 to spend on bottom paint, electrical wiring and fittings,
ss
hardware for securing the seat pedestal, new carpeting and a bimini.
This does not include labor as I am doing all the work! ;-)

Looking back I guess this is not too bad as I originally planned to
spend
about a $1,100 for these upgrades/improvements. I forgot to add in
the
epoxy barrier coat and bottom paint....so I guess having to replace
the
deep
cycle battery is not that bad of a bite.

Bottom line........after spending $1,600 this spring (with my labor)
for
the
improvements I will now have more room in the cockpit, tearing out the
helm
seat/ice box/water faucet contraption and replacing it with a new helm
seat
(on adjustable pedestal with 360 degree swivel and 7" front to rear
slide).
I will also have a new Sunbrella bimini replacing the 4 foot deep
convertible cover (that snapped at the windshield frame), new
carpeting
(I
hated that red), 2 batteries on switch, a bottom with barrier coat
and
bottom paint, seating with no tears or rips and over 1,600 tunes to be
able
to play on my old stereo thanks to Ipod. ;-)

After these upgrades/improvements are completed and the boat is in the
water
I will be building a dockbox (our old one was too tall for the new
marina
we
are at) and picnic table (I gave our old one away when we stopped
boating
in
2004) for our new dock area. Add another $150 in lumber/hardware
materials
to my expense list, again not including my labor.

Boating...........what a deal! ;-)


BOAT: A hole in the water you throw money into............how true
that
is.
;-)


Here's a secret: You can't take it with you. Once you have provided for
a secure retirement,
set aside money to educate or finished educating the kids, used some of
it to relieve the social injustice of your choice, and made sure that
aging parents have enough to get by in a secure and comfortable
lifestyle it's time to spend the rest on whatever you'd like. Boating
is a great choice.


I agree to a point Chuck. Our retirement has been well planned
(financially) and is secure. The kids education (my daughter will be a
senior at OSU next year and my son a freshman in college) is being paid
off
year by year. Our parents are all deceased.

I would, however, like to leave a nice chunk of change to my kids while
still enjoying life and the money we have saved and invested. There is a
balance. ;-)

Kids? See item two on my list. IMO, giving them a good upbringing and a
decent education is more important than living well below you means so
your kids can live well above theirs after Mom and Pop have passed on.

Huh? Who said anything about "living well below our means"? We are doing
quite nicely, thank you.

Ours will get to spend whatever's left after the last death (I'll
probably die before my wife, just one of nature's little jokes on the
male sex), but darned if I'll scrimp and sacrifice through the last
several years of my working life or my retirement just to leave the
kids a bigger pile. Now, if one of them decides they enjoy boating
(neither of them especially do) that kid will get to inherit our last
boat as well as their half of whatever else happens to be left.

Easy come, easy go, and on your death bed "it will be the things you
could have done, but did not, that you will regret more than anything
you did."


We are enjoying life, have wisely invested our savings and are living quite
comfortably. Most importantly, we are happy with our lives.

If we can make our children's lives a bit easier (especially buying their
first house) then that will make us even happier. ;-)

Different strokes Chuck.

Hey look, we agree again. :-) Both of our kids know that if and when
they want to buy a house, we're good for probably 15-20% down payment.
Literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. So far, neither of them
seem ready to settle down and get that domestic.

However, if they ever want to buy a boat that's going to be strictly up
to them. We only help out in financial endeavors that make sense, and
they'd have to be as crazy as their folks are to spend money on a boat.