Saturday, April 23, 2005
Maiden Voyage
The maiden voyage on M's new (used) boat was less than stellar. The day started off cold and cloudy; it only got colder and cloudier. Cold with cloud cover meant no skiing for the day. We stopped for lunch twice. Once on the west side of the lake and the wind was so strong we were being pushed to shore. We then drove to the east side of the lake so we could let the trees block the wind for us. After lunch, M wanted to drive around, so he did. After about an hour of driving around the engine all of a sudden revved up real high, M grabbed the throttle and pulled back, and once we slowed down you could smell the smoke and M killed the engine's ignition.
M quickly pulled the cover off the motor to try to investigate the problem. Luckily, the engine was not on fire or pulling the engine cover off would have been a major mistake (boat engine covers are designed to contain fire and taking the cover off does two things: 1) ruins the containment, and 2) allows significantly more oxygen into the compartment). The smoke was actually coming from the lower unit. We tried to start the boat up again, it started, but made bad noises. It didn't sound like the noise was coming from the engine but from the lower unit. I lifted the lower unit to check the prop, put it in drive and it spun, but things didn't seem or sound quite right so we turned the engine back off and started rowing. Using a paddle and a very expensive -- double bindings, graphite core, etc. -- slalom ski, we paddled the 20', heavy bastard in high wind and chop to the nearest marina. The story goes on from there, including me sitting in the boat while M went to get the trailer (thank God MFMJ lives just up the hill from where we stopped), a long talk with the owner of the shop at the marina, tours of quarter million dollar cruisers, and the seller of M's new (used) boat not calling back.
Speaking of quarter million dollar cruisers, I want one. We toured a 38' boat with two sleeping areas. A 38' quarter million dollar boat is nice for a few days. But you couldn't live on something like that with another person. I've thought about living on a boat for years. They come decorated, fully loaded with A/V equipment, kitchen ware, and just about anything you can think of. There is no yard to mow. If you want to move, well, you move. I couldn't handle a house boat: too pedestrian, too much like an RV. But a cruiser is high class living. As long as I stay in the southeast, it is generally warm enough to stay on one all year round. Heck, people live on boats in the Louisville area all year round. For two people though you really need about 50' of boat. Those suckers, used, sell for $350-$450k. I found the kind I want though. The brand is Sunseeker and they are based in the UK. Maybe once I have that good education and that high paying job I can afford one of these.
M quickly pulled the cover off the motor to try to investigate the problem. Luckily, the engine was not on fire or pulling the engine cover off would have been a major mistake (boat engine covers are designed to contain fire and taking the cover off does two things: 1) ruins the containment, and 2) allows significantly more oxygen into the compartment). The smoke was actually coming from the lower unit. We tried to start the boat up again, it started, but made bad noises. It didn't sound like the noise was coming from the engine but from the lower unit. I lifted the lower unit to check the prop, put it in drive and it spun, but things didn't seem or sound quite right so we turned the engine back off and started rowing. Using a paddle and a very expensive -- double bindings, graphite core, etc. -- slalom ski, we paddled the 20', heavy bastard in high wind and chop to the nearest marina. The story goes on from there, including me sitting in the boat while M went to get the trailer (thank God MFMJ lives just up the hill from where we stopped), a long talk with the owner of the shop at the marina, tours of quarter million dollar cruisers, and the seller of M's new (used) boat not calling back.
Speaking of quarter million dollar cruisers, I want one. We toured a 38' boat with two sleeping areas. A 38' quarter million dollar boat is nice for a few days. But you couldn't live on something like that with another person. I've thought about living on a boat for years. They come decorated, fully loaded with A/V equipment, kitchen ware, and just about anything you can think of. There is no yard to mow. If you want to move, well, you move. I couldn't handle a house boat: too pedestrian, too much like an RV. But a cruiser is high class living. As long as I stay in the southeast, it is generally warm enough to stay on one all year round. Heck, people live on boats in the Louisville area all year round. For two people though you really need about 50' of boat. Those suckers, used, sell for $350-$450k. I found the kind I want though. The brand is Sunseeker and they are based in the UK. Maybe once I have that good education and that high paying job I can afford one of these.
# posted by chilort @ 10:42 PM 
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I would imagine a Europen canal house boat and a US river house boat don't have that much in common beyond floating. A US river house boat is much like a floating RV; not that much above a camper which isn't that much above a tent.
Yeah. And a canal boat is really long, like a 7-foot-wide house with closets, showers, and a kitchen. And a living room.
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