#loveboating – Poor old Tim O'Brien appears so down in the dumps about his River Shannon Motor Cruiser that he's outlined ten reasons why he 'hates his boat' in today's Irish Times here.
Tim imagined a life of ease, messing about on his boat at weekends, but after yet another wet summer he says owning a cruiser is like standing under a cold shower tearing up €50 notes. Oh dear!
We hope Tim will get a chance to read our much more uplifting list below and to take the time to remember Water Rat's famous line from Wind in the Willows: ' there is nothing – absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats'.
TEN REASONS WE LOVE OUR BOATS:
1. A sense of adventure. No two trips are the same & it brings you into contact with a whole new world.
2. Meet new people. Boating community are famously friendly and welcoming, they will go out of their way to make sure you are included.
3. Brings families closer. What other sport/hobby/pastime can see two, or even three, generations from the same family engaging in together? It's a lifetime pastime.
4. The great escape. For generations people have dreamed of running away to sea. Boating lets you leave behind all you 9-5 problems and enjoy a mini-holiday.
5. Boating is convenient. No airport queues, no delays. Step aboard, turn the key and your holiday has begun. Most people in Ireland live within an hour of their boat. Pre work water-ski, lunchtime sail, evening cruise? All easily achievable.
6. Food. Where else can you get a dinner so fresh as from the end of your fishing line and straight into the galley?
7. Even in all the Irish bad weather there can be great times afloat. The sense of pride and achievement that comes with learning to sail. There really is nothing like the feeling of becoming the master of your own boat. Whether it's a 22 foot keelboat on a local lake, or a massive ocean-going cruiser, skippering a boat is a great achievement.
8. Brings Friends together. Many of the world’s problems have been solved by sailors talking late into the night in the cockpit–unfortunately, they never seem to remember those solutions in the morning. But that’s no matter–a sailing trip is one of the best bonding experiences ever.
9. Solitude is also great for the opportunity to spend some time alone. Leave the noise, confusion, and stress of the world behind for a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks, and experience the freedom of solitude. You can even find places with ZERO phone reception!
10. Finally, boats are a good investment because they are easily transportable. And recession has helped to prove this point. For a start they're not rooted to the ground like a holiday home so they can be moved around the coast or lakes and rivers to different marinas. And they're not either left–hand or right hand drive so it means you have a ready export market if you decide to sell.
And remember the old saying: the two happiest days of a man's life are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it!
Please help us add more reasons to why we love Irish boating below!
