Wives like boats?

Wife grew up with the grandparent's runabout up on Payette lake, so she enjoys boats and water. Plus, she's pretty handy with a wrench and can follow direction well. Finally, she really likes to clean. Add all of that to the fact that she's the one that wanted a bigger boat. Not quite two-foot-itis, as we were coming from an 18-footer. She's a real asset!
My first and only bride since 1983, and I hope all the way to the end.
 
Right now we live on (land locked) Smith Lake in Cullman, Al. because the water is clean and the lake is beautiful.
The 270 as well as the entire boat dock is all me.
She enjoys going out for community events and to restaurants.

She is all about keeping the house tidy but she’s super excited about our pursuit of the 680. If that happens we will live part time aboard where she will take care of the interior, leaving everything else to me which I’m good with.
 
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oh yes the admiral has her domain and don't dare I mess it up. Every time I get something for the boat she demands her toy also. So far this summer it was new fridge, Dyson V10, cabinet shelves, under cabinet lighting. She is 100% involved boating and loves it.
 
I grew up with boats. When my wife and I were dating we went out on my father's boat every weekend. We did not own a boat for 40 years. Last year my wife said, "We need to buy a boat". We purchased a SPX210 to use on the lake near us. My wife likes to take friends out on it to go eat. She likes using the boat, but she has no interest in helping take care of it. All the cleaning and maintenance is on me.
 
We grew up and met in the Sebastian Inlet/river area, our first dates were in my 13' Gheenoe that my Dad gave me for my 15th birthday- I still have it, great for river floating. We are both hardcore fisherman so most of our boats have been fishing oriented CC Bays and Offshores under 30'. When we were dating in the early 80's her stepdad had a 30 something Hatteras offshore we both loved that boat and dreamed of living aboard.
The Searay factory was close and there were lots of them in the area back then, we would go to the marinas and just drool over them as teenagers and watch them gracefully navigate the Indian River in awe...

Now we have been blessed to have the opportunity to own one, our '89 440CV. We try to spend a week or so every month on the boat, she's there to relax and maybe do some inshore fishing, I'm there for maintenance,fishing, and relaxing as well. I am generally down every other weekend for a few days, sometimes she goes, sometimes not, it's good either way. We both spent last week at "The Office", had a great time and for once I did not do any maintenance other than clean the AC strainers-felt weird, but it was her week, not the boats or mine.
We are definitly water folks, one thing that we can do together and enjoy.

This from the bridge of "The Office" looking down at my 23' Bay next to one of two Sundancers wet slipped at our marina.

And a beautifull, chilly evening with her, our son, and Marley. Met in '82, married in '84, think we'll keep each other.
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My wife and I met on my previous boat. She visited a raft up as a friend of the wife of the guy tied up next door.

We got married on that boat on that spot 2 years later and despite no previous boating experience, she's totally immersed now.

She stocks and keeps a spotless and very homey cabin, loves long weekends on the hook and has gotten pretty salty.

I do everything else.
 
My wife likes the boat and is a full partner in any of the maintenance. Because our work situations I spend 4-5 days a week on the boat and she is only up on weekends, so it's not a completely fair comparison, but she will help with any of the projects - cleaning, oil change, repairs, you name it.
 
The Admiral loves being on the boat. She helps with the lines and understands what needs to be done after trips.

Unfortunately what she doesn’t understand is the cleaning and general maintenance during Springtime as well as Fall when winterizing. She thinks these things are suppose to happen all by themselves and that I should have other priorities or that I’m just goofing around.
 
Having been around boats my whole life even living on a few when I was younger, I could not be with someone that didn't like boat's. She past the initial tests and loves the boat. She takes care of the cabin and will vacuum the cockpit. Even will make drinks at times but bbq'ing and of course all "work" is on me. That said we have been through every imaginable situation boating in the north east together and still loves the boat, she has no issue at all being on the bow and handling the lines when docking. She loves the boat and long weekends and hanging with friends. Heat no problem, cold (50's) not so much. Now in the Chesapeake Bay it's like a vacation all of the time, she and myself could not be happier boating here.
 
Agree on Chesapeake. Maybe i was too harsh on the old girl, having raised 2 kids living on our boats from April thru October EVERY weekend, for 16 years, i think the fascination is gone for her. but not for me. I can still run up the gunwales, do bow lines, she has a hard time with that these days.
If i sold it tomorrow she wouldn’t object. If i keep it, well, its my toy and my maintenance.
She does love it on nice days. Hey skybolt, ever go to Tolchester? We just started this summer.
 
Mine has been on my boat maybe 3 times. She supports my habit because she knows it makes me happy. She'd much rather spend time with her horse posse, so it works out well for both of us. It probably helps that I work from home full time so she isn't feeling too neglected.
 
bobeast said:
Mine has been on my boat maybe 3 times. She supports my habit because she knows it makes me happy. She'd much rather spend time with her horse posse, so it works out well for both of us. It probably helps that I work from home full time so she isn't feeling too neglected.
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I have my fishing boat and I go fishing maybe once a week. She has her horses and she goes giddyap once a week. But on our family days we go together and ride the waves in the family boat.

Our view is that having a personal hobby is a good thing, but having a family hobby is the key to longevity.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Agree on Chesapeake. ... Hey skybolt, ever go to Tolchester? We just started this summer.
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Yes, great time there. Caught it on a great weekend they had a great band and the place was hopping. Quick run from the old Mears where we are at. Fairly is our favorite up that way though, can't beat a night or two on the hook and JJ's during the day for a bucket or two of Orange Crushes. But one of out favorites is Cambridge at the Hyatt, new for us this year. Wife loves the place, happy wife happy boating ...
 
A long time ago an older and wiser friend gave me advice. He asked me, who’s passion is the boat? I of course said mine. He then said to me, why the hell are you expecting her to do anything other than show up and take care of the kids while you play captain? He said if you want to enjoy the boat for many years, expect as little as possible from your wife and make sure she has a great time on the water. Don’t ask her to help clean, or any other maintenance on your passion. He said if done right, she will want to help, and you and your wife will love boating for a lifetime together. That was more than 15 years ago, and boy was he right. She now cleans the cabin at the end of a day on the boat, takes the trash with her, and I stay as long as needed to clean the outside of the boat and close the canvas. Nowadays she is the one making sure we plan great boating trips, and not happy if I have something else to do other than boating. Life is good!
 
My wife tolerates it (and my friends)... she does help clean it actually more that I do. No maintenance though.
 
We both love boating, We go out every weekend for a minimum of three or four day weekends regardless of the weather.
She keeps the cabin clean and all stocked up with goodies, and I do all maintenance and cleaning on all rest of the boat. She will help with maintenance if I need a hand with something.
She is the one that said we need a bigger boat ( had a pristine 37' Formula PC W/Gas motors ) so we can travel more, She is the one who pick out the style of boat we have now ( Happy wife Happy life ) and I was the one who went out and found it in this crazy market.
 
We both love it.
I am very very fortunate to have the best lady ever.
She helps with everything .... even the last two seasons she did all the service work on the mains, Gen, trasmissions, and fuel systems. When we are out on the lake on the hook she doesn't even hesitate to jump in the water and up on land to rig and tie the back off. On top of that she makes amazing meals and strong drinks. She understands what it takes to keep ahead of cleaning and maintenance and she is patient with me being super OCD.

Would not what to do it without her!
 
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