dpmulvey
Active Member
- Dec 19, 2007
- 4,188
- Boat Info
- 1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop.
- Engines
- 6.2 Merc Horixons
1.5:1 Velvet Drives
Very nice. Very nice indeed.
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I finally had some time last week to head down to the boat and start getting it ready for the season. The 480 DB will be 10 years old next week and this will be our 11th season on it. Started poking through some of the drawers and cabinets and found old journals from the kids along with some pictures from the years we have spent on it. It made me realize how much has changed...
My two oldest sons are out of the house now and my third is leaving for college in the fall. This leaves me with one teenager who thinks he has more world knowledge than God. My two Golden Retrievers are more gray than gold and the highlight of our day now consists of going to the medicine cabinet where we all take our pills at 7 pm and fall asleep by 8 (they are on more pills than me). Hip problems, thyroid problems and too many burgers have started to show their influence (the dogs... not me).
I found this picture of the three oldest boys sitting on the bow of my previous boat (2001 380 DA) while tied to a dock in Maryland:
and the journal entry from my oldest son:
You can tell he had a clear understanding of boating at a young age and is now in the Navy.
There is no doubt it was a privilege to be able to raise the kids on Sea Ray boats and spend the summers like we did. They hated it some of the time... threw up over the edge many times.... but now when these young men call home, they tell me how great the memories are they have from these boats. Both Four Suns (I and II) have been up and down the east coast and there is nothing wrong with going to the CT/RI border from VA to pick up lobster for a Sea Ray gathering in NY... it's about the ride.
I've met some great people and made some great friends along the way and even wrote a book I never published...
(we'll ignore the stalker problem in this post)
"Chapter 2" in our boating journey is fast approaching and I fear my new "signature" will be:
The kids moved out
The dogs passed away
One bored wife
What I would like to say is Thank You to the Sea Ray team that designed, built and supported this boat (esp. Rusty Higgins) and for all of you that have kids, I encourage you to buy the biggest boat you can afford and dump all your cash in the water. You won't regret it.
That's it for today... and no I'm not drinking.
My story is very similar with my three boys. We started with a 28' Sundancer and I can remember all 3 would comfortably fit in the aft cabin at the ages of 6,4, & 2. Five years later, they were outgrowing the aft bed and I was getting tired of sitting on the dock (after a nite of food and drink) waiting for the misses to convert the table to a bed and put the sheets on.....
So then came the 370 Sundancer. We have so many great memories from both of those vessels sleeping out every weekend during the summers....
Now with the 500 Sedan Bridge, we continue to take trips but now that the kids are older, it gets harder with them working summer jobs, wanting to be with friends, etc., but we still get a few trips in as a family. I will say they do have the greatest memories on the boat and reminisce from time to time...
I will tell you that if I could trade my 50' for 28' and a 6,4 and 2 yr old again, I do it in a second...For any of you guys who have young kids, treasure every second because it goes way to fast.......I look at those photos and remember their innocent personalities and wonderment with so many things, and I crave it almost every day......
Damn you. Ive been thinking about starting to settle down more with the gf..... and also thinking about pooping out a few kids with her. Now im really thinking about it. All my friends are doing it and I c how happy the babies make them and I really want one or two or.... im gunna take my time but cant wait for the memories and good times. Maybe a year or two when I pay off the boat so she cant make me sell it because it cost to much between the kids and the boat. Ha. Great post and hopefully my kids will enjoy the boating world while they grow up
Lmfao nice one. I hear the kid and the poop come together.... eeewwwwyyyJonathan, I would advise not to start pooping out kids. That would be pretty crappy.