I like boat project's almost, maybe as much as, maybe even more than, boating

M

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
I think about this from time to time, how much I enjoy the challenge of fixing something, a project, etc. and the reward when it's done.

If you have ever taken Clifton Strength Finders assessment one of the themes people have is called Restorative: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252323/restorative-theme.aspx and I could not agree more.

"People exceptionally talented in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it."

"You enjoy the challenge of analyzing the symptoms, identifying what is wrong, and finding the solution."

"But what is certain is that you enjoy bringing things back to life. It is a wonderful feeling to identify the undermining factor(s), eradicate them, and restore something to its true glory."

I am guessing some of you have this as well.

I recently considered selling the boat because it's not being used as much as planned. My first thought was, "but what about projects, what will I work on?". I no longer tinker with my "weekend driver" BMW because there is nothing left for me to modify/change, so I thought about selling it.

Curious to learn/hear what others think.
 
I'd go a step further and say I enjoy "restoring" to better than original. In the hotrod world we call that "modding". Of course with a 20+ year old boat, there are lots of modding opportunities, particularly with the electronics.
 
I have a very mixed feelings on this concept right now. I think how happy I am doing a project is inversely proportional to the thermometer. Doing literally anything in the bilge sucks when the heat index is over 105.
 
bobeast said:
In the hotrod world we call that "modding". Of course with a 20+ year old boat, there are lots of modding opportunities, particularly with the electronics.
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Yup, that's what I've done to the bimmer. Took it from 300 horsepower to over 400 with my mods. I could do more mods, but I'm done, it's where I want it to be.

Almost every time I'm on the boat I'm looking at modifying, upgrading, fixing something to make it better then it was before.

I agree with @Stray Current having spent many hours in the bilge last summer trying to resolve my overheating issues.

As I've gotten older and the body hurts more, I do give some of the bigger labor intensive projects to the pros.
 
SeaNile said:
I love a project! As long as it involves a bucket of soap and a soft bristle brush. Anything more than that and i am writing a check. Mom and Dad didn't bless me with any mechanical genes.
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You can wash and wax my boat weekly, I'll change your oil annually.
 
I wholeheartedly agree with the original post. I always thought of it like this: I enjoy all aspects of boating, not just what most people consider to be the fun stuff. I like the freedom of being on the water, anchoring out with friends or just wife and I, waking up and putting a pot of coffee on and enjoying the morning on the water or at the dock, hanging out in the marina with friends or someone i just met be it on the hard or at the dock and being around boats, but also, the washing, waxing, fixing things, troubleshooting, adding things (i.e. boat projects), sewing canvas, fixing friends' canvas, pride of ownership, compliments on the condition of my boat, winterizing and springizing, even bottom painting (mostly the feeling of accomplishment when done and i have cleaned all the paint splatters off my face with paint thinner).

I like it all. That is why i been a boat owner since 1988.
 
love the projects and improvements

I "GET SOMETHING" for those

but for the washing and waxing....

well...................

Thats why i now pay someone to do that on a regular basis.

I also gave up on the lawn a few years ago and now pay someone to do that as well

Time is a valuable commodity - I have no idea what's left in the bank.....I want to spend it on what I enjoy !

BEST !

RWS
 
mrsrobinson said:
I think about this from time to time, how much I enjoy the challenge of fixing something, a project, etc. and the reward when it's done.

If you have ever taken Clifton Strength Finders assessment one of the themes people have is called Restorative: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252323/restorative-theme.aspx and I could not agree more.

"People exceptionally talented in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it."

"You enjoy the challenge of analyzing the symptoms, identifying what is wrong, and finding the solution."

"But what is certain is that you enjoy bringing things back to life. It is a wonderful feeling to identify the undermining factor(s), eradicate them, and restore something to its true glory."

I am guessing some of you have this as well.

I recently considered selling the boat because it's not being used as much as planned. My first thought was, "but what about projects, what will I work on?". I no longer tinker with my "weekend driver" BMW because there is nothing left for me to modify/change, so I thought about selling it.

Curious to learn/hear what others think.
Click to expand...
I’m the type of person that swapped a corvette engine into a 240sx. And then promptly sold it so I could move on to the next project! I’m not sure if that’s the same as what you’re referring to. But I see similarities. I like the challenge and to prove to myself that I can do it.
 
Stray Current said:
I have a very mixed feelings on this concept right now. I think how happy I am doing a project is inversely proportional to the thermometer. Doing literally anything in the bilge sucks when the heat index is over 105.
Click to expand...
This is so true! I didn’t do much of anything over the summer other than use the boat. Fortunately everything worked except the generator so I just left it until the temps cooled off.
 
I've had a boat my entire life going back as far as probably till when I was 6 yrs old. Often think about getting out of boating completely, for no good reason, and honestly have no idea what I'd do with myself. My wife could take it or leave it but since the kids enjoy boating she is all in. She also realizes that with no boat I'd probably go insane.
 
I have always looked at it this way: Sometimes I have more time than money and sometimes I have more money than time. I love boat projects, but if I don't have time but I have money, I write the check and vice versa. Part of my problem with "winter" projects is that my boat is not accessible over the winter. When I stored my jet ski in my garage over the winter I found countless reasons to tinker with it and "fix" it. If I have a boat project, I have to do it in season. As has been mentioned by @Stray Current, the hotter it is the more it sucks to work in the bilge.
 
SeaNile said:
My wife could take it or leave it .... She also realizes that with no boat I'd probably go insane.
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This, my GF even said "Don't sell the boat, you will regret it later"

I do wish the boat was closer to home, I'd tinker, fix, repair, upgrade even more. Many times on a Saturday I think about "going to the boat" than realize how painful and long the drive is.
 
mrsrobinson said:
This, my GF even said "Don't sell the boat, you will regret it later"

I do wish the boat was closer to home, I'd tinker, fix, repair, upgrade even more. Many times on a Saturday I think about "going to the boat" than realize how painful and long the drive is.
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How long is your drive? During boating season we drive 3 hrs after work to get to the boat, stay the weekend and then drive 3 hrs back home on Sunday evening. It is a lot of driving, but we enjoy being on the boat so much...even if it's raining. We also take our bikes for something else to do if the water on Lake Michigan is too wild to go out. I'm sure at some point we'll get to a point where we don't want to make the effort, but we're not there yet.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Yup, that's what I've done to the bimmer. Took it from 300 horsepower to over 400 with my mods. I could do more mods, but I'm done, it's where I want it to be.

Almost every time I'm on the boat I'm looking at modifying, upgrading, fixing something to make it better then it was before.

I agree with @Stray Current having spent many hours in the bilge last summer trying to resolve my overheating issues.

As I've gotten older and the body hurts more, I do give some of the bigger labor intensive projects to the pros.
Click to expand...
The Struggle is Real!
 
The drive is about one and a half hours on a good day. It's a stressful drive though, along i-95, lots of traffic, lots of road construction, lots of road rage, road warriors, etc With traffic it can easily be two to three hours each way. And I'm going by myself cuz she doesn't really enjoy tinkering with the boat like I do.

She does like to cleaning the boat though, which I get a kick out of, she's not into going to the boat unless we're going somewhere for the weekend with it though.
 
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