Comments on: “What Are The Three Words Of Wisdom You Would Give To Someone New To Classic Boating?

By: 'Bone Daddy' Deems

'Bone Daddy' Deems — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:09:50 +0000

!. Ride with a bunch of Wood Boaters first, and often. 2. Check bilge before starting engine, and last but not least….Never sand anything until someone who has done it before tells you to! ‘Bone Daddy’

By: Paul Barber

Paul Barber — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 02:22:30 +0000

I sold my glass runabout this year and just returned from Lake Muskoka and Windermere Golf and Country Club with an ache in my heart and some real nice pictures of the Segwin and Winonah 2 at Gravenhurst.
I grew up “flying” around in all kinds of cedar strips and then learned a lot about wooden boats when my dad got in to sailing.
The glass boat got me on the water for over 12 years as the kids were growing up.Very practical, and reliable…..
I read that piece about Vigor’s Black Box and I can ascribe to every word, I know that I am the luckiest of Boaters, I have had some of the wildest rides on the Big Lakes and have narrowly avoided the worst disasters imaginable,ones that left me contemplating the risks, the rewards and the real tragedies that happen on the water pretty well every weekend.
I can not understand why the water has such a strong pull on me, even though I live on the shores of Lake Ontario near Toronto, the coldest darkest dirtiest,corner of an otherwise magnificent lake , the one most likely to take lives and not leave a trace.

I have more than 3.

Shipshape and well maintained is the only way to take your vessell from the dock.That little nagging doubt can turn in to a raging terror as the land drops from sight and the wind blows up.

Command of a vessell with lives on board is a huge responsibility,all others aboard are just out for a fun time on the water.

When things go wrong, always have a plan B, then C , then D, then E and if you do run out of ideas,don’t let on to the others, they will panic.

No matter how old and beat up a boat may be, it is still stronger than the men who sail her,you can trust her.Can she trust you to not to take the boat out onto waters she was not built for?

No matter how much time, effort, money you have spent on your boat, she may be your pride and joy, even a long held dream that you turned in to reality, be prepared to sacrifice the boat, in order to get all to safety.Do not take heroic measures and risks to save the boat,be prepared to let her go down with dignity, with no souls lost. Especially yours, skipper.

By: Kevin Fitzpatrick

Kevin Fitzpatrick — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:01:49 +0000

I have been enjoying this site every day for some time now, and I thought I would finally comment.

Great comments by all. I would remind the new owner that these are OLD boats. If anyone has ever seen a boat dissassembled and seen the condition of the wood under the nice clean bilge paint, it can give one pause to head out into the deep blue.

I have been in, and then out of, a sinking boat twice. The last time was in my U-22 that was in “great shape”. But when a plank splits, the split can rupture quickly into a gaping hole; in my case a hole a plank wide and a foot and a half long.

Fortunately, wood boats can sink very slowly. We had all of our rescue gear at hand, and everyone but me stepped off the sinking bow of my Chris Craft onto the deck of a sailboat without getting wet. I swam.

At night, in cold water or rough seas, this, now, funny story, could have been a tragedy, as one passenger was 79 years old (OK, she was also a green belt in Karate).

So for all who can afford it, and for those who need to start saving for one; get a new bottom on your old gal, uh, I mean, boat.

Secondly, do “man over board” drills, and make sure there is another person who can operate the boat. On my sailboat, my kids by four years old could stop the boat under sail or power, and do the steps needed to help me back in the boat or call for help (we made a song out of it).

Thirdly, stop working on it and get out and enjoy it!! Forget out the little dings and scratches; use it like my grandfather did! Well, maybe not exactly, he was a rum runner between Canada and Michigan during Prohibition; but you get the picture.

Oh, and check the plug….

By: CHUCK

CHUCK — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:49:44 +0000

“SPEND THE CASH”

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:31:04 +0000

I bought my first boat of any kind 16 years ago from Mitch – and he said:

1) Buy the utility, leave the runabout. You won’t regret it.
2) Never, ever leave without ropes.
3) Be sure it’s soaked.

Still have it, still believe in #2 and 3.

By: Marc D.

Marc D. — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:57:51 +0000

Three sets of three words:
“Practice backing beforehand.”
Followed by:
“Remove all straps.”
And finally, worth repeating:
“Check your plug!”

By: l.a. overcash

l.a. overcash — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:09:43 +0000

check your plug , learn to work on your motor ,old boat mechanics are hard to find , and if its going to happen it will happen out there

By: Mike M

Mike M — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:41:42 +0000

You fall into the “Lift and Sniff” category. Even those lucky devils that have a blower should lift and sniff.

By: Bartlomiej

Bartlomiej — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:24:28 +0000

I read above that someone mentioned to “turn ON the blower”
I have a 63 Lyman and I don’t have a blower on it…? Any suggestions? I honestly never thought about this, but I’ve never had any issues in the past either.

By: Tom H

Tom H — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:00:59 +0000

1. Keep it clean: in the bilge and around the boat. if you can’t find your PFD’s, throw cushions, fire extinguisher in a hurry you might find yourself swimming or worse.
2. Keep it in good condition: many a trip has been cut short or ruined due to faulty or non-existant maintaninace, bad repairs or procrastination.
3. Keep yourself in good condition: get training through the USCG or local Power Squadron classes. Get plenty of rest before heading out on the water and don’t drink and drive they both lead to errors in judgment.

By: Dick Dow

Dick Dow — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:21:05 +0000

It’s about this time the theme song from ” The Man of LaMancha” kicks in…

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:22:46 +0000

Boy, I’m amazed everyone has talked around the OBVIOUS answer: start the next project!