First boat, about 1985, was a 15’ baby Bayliner bowrider I saw at a boat show. I put a custom hitch on my Mazda 626 5-speed and picked it up about 75 miles from home. While towing it home I checked the car’s owner’s manual re towing. It said: “this vehicle not recommended for towing.” I could have used some “boater ed” at that point! (The car towed that little boat just fine, though.)
Joined BE in 2003 when I got my second boat, a 24’ Sea Ray cuddy. Loved that boat and kept it at a local marina for about 10 years. After I sold that one, I got a 17’ Javelin fish/ski combo that I didn’t use as much as I should have. I wasn’t into bass fishing so much anymore, and it was loud and not a very smooth ride. The admiral and our mini-doxie didn’t care for it. Sold it a couple of years ago to a random “picker” who stopped by the house and made me an offer.
Fast forward to November ’20 and the admiral and I decided that since our passports weren’t welcome elsewhere due to the pandemic, we should plan some extended vacations in our backyard, Lake Shasta. Found a small houseboat (12’ X 32’ in documents, but the surveyor measured it at 43’) and are having it refurbed right now. Should be off-the-grid with new solar, a couple of split-mini ACs, water maker and all electric fridge. 365 miles of shoreline to explore on this lake that my family started doing boat-in camping vacations in 1959.
My boating has come full circle!