Now if I can just get my own weather radar! I'm pretty sure I've heard a saying that boating is a rich man's sport and I'm beginning to see how this saying came about, because nothing that goes on a boat is bargain priced. I knew to expect this but I thought I'd swallow my own tongue when I saw that even the charts are over 100 bucks! And just for one small area. You'd think for that amount you could at least get from Virginia to Florida but, no, the one we bought the other day only got us from the northern coast of NC to the middle part of Virginia! This is how a typical conversation goes between me and Brian nowadays: Brian: "Baby, look at this great radar!" Me: "That is a great radar! How much is it?" Brian: "$1250." Me: "Of course it is." Brian: "Baby, check out these cool binoculars. They have a built-in compass!" Me: "Those are cool binoculars! How much are they?" Brian: "$897." Me: "Of course they are." These days I find myself thinking something is a bargain if it's much under $1000 and I'm usually a bargain-shopper extraordinaire. Alas, I don't think I'm going to find any boating equipment at my local Big Lots.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The siren song of electronics
I never thought I could get turned on by navigational equipment. And if you've ever had the same thought then you've probably never seen the CPV550! This beauty will do almost everything but make your morning coffee. And I'm betting Brian could figure out a way to make it do that too if we wanted. 
Now if I can just get my own weather radar! I'm pretty sure I've heard a saying that boating is a rich man's sport and I'm beginning to see how this saying came about, because nothing that goes on a boat is bargain priced. I knew to expect this but I thought I'd swallow my own tongue when I saw that even the charts are over 100 bucks! And just for one small area. You'd think for that amount you could at least get from Virginia to Florida but, no, the one we bought the other day only got us from the northern coast of NC to the middle part of Virginia! This is how a typical conversation goes between me and Brian nowadays: Brian: "Baby, look at this great radar!" Me: "That is a great radar! How much is it?" Brian: "$1250." Me: "Of course it is." Brian: "Baby, check out these cool binoculars. They have a built-in compass!" Me: "Those are cool binoculars! How much are they?" Brian: "$897." Me: "Of course they are." These days I find myself thinking something is a bargain if it's much under $1000 and I'm usually a bargain-shopper extraordinaire. Alas, I don't think I'm going to find any boating equipment at my local Big Lots.
Now if I can just get my own weather radar! I'm pretty sure I've heard a saying that boating is a rich man's sport and I'm beginning to see how this saying came about, because nothing that goes on a boat is bargain priced. I knew to expect this but I thought I'd swallow my own tongue when I saw that even the charts are over 100 bucks! And just for one small area. You'd think for that amount you could at least get from Virginia to Florida but, no, the one we bought the other day only got us from the northern coast of NC to the middle part of Virginia! This is how a typical conversation goes between me and Brian nowadays: Brian: "Baby, look at this great radar!" Me: "That is a great radar! How much is it?" Brian: "$1250." Me: "Of course it is." Brian: "Baby, check out these cool binoculars. They have a built-in compass!" Me: "Those are cool binoculars! How much are they?" Brian: "$897." Me: "Of course they are." These days I find myself thinking something is a bargain if it's much under $1000 and I'm usually a bargain-shopper extraordinaire. Alas, I don't think I'm going to find any boating equipment at my local Big Lots.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Step 1: Buy a boat
7 months and 30 days ago I spent a lovely day at the Annapolis Boat Show with a friend from high school and his son. We spent the day climbing around beautiful boats, fondling their teak trimmings and chatting about his plans to buy a liveaboard catamaran. That day, I tried to ignore how much I was loving his company and how envious I was of his plans. Now Brian and I have a catamaran and I am an integral part of those plans. My how fast things can happen! After several months of research we were growing weary of what sometimes felt like a fruitless search. Many of the catamarans we wanted, especially Catalacs, were overseas and I didn’t particularly relish the thought of beginning our adventures in England. Not that I don’t want to go to England. It’s actually one of the top places I want to visit. But part of the reason we’re getting a boat is to be warm and England isn’t exactly a tropical paradise. But this past Sunday we found a Catalac for sale in South Carolina! Not only was it in the US but it was on our coast! We were super stoked and we could both feel it in our bones. This was our boat! We spent several hours inspecting every inch of her Monday afternoon. We went for a ride that evening as the sun set over the water. Dolphins were all around us and it was all I could do not to shout out, then and there, “WE’LL TAKE IT!” Truly, if you want to sell a boat quickly there are two things you can do to ensure it: 1) make sure it’s a Catalac you’re selling 2) arrange for a dolphin escort when you take the prospective buyers for a ride.
She requires a lot of equipping and isn’t quite ready for voyaging yet but we’re going to have a lot of fun getting her ready! First, though, we have to bring her home from beautiful Beaufort, SC and that will start us off with quite an adventure I’m sure.
And here she is...Kozmik Kaos!
She requires a lot of equipping and isn’t quite ready for voyaging yet but we’re going to have a lot of fun getting her ready! First, though, we have to bring her home from beautiful Beaufort, SC and that will start us off with quite an adventure I’m sure.
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