Why can't we just live together?

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:15 pm

I am sitting here wanting to shoot myself over two boats that just seem to always need something. That's OK.. But I have no idea what to do and there are few pals around to just help out at least not by the hr.. This is a very lonely hobby sometimes, not because of the folks in it, but because of distance. I have found my self on the buzz looking for hope and jokes. And it has been a life line.. I know many of you feel the same way.. So here is what I propose.

One of you has to have a mess of land on a lake someplace that you are stuck with.. Lets build a community for classic boat lovers. Build one big fat boat house, and some small cottages. There will be dues like a golf club, only the dues go towards a marina manager and shop foreman. And it's all old boats. We can call it The Old Boats Home. We also set up a huge workshop that we can all work in. Open it up as a school and destination for others like us. Have boat shows and take road trips. I guarantee you that it would not only work, but would increase the value of every home on the lake. Anyone? All it takes is a chunk of lakefront property. Anyone?

Al Benton · Post by **Al Benton** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:58 pm

We might talk to country singer George Strait. A few years ago he had some "Ocean Front Property in Arizona" for sale real cheap.

Kidding aside, our Ole' Boys Boat Club is a great support group for our members. We all pitch in and solve problems, mostly for boats on trailers at the shop but do take the crew on the road (so to speak) to work on the cruisers that can't come to the shop. Recently we helped a fellow Ole' Boy repaint the bottom of his 44' Roamer while she was pulled and blocked at his marina.

Al

Don Ayers · Post by **Don Ayers** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:15 pm

Matt;

Take comfort, you're not alone. I spent the last two days sweating my blank off in the garage by myself. I know what you mean because often we don't have a second set of hands when we need to work on a two man job.

The guys down in TX got it right. Several of them go together and got a shop to work in. I wish I could get some more people around my area so I could do the same.

At least you have some space...

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:18 pm

That was a good idea. I did not know about the guys in Texas..Were are they,, I am moving

Don Ayers · Post by **Don Ayers** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:23 pm

North TX bunch. Bill Baldwin is in the group. They call it the Temple.

Hey...will you pop over and help me get the windshield off my Ariston?

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:27 pm

I love the idea. And sure. I will use my miles for a free flight, i can be there in a month.. Wait, I will be in Algonac..

Oberon01 · Post by **Oberon01** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:31 pm

Well, Matt too bad about the distance, but I am doing a similar thing up here in BC. I have bought a property and will be building a large shop on it. I am undecided on size, somewhere between 3-5000 Sq. Ft. depending on the possibility of renting some of it out commerically - you know, something to actually MAKE money!

The property is in a small resort town 3 miles by water from my lake front home, and 3 blocks from a year-round public boat ramp. We just need more classic boat people up here in the Sicamous/Salmon Arm area. My wife is just concerned I'll end up filling it with my own stuff! Doesn't Sunnyland have one or two "communal" shops like this?

I might even try to learn to do some of the work myself, because presently I do none of it and feel a bit guilty, being surrounded by all you resourceful and talented folks.

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Canada!But what if i need my gallbladder removed? Wait, we could do a repair reform thing here, were we can all get our boats worked on for free..

steve bunda · Post by **steve bunda** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:21 pm

Centrally located Winter destination, good deal marina on the water,room to build condos,work shops,storage,slips,and income producing! Investers with woody boat blood running in their veins. I can see the vision . steve and Laurie

jfrprops · Post by **jfrprops** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:30 pm

Set it up and count me in!

Been on the phone with Dick Banner and Jim Evans, too bad we can't just MEET and thrash this boat stuff out...but hey...the phone is better than nothing and this cyber stuff makes it all work.

John in Va.

campjer · Post by **campjer** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:25 am

Matt - you couldn't be in a better place (possibly France) if your gall bladder needs to be removed... remember, we have health care in Canada!

When I was last down working on the DCFB, I was speaking with Patrick who is doing the wood work. He bought his current property (an old tobacco farm) for the purpose of having a boat shop. I suggested to him that he could build his business out into a sort of 'co-op' where you have members representing all the specialties and in addition, have a 'B&B' type atmosphere where people could come, stay, pay and learn how to restore their ladies.

If I'm able to sell one of my dotcom's in the next year or two - count me in... I'll buy some land down on the Detroit River and start setting up the commune!

Al Benton · Post by **Al Benton** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:00 am

Even St. Louis, MO is too cold in the winter for my comfort level. If I were to move at all, especially if the move would be for boating, it would need to be south of here for sure. There's no way that I would shorten my boating season by moving north!

Our Ole' Boys Boat Club works well for us. We have 20 or so regulars and more that come and go. We have a heated and air conditioned shop that is well stocked with supplies and tools. Our only requirement is that you must be a member of our ACBS Chapter to participate.

Some of our Ole' Boys don't have a trailered boat but are there every week helping others with their theirs or working on Chapter projects. The good part for us is that it does sort of extend our boating season into the cold months by having a comfortable environment to work and gather in the Winter.

Al

jahearne · Post by **jahearne** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:20 pm

Good idea, often thought about how cool would it be to have a place to work on my boats and cars maybe with a few friends to go in on the idea.

There's a few empty marina's for sale near my area. Too, bad they want an arm & leg for them; unfortunately, they'll probably stay empty for quite sometime unless someone can come up with a brilliant idea on how to get in on one.

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:56 pm

A cheap marina is a cool idea. The cool thing is that if this were done right, would improve the entire lake. Must be fresh water, long season. No aligators or bugs that are bigger than my boat...Does this sort of place even exist? North Carolina? Although the summers are sweat fests. One thing about winter is that it gives you time to work on your boat. Idaho? Payette Lake? Montana? Auston TX? mmmm BBQ and boating! BBQBing..

jahearne · Post by **jahearne** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:37 pm

"A cheap marina is a cool idea." with a restaurant and bar.

A full bar would pay for the marina that is if we don't drink up the profits. I think we're onto something.

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:11 pm

With a full bar who would care if it didn't work? I love it.

57 chris · Post by **57 chris** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:38 pm

Count me in, I'm tired of trying to find work here. I'd love to start working on boats full time!and I don't mind traveling to the work!

drrot · Post by **drrot** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:48 am

The old Hunter Boat Co. here in McHenry is for sale. If someone can choke down the 6,500,000 asking price I'll move.

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:53 am

I cant afford a valve job.. Sure.. if i am going to go bankrupt... go big.. As my son says.. Go big, or go home!

drrot · Post by **drrot** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:26 am

Ya loose a bit here and there, but you can make up for it in volume!!

BrokenRule2 · Post by **BrokenRule2** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:05 pm

Matt, I think of the same thing every time I cruise past the old Mare Island Ship Yard located at the mouth of the Napa River and the SP Bay. It have everything you could need, railways, hoists and large buildings VERY cheap. Just not many interested boaters in these waters. The costs of things are just too high and the work picture is bad.

My wife will play the mega lotto once in a great while so she can buy me the spot I Mare Island I would need to keep the boats she would buy. It's a nice dream and keeps us going.

What would be fun is swapping marinas so we could experience new places without losing our home base...

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 5:36 pm

All our boats would smell like Moth balls! Ha.. That place is amazing. Dear lord.. We could all pool our money together and loose it all in one payment to the EPA.. I agree though its a grea

mfine · Post by **mfine** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:18 pm

Al Benton wrote:Even St. Louis, MO is too cold in the winter for my comfort level. If I were to move at all, especially if the move would be for boating, it would need to be south of here for sure. There's no way that I would shorten my boating season by moving north!

Don't think of it as shortening your boating season. I like to think of winter as the 10 months to get all the repairs done for the next season!

Al Benton · Post by **Al Benton** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:51 pm

Well, that's one way of justifying things. Seems we spend 10 hours of work for every 2 hours of using them. Winters aren't all that bad here, I've been cruising as late as early December and as early as late February before but, believe me, it was cold.

The late Feb. cruise was costly, had to replace an ice damaged plank. The river was clear of ice but not the marina. We pushed a large slab of ice away but it came back around and got us before I could get the boat out of its path. It seemed harmless but when we got her in the slip, there was a fairly clean slice almost through the plank.

I'm ready to become a snow bird.

Al

jahearne · Post by **jahearne** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:01 pm

Maybe that's why California is so expensive; we get to use it all year round. Cold around here means you don't have to put the beer in the fridge to keep it cold.

I'm going to keep my eye out of an old 'cheap' marina 4 sale.

BrokenRule2 · Post by **BrokenRule2** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:53 am

Matt, do you think these railways would work?

Tightline5 · Post by **Tightline5** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:56 pm

Matt, what's the problem??????? you'r just north of utopia now. I have to say if you'r in the Smith Mt. Lake club and need a hand with anything from washing the boats to installing a 5200 bottom, or a full strip sand and restain and varnish, help is only a phone call away with these guy's. And hey most times we work for coffee and dounuts.

Now that's the real boat journey, guy's like this. Don't want to judge, but your area seem's like green is the color of the day.

JohnKadimik · Post by **JohnKadimik** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:24 pm

Hey Phil, some people want more then the J.V.team working on their boat. Is there something wrong with working in the restoration business for "green" ? You get paid for what you do right?

Tightline5 · Post by **Tightline5** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:54 am

John, I think you have missed the point of Matt's original post. As for the J V comment, you don't know me or my level of skill, nor do I know your level. And yes I get paid for what I do, you see I work with PEOPLE with developmental disabilities, am I paid alot, NO but money isn't everything, people and the relationship's that are formed are. And now we are moving back to Matt's original theme.

Matt Smith · Post by **Matt Smith** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:50 pm

Ha. You actually know each others work on woody boater... Oh the fun of forums and emails. If we all lived together this wouldn't happen...

Why can't we just live together?

Why can't we just live together?

workshop

Who is online