Budget space missions, regarding that list, and a good reason not to shop Amazon…
One of the things that I’ve always known about cruising is that it was doable by just about anyone with a bit of common sense. The whole “buy or build a boat, point it in the direction you want to go, and go” pretty much was a concept that seemed mostly foolproof as exhibited by thousands of cruisers over the years. You know, the same old same.
Sure there was a rather steep learning curve for a lot of folks. Stuff happens but that’s all part of any adventure gig worth doing and a big factor in one’s personal growth.
While some folk prosper, others give up. Once, in Las Palmas, a couple shared their reasons for giving up on cruising as…
There are no Walmarts and we can’t get Hellman’s mayonnaise.
Now, I’ll admit. I find their comfort zone issues somewhat problematic but granted I’ve never been a fan of Hellman’s mayonnaise either.
That was back in the early 90s and a lot has changed. Cruisers have comforts and gear that were unavailable to folks on a budget. These days things like GPS, AIS, watermakers, solar and fridges are available and affordable.
So, what’s the problem?
While you can buy a good cheap boat and outfit it on a budget you’d think affordable cruising was now a given but there are still a couple problems. the first being…
Maximalism
There’s so much stuff available to us in our consumerist society that we can have everything we want rather than what we need. The result being a case of going broke saving money. Throw in that with all that stuff you need a bigger boat and all of a sudden you’re spiraling out-of-control.
Perfectionism
For a variety of reasons we all desire the best of everything. Maybe it’s keeping up with the Joneses, competitive “my stuff is better than your stuff” posturing or the “you get what you pay for” idiocy the pressure to have the best of everything is a sad state-of-affairs.
For instance, a $500 Aries windvane will steer your boat just as well or better than a $6k+ Hydrovane. I’ll add that a $250 DIY vane will perform as well or better than the Aries or Hydrovane with the added benefit that your DIY vane is user repairable and having built it you’ll know how. The only downside is the bragging rights are very different.
Personally, I respect the guy who builds the DIY windvane or has an old Aries because they have what’s needful to do the job. Folks with the Hydrovane however fall into the “Bless their hearts they just don’t have a clue” group.
I’ll throw in that folks sporting a Rolex don’t impress me either. As it happens, some years back doing daysail charter in St Thomas, a guy on the crew was complaining that he was not getting the sort of tips he felt he expected when the owner of the boat said to him…
Lose the watch!
He looked at her, then at his watch and said “but it’s a Rolex!”. She then pointed out folks seldom tip you when you have a $10K watch on your wrist.
An important lesson indeed. As someone who’s worked in the marine trades having the best of everything on your boat means that a rigger or mechanic is going to be charging you a lot more.
Just sayin’