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When we were at the boat show I asked Pam Wall this kind of question. She said very few. She's very pro-women sailing and has helped many with buying and servicing their boats. But she told us few are the primary owners.
I was just wondering how many women here are the primary owners of their boat?
I've owned a total of 3 boats. I started sailing/learned to sail on a Chrysler 22. I started coastal cruising on a Chrysler 26. Then, I purchased the boat that I have now when I decided to become a liveaboard. The boat is titled to me and was purchased with my money. I've met lots of couples that own boats jointly and many men that own boats, but I've only met roughly 8 women that own their own boats while out on my own boat. It's definately the exception and not the rule. Whenever I'm alone on my boat and bring it in to get fuel or whatever, I get ALOT of looks and most times will get asked something like, "You sail that thing all by yourself!?", as if they are amazed by the fact that singlehanding can even be done by a female. The looks on their faces are quite priceless. I can't say I don't enjoy their reactions. I get alot of offers from guys to be my 1st mate! Ha! Ha!
Trading on up here. My dream of cruising full-time is getting closer. Just signed a contract last Saturday for a new semi-custom Catalina 445. Hope to see her next week at the factory. Boat should be delivered by end of Aug to the broker. It will be a mad rush to get her ready for March 1st date of cutting the docklines. So much to do and so little time to do it in. We are very excited.
I started sailing about 4 years ago, but grew up in and on the water. In late January 2013, I bought a Freedom 38. No partner. It needed a lot of work, some of which I did myself and other stuff I hired out. A couple of weeks ago, I motor-sailed it with 2 friends north from San Diego to San Francisco. At times, when I'm trying to think too many steps ahead, it can seem overwhelming -- almost terrifyingly paralyzing -- so I just don't let my mind go that way. The best parts though are the feelings of accomplishment and constant learning, and the love I have for this "new" boat that the broker had labeled as "deferred maintenance."
Add me to the list! Just bought my first boat, a Pearson 28-2! I've been sailing about 5 years, but mostly out of the marina where I took my sailing classes, on their Flying Scots.
Spent the 4th of July just sitting on her, having a beer, and wondering how I ever lived without a boat.
I should update this. I now own two boats. My main rig, and a walker bay sailing dink. Am thinking of naming the dinky dink "Schrödinger's Kitten." Have been having a blast sailing the latter, and learning lots, too.
I'm aboard Seaweed for 5.5 years as a soloist the entire time. And there's no life better!
Born and raised aboard a 40'er so it's natural to consider a boat a home. And mine's cute. Alas I'm under ten posts so I can't show her to you. That said, if you're curious janice142 dot com is me.
I've lost count....seems to be a lot of female owners. I've known a few and admire their ability to take the responsibility of boat ownership seriously. I know I've seen more men crash a docking than women. WE own our boat and some shipboard duties are hers and some are mine, I usually do the "big shirt, little hat stuff" and she does things that don't require brute strength. The lines blur quite a bit after that. If anything ever happens to me, she'll be the "primary owner" adding one more to the count.
Please excuse me now while I take off the other shoe and continue the count.
Lived aboard and owned boats since 19. Cat, monos, and even a trawler. Met my hubby, sold my current boat ( I think it was boat number 7?) and moved over to Rain Dog, a gorgeous pacific seacraft 34, my hubby is pretty spectacular too.
My hubby came with a sewing machine, heavy duty but not sail rite. I came with a wicked stainless steel and silicon bronze hardware supply ( 4 full tackle boxes full- it's like Christmas every time we open it ).
Funny, I'm doing projects this week with the sewing machine, he has been raiding the SS supply. A match made in heaven.
Posting this somehow makes me feel like one of those AA meetings:
"I'm single, and I own my own sailboat."
I'm the one who maintains the engine, climbs the mast, paints the bottom, and gets FerretChaser to fix the cracked keel and other stuff when I ran out of talent to fix things. After 3 years of working on my boat, I'm still loving it and trying to undo years of neglect and being stored on the hard. While she's still not live-aboardable, I am working determinedly in that direction....
There should be a thread on what makes a great sailing marriage.
I'm the partner who really loves to sail, loves it so much I had to have a boat. My savings paid for the boat and I pay the slip fees out of my pocket. I'm the one who studies sailing magazines and books and reads navigation guides over coffee. I'm the one who figures out that our main isn't going up all the way because we aren't releasing the traveler, who is the better sailor in light winds, who doesn't panic at the helm in rough chop.
But sailing a modern cruiser also requires being able to fix engines and diagnose plumbing issues, and this is where my spouse, an engineer, shines. I don't think I would have dared get the boat without her. It's a sailing match made in heaven. I feel very lucky.
There should be a thread on what makes a great sailing marriage.
I'm the partner who really loves to sail, loves it so much I had to have a boat. My savings paid for the boat and I pay the slip fees out of my pocket. I'm the one who studies sailing magazines and books and reads navigation guides over coffee. I'm the one who figures out that our main isn't going up all the way because we aren't releasing the traveler, who is the better sailor in light winds, who doesn't panic at the helm in rough chop.
But sailing a modern cruiser also requires being able to fix engines and diagnose plumbing issues, and this is where my spouse, an engineer, shines. I don't think I would have dared get the boat without her. It's a sailing match made in heaven. I feel very lucky.
No spouse nor partner. Just a cat and some day a dog or two. If I need a man to do heavy work I will get one off the docks. The rest of the time no spouse required.
emcentar,
I highly recommend the Womens Sailing Organization Women-Only Diesel Workshop. I took it a couple years ago, and my confidence working on my own diesel sky-rocketed. They're holding another one in Massachusetts this February over a weekend.
Before anyone flames on about womens-only-anything, I have a long career racing cars and building my own gasoline engines. However, the shared experience of a group of about 15 women learning together about diesel engines was priceless, and I am not normally a big fan of women-only-anything. (I mean, come on! How are we ever to meet interesting men if we engage in women-only activities? )
The big benefit of the workshop was that no one was afraid to ask a question, no matter how "dumb" it might be, everyone shared knowledge and experiences freely, and everyone had a chance to get their hands dirty actually working on the motors. That is not something I find available in a mixed-breed workshop.
I can't recommend the Mack Boring Womens-Only class highly enough, if confidence in working on the mechanical aspect of the boat is your goal.
Now, can anyone PLEASE recommend a similar way of learning about the electrickery? I have a definite mental block and scaredy-kat mentality when it comes to things that spark and go boom, or worse smolder and burn when you're not looking....
Now, can anyone PLEASE recommend a similar way of learning about the electrickery? I have a definite mental block and scaredy-kat mentality when it comes to things that spark and go boom, or worse smolder and burn when you're not looking....
Electricity is simply plumbing where electrons are the water.
Be not afraid, and get thee a copy of Nigel Calder's book "Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual".
The Navy Electricity & Electronics Training Series. I learned all about 'tricity from these when I was a wee little sperm in the US Navy.
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