Boating Tips and Tales

April 2007: Healthy Days

Written by Ed Stone - Commodore, MiraBay Mariners Club

The marina was not too busy. Though It was the weekend, very few of the regular boaters were there. The weather really didn’t suit most boaters. The strong southerly breeze that had prevailed all morning had died down to a whisper which brought with it a slight mist that had now settled over the moored boats like a light blanket. Even though it was still warm, there seemed to be a slight chill in the air.

Wearing a weather-beaten yellow foul weather jacket, the old man stood on the dock next to his prized boat, admiring it with love as if it were one of his many beloved grandchildren. He removed his well worn, broad brimmed rain hat releasing a shock of silver hair that surrounded his weathered and wrinkled face--a face that showed the signs of many years on the water. He turned away from the boat and glanced skyward seemingly studying the growing gray mist. In contrast, as weathered as the old man’s face might be, the steel gray eyes seemed to sparkle even in the dim light of the haze. He sensed the fog that was bound to roll in within a few minutes. With a sigh he looked back at his boat moored at the dock. It was quite evident that this was not the newest of boats. Many miles of water had passed under her hull. Not the largest boat by far in the Marina and certainly not the smallest, it always seemed to stand out. Though the boat itself was fiberglass, there was a profusion of wood trim and an abundance of bright works that, even without the sun, shown as if under a spotlight. The hull itself almost reflected the image of the old man.

Not too far down the dock, a much younger boater stood and watched the old man with wonder. He had seen him come in from the bay and had helped take a line that was thrown as the old man approached the dock. With the fenders in place and the boat secure, the young man went back to his own boat. Something fascinated him about the old man. He had seen him leaving early in the morning for a day’s fishing. The young man had thought about venturing out but he felt the weather just wasn’t right. Other things would fill his day. Now he was back. What was it that brought him back to the marina? He wasn’t sure. Make sure his boat was secured? Whatever the reason, here he was, in the dull gray mist of late afternoon. His attention went back to the old man. Many questions raced through his mind until finally curiosity got the better of him and with a sigh he said to himself, “What the heck, I have to talk with this gentleman.”

As he approached, the old man sensing his arrival, turned to greet the much younger man. They exchanged greetings and the usual pleasantries, discussing the weather, the fishing and just small talk that is normal between boaters. Finally the conversation began to focus on the boat, secured at the dock.

“I have noticed for some time, how beautiful you keep your boat,” the young man said, complimenting the boat's condition. “You could hardly hear the motor when you brought her in.” The old man smiled and thanked him and then continued to answer the unspoken questions that the young man wanted to ask but didn’t.

“Every time I return from a day of fishing or just cruising,” he said, “whether just a short trip or an all day journey, I totally scrub and clean her.”

“Every time?” the young man asked incredulously.

“Every time,” the old man reiterated. “I treat her like a child. Do you have children?” he asked. The young man answered that he, indeed, had two small children. “Would you put them to bed without giving them a bath and brushing their teeth? ”

“Of course not!” came the answer in wonderment.

The old man continued. “You do these things because you love them. It’s your responsibility to them. They are well groomed in the morning when they go to school, going out to play, or just if they are stuck in the house on a rainy day. "By making sure they are clean, it also helps insure that they will stay healthy. The same goes for my boat. I keep her clean, not only on the outside but on the inside as well. That way she stays healthy as well and ready to go when I am. As with a child with a runny nose, boats also can 'leak', but instead of spreading germs, unhealthy boats can spread pollution and endanger our wildlife and waterways. I have always said, 'If she is pretty on the outside, the chances are she’s pretty on the inside'.”

The mist had turned into a steady light rain, as the young man drove home that evening. The conversation with the old man ran through his mind and the rain seemed to accentuate the words of wisdom that the old man spoke. “Maybe if I had taken the time to do a little extra work when I brought her in maybe I wouldn’t have had that big repair bill,” he thought.

The old man was right, you know. Too many of us go out for a fun day on the water and by the time we return we are “too tired” to do a thorough job in taking care of our boats or watercraft. A quick hose down and it’s off to home. How often I have heard that tired old saying,"It’s good enough.” As a young child growing up, my grandfather always said to me, “If you have to say, ‘It’s good enough, it isn’t'.”

A boat is a major investment and no matter if it’s a small fishing boat or a large cruiser, they all need to have that little TLC. Always remember, if you take care of them, they will take care of you. They will then provide you with many years of enjoyment.

Thinking back to the old man on the dock, the young man remembered seeing the name on the stern of his boat. Prior to his conversation, the name really didn’t register. Now it made good sense:

“HEALTHY DAYS”

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