My boss at work happens to be an avid boater, although of an entirely different class from Jason and me. Whereas we keep our boat anchored and intend to provision it for living aboard while keeping our costs as low as possible, my boss uses his vessel entirely for pleasure trips, keeping it docked at a somewhat pricey marina at Coal Harbour and furnishing it with all the latest devices (or rather, paying for someone else to furnish it). He also has a rather large powerboat. Tomahawk’s diminutive 27 feet of sailboat will receive much more direct attention from its owners.
As with most things in life, the differences are neither positive nor negative. Instead, they merely serve to illuminate the diversity within the boating community. Some powerboaters hate sailors and vice versa, but really, variations on a theme can make that theme much more dynamic and interesting. So much wasted energy trying to figure out who’s better or more right when we should be celebrating each other’s experiences.
Anyway, the other day, he told me that they are tearing down and rebuilding his rented boathouse. He has to clear out a lot of stuff that has been stored there, which could lead to some decluttering – always a good thing.
The best part for us is that he has offered me and Jason some spare fenders that he no longer needs. Since we lost most of ours in the Great Beaching of 2013, additional fenders will be very valuable.
(In case you aren’t sure, fenders hang off the sides of a boat to keep it from scraping on docks, other boats, or anything else. They come in many shapes and sizes.)
The fenders are the white things hanging off the side
So yay for free fenders! Knowing my boss, they are probably good quality, too. He’s gutting out the boathouse tomorrow, so we may be due for a paddle out to our boat in the near future for some fixing up. I’m starting to get itchy for the next phase. Let’s hope for warm, dry weather and an early spring!
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