Is Boating Dangerous ?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by zeehag

and YOU are cynical. why do you ask this-- do you drink or shop? or is it your wife??

Yes both of us drink and shop! Am I in extra danger now?

[dofthesea]

The only dangerous situation I see with my boat is every time I see her she has her hand out asking for $$$.

[rgscpat]

Originally Posted by zeehag

the worst part of cruising is the waiting--like waiting out hurrycame season....waiting for parts...waiting for crew......waiting aint sailing. waiting can be dangerous.....

Langston Hughes:

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

[zeehag]

good poem....dream deferred is actually dreamicus interrupticus or extra time in one place, as part of the dream.

shopping sux, and shopping under influence could be dangerous...LOL

[ActiveCaptain]

I'd rather die in my boat doing what I love than sit in a recliner watching "Wheel of Fortune" for an extra 20 years. Like, what's the point of life unless you're willing to use the gifts it provides?

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

Given the number of threads about pirates, boardings, murders, self protection devices, on and on and on, one would think boating is really dangerous.

But hey, what's the worst thing that can happen?

You die, right?

Well guess what, you are going to die. We all are, and within a fairly predictable time frame.

It is obvious to anyone that is a cruiser that we are almost all old people, retired or soon to be retired. Say in the 45 to 75 year old range. That means our chances of dying in the next 12 months are about 1 in 30, or 3%. Since everyone dies by 100, you could simplify the math and say there is a 1% chance per year of anyone dying.

Our chances of being murdered are 1 in 100,000.

Our chances of drowning are about 1 in 50,000.

What's with all this negative paranoia?

Lorenzo,
I like the question. There have been a lot of funny responses and a few serious ones that address your question. This has been on my mind since I returned from the Caribbean last week. Why?

Because I had an unusual amount of fear on the trip and it really ruined half of it. I've owned Palarran for 15 months now and have sailed her around 9 times without an overwelming amount of fear. But this last trip seemed to revolve around it.
Fear of hurricanes, fear of dingy theft, fear of outright breakin's, fear of reefs, of night passages, of motor failure, of sails and rigging failure, dragging anchor, lightning, you name it and for some reason it was always on my mind.

When I got back I wondered if reading all the Cruisersforum threads about these issues was making me fearful of them? I don't know, maybe ignorance is bliss but somehow I've got to get in in control. I checked my engine compartments three times during a night passage to make sure they where not flooding. Why? I've never had a problem before. It was almost like OCD kicked in. Check this, then that, then restart the checking. And the dingy - couldn't leave it unlocked anywhere. Really ridiculous.

The question of what can happen? "you die", doesn't work when your wife, two children, sister, bro in law, and best friend are also onboard.

[Mexdon]

Try living in Mexico City a while....that's dangerous, the ocean in a storm is but a quiet neighbourhood.

[diverdr]

lmao what great sense of humors fell off the bar stool just watching the boat!

[diverdr]

not to make light of a serious question (after catching Palarrans response)

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by MyBell

I'd rather die in my boat doing what I love than sit in a recliner watching "Wheel of Fortune" for an extra 20 years. Like, what's the point of life unless you're willing to use the gifts it provides?

I agree, but how about Jeopardy?

[niel12]

I read once that a mans brain's one of the worlds most underated organs that has a powfull influances on one's life, one's achievements and one's denials. Thoughts can be the uncontrolled unspoken words that do control what you experience and what you feel. You control the thoughts you control the outcome, hence "The Power of Posistive Thinking!"

I do recommend that this book be part of every boats library!

[sww914]

Hell yes!
I banged my head hard 7 times today installing my engine.

[niel12]

The physical yea, unavoidable cramped spaces leaking diesel pipes, changing impellars and fan belts ........ who said sailing was without brusing your knuckles and sharing a few nicities sometimes with no one in particular!

Or experincing a full sail, moderate seas and wind blowing through your hair while salt water splash on your skin ... yea, i guess it's all about sailing.

[IdoraKeeper]

Well, my neighbor fell off his boat today. Amazingly only half his ass got wet. The agua here is nice and cool so he thrashed himself trying to not fall overboard. His son was there and was concerned that he had injured himself in his attempts to stay dry, when it was clear that he was unhurt there was a good laugh. He was sober, that may have been part of the problem. Nevertheless, we had a good discussion about furnace parts...

Dangerous? Mark J. made it around the planet drinking home brew...I believe I will take my chances. I will simply ask myself what Charlie Cobra would do and then tone it down 50% all will be well.

Todd

[David_Old_Jersey]

It's as dangerous as you want to make it...........by intention or ignorance.