Is There Anybody Out There? [Pink Floyd, The Wall]…

[Gazmn]

This is part of a side comment I made on Dlanderson putting his boat up for sale {I know we all have our time but sad to see him possibly move on}.

My Marina is Shrinking! Where Is Everbody?!!
I think Sailboat buyers are even less among even recent Covid boat buyers. I got <25 moored boats in my 24 hr Marina. In a field that can hold close to 2 X that!

I bought my Mac and joined here in ‘06. Then We had The Great Recession and all it’s done is go down since 2008, here in Bayside, NY

How is Boat [& Sail} membership by you?

[dlandersson]

Huh? Wha...?

This is part of a side comment I made on Dlanderson putting his boat up for sale {I know we all have our time but sad to see him possibly move on}.

[Jimmyt]

This is part of a side comment I made on Dlanderson putting his boat up for sale {I know we all have our time but sad to see him possibly move on}.

Actually, it was AmandaRuth - boat in Washington DC; that was selling.

To your question, sail boat usage appears to have declined some here as well. Not sure what to credit that to. Talking to some local sailors, I get things like hurricanes, Dauphin Island Race deaths, storms, and the new generation only wants to play video games...

Several hurricanes have damaged a lot of inventory. I have several friends that have lost boats in storms. But, my theory is; sailing is more difficult, and less flashy than power boating, or jet skiiing. It doesn't appear that folks want to do anything that isn't easy. Jet skiing is up around here (don't get me started).. Pontoon boats are also up in this area. They are a great way to spend the day on the water with a lot of your friends - if you can stay on the rivers or hit the occasional calm day on the bay. And, it doesn't get much easier than pontoon boating.

I just love sailing. I took a prospective Mac buyer out awhile back. At the end of the trip, he said "this is fun, but way too much effort. If I get a boat, it'll have to stay in the water". To me, it's worth the trouble. I don't wake up in the middle of a bad storm wondering if my boat is getting destroyed. But, that's me.

There are some young sailors coming up in the local yacht clubs. So, maybe it will pick back up.

[Russ]

I took a prospective Mac buyer out a while back. At the end of the trip, he said "this is fun, but way too much effort.

I think there is a lot to this perspective.
Jimmy is probably right about generalizing the next gen of boaters. Sailing is more work than turning a key. They want instant enjoyment with less effort.

I grew up sailing the Jersey coast and Long Island Sound as the son of a sailor. It's in my DNA. However, when I moved to Montana, I thought boating was in my past.
Then I found a big lake 90 minutes away. So we bought a runabout, similar to Kevin's. It was fun to get out on the water, but I soon got bored. Once we got to where we were going, there was nothing to do. Towing kids on tubes was fun for a bit, but I missed sailing.
Our mountain lake gets thunderstorms all the time. I got caught in one on the runabout. Not fun. But we could get back to the marina quickly to avoid them.

Then my dad told me about this powersailor called a MacGregor. I found this forum and quizzed members and learned that it might be the solution to my sailing desire. The rest is history. Sold the powerboat. Bought the Mac from BWY.
We love the Mac. I actually rarely motor unless there is no wind. Our 24 year old son is now a competent sailor and takes her out on his own. So he now fits the Jimmy Buffet song "Son of a son of a sailor".

I bought a couple of Jet skis for "fun". Yes, it's a thrill to go from zero to 70mph and skim the water. Again, I got bored after a while. Used one as dinghy but they don't tow well. Eventually I sold them.

There are plenty of sailboats in our marina. Four other Macs (D's,X's, M's). The marina is FULL and they have raised slip rates because they can.

With that said, the NEW boats that show up are mostly pontoon boats. Probably because that's all they sell here.

Our marina is "old" sailboats (regulars, I haven't seen a new one), pontoons, ski boats and fishing boats. Ski boats show up late in summer (water temps are cold), fishing boats are first in last out.

I do fear sailing will be a dwindling sport. However, I won't trade the relaxing quiet of wind power with no place to go.

[pitchpolehobie]

I saw somewhere that since 1980 there are 1/2 the # of sailors in the US but total boaters has increased. I believe high end sailboat sales have increased as a portion. I think its a multitude of issues not the least of which is 35years of kids raised to be safe not strong and avoiding Sailing is an adventure and a years to decades long time commitment. Any sailboat owner has to be able to be a jack of all trades and handyman. Also you have to be together with your financial health or youll never be able to maintain upkeep.

[Be Free]

Around here marina space has more than doubled in the last couple of years. The tallest structures in town (excepting the water tower) are dry stack boat storage.

I've not noticed any change in the number of local power boaters or sail boats. We have a lot of sailboats here (considering the population) but most of them stay anchored. Fortunately none of them meet the legal definition of "derelict" although few are "Shipshape and Bristol fashion".

I think in the last three and a half years I've seen two other sailboats out and about with their sails up. That said, there are a surprising number of people who have expressed interest to me about purchasing a sailboat in that same period of time; one was specifically interested in a 26X.

What has decreased for us is the number of family-owned commercial fishing boats based here. We are quickly changing from a small "drinking town with a fishing problem" to a destination vacation spot for the various local "festivals" and to a desirable location for vacation homes. This time of year the number of rental pontoon boats out on the water comprise a sizeable multiple of the number of full-time residents.

I've not noticed any change in the number of transient cruisers here. This is still a popular overnight (or longer) stop for folks transiting the west coast of Florida. I host the local Marine Traffic shore station in this area so I see them coming and going as long as they have AIS transmitting. https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/ho ... .6/zoom:10

[NiceAft]

Pitchpolehobie said,

Any sailboat owner has to be able to be a jack of all trades and handyman. Also you have to be together with your financial health or youll never be able to maintain upkeep.

You’re preaching to the choir.

[kingtoros]

Then We had The Great Recession and all it’s done is go down since 2008, here in Bayside, NY

How is Boat [& Sail} membership by you?

Where in Bayside?? I am from Woodside!

Any sailboat owner has to be able to be a jack of all trades and handyman. Also you have to be together with your financial health or youll never be able to maintain upkeep.

I live inland without any reasonable body of water/boat ramp for at leasy 75 minutes from me which makes commute + setup longer than time on the water most days.

That said the part I want to highlight is financial. It's cheap to buy/rent a power boat/pfc.. The Mac is the best deal at $15-35k PURCHASE price... They sell as soon as they list within 200mi of me.

[Be Free]

Kingtoros,
I live a hair over 2 miles from my boat ramp and still prefer not to go out on day sails. The setup/tear down time usually isn't worth it unless I'm going to be out for several days. If day sails were my only choice I might feel differently.

[kingtoros]

Kingtoros,
I live a hair over 2 miles from my boat ramp and still prefer not to go out on day sails. The setup/tear down time usually isn't worth it unless I'm going to be out for several days. If day sails were my only choice I might feel differently.

Right, but for me it comes to the financial costs around sailing/boating in general. A slip, or dry mooring is far more than the parking spot I rent (if I'm even doing that).

[Ixneigh]

There hasn’t been much wind where I am in the last few summers and it’s been terribly hot. Few summers like that would sour anyone on sailing. yay for the Mac m/x since they can be either.

Ix

[Sundew]

I'm discovering that day sailing is a LOT of work...

Yesterday, I went to a boat launch that I have not been to before. I parked out in the back part of the boat launch parking lot to stay out of everyone's way while I prepared. I raised my mast, rigged the sails, and got everything ready. When I went to drive to the ramp, a tree branch sticking out over the driveway stopped me. I couldn't make it to the ramp. I had to back the boat up and turn around - drove back to the parking spot - removed the rigging, lowered the mast and then drove back down to the ramp. Then raised the mast (again) and re-rigged the rest of the boat (again). It took 2 1/2 hours to get into the water.

I was flustered and made a lot of mistakes. Got out in the water and raised the sails, but was completely exhausted. We sailed around for a bit and then headed back to beat an approaching storm. Got her on the trailer and then went through the process of taking everything down so that I could drive back home. By the time I got back home, I didn't even want to look at the boat again. I was totally spent. I know I made a lot of mistakes. I will do better next time. But that is so much work to go through for just an hour or two of sailing. So I totally understand why some people don't want the hassle of a sailboat.

I'm still new to sailing and I have a lot to learn... this experience was a hard lesson. But I'm definitely learning. And I emailed the county parks department (they maintain the boat launch) to complain about the tree branch.

I'm looking for a slip to use to make it easier to go out for a quick sail. But if you have tips - please share.

[NiceAft]

I'm discovering that day sailing is a LOT of work...

Yesterday, I went to a boat launch that I have not been to before. I parked out in the back part of the boat launch parking lot to stay out of everyone's way while I prepared. I raised my mast, rigged the sails, and got everything ready. When I went to drive to the ramp, a tree branch sticking out over the driveway stopped me. I couldn't make it to the ramp. I had to back the boat up and turn around - drove back to the parking spot - removed the rigging, lowered the mast and then drove back down to the ramp. Then raised the mast (again) and re-rigged the rest of the boat (again). It took 2 1/2 hours to get into the water.

I was flustered and made a lot of mistakes. Got out in the water and raised the sails, but was completely exhausted. We sailed around for a bit and then headed back to beat an approaching storm. Got her on the trailer and then went through the process of taking everything down so that I could drive back home. By the time I got back home, I didn't even want to look at the boat again. I was totally spent. I know I made a lot of mistakes. I will do better next time. But that is so much work to go through for just an hour or two of sailing. So I totally understand why some people don't want the hassle of a sailboat.

I'm still new to sailing and I have a lot to learn... this experience was a hard lesson. But I'm definitely learning. And I emailed the county parks department (they maintain the boat launch) to complain about the tree branch.

I'm looking for a slip to use to make it easier to go out for a quick sail. But if you have tips - please share.

Sailing is a labor of love.

The first year we had our M we day sailed. It wasn’t long before we realized that for the few hours on the water, the three hours total needed to raise and then lower the mast, took too much time. We quickly got a slip.

We no longer have the slip, got bored with the Delaware River. Nice Aft is a toy, and does not place pressure on us to use it. We now use it for two weeks up at Lake George. Maybe also twelve days on the Chesapeake, that’s it.

This is our twentieth season with her. We anticipate many more. The majority of the time our driveway is her home.

[pitchpolehobie]

Agree with your sentiments. Its a ton of work to launch and teardown on the same day. I would recommend a small investment in the bwyachts quick fittings for rigging and teardown. I can rig and tewrdown and only pull tools out for 1 single fitting which is securing the roller furler forestay back into the tang. I also leaving my mainsail on the boom and place gently into my cabin. Use caribiners for fenders and tie as few knots as possible during the ptocess. Get a bunch of bungie cords and small leftover rope lashings for securing the stays. I also leave my jibsail on my roller furler over summer and travel with it on the furler. That saves a ton of time pulling it down and hauling it up w each rigging.

It gets a lot faster once youve done it even just a few times dont worry hang in.

[NiceAft]

There is a major difference between an X and an M. The M’s mast is significantly heavier than the X’s. That alone adds time.

I have raised the mast of an X without the mast raising system. I have tried this once or twice with our M (years ago) and decided on the MRS. The M’s mast is just too d*mn heavy. The few minutes saved with the quick release is not significant enough

Rick Boucher had an X (Bermuda Breeze), and he rigged it in a half hour without the MRS. I sailed with him many times.

As for the “hang in”, I have owned my for twenty years.