C-Brats Emeritus

D

dotnmarty

New member
Both Dotty and I are octogenarians. A few years ago. after having her knees replaced, well, she fell getting off the boat. We decided that was nature's way of telling us something. In our 60 years of marriage we have always worked and recreated together so we sold the boat. I'm happy and blessed in my boatless years but I do miss it, especially living surrounded by such beautiful and forgiving waters. I was wondering what the rest of you are doing and how you're feeling about your boatlessness. Thanks.
 
Some of us seem to be born to "have to have a boat". Even as we sell our C Dory, we do still have an 18' center Console Catamaran--not a cruising boat--be very stable and rides like a much larger boat.

Once a C Brat, always a C Brat, but you bring up an interesting point--that of Emeritis...
 
Well Marty, I miss my boat every single day. As was the case with you, life dictated the need to give up the boat. Although the loss of boating is sad, I cannot complain. 70 years ago no one, least of all the small boy version of me, would have predicted that one day I would be piloting my own boat to Alaska and spending hundreds of hours in absolute bliss on the water.

Checking up on the C-Brats remains one of the great joys of my life. I don't plan on quitting any time soon.
 
I think I know just how you feel. I remember Arthur Godfrey used to sing, "I'd give a million tomorrows for just one yesterday". Anyway, we can't quit C-Brats even if we wanted to,, it ain't allowed.. All the best Bill.
 
When looking at a map of North America, we realized that our cruising area (WA and BC) was quite small. After selling the TomCat we immediately bought a 5th wheel and have enlarged our cruising area ten fold at least. This Summer we head for new territory for me, Mt Rushmore.
Living in Tucson, there's not much water to lure us back. I turn 80 next month and plan on land-cruising for a few more years. But, They say the way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans!
 
I have a response, but with a twist.

For me, I went in the opposite direction! My first love is, and always has been, the mountains.....the more wilderness the better. I used to backpack for months at a time, climb mountains, fly fish in trailless alpine lakes, back county ski. I was a mountain man 100%. Then came the age of 65+ and a bunch of heart problems. Soon much of what I used to do was no longer possible (especially carrying a pack). That's when I bought my C-Dory!

I used to crew on racing sailboats (in SF Bay), and have done some ocean trips on sailboats (e.g., SF to Seattle), so I knew I liked boating. Tosca has given me a 2nd wind so to speak. I love C-Dory style boating almost as much as my time in the mountains, and since most everything involving a boat is flat <grin>, my heart doesn't complain. As I see my 80s on the horizon, I guess that too will become my past.
 
Hi Marty,
Diana and I sold our CDory last year. We miss the boat, but we’re not using it enough to justify hanging on. Our small fleet of canoes and kayaks, plus an aluminum skiff satisfies our need to be on the water, but I suspect we will downsize again as time moves on.

I wish you and Dot the very best, it’s been a pleasure knowing you.
 
JoLee & I have been going together since kids in High School & now married for 52 years with three boys raised together & grandchildren to share. We have traveled & shared most of our life together with an exception. I have always since very young loved time spent in remote wilderness & she wasn’t up to this kind of physical adventure, so I have spent a lot of time solo in the mountains. Like Sandy our boating & C-Dory time came later in life & we have really enjoyed doing the remote wilderness boating adventures together. Now JoLee is having physical ailments restricting her ability & enjoyment in continuing this type of boating with us realizing as in all things there is a time limit. When she can no longer go & I physically & mentally can, then I will continue to go solo or with other boats on remote boating trips as long as able with the majority of our life still shared together & with friends & family. In this we are both in total agreement.

Jay
 
Hi, you guys. Marty, nice thread. I don't yet qualify for emeritus status, but one day that'll come and I'll also want to communicate with my friends here.

I'll tell you, it brings me joy just knowing that my boat is always up in a shed at the San Juan Islands' doorstep, waiting for me to drive up anytime and go cruising. At 64.5 I've got about another year of work, and even frustrating moments on the job soon dissolve when I think about what I own and the thousands of hours of exploration in the next couple decades. How fortunate we are.
 
Well Brock, I think you are still in the youngster stage. Even though you have gone from Bambino to that big Venture you are still my hero bouncing around the San Juans with no kicker and just a 6 gallon tank. I do hope you took your whistle with you. Wishing you all the best kiddo.
 
Marty, I'll have you know I had 2x6, a full 12+ gallons--and a whistle or two. Thanks for your good wishes, and always nice to hear from you.
 
I was thinking about selling out and going boat-less last week. We've had the tub over 20 years with most of the hours put on it were with the son and I fishing. The son is all grown up and moved off now and doesn't have time to go fishing like the good old days. After pondering on selling (for about 5 minutes) I rationalized that with one grandson 19 months old and another 2 days old, I going to need to keep the boat so I can take them fishing and teach them dirty jokes in the years to come.
In a somewhat related vein, I have a niece that worked up a big genealogy book. I suggested that they honor our heritage and pick an ancestors name out of the book for the new addition, I was hurt that they ignored my suggestion....what young man would not like a catchy name like Skull Splitter
 
Marty, Thanks for starting this thread. It is great to see friends from far away and friends from before that are still checking in here and keeping in touch. I recently had a bit of a hiatus, and missed out on C-BRATS for nearly 6 weeks. Long story, but I missed it, just had some other things going on that took me away for a bit. Only 675 thread posts to follow up on when I got back.

I have had SleepyC for 16 years now, and had some wonderful times, made some incredible memories, had opportunities to give back to the marine community and others and still have a boat load of fun.

"Emeritis status", Not yet, and even though I refuse to get old, (which would mean the boat will have to go somewhere down that line,) I can't help getting "older" one day at a time. We have an excellent cadre here that have set some wonderful examples, mentors that have provided so much over the years and each one is inspiring in so many ways. Thank you, each one.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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