Two Feet

Posted By: Jim Williams
Date: 11/4/11 8:30a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

One of the biggest and most expensive illnesses I have ever encountered is two-footitus. It starts at a young age and gets worse with age. The older you get the longer you seem to believe your boat should be. You start this process with another illness that involves adding more "necessary" items to a boat. Soon, you have to have a larger boat to hold more "necessary" items so you buy a larger boat. You think you should not go too much larger so you go two feet. This malady has had a huge impact on my life. I have added so many items to previous boats that the boat just lost its simplicity, the reason I purchased the rig in the first place. After a near lifetime of buying boats, rigging them to my liking, and deciding I need a larger boat, I finally stepped back and took a look at the facts. I bought a trailer sailor because of simplicity and the fact that I don't end up sailing in the same location every time I put the boat in the water. If I have a larger boat in a marina, I can only sail withing a given area before the "work" thing gets in the way. I have to return to the same marina and go to work. The next trip, I go to the same areas and it never changes. So much for the larger boat. If I was totally retired, I might see a way to cruise longer distances. I did so for six years ago but discovered that I still returned to the same marina. After years of this I realized we are all "circular" sailors. We sail primarily in the same circles. Is larger better? It is different, not better. The enjoyment of sailing to me is best if I can see "new" areas regularly and have a simple rig to launch and sail. I am very picky about sailing as well. I can not sail a "Dud" and be happy. That is why I sail a Montgomery 15. After cruising the Caribbean and owning a completely unnecessary number of boats, I am back to a boat that is trailer ready, easy to rig, launch and sails like a larger boat. I don't want to load it down with stuff. This is like an addict trying to get off of "JUNK"! Loading up gear is my biggest fear. I bought too many sails, accessories and was considered a chandler's dream customer! But I think, I have broken the mold and reverted back to why I sail in the first place. A good strong boat and a simple rig. I look at the photos and video's you left coast sailor's enjoy. Wind's under 15 knots, smooth waters and beautiful areas to sail. Then I go out in the skinny brown water, with constant 20 plus knots of wind, with platforms for drilling and huge amounts of commercial traffic. But my little Monty with handle all I am willing to throw at it. The point of this is to hopefully encourage all of you to enjoy what you have. You can find reasons to justify going larger anytime. But you will not find more enjoyable sailing that the boat you have now. They are strong, simple and they sail properly and respond more like larger boats than any micro cruiser available. Jim