IT IS MORE THAN JUST A BOAT

[Bud Kennedy]

IT IS MORE THAN JUST A BOAT

I have been a boat owner for a whole bunch of years.  Thinking back on all these years a boat has been the gateway to many a fishing trip or just a cruise on the water.  Both of my Ranger boats have always been there to make any day on the water an exciting experience.  The boats often were the consideration for multiple vacations or elongated weekend getaways.  I acknowledge that the attachment to these boats have changed through the years.

In the early days it was to just go fishing with my lifelong fishing partner, Mrs. Bud.  Fishing has been the thing we both enjoy doing and thanks to the boat, some of our best memories were created during these floating vacations.  We really did not think all that much about the boat and I guess it functioned mostly as a utilitarian enabler to take us to the fish.  The boat just made the outing more fun than our years of fishing from the shore.  Shore fishing was a lot of fun but nothing like the freedom you have in the boat.

During midlife we had a bit of a hiatus from fishing as the responsibilities of life sort of got in the way.  This however changed immediately upon retirement over 15 years ago.  We bought a camper and a boat immediately upon retirement.  Both of these purchases were delivered to our getaway camp site on Santee Cooper Lake Marion.  For the next 7 years we spent countless hours on Santee and at the campsite just enjoying our new found freedom of being a retired person.  The Ranger was bounced off many of the infamous Santee stumps and endured the equally famous rough water that could pop up almost without warning.  The shallow quiet lake can turn from a mirror smooth kitty cat into a wave crashing Tasmanian devil if the wind comes from a certain direction.  The boat always got us safely back home and it was during this time that the boat ceased being a utility item and became a good friend.

So now here we are in our senior years and the boat is still very important to us.  After a recent phone call with my good friend Terry G, we were discussing our boats.  Terry's boat also has some years on it.  Terry is five years older than me and is facing some of the issues of aging that just may be the end of his ability to take is boat out.  Like me he has to have someone with him for safety reasons as the reality of taking a boat out alone isn't something we can do these days.  We both love our boats and hate to think about not being able to enjoy them as much as in the past.  We even discussed finding someone to give our boats to that would take as good a care of them that we have.  We both agree that finding such a person is not likely since the stipulation would be the person would have to take us fishing with them.

The real truth is that our boats are more than just boats.  These machines have become valued members of our family and the thought of them not being ours is a hard pill to swallow.  Neither Terry or I know when our time to part company with the boats will be but we both can say that it won't be today.  The reality of aging happens first to our physical bodies while our minds cannot accept the eventual reality that we are not care free younger men.  The boats are actually serving as an anti-aging machine.  They give us a way to keep moving and a platform to play on or work on.  Working on a boat can occupy our minds and bodies for endless hours, days, months or maybe even years.  Believe me when I tell you how important this is to our geezer egos.  It keeps us occupied and busy even when not on the water.  For you younger folks, this note is written to also remind you to take care of your boat.  One day you to may realize how much it will mean to your attitude and all those years of memories might just help you make it through another day.  Retired life is a short period of time.  It does not take long for time to fly by at blinding speed and you too will understand just how much the boat has added life to your years and years to your life.

[coldfront]

it's a real blessing (of liberty) to be able to trailer up, drive to a lake and drop the boat in without having to pay tolls, lake fees, ramp fees...  go anywhere, anytime.

in a single word:  it's freedom.  but the real magic comes from being out on the water.  sunrises, sunsets, wildlife, wind, waves, current, sun, rain... and fish.  any/all species.

sometimes I get to see otters playing.  deer swimming.  one of my favorite days I got to watch a gray fox stalking a wind-blown doritos bag on the shoreline.  squirrels, chipmunks...OSPREYS...herons...  so much to see and experience out there. 


every experience made that much better from the deck of my boat.

[Dark3]

Really heartfelt post, shared with my wife and she enjoyed it also. Being out on the boat isnt just about fishing, its about the experience out in nature for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oldfart9999]

Well said Bud. I look out to the backyard and; no boat in the driveway for the first time in decades. The memories are still there along with the desire to get another, albeit smaller boat.
I'm planning on it but, as with all things in life, the desire and the ability can be 2 different things.
Rodney 

[Larry Francis]

Well said! Thank you, sir.

[Terry G]

Great heartfelt read

[bassmedic46]

Great read Bud, Thank you for sharing. Hoping to someday get a boat and make memories.

[Donald Garner]

Bud, tks for sharing the posting with us.  I've had a boat since I was 16yrs old.  The only time I didn't have one was while deployed to Korea and Germany.  I'm very much looking forward to getting to Re-know my boats upon my retirement here starting next month 

[Wizard]

This post should be in every bass forum or magazine in existence. From a guy who feels as you do but couldn't express it, thank you.

Wizard

[big g]

Bud, I too am in a similar situation as you, and several others.  For over forty years I have had a bass boat and out every week, sometimes twice a week.  But in my mid 70's now, taking the boat out alone is not a situation I do without considerable thought.  It not so much not being able to do it, but it's definitely riskier than even a few years ago.
Years ago I always fished with others, either in my boat, or in our own separate boats in similar areas, where we would be in contact with others throughout the day.  It is so much more reassuring to just have friends in the vicinity, even if their in separate boats.  A few of these people have died off, and some just gave up fishing to move on to other activities. 
I still fish everyday, I'm lucky my home is surrounded by bodies of water that all hold good bass, and peacocks.  I fish from the bank, but it's not the same as taking the boat out to the areas I know so well in the glades, and Okeechobee.  It was so much more fun years ago fishing with a team of friends, most with their own boat, and hitting places as a group all over South Florida.  We shared thoughts, locations, and just having fun.  Today there are not as many friends fishing, or friends with boats, and things just seem more secretive.  Times change, and people just move on with life.  One of the reasons I'm still active on UB and other sites is just sharing info and talking bass, I still love it.  I am fortunate to have an endless supply of great memories over the last 40 years boating down here, with a great group of old friends.  Times change, people change, it's the pattern of life!  Some younger guys think that will never happen to me.  Guess what, it will if they live long enough!!!!!!