Baby, it’s cold outside

It takes a hearty soul to live aboard when fall turns to winter

Being cold on a boat is a lot like being drunk in church. The two just don’t go together. But there seems to be an increasing number of brave souls who do go for pleasure boating in the cold climes. I’ve read a lot lately about the finer points of folks freezing for fun. Well, I’ve done some subfreezing boating close to home. I can tell you what it’s like, but I’m not going to tell you I liked it.

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The cruising life isn’t always a joy ride

What’s it like to go cruising? What’s it like to explore coastlines and rivers and bays and visit one special harbor after another? What’s it like to live to the pulse of nature rather than the blink of traffic lights? What’s it like to follow the geese south? What’s it like to not have to come back to the dock Sunday night? What’s it like to not have a dock to come back to?

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Head over heels in love with islands

We all dream of islands. I’ve been living and traveling on a boat for many years, and I’ve been going to islands most of my life. But I still always have a yearning for yet another island. Who knows which of the millions out there are truly “special islands”?

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No breaking point for this old mainstay

We stood on the dock in disbelief as our ride drifted out into the harbor — on fire. Watching your boat burn is never a good thing, and it’s worse when you’re on a faraway small island.

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