Launching ~ Weekly FR Boating Thread ~ Vol. 1 ~ Jan 27, 2012

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

Ahoy, fellow FR boating lovers!

(Boating = all boats and water-related activities; sailing, cruising, fishing, beach combing, flipflop wearing, key lime pie eating, surfing, SUPing – if it floats, tastes salty or is sand encrusted, it belongs here!)

While politics are important, our country is great, and FR is amazing; boating is all about fun afloat! This post is the launch of a weekly FR thread about anything and everything boating. (Boating FReepers are either enjoying their boats or dreaming about boats while surfing on Free Republic.)

Back story: my parents met in a boatyard, I grew up on boats, my birthsign is Pisces, I've raced sailboats of all sizes, cruised on power and sailboats of all types, love anything beach related, attended too many sea trials on all types of vessels to count, and am currently making custom SUPs (Stand Up Paddleboards) for me and my crew (16 year old daughter and 14 year old son). Charleston, SC is currently my homeport with Folly Beach being my favorite place to play at the 'Edge of America.'

My livelihood is helping people buy and sell boats. Do you have a boating question? Fire away! (If I do not have the answer, I bet another nauti FReeper does.) Have a favorite Sea Story? Share away! Love your boat? Brag on!

Post away, and/or ping me to sign up for this Weekly FR Boating Thread ping list.

Happy boating!

"Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made." ~ Robert N. Rose

[DuncanWaring]

Ping.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We live at Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri.
Two boats in our floating dock. One is a 26 foot pontoon with the 225 Honda OB for power.

[CrazyIvan]

If kayaks count I'm in.

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

If your kayak floats, it’s a boat!

[Baynative]

Sailing Music - Southern Cross, CSNY

[Eastbound]

21- foot Southcoast sloop mustering in. Request permission to come aboard!

[Roccus]

I had several boats over the years while living in Fun City...14, 18, 19 and 22 foot outboards. Moved to WV ten years ago and have had a 14’ Grumman set up for bass. This winter I picked up a 16’ Sylvan that I am presently getting ready for the coming season. Also have a pond prowler that my buddy and I use for float trips on a couple of local rivers.

[Eastbound]

I sailed my swing-keel 21-foot sloop in your lake, neighbor. The waterways are a little narrow here and there, but still wide enogh. Saw a 40-footer piloted by an older couple in a 40-mile gale who were freaking out. They ended up crossways with no room to make the turn. We boogied out of the area, not wanting to be a part of casualties. I think they ended up slamming the dock at the Holday Inn. We did fine with a storm sail though had to fire up an engine, he sheepishly confessed.

[VietVet]

I’ve been on small boats since I was six. Built a raft and an outrigger log canoe. Owned a sailing dingy or two. Even when I served in the Army, I ended up in the Mobile Riverine Force; more boats! For 30 years, I belonged to an historical reenactment organization which owned reconstructions of Viking boats.:-D

[free_life]

I am available should anyone need help sailing one of these.......... record was 55 knots a couple years ago, may be faster now (??) There are already 100 foot plus hulls and masts sailing on foils with all hulls out of water... I call it water flying!

ultimate sailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZDS3miKQCc

[free_life]

I am so gonna love this forum.

A friend and I are talking about building or buying a moth foil. But I am still available to sail a trimaran foil monster! :)

Bladerider Sailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geTExu9EGts

Moth Foiling (Hydrofoil)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW_UfYGO3Kg

Bladerider Foiling Moth Launch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMH5HSZvK3I

Walchenseeregatta 2010 Deutsche Klassenmeisterschaft der Motten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_EpOyX-wDI

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Lake of the Ozarks is not known as a good sail boat lake. As you probably know, it has high bluffs on most of the waterway which limits good, predictable wind. I'd be surprised if there are more than a dozen big sailboats like yours down here.
What the Lake is know for is big, powerful, noisy powerboats, Fountain, Powerquest, Cigarette, etc. Wife's cousin owned a 29 foot Fountain Fever with twin 502s. it would do an honest 100 miles per hour when trimmed. The sound was unbelievable.

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

Welcome to the weekly FR Boating Thread ping list!

Tell your friends - the water is fine!

All aboard!

[KingdomScribe]

Put this Sailor Girl on your ping list! :)

[BlueMondaySkipper]

Please add me to the ping list. Thanks, BMS

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

You’ve been added to the Weekly FR Boating Thread.

Welcome aboard!