The boat yard at Indiantown Marina is very large consisting of storage areas and D.I.Y. areas. The storage area is huge with old and newer boats. The number of older boats in this area of the yard is probably four to one, (older boats verses newer boats). I heard a yacht broker refer to the storage area as, "The Field of Dreams".
That made me think about how many people "Dream" of refitting a boat and sailing away, but never finish and fulfill their dream. Some of these boats, (including a Westsail 32), have not been touched for years. As I walked through the storage area today I could almost feel the dreams of so many...so many that gave up, or ran out of time, or money, or health, or simply woke up from their dream. It could be depressing... but... instead of depressing me, it motivated me even more!
That made me think about how many people "Dream" of refitting a boat and sailing away, but never finish and fulfill their dream. Some of these boats, (including a Westsail 32), have not been touched for years. As I walked through the storage area today I could almost feel the dreams of so many...so many that gave up, or ran out of time, or money, or health, or simply woke up from their dream. It could be depressing... but... instead of depressing me, it motivated me even more!
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| This boat was made of almost all teak wood |
So, back to my boat...back to my dream. I vowed to make the twenty-one mile drive every free evening and every day off and any other free time I could manage and work relentlessly toward fulfilling my dream. Despite the blood, (it seems I bleed some every time I work on her), the sweat, (always...it's South Florida), and sometimes the tears, (not really...not yet...). I refuse to let my dream die in a field in a small town in Florida. No, my dream will taste salt-water and feel the spray of far away seas. (Sorry, I'm waxing poetic here)...back to the boat.
Butterfly Hatch fixed...
Then, it was back to the Nav Station. I scabbed in Marine Plywood and made the hinged top that will be decorated with brass decorative brass hinges, secured all electrical lines and other lines such as radio, depth finder, etc.. I will overlay the whole station with some sort of laminate, (I haven't decided what type yet). Next trip, I will build a cabinet for the electrical panel with the means by which the panel can open from top or side for quick and easy access.
More to come later.
Fair seas and God bless!
The field reminds me of a poem I found once. Try looking up, "The Boat That Never Sailed" by Alban Wall. I think you would like it.
ReplyDelete"Somewhere there are men with snow-white hair
DeleteWho sit in life’s twilight years,
And often their thoughts drift wistfully back,
And often their eyes fill with tears
As they think of the dreams that have gone astray
And the plans that have somehow failed -
God, heal the hearts of the men who have built
The boats that have never sailed."
Very cool, I would have quoted it in the post had I known of it. Thanks Dan.
Glad you liked it.
DeleteKudos to you bud.. Keep at it and never give up. B'cos
ReplyDelete"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” mark twain