Date: 21 March 2019. Dating for Boaters - Part 5.

© janice142
 

Finding someone to share this world with can be difficult. Putting your entire boating life on hold because you haven't got a partner is not a good idea. Instead, get out here and look around. There are single folks on boats, albeit mostly men. Women have experienced those described in the If the Deck Shoe Fits article. You can surely do better than that!

I have observed boats cruising in tandem. That means that two or more boats are traveling together.

 

Cruising in tandem first came to my attention back when I was younger, pre-cancer. I had intended to buy a NorSea27 with the eventual goal of long-distance blue-water traveling. I read about tandem night sailing from a sailor on Cruisers Forum at least a decade ago. This is how it works:
 

Two boats are heading the same direction at the same speed. After dark, Boat One sets their auto-pilot and the captain goes to his bunk. Boat Two watches over Boat One, keeping it within visual distance. That second captain is the *Watch for both boats.

*Watch: the person on watch is responsible for the safety of the boats. He or she checks for hazards, monitors the radio, verifies the compass course, looks for other vessels, and generally makes sure all continues to be a-okay.

A few hours later the watch Boat Two wakens (via VHF radio) the sleeping Boat One. The guy on Boat Two sets his auto-pilot while the rested captain on Boat One takes over as Watch, keeping an eye on both vessels. There is continually a person making sure all is well. If the weather turns foul, then the sleeping captain is awoken.
 

Side Note regarding being on Watch: Normally on night watch you survey the entire horizon every 15 minutes. As you can well imagine, no one can do that continually around the clock without serious sleep deprivation. By sharing the watch, two boats in tandem can maintain a good lookout AND get much needed rest.

This is C-Lover ↑ at sail on Tampa Bay. She has solar panels mounted atop her dinghy davits.
C-Lover also has a wind generator. Making power when away from the dock is important.
 

Both captains are ultimately responsible for their own vessels. Cruising in tandem is  an option soloists should consider.
 

For the curious, here are details of an aft cabin model NorSea27:
	This was my Dream Boat for many years. I am grateful I never bought one as she would not be right for me at this stage of my life. I'm getting older, and frankly raising sails would be too much for me.

I thought the whole process of tandem cruising was so interesting I decided that if I were to ever do a passage (even a short overnight hop to the Bahamas) I would want to do so in tandem. This is a way for two soloists to arrive after an overnight voyage with both rested. Of course the boats must travel at the same speed.
 

Sometimes the boats traveling in tandem will raft up if the waters are protected enough to make that a safe option.

Manatee and Houseboat Bob traveled in tandem. Here they are rafted up in the Carrabelle River.

As for me, I rather like the idea of having someone nearby. It is nice to have that sense of purpose, companionship and Privacy too. Because Seaweed is my home, I shall have the best of both worlds.
 

I can enjoy company, and yet retain my own domain. A fellow boat owner who finds a cruising chick with her own vessel can have the same thing too. Each boat is able to enjoy companionship without giving up independence.
 

Skipper and I treasure quiet moments. We are a silent duo, seldom making any noise at all.

I will admit that when a porpoise is nearby Skip does bark like a lunatic. She loves dolphins.
 

For me, life aboard Seaweed is too wonderful to even consider "jumping ship" for another bigger, fancier boat. My home is practically perfect, except for the stuff that needs fixing, upgrading or replacing. Next on the list is to have a tuna door installed.

I know of a pair of sailboats that traveled together for quite some time. Ultimately they parted however each still retained a safety net, i.e. their own boat home. Perhaps that is the best way to travel...

Being on a boat is a wonderful thing. I am
very fortunate for my life aboard Seaweed.
 

Unfortunately, in the past few months I have done practically zero cruising with just sporadic evenings at anchor. I am getting back into the flow, albeit slowly.
 

I blink and another week or three has flashed by. In the meantime there are always projects. Little things seem to take the longest from start, through planning and then into fruition. I feel like I am accomplishing things, yet nothing is totally 100% finished. Argh!
 

This is the time of the year when I count my blessings. Two of them are here:
Baby and my Grand are wonderful. Baby and Son-In-Law brought me with them to Disneyworld a while back. I told you about that in the Disney 2017 article. That is the vacation I will never forget. I am very blessed indeed. Thank you again Baby!

This entire series was brought about by a question from an online friend. He asked "Have you ever done any kind of survey on where your readers are? I would really like to meet some ladies here in the NW that live on boats. Or at least are not afraid of them. Lonesome adds in local publications don't seem to work. Perhaps you could do a personal column and let folks enter their stats and what and where they are? Thanks I read your columns most days and remember reading "where the girls are." (Where the Women Are) I may even go back to church, but I am a recovering Catholic."

My reply: I really don't know what will work for you, or anyone else for that matter. The items outlined in this series have been successful for some. Finding someone to share this life is possible. Partnerships develop and some stand the test of time. Happiness is finding joy in the life we are given.

I am totally happy that I have my Seaweed. My home is incredibly important to me.

The alternative would be dreadful. I absolutely do not want to end up in one of those old people prisons.
 

A boat offers freedom. Life on the water is spectacular. Having acquired a level of decadence, my journey is so much better now than even a few years ago. If your boat is not comfortable, being able to explain what improvements are planned can alleviate concerns.
 

I know Seaweed has evolved since I purchased her. This boat is nothing like the shell I started with. Your vessel does not have to be Perfect provided you can articulate a plan for making her better.
 

Life as a soloist can change. Down the river may indeed be someone very Special with their own boat.

Traveling with another vessel (cruising in tandem) is a viable alternative to living together on the same boat.

I believe it can be better for a relationship if both people have their own boat. Everyone, especially those of us who have been solo for a long time, has quirks. I know I need my alone time. I want to think my own thoughts on a boat that is virtually silent.

Other people like radios, television and music. I am not much for any of those things. Now I putter about the boat each day. Some days I simply curl up with my Kindle and read. Other days are spent enjoying a tablet. This one, a Verizon, is so beyond cool. I love it!

A huge thank you to the reader who provided me with this gem. It powers my online world.

 

But I digress...
If your life includes another individual, that is wonderful. Making friends is the key. Today after over eleven years aboard Seaweed, I am still corresponding with folks met at the start of this journey. Some I look forward to seeing again further along the waterways.

You want someone who is fun, interesting and without drama.
If both partners own their own boat, you are indeed blessed.
 

In the  meantime I intend to embrace life, cruise in tandem and continue to enjoy my world aboard Seaweed. I wish the same for you: much happiness, beautiful sunsets and a fabulous journey along the waters of our planet.
 

 

Good luck, and thank you for reading.
 

Have you traveled in tandem with another vessel?
And, have you met anyone IRL (in real life) that was first an online acquaintance?
 

COMMENTS:
 

© 2019, 2023

Categories: Boat Talk, Boats, Characters, Locations, Pets, Relationships, Wild Things,
 

Dating for Boaters - Part 4 ~ Previous Post ...    ... Next Post ~ Broken Arm Lessons

First Mate's Gallery now open ~ Crew photos welcome via Email.

I am also an Amazon Affiliate.