If Mama Ain't Happy, Nobody is Happy
I've been conversing for several weeks with Steve from Ohio in his quest for his trawler. He and his wife wish to cruise the East Coast and Bahamas very soon. He wrote an email to me a few days ago about whether his wife would actually go through with it; he thinks she will and she does say that but he has his reservations. His concern is can she really live aboard a boat.
I responded to him using the same words as the title of this post today; if she's not happy forget it buster, your life's going to be real miserable. I guarantee it!
I had the same conversation the day before yesterday with an owner of that 44 Marine Trader I listed. We were talking about boat buyers in general and I said to him that a woman buys the boat in the family. He laughed. Really I said, a woman can kill a boat deal quicker than green on grass. The man can love those engines and all that fancy electronic equipment but if the bath or galley is not just right, he ain't taking no boat home with him today, forget that!
Now what does all this mean? What it means is that you men can look at all the boats you want but you better let your lady in on the deal too. Let her tell you what pleases her. You let her find that trawler with the nice stateroom and half your battle is won. Just look at the Patrica Ann's stateroom and sundeck; who do you think picked that out?
I read often on the http://www.livingaboard.com/ forums from women in particular saying they are just not sure if they can go through with it. My response to them would be if you have any reservations, beware.
Mike
If a man must be obsessed by something, a boat is as good as anything, perhaps better than most E.B. White
