How We Committed the Cardinal Sin of Boat Ownership or One Month to Launch Time
The weeks since we officially decided to do it — to actually buy a boat — have been quite a whirlwind.
We got the official inspection done by a marine surveyor, signed up for a class to figure out how to actually use it without causing millions of dollars of damage to other boats, covered the balance for the boat, got the title and… this past Sunday officially became boat owners.
To make sure that we really couldn’t back out of it, the first day we took possession, we decided to “trash the inside” and paint over the 30-year old wooden walls.
The Before
All in all, for a 30-year old boat, it was in a surprisingly good condition — both on the exterior and the interior. That said, there were a few things that we wanted to do before actually moving in.
The interior, with its dark wooden finish and oversized wooden furniture, felt more like an old country cigar club meets retirement home in a tiny basement than a cozy living space.
The unending supply of marine memorabilia, ranging from lighthouse statues to fish-shaped bowls, was intriguing but somewhat redundant. I don’t think we are in any danger of forgetting that we are living on a ship.
So, we decided to give it a bit of a modern makeover and do what most boat owners would cringe at and consider to be a sin — which is paint the entire interior into something just a bit more lively and brighter. While most boats do have this dark, wooden finish, the way we figure, if we do it right, it’ll make the small 250 sq foot place feel bigger and brighter and just more enjoyable to live in.
Starting From Scratch
The first step was to get rid of the old furniture which we listed for free on Craigslist — an oversized couch, a coffee table shaped like a treasure chest, and a TV to boot. All of it was pretty much gone before 12pm that day.
Now that this was out of the way, we proceeded to to clear out the “stuff” and “tchotchkes” that accumulated over the 30 years. It was actually remarkable to see just how many things can fit on a boat.
It’s true that the space is not big, but the boat designers were quite ingenious at creating storage in every nook and cranny. Within a few hours, the entire area was filled with full garbage bags. It is amazing how much stuff gets accumulated over the years.
After they were out of the way, we looked around to assess the damage. Although there was a lot of work ahead, the open space definitely started to look a lot roomier and more open.
While we had the space nice and clear, we also had a mechanic swing by to take a look at a pump that we needed to replace prior to the launch. Something tells me we’ll be spending a fair share of our time in the “cellar” over the coming months.
With a few hours of daylight left, we proceeded prep for painting and start priming the interior. Next weekend, we’ll finish up the actual painting and see what happens as a result!
Other publications by Boris:
Into The Water — Living on a Boat in Downtown Boston
Find out what happened when a couple decided to downsize from 2 apartments and moved into a 200-ft, 30-year old boat on the Boston harbor. Follow along the mis-adventures, learnings, and takeaways.
27,000KM Across Africa in a 30-Year Land Rover
In April 2011, a group of Russian-Americans set out on a 22,000km trans-continental expedition to cross from Cape Town to London in a 1980 Land Rover. Follow their adventure here.
Trans-American Electric Bike Tour
A 4,000 mile journey from New York to San Francisco on electric bicycles.
Adventures in the World
Understanding the World Through Adventures and Travel
Quarter Life Musings
Strategies on making an impact in the world, finding work that fulfills you, and appreciating life through travel.
