B.O.A.T.

Bring Over Another Thousand...

Spending money on boat stuff will all add up

The last few weeks has seen me make many visits to builders merchants, electrical wholesalers, chandlers and supermarkets. I'm trying to develop a philosophical attitude about these repeated "Wallet Hits" as I have come to call them.

Shelling out the cash seems to manifest on several levels. £20 will buy you something non descript but essential, like a special shackle or a particular tube of mastic. A few of these in one go and you're suddenly into the hundreds.

£50 is common, a block or a nautical reference book. This takes us quickly with a leap to the "several hundred pounds going on £500" bracket. This could include a gas hob, some engine service parts, a vhf radio etc. This is a tricky bracket because when the £500 horizon is clearly spotted, it suddenly seems we are well on our way to spending a £1000.

This brings us to the next section which I would call the "£1000 to infinity" section. This is the section where you start to wonder if you are starting to spend as much on stuff as the amount you originally paid for the whole boat. Easily into this bracket are things like rigging, sails, liferaft, satphone etc. I find that when I venture out for another foray of purchases, I have to be in the right mood and I have to pace myself. I ask myself what else would I spend the money on, and remind myself that I am very fortunate to have the money in the first place. As usual my conscience and moral compass are sneak peeking over the wall of my artificial world right now, I can let them do that. It's better to make friends with all that arises, or I'll just get a big wedge of suffering!