This post is linked to WATERY WEDNESDAY. Get your eyes wet!
When you spend a lot of time on the water, it is not unusual to see rundown boats -- boats that aren't going anywhere soon. I guess it is no different than seeing old cars when you travel the freeways. But since I haven't spent half my life on the water, I'm still fascinated by these old rusty buckets. I wonder why they got left and who left them ... what happened to the people (was it a boat wreck? who picked them up?) .. or did they just get tired of boating one day and walk away?
These might be work boats, but they don't really look like anyone should go out on them. We saw these -- and the boat above -- on our recent cross-state boat trip.
Sometimes there are boats that look completely unsafe, but we KNOW people use them:
The boat above is part of the oyster fleet at Port Aransas Texas -- another place where we've spent a couple of winters in the past. This is one of the better boats in that fleet; they'll have a crew of three and go on out on the rough bays to bring back loads and loads of oysters. I wouldn't want to be on it, even in the harbor.
The owner of the boat above used his docked boat as a political statement. Commercial fishing is hard and lonesome work and we have noticed in other places too that it can lead to some eccentricity. (This boat was tied up in Bristol Rhode Island.)
***
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."* But it is also worth it just to look at them!
* Says Rat in Chapter 1 of Kenneth Graham's 'Wind in the Willows.'
Loved your boat blog today. I spent many years messing about on boats in the Caribbean. We had the same problem there. Boats get wrecked, from mishap or storms, owners die or abandon them. Not everyone is insured. Sometimes the insurance company pays off, but they don't pay to remove the eye-sore, something I wish was changed.
Posted by: Dear Miss Mermaid | April 22, 2011 at 07:41 AM
Lovely treasures you found there.
And yes, our importing habits do destroy so much & in most cases we only realize it when it's too late :(
Posted by: Nicole | April 14, 2011 at 02:31 AM
Old boats. Sad boats. But, oh, so photogenic!
THE BEST WATER
With water they say that the best
Is clearest when put to the test;
No sediment there
To cause wear and tear—
Pure water sure beats all the rest!
© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher
http://magicalmysticalteacher.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/numinous/
Posted by: Magical Mystical Teacher | April 13, 2011 at 05:20 PM
That first shot is excellent.
Posted by: J Bar | April 13, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Interesting post and photos, Saliie! I wonder if the owners ran out of money to fix them. They do look sad.
Posted by: Eileen | April 13, 2011 at 04:14 PM
Sallie, you asked about my Wordless wednesday post. I just though the Japanese house was very unusual sitting there in the middle of an Anglo neighborhood. I don't know what the house is. It was all closed up.
Posted by: maryt | April 13, 2011 at 02:40 PM
You have good beginnings to write a mysterie novel, Sallie ! You had to try...
Posted by: Annie | April 13, 2011 at 08:41 AM
The boating world is completely foreign to me. I can see how these abandoned boats would make you wonder about the owners. I love your literary reference at the end.
Posted by: Margot | April 13, 2011 at 08:24 AM
I prefer "Just to look at them." and these ones are very interesting rust buckets. They make good photographs if nothing else.
Posted by: diane | April 13, 2011 at 04:33 AM
ouch, this needs some work to be done. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep Photography | April 13, 2011 at 03:20 AM
It does make you wonder who owns/owned these boats, why are they left. It's sad that they are left to become litter. I wonder what their stories are.
Posted by: Marilyn | April 13, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Love you first pic especially, but I'm also surprised that it is able to stand on this angle! Guess with old boats it is like old cars:)- yo take care of it, or you don't (smile).
Posted by: jeannette StG | April 12, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Lead to eccentricity! That made me laugh. Hubby used to be a fisherman and loved it, but it's young man's work.
Posted by: Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA | April 12, 2011 at 09:52 PM
When I was in FL last week, I saw a couple of abandoned boats along the Banana River. Sad, sad.
Posted by: Sally in WA | April 12, 2011 at 08:52 PM
An interesting post. People live their lives in different ways...on a boat sounds adventurous to me.
Rosie
Posted by: Rosie@travel-i-tales | April 12, 2011 at 08:38 PM
What wonderful old rust buckets! ;-)
Posted by: Lady Fi | April 12, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Wonderful images of boats that have been stay put.
Posted by: Rajesh | April 12, 2011 at 08:01 PM
I love your pictures! I find old boats and cars with a certain charm in them ;-)
River Cruise
Posted by: Dinah | April 12, 2011 at 06:43 PM
This post is wonderful. Love the boat run amuck in the first shot, and I really like the yucky looking boat. It looks like it is not long for the floating world. Living half of your life on the water sounds wonderful.
Posted by: Genie Robinson | April 12, 2011 at 05:47 PM
I wonder the same thing sometimes Sallie. What makes somebody just leave it there?
I also think that even tried and true work boats could use a little paint and maintenance once in a while.
The first shot reminds me of Gilligan's Island. :)
Posted by: Carletta | April 12, 2011 at 04:51 PM
I would love to ride on a small boat, haven't yet. I also would love to photograph "grounded" boats.
Posted by: Ewok | April 12, 2011 at 03:56 PM
I always enjoy taking a boat ride from a curise ship to a kayak! I hate to see boats rusting in yards and garages...wondering why the people never lived their dream to be OUT On the water!
Posted by: Sondra | April 12, 2011 at 03:28 PM
That sailboat is plain sad. The others don't look shiny, but I wouldn't be surprised if their owners have a keen eye for seaworthiness!
Nice shots!
Posted by: Dimple | April 12, 2011 at 03:12 PM
How strange to leave a boat like that. Hope it is not an accident- However I like the first picture a lot - something calm and relaxing about it :)
Posted by: Birgitta - foto CHIP | April 12, 2011 at 03:06 PM
I am not really a boat person, but I quite agree with Ratty!
Posted by: Lesley | April 12, 2011 at 02:03 PM