"Some day!" happened... Wow, it's finally here: I can't believe I'm retired and own my dream Sea Ray Sundancer. I can now experience the coveted ‘other side’ where a new spiritual journey awaits; on the water this time, not in my cubicle.
Time to swim my way up the boating ladder and form partnerships with nature, with like-minded people, and with the unknown.
You could make a boating video out of it, ha. But yeah, I can see that endeavour as being frustrating. Do tell how it turns out, I know nothing about how that works!
Nice job Frank! No fingers or toes were lost and all the gelcoat is still in one piece 👌 I was gonna give you a solid '10', but had to take a point off for shutting down the engines before being fully secured 🫣 Sorry, but the Square Head in me says to always make sure the boat isnt going anywhere before cutting the power. Never know when an out-of-nowhere gust of wind, waves from a passing boat (or that guy coming in behind you), or even another boat makes you have to jump on the controls to reposition. . . But apart from that, congratulations 🎉 Next time, I'll tell you how it took me a full day to fix the leaks on our 330 Dancer which had resulted in too much pressure on the bow rails bending the stanchion mounts just enough to let lots of water into the cabin 😩
Touché! I looked back at the docking and I see myself turning the engines off after handing the line to the lock master, but a few times I did that before the boat was tight against the lock with the rope in my hands (and same on the wood dock)… it’s the last time I do that, thanks for pointing out the error of my way… same about the stanchion: message received and thank you here too. Sorry you had a hard time with the stanchion (would be a great story to hear about)! I’ll post the last video of this boating vacation once I receive your Boogaboo t-shirts as they’ll appear in it :))
Well done. I would suggest timing the line you use int eh locks to the midship cleat. if you get wind or current that is a lot of stress to put on your railing.
Hey thanks! That was my first thought but it means I’d have to walk along side the exterior of the boat every time while in the locks to untie it, and if it rains… But with that safe experience behind me, I’m up to try it directly tied to the cleat next time and see how that goes. It didn’t feel like there was much pressure on the railing but I can’t wait to compare, which would be next summer.
Glad you enjoy the videos :) Another one in the making “as we speak”. Yeah, the bent railing… was caught inside a Rideau lock near Kingston in 2023 during a tornado and the railing took a hit! Indeed… another boating project, which I like :))
Great job Frank! Always good to practice your skills. I happened to see Gr’ah Sea Us in Merrickville on the 12th. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet you, as you didn’t appear to be on the boat at the time. Safe travels!
Hey Mike! Thanks I appreciate that and indeed, practice makes perfect, saves anxiety and potentially money, ha. Would have been great to meet, it’s very cool that you were there: I must have been wondering around enjoying retirement. I hope you’re enjoying your travels as well. I may arrive at my home port today or tomorrow… with more footage… including thrusterless docking and locking :) Hope to meet next time… I wonder who’s going to be the first!
Just some advice for getting out of that tight spot at the beginning if that boat didn’t leave, bumping the starboard engine forward and port engine in reverse would have pushed the stern From the wall and because of the shape of the front of the boat narrowing the bow of the boat would have been safe from hitting the wall, Lear the boat behind you, bump the engines the opposite you did to get off the wall to straighten up and your off!!
Sounds pretty darn slick! I may try it: looks like the bumper closest to the bow would have to be in a good position to avoid potential haul/cement contact. All that if ever, unless I use my beloved thrusters :) I appreciate the advice and will keep it in mind, thanks!
Good job Frank. Two thumbs up 👍👍Glad to see you getting out of your comfort zone and looking forward to seeing your 'through the locks' follow up video 😉
Thanks Paul! Yeah, got to start somewhere and slowly work towards more challenging conditions but I’ll take it. Follow up docking at locks video is done but the lock I’m at has such bad reception that I have to put my phone looking upwards on the bedroom’s hatch handle to maybe get a single bar, sometimes, lol. Takes 30 sec to upload a pic, let alone a video but maybe at the next lock! Hopefully this reaches you well before then. Looking forward to your reaction to it, as always. It’s kind of… special :))
Yes!! As it’s a whole new reality to be operating without the (thrusters’) safety net, making me best aware of what I’d really be up against should they fail and therefore I can be best prepared. There’s also this element of “Rrrrrrr”, I can do this on my own and a display of skills is always catchy, lol. An occasional refresher is definitely sound advice, plus the weather conditions were (too) good! 6 thrusterless lock dockings on the next video, where I rate myself but you be the judge and they’re not all 10’s ;-)
Thrusters are fine but it is always nice to know how to maneuver without them. As a pilot and flight instructor we always trained to fly with only one engine operative.....another thing all twin engine operators should know how to do.....dock on one engine.
Totally ‘up there’ with you, wouldn’t have it any other way! I like contingency planning, love the team work here :) And as per my upcoming video, docking in the locks wasn’t all A+ without thrusters but “getting” there.
Oh, I should add that I have 12 years of experience of boating with a prior boat that had no thrusters… did the Trent Severn Waterway, St-Lawrence and Rideau Canal a few times. Also have 10 hours of flying experience on a Cessna 172 code name ending in “Tango Echo”… learned how to cope with a no lift mid-air, a spin, engine stall at takeoff, and landing without the engine running, all fun stuff!
great video. You are a very authentic person. You make me want to establish a current RU-vid Chan. ! Did you add the thrusters or did they come with the boat ?
Haha, thank you! I’d be the first to watch your videos, see things from your perspective, so why not give it a try? I bought the boat with a bow thruster on, then I bought and I installed a stern thruster: it’s another, beautiful worry-free world to have them (in my opinion, though it’s great and most impressive to be able to operate a boat without them) and I’m thankful every time I fire them up :)
For running after the proverbial carrot (in front of the horse) for decades, you got it, I finally took hold of it… To me, the moment I touched it, it turned into beautiful Sea Ray Sundancer :)) Thanks for the awesome feedback!!
Hey another great video! I spent last weekend at Put In Bay Ohio on my 340. Except for the small craft advisory, the high winds and the 3 to 5 foot waves it was a good time! All and all it was a good time.....a video will follow as soon as I can get all my pics and video downloaded. I did put out one on my Fox Marine engine gateways this morning. I had that start issue last weekend also. Do you have an EMER START switch? I do and I tried that and it started the first time but the next time it took several tries to get it to start. I even tried moving the transmission shifter in case it was the transmission safety switch. If it happens again I will have my maintenance guy check it. I may pull the switch and try cleaning it to see if that helps.
I’m glad that the video brought you something, thanks for saying so :)) You might be enjoying your 340 so much that video publishing may take a back seat… that sure is how it was for me for the first three years, ha! I have no idea if I have an EMER START switch but it seems like it was the battery in my case as the voltage turned on when I pressed the start switch, but it immediately dropped below “start-potential” zone, lol. I learn about boating every time I take the boat out and it’s a part I enjoy, ironically. Let me know how it turns out for your switch.
Right! In my case and after five months of editing some 30 videos, I learned tricks on how to video things to make my editing life more seamless. Plus, at some point, editing becomes “second nature”, accelerating things… at least for me but yes, hours in the making nonetheless. Sometimes I have 3 hours of recording that produce a17 minute video!
Hello Frank, I have been following your channel and enjoying it. In the latest post you have shared that you are on the Rideau Canal. We picked up a Le Boat today in Smith Falls and decided to head southbound. I was wondering if we would cross paths and sure enough, we passed your boat tied up along the dock in Poonamalie. Enjoy your trip. The weather wasn’t the best today but improves starting tomorrow and the forecast is great.
Hey hi! Yep, you spotted me! I’m at Poonamalie lock until tomorrow morning (Sept. 10). I saw a LeBoat go by while editing so it could have been you guys. Going to Beveridges locks? I was there for the last 3 days (stuck with rain and wind). I’m glad you’re enjoying the channel, thank you for saying so. I hope you’re having great fun with the boat, indeed nice weather is forecasted, phew, and enjoy tomorrow’s adventure video on the Rideau lakes… where you are! Thanks for the comment and I hope we cross path again :))
We almost crossed path! That would have been fantastic and to exchange boating experience… And you travelled from Ottawa, that’s where I’m from. It’s on the agenda to travel to St-Anne de Bellevue and document that travel, so thanks for advising that it’s worth the trip! Can’t wait to go there :))
@TheRetiredBoater it was my first trip in 3 years with the boat, cant wait for the next one. Unfortunately will knly be able to do it next year. Im planing to do the rideau all the way to kingston, than make my way at the st Lawrence to montreal, and come back on the ottawa river.
Haha, yes… I hear you about looking forward to your next vacation, which is a super nice itinerary and endeavour. We may cross path next summer as we’re also doing the Rideau to Kingston and beyond, then back in 2025. Glad you enjoyed your boating vacation so much… I’m still smiling from reading your comment!
Another good one Frank - and thanks for the shoutout! As you'll be out for another little while, how about sharing sime clips of you're masterful docking & locking skills, sans thrusters? . . . You knew that was coming 🤪
Hahahaha that gave me a good laugh! Yes, I knew that was coming :) Just didn’t know when, lol. I guess I’ve been asking for it in spades, right? I just finished my next video (all with my phone, like, what!?) but I shall do without thrusters on the next one, starting tomorrow. Of course I’ll choose which clip to post! ;-) I’ll still show if I screw up, I don’t mind, it’s part of it. Thank you for the comment, Paul, always a pleasure!
@@TheRetiredBoater Excellent! I'll be looking forward to your upcoming video, as well as the thruster-less docking 😉 And I hope that you'll have a chance to capture extra footage to share with us during the off season... Enjoy!!
At minimum and by mid-October, I’ll have by then 12 not so long boating videos to post every other week from November to April that I started doing since May… that’s following your earlier advice, just to get us to May 2025 :) My wife approves your challenge… There’s a reason for that! (Haha. Just me talking bravado again but not taking myself seriously one bit). I like it… “Let’s go!” ;-)
Another great adventure! The weekend you started this trip I treated myself to a birthday/retirement gift to myself....a new Magma grill and the post to mount it on the swim platform. Can't wait to try it out. This weekend I am headed, weather permitting, 26 miles across Lake Erie to Put In Bay on South Bass Island. Weather is suppose to be a little sporty with 15-20 mph winds and waves 1-3 feet. Hopefully it holds off until I get docked over there!
Thank you my friend! Ohhh, a Magma grill… with post mount, you like yourself :) Happy birthday and retirement! You’re there! So your adventures begin… Yacht, BBQ, electronics, 3 feet waves etc… I sense a future RU-vid channel for us all to enjoy hahaha.
Yes, once my wife retires! Until then I guess you could call these short 2 to 3 week vacation trips “test runs”, ha. When the great loop happens, we might do a 1 or 2 year pit stop in the Bahamas and the like but yeah, let’s see :))
Canada is grand and majestic. The landscapes are fantastic, the architecture, the nature and the cities. If it were not for the cold, I would live there- but of course without the cold, the majesty would likely be gone as well. Growing up and living in Cleveland for 33 years, I am used to and understand the cold and I love overcast days. Good video and adventure as always. I've been seeing a lot of very nice Sundancer like yours out on the water and in the Harbors over here. Appears to be an extremely popular vessel!
I’ve always said: parachute me just about anywhere in the world and I’ll discover a piece of paradise there. In Cleveland for all those years that you were there would be you, with your great and cleverly thought provocative comments. The excuse I tell myself to look past winter is that it makes every Spring feel like my first, keeps me young and in awe. I chopped wood for the fireplace… and there’s Ice wine in the root cellar for the hot tub, which is strategically oriented westward, looking at sunsets :))
Hey and many thanks, glad you enjoy the videos! Got twin 454 gas engines… the blowers run for 4 minutes before I start them up but, for noise filming purposes, I sometimes stop them for a few seconds, and film a quick clip, before I turn them back on. Good catch!
At other times I have my microphone on my shirt facing away, which doesn’t pick up too well the sound of the blowers that are on. But yeah, I take the blowers very seriously every time, don’t want my retirement toy going up in smoke :)
Merci d’avoir bien pris le temps de me répondre, j’ai bien senti un petit accent du Québec, on aura pas la chance de se croiser du moins cette année, nous partons pour les 1000 îles demain pour une semaine et merci encore pour les infos.. on devrait contacter sideshift pour voir ce qu’il en est et très content de savoir qu’ils installent eux même! Merci ⚓️🛥️🙏 Searay forever ❤
Touché! Né à Montréal: père montréalais de ville, mère ontarienne de la campagne, déménagé en Ontario après naissance. Une semaine aux milles îles… wow, une occasion spéciale! Je vous souhaite un merveilleux voyage… Bienvenu et oui, cheers pour le Sea Ray, lol!!
Salut chanceux, tu sembles avoir des sideshift thrusters et en être très satisfait!! Est-ce que tu sais si en commandant un kit , ils ont des installateurs ou pas? J’ai vraiment pas envie de faire confiance à un mécano qui dit être capable de tout installer, et pas envie de faire percer un searay 300 par quelqu’un que je ne connais pas! Continue tes vidéos ça change de Boogaboo et de la Trent-Severn et de son kitty cat😅 merci 🙏 P.S on est dans une marina en Ontario.
Hahaha, salut bien et, en effet, j’apprécie être chanceux… j’en profite autant que je peux. Les Sideshift thrusters… ils font l’installation ou t’offrent de le faire toi même avec leur support pour sauver des sous: je te comprends, quand je l’ai installé moi-même j’ai bien mesuré :) Marina en Ontario? Cool, fais-moi signe si tu me vois en bateau. Je suis présentement en voyage de bateau sur le canal Rideau… alors quelques autre vidéos sont à l’horizon. Merci pour les beaux mots!!!
I like your intel! As it is, all I have is a cleat next to the windlass where I tie the rope when at anchor, indeed to make it easier on the windless. Thanks for pointing out other options as you have in the past, I’m drawing a winter order list for the Spring!
I think I have flown over that lock going into Montreal in my stint as a corporate pilot. Our company made the steel that the Canadian Mint used to make your coins. I think I have my air conditioning issue fixed......we put a new impeller in the water pump. Fingers crossed! Have you ever figured gallons per hour or miles per gallon? That is my next project. And one more question.....what editing program do you use? I use CapCut for my videos and I am looking for something a little more.
Small world! Our path “crosses” again. Thanks for the steel… proof that friendships go a long way :) Oh that feeling when you’re about to test the new impeller! I may have the same issue, will know this week. Let me know how it works out. I think I’ll replace all my impellers this Fall as they’re at least 3 years old. I use about 1.5 GPM at 5 MPH, and 0.8 at cruising speed (20-23 MPH). I use CapCut as well, and using my phone only for all editing, lol. My son has this sophisticated editing beast but it’s so complexe that it’s not for me. My first 15-ish videos were done through his, the rest with (free) CapCut. I love it but I don’t have much to compare it with. Hope your back is doing well.
Thank you and, indeed, boating comes with being at the mercy of elements, surprises and magical moments such as seeing this majestic bald eagle unexpectedly! It’s fun looking back at those moments, and it’s intriguing imagining what lurks ahead :))
It’s in the plans, yes, once my wife retires! From that loop, a dream is to cross from Florida to the Bahamas, perhaps stay there and in the surroundings for a while, and then come back up North the following summer (after flying home in December).
Very peaceful Frank, eh? I like the idea of the remote anchorage spot and the quiet…a truly great scenario if you ever get back into any kind of consulting - what an idyllic scenario for some slow enjoyable work and even a little money generating - should the notion strike 😅 Cheers from SoCal.
Peaceful bays are a great way to recharge the “batteries” in my case, yes: the void then replenishes. As for a side job… I had my run, I planned, and I don’t like money. I’m not even monetizing my boating channel as I feel money would take the fun out of it. Plus this way there’s no, or less, ads and no sponsors, woo-hoo! A better viewing experience. That said, I don’t mind helping others for free: I get my kick from making things happen from the heart, that and boating.
@@TheRetiredBoater At 61, I enjoy money insofar as it is used to achieve a humble and “secure” lifestyle with room for hobbies. Always look forward to your latest adventures - your perspective is fun and admirable.
That’s exactly why it worked for me, telling myself such affirmations as :“One day I’ll do the same.” and “believe in the magic of yours dreams.” I appreciate the time you took for the nice and inspirational feedback. Sending good vibes your way. Thanks again.
Hahaha, you nailed it… just having fun! Everything is 100% improvised and happens as it happens,. All I have to do is… get out on the boat and magic presents itself. I have no idea what the next videos will be about, just that things await to be found, discovered and chased after, lol. Cheers and fist bump to the man, in great Fredericton!!
Holy moly the Retired Boater strikes again! I have to admit this is filmmaker level, one of your best videos! I couldn't stop laughing and was so invested all throughout. Loved the outdoorsy aspect with the animals and the rain. Cheers to many more adventures on your beautiful boat!!
I’m so glad you enjoy and, with a comment like that, I already have my gimble in one hand for the next video and starting the twins with the other: ohhhh do you hear those rumblings motors? It’s BEAUTIFUL! LOLOL. Thank you!
Hey thanks on both counts! I just searched about a bridle for anchor and that will do the trick. If only I could make one now before dark, I’m boating back home tomorrow and it’s windy and raining now, and anchor is klungking, lol. Thanks for the great tip!!
@@TheRetiredBoater glad to be of help, all you really need is some spare rope and metal hooks. Keep up the great work, your allowing me to enjoy boating before I actually get a boat! (Two more years of saving)
Yes it looks simple enough, I like anchoring so it will be worth it. You’re me 5 years ago, watching inspiring boat shows such as Boating with Boogaboo! Then a couple of years later and it was… time!! :)) Can’t wait to hear about your buying experience! And boat name. And more. Leaving the bay in a couple of hours… camera will be recording.
Love your videos ! What did you use for thrusters ? I’ve got a single engine 26 foot Cuddy and “hate” docking. Marina is real tight and I want to add aftermarket thrusters ! Merci from Pincourt Québec :)
Bonjour à toi à Pincourt! Your feedback is awesome, thank you :) Oh man I hear you about hating docking: having a bow and stern thrusters on is A GAME CHANGER! It’s boating at a whole new level. Mine are from a company in Ottawa, Ontario, called Sideshift. Check them out online… either you install yourself or they do it for you. Very friendly and helpful. Bought my boat with a bow thruster already on, then I installed the stern thruster… I highly recommend both, fairly easy to do. I now dock alone, windy and current or not, no stress, getting comments on how amazing “my” docking is. Will make you love boating much more. I no longer plan my boating around wind for docking and undocking, I’m sure you relate, lol. I want to do a video on that.
@@TheRetiredBoater excellent thank you and keep up the videos! Subbed ! I will check out side shift and will be something I add on by next season for sure.
I had a Magma BBQ before, which was made solidly and intelligently and which I highly recommend. I don’t recommend the one I have now at all, a Sea-b-Que by Dickinson: it’s frail, cheap and won’t last and I could go ob and on. Cheers to that Sundancer of yours and a real BBQ for it!
Feel free to ask any questions that you can think of! I have the Goal Zero Yeti 400. They build more powerful ones but it works for me. 400 stands for watts. It powers my 32” TV, razor, phones, some tools, but this one is not powerful enough for cookware, coffee maker or powerful tools. I mostly use it to power the tv when I want without the need to start the genny when anchored . But when I start the genny to replenish the boat batteries, it replenishes the portable battery at the same time. So one would have to choose the right size battery for their unique needs.
I should add that it powers my TV for about 8 hours. My kids like to borough it when they go camping. There’s 2 solar panels I got for it but I never used them… so far.
Hahaha… I love it when you say that in a deep voice on your boating channel! It’s one of those things that just sticks. I now say it too. Btw, NIIIICE to see today’s Boogaboo video on the water. Feels right. The mighty boating veterans.
@@TheRetiredBoater everyone has different values, opinions and ethics - as well as different ways they are affected by societal and cultural constructs. For me, I reject the “sameness” and corporate values that modern companies espouse and also despise cubicle life - and having ANY one person thinking they should or attempting to guide my trajectory - perhaps you are the same - thus the creation of all the sensational beauty of nature, the amazement and glory of the animals and the natural peace we find when operating within nature is the elixir to the human mob, group think and comparison/consumerism. We all have to make a living - and benevolent work is a natural activity for humans - but when one unplugs and finds a more meaningful path, it is clear what is good, pure and noble - and that is a good quest.
I read every word attentively. Best I can sum that up in two words, I’d say: “Modern madness”. What’s the point of winning the universe if the soul is lost in the process. I exited the rat race as soon as I could. I now enjoy retirement and boating!
@@TheRetiredBoater agreed. I like to harken back to the days of the American West Settlers…before the Railroads & Government unified. The “settling” part and the travel therein were adventurous, the “work” was REQUIRED to live in terms of crops and beef…and life was simple and without layers of constructs and gratuitous consumerism. Its an important constrast to “modern madness” 😇
Nice! That’s how retirement should be! I’m looking for my own boat to enjoy my retirement too. I’m hoping to be on the Rideau next summer 🤞 Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you! I wish you could have seen my smile when I read the part of your comment “I’m looking for my own boat for my retirement too.” We are all docked along the Rideau canal waiting for you and your boat: let us know your boat’s name when you can so we know it’s you :)) I’ll be on the Rideau next summer too, see you there and can’t wait to hear the story on how you got your boat.
Great question. I’m retired but she’s 5 years younger than I am and still working, so now and then I go boating by myself like this time around. We boat together mostly on weekends. But when she has some vacation time, we take off together and we will likely do so again in a few weeks from now :))
@@TheRetiredBoater retired and the wife still working.........some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies but most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be.
You nailed it, it’s precisely the hope with the title “From working, to King”. I was there once, eating honey with bread slices for three meals a day for months. Took decades but, a rock on top of another and the “castle” (the boat) was made and my dream became reality. I wish it to everyone in any shape or form. I’m happy to have made it up that steep hill, despite the scars, and that I came that far and made it: there’s hope for others and I offer a glimpse of what that’s like. But I’ll never forget my roots.
@@TheRetiredBoatercounting Pennie’s on the mattress (on the floor) to go eat a few $0.99US burritos….buying $0.50US boxes of macaroni and cheese for a 3 months in a row, cleaning construction sites in between studying……oh my, the “roots”….even now those events make me petrified to spend money in an ill advised way or to run out of money.
Nice ship indeed, right!? Ha yes, it’s great to combine vacation and retirement under the same Bimini, lol. I learned recently, and now know why, they fall it the “Golden Years”.
@@TheRetiredBoater yes sir! It is a fantastic vessel - and all the mission planning and apparatus that goes with it is very natural and organic. There is something about riding a motorcycle that I tapped into 32 years ago, and there is something about piloting a boat that is equally freeing and organic and satisfying. The irony is that toeing the line of society and its constructs is only for money and survival but - in my opinion - is so bad for our health and compass. Freeing yourself from the shackles and playing your own game is infinitely freeing, satisfying and building of self worth….have you ever read Alan Watts?
