You hear a steady mantra about finding your purpose. Only then can you find peace in your life. If you are struggling with finding your BIG PURPOSE, I have a small one for you to help pass the time…Save an Old Boat. No one said your purpose had to be noble, or epic, or podcast worthy. Though it would be nice if it gave you a sense of accomplishment.
Actually, you could consider saving an old boat noble or epic. Think of what you will be doing for the environment by keeping that thing out of the landfill. Or helping your local maritime industry by sprinkling some dollars around the boatyards and at the local chandlery. It could start feeling epic, after spending a long weekend in the yard sanding, painting or polishing and waxing. Or that feeling of satisfaction after spending a Saturday standing on your head below decks trying to trace down the faulty wiring and you finally find the culprit! (Micro-rant: why do people think the old wiring is what you hang the new wiring on? The next owner will not know which was new or old-it is all just “wiring”).
It can definitely give you a sense of accomplishment after taking what most people were willing to cast aside and making it useful again. Think of the satisfaction when walking down the dock and your boat is floating there because you had the vision and willed into reality. Or the enjoyment of preserving a bit of nautical and/or regional history. Being the next link in a long chain of stewards who have kept the story going.
Boats are interactive, you don’t purchase it and put it on a shelf to admire. You work on it, and use it. It can take you places in return for the love and attention you lavish upon it. We are wired to actually do things, all sorts of things and sitting around watching other people do things is soul-sucking.
Finding a boat is easy. Spend even a few minutes on Facebook Marketplace, Yachtworld, Craigslist and a dozen other sites and you will find a long list of small “p” purpose yachts waiting for you. Find one that won’t break you financially and get to it.
Todd Powell Boats 