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04-19-2008, 05:43 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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Tough choice: Airstream or Sailboat
Hi,
I'm a full-time truck driver...so I currently live in an 18-wheeler.
I've come to the conclusion that the house will be sold because I'm rarely home to use it and the simpler lifestyle in the truck has really grown on me.
Now I have to decide between "fulltiming" an Airstream or "liveaboard" on a sailboat.
The travel and camping or sailing are actually only bonuses to me...my main goal is to escape the over-materialistic traps of the 'burbs and get back to basics in a lower cost, more self-sufficient situation.
If I do go AS, I imagine access to bike and hike trails, campfires and such would be wonderful...
Oh the agony of choice!
Any one here split their time between both?, Any advise as to models better for full-timers? (do any AS's float? haha)
Looks like a terrific forum, looking foward to learning alot here.
Take Care.
__________________
Don't Panic
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04-19-2008, 05:45 PM
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#2
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Naysayer
1968 24' Tradewind
Russellville
, earth
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,954
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I have had both. To me it would be an easy choice get an airstream
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04-19-2008, 06:00 PM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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Gen-
Thanks, I saw your AS at the beach photo (cool)...maybe I can have the best of both while camping surf-side.
__________________
Don't Panic
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04-19-2008, 06:09 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1976 25' Tradewind
.
, Maine to Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 621
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Why Not Both?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don't Panic
................................
Now I have to decide between "fulltiming" an Airstream or "liveaboard" on a sailboat.
...............................
Oh the agony of choice!.................
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Get rid of the house, I agree.
Keep the options open, do not spend much money on either.
Boats and trailers are piling up at dealers and repo lots.
Wait for blood in the streets, prices are falling.
Keep working, cash talks loudest.
R
__________________
"Talk is cheap, Airstreams are expensive," Wally Byam.
25' Tradewind
'18 Promaster 1500 High Roof
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04-19-2008, 06:12 PM
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#5
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,760
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Having had several of both, I'd opt for the boat m'self... I love the sailing lifestyle. However, one MUST remember the definition of a sailboat: "A fiberglass hole in the water into which one pours money."
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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04-19-2008, 06:14 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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Welcome
Another consideration is that, under normal conditions, Airstreams are unlikely to sink.
__________________
Vaughan
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04-19-2008, 06:17 PM
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#7
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USN/LAPD Retired
2005 25' Safari
North Las Vegas
, United States
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 850
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I've also had both and then some .....
Had a power boat when the kids were small and went to all the lakes and ocean. Did overnighters. Then sold the Powerboat and bought a Sailboat. Did the ocean racing thingi and went to Catalina Island every now and then. and then got tired of "pouring" money into a a "slip" and cleaning, and wear and tear, and cleaning, and so on and so on.
Kids are all grown, got tired of going to the same places with the "boats" !
With the Airstream we can go anywhere in the U.S. Canada, and (Mexico, if we are crazy enough to do it)! And.... not to say too much about "fuel" for the boat. $$ And would you really use the boat more then an Airstream?
Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.
R/
Safari-Rick
__________________
2007 Dodge Ram Quadcab 6.7L Diesel w/jakebrake
"Better to have more then you need, then need more then you have because you don't have enough!"
AIR #: 8129
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04-19-2008, 06:24 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Pittsfield
, Maine
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,108
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Just a comment from a former native Floridian and boat owner. The cost of staying in marinas for any length of time - or even overnighting - has become astronomical! Boat slips are being bought up for prices ranging well into the $250,000 range and beyond. Many of the purchasers are yacht builders who don't have any place to put their completed yachts until sold. The old days of Ma and Pa floating cottages are almost a thing of the past - and anchoring out gets old - regardless of how romantic and peacful it may sound initially. Unfortunately, a non-trailerable boat becomes a real liability unless you own a waterfront home. Also, because the Ma and Pa boats have all but disappeared, the only boats the marinas want to work on are the very expensive playtoys of the rich. That means you'll pay the going rate - even if you own a 40-year-old Chris Craft or Columbia sailboat that's seen better days! The Airstream can be parked - and with minor attention - and very little cost - it'll wait patiently until you're ready to take off on the next trip. I love boats - and I've had my share of all sizes and types - but I'm now down to a 14' aluminum skiff and 9.9 hp outboard, plus an Old Town canoe.
__________________
Cracker
2003 GMC 3500 D/A, CC, LB, 4x4 and 2000 Airstream Excella 30. WBCCI 7074
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04-19-2008, 06:46 PM
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#9
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vswingfield
Another consideration is that, under normal conditions, Airstreams are unlikely to sink.
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You HAD to bring that up!...
I've also owned both, and have found that:
If an Airstream springs a leak, you put a pan under the leak and patch it when it stops raining.
If a boat springs a leak, it could be either bail or sink.
I'd rather have a leaky Airstream than a leaky boat.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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04-19-2008, 06:50 PM
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#10
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1 Rivet Member
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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So many helpful thoughts-thanx
The rigors of full-time life on a boat do concern me.
...but , and I mean absolutely no offense here...
Do any of you full-time AS dwellers ever take any flak such as "trailer park" humour...truly- I mean no disrespect.
__________________
Don't Panic
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04-19-2008, 06:52 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
Venice
, California
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 85MH325
However, one MUST remember the definition of a sailboat: "A fiberglass hole in the water into which one pours money."
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then i would say the defintion of an airstream: "An aluminum hole in the backyard into which one pours money."
...... gladly i might add
__________________
david
*by asking the above question,
i verify that i have already used
the search feature to the best of my ability...
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04-19-2008, 06:57 PM
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#12
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Don't Panic
...but , and I mean absolutely no offense here...
Do any of you full-time AS dwellers ever take any flak such as "trailer park" humour...truly- I mean no disrespect.
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We live in an RV park, and when people ask, and find out why we are living in ours, there's been nothing else said. The biggest thing I have noticed to head off any comments about trailer trash, is to keep the campsite and trailer clean and neat. There are some trailers that seem to have nothing but the dirt holding them together, and they are the ones that get the flak.
BTW, you're not a Douglas Adams fan, per chance?
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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04-19-2008, 07:04 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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As a lifelong Miamian, might I point out that when Jim Cantori (of the Weather Channel) opines that Hurricane Caligula is upon us and we are all going to die, the choice is easy; sailboat @ 6 knots or Airstream at 50 knots....
mike
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04-19-2008, 07:06 PM
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#14
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Naysayer
1968 24' Tradewind
Russellville
, earth
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,954
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Don't Panic
Do any of you full-time AS dwellers ever take any flak such as "trailer park" humour...truly- I mean no disrespect.
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I might if:
1) I was a type inclined to take flak
or
2) was the least concerned with the opinion of the herd.
To quote the great philospher Mark Twain : "Hain't we got all the fools in town on our side? And ain't that a big enough majority in any town?"
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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04-19-2008, 07:10 PM
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#15
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Liberator
1972 Argosy 24
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Heart of Dixie
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,659
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Get Both
__________________
Your opinion is valued, please not your opinion of someones else's opinion.
Click To See Me Wet
1989 Airstream 345 Liberator...
1972 Argosy 24'...
1954 Feathercraft Vagabond
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04-19-2008, 07:11 PM
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#16
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1 Rivet Member
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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Overlander63-
Thanx for the reply.
Not that the general public's opinion rates overly high in my decision process-
but I know there seems to be an unfairly positive reaction to the "yachtclub" vs the "campground"-
I don't think that way- after all, I live in a truck!
And yes, HUGE Douglas Adams fan.
__________________
Don't Panic
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04-19-2008, 07:16 PM
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#17
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Liquid Cooled
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
near Indy
, Indiana
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 741
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It seems unnatural for me to say, but Airstream.
Although...
There are small yacht clubs all over in the Midwest... Maybe a modest house in a rural area or a smaller town.
Some of the locals complain, but there are a number of houses in our town listed in today's paper between 75-100k. Not necessarily in the best neighborhood, but you can walk down the street 24/7/365
So... why did I say yacht club? We did scow sailing until babysitting became kind of a big deal. These are cheap, fast, and athletic enough to make a person want to stay in good physical condition. Additionally, between the local club and fleet regattas, there is a strong socialization aspect and I've always found that important from a quality of life standpoint. The least expensive clubs I know of sail out of state parks and run around $20 per year for associate membership (no votes, no trophies, but can participate in races).
It's a way to get an adrenaline hit every now and then, and I miss those from time to time.
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04-19-2008, 07:20 PM
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#18
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1 Rivet Member
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 8
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Klattu-
WOW!!!
P.S.
Barada Nikto
__________________
Don't Panic
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04-19-2008, 07:37 PM
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#19
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More than one rivet loose
Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Don't Panic
Hi,
Now I have to decide between "fulltiming" an Airstream or "liveaboard" on a sailboat.
Looks like a terrific forum, looking foward to learning alot here.
Take Care.
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Do you want to spend more time in a wheeled vehicle or on the water?
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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04-19-2008, 08:12 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1967 26' Overlander
Winston Salem
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 524
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I've done the boat thing also,
I had a 22ft Cruisers Inc Barnergat.
The money I spent on the boat and restoration costs, I could have had a real nice 32ft Airstream Excella 1000.
Go airstream,
Only an Airstream is built like an Airstream....
Only an Airstream offers the Wally Byam way of life...
I sound like a commercial
__________________
Greg
Winston Salem, NC
WBCCI 5218,
Corresponding Secretary Piedmont NC Unit 161,
1967 Overlander International.
1979 Avion 30ft rear bath
TV's 88 Chevy Suburban 454, 3:42, TH400
95 Cadillac FW Brougham, LT1,3:42, 7k tow pk.
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