• Home
    • Recent
    • Calendar
    • Register
    • Login
    Iron Heart Forum
    Iron Heart Forum

    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

    Iron Heart Meet Ups & Travel
    84
    1.6k
    390.0k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Tago MagoT
      Tago Mago
      Mod Squad
      Joined:

      I'm sure you'll get a nice discount on your next boat

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        The next boat I want is not the same brand. And about 3 times more expensive, so it wont be happening 🙂

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • jordanscollectedJ
          jordanscollected
          啓蒙家
          Joined:

          @Giles That was a fantastic read. The folks at the Marina must see you as a model boat owner. I had this elevated view of your marina being full of active and engaged sailors I failed to see what's in front of my face. someone in my family has a boat in the marina on the river here in town and the shape of fellow boats and actions of fellow sailors sounds very similar. There's plenty of rotting boats, boats that never get launched in the first place when the ice is out, and many boats that are used as a weekend getaway but never leave port. So many people come down to the dock just to hang out and drink visit with other boat owners. Gas is so damn expensive a 3 hour cruise up and down the river can cost $300 in gas. plenty of people can't swallow that every weekend for reasons you stated. They inherited the boat, or bought it cheapish only to realize that boat ownership cost doesn't end at the purchase. It begins there.

          world tours:
          888 Fat guy chocolate WT
          Mad Red x2
          Wabidashery

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GilesG
            Giles
            IHUK Crew
            Joined:

            Yep. Before Paula and I decided that we wanted to do this, we put together a very padded budget and projection of costs for the next 10 years. It was doing that which made us realise we could actually do this crazy thing, but also not fret too much about spending money on fuel, marina fee's, maintenance etc. Because we padded the costs, I know we have wiggle room and as long as we come in under what the spreadsheet predicts per month, I don't care how much we spend. That way we can enjoy ourselves with no sorries about costs.

            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
            • AetasA
              Aetas
              見習いボス
              @Giles
              Joined:

              @Giles said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

              … But we are pushing the boat probably more than any other owner, so we are finding stuff that no one else has found, changes have been made to the production line as a result.

              Exactly this doesn’t sound like retirement.
              More like ‘shift and changes’ as a life motto.
              Wasn’t there a plan of the Menorcan builders to sell in the UK based on your boat @Giles ?

              last edited by Aetas 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                There is a UK agent, and has been for a few years. But, we are still the only Brits to have bought one so far 🙂

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  We are currently fitting a new awning. It is amazing......

                  IMG_2868.JPG

                  IMG_2869.JPG

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    @jordanscollected Case in point…..

                    IMG_2872.jpeg

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • jordanscollectedJ
                      jordanscollected
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined:

                      Looks like a floating flop house! And it also looks like that solar panel has the day off today. Re: the condition of the boat, Give it a once over with a paper towel and she's sea ready.

                      world tours:
                      888 Fat guy chocolate WT
                      Mad Red x2
                      Wabidashery

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • goosehdG
                        goosehd
                        Mod Squad
                        @Giles
                        Joined:

                        @Giles does that ever look good!! Great choice you two 🙂

                        "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • GilesG
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined:

                          Thank you. The "doors" to the side decks are quite complicated, so had to be templated. So that has been done and it's all been taken down and back to the workshop to be completed...But we are more than happy, I think it will allow us to use the boat even more in the winter.

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • GilesG
                            Giles
                            IHUK Crew
                            Joined:

                            And complete and fitted. We are rather over the moon....

                            IMG_2911.JPG

                            IMG_2912.JPG

                            IMG_2913.JPG

                            IMG_2914.JPG

                            IMG_2915.JPG

                            IMG_2916.JPG

                            IMG_2917.JPG

                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                            last edited by jordanscollectedJ ROmanR 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 12
                            • jordanscollectedJ
                              jordanscollected
                              啓蒙家
                              @Giles
                              Joined:

                              @Giles I'm guessing indigo blue wasn't an option?

                              world tours:
                              888 Fat guy chocolate WT
                              Mad Red x2
                              Wabidashery

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • GilesG
                                Giles
                                IHUK Crew
                                Joined:

                                May have been, but every fucker and his dog in the marina has dark blue....

                                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • ROmanR
                                  ROman
                                  Haraki san Prodigy
                                  @Giles
                                  Joined:

                                  @Giles looks great. Nicely done.

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • GilesG
                                    Giles
                                    IHUK Crew
                                    Joined:

                                    As is widely known, I am not allowed to fish off SAKURA. I have been trying to work out a way to fix that, and I have a solution.

                                    A few weeks ago, a boat that I had admired for ages in our Marina came up for sale. I had even specced a new one exactly the same about a year ago, but could not swing it financially (that is, get Paula to agree 🙂 )

                                    I made an offer and it was accepted and I picked her up last night.

                                    I am renaming her UKIYO: In Japanese, "UKIYO" (浮世) translates to "floating world" or "transient world". It describes the urban, pleasure-seeking lifestyle of Edo-period Japan. Essentially, "ukiyo" embodies a sense of living in the moment, appreciating fleeting pleasures, and being detached from the burdens of life.

                                    One of the key deciders was that I can fit her onto our current pontoon, so whilst the bastards are still making me pay for the privilege, it is at a ridiculously low price. Insurance is very reasonable and she will cruise twice as fast as SAKURA and use half the fuel, so when we want a quick dash somewhere (especially somewhere that does not have berths big enough for SAKURA), we now have the means.

                                    And she will be a brilliant platform for fishing in The Solent and neighbouring waters.

                                    Problem solved.

                                    Decals.
                                    C4306280-4407-4DB7-91CE-821F11EB50DD.JPG

                                    New home
                                    IMG_3163.JPG

                                    IMG_3164.JPG

                                    From a webcam installed on SAKURA, so I can monitor her remotely.
                                    IMG_3171 2.PNG

                                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                    last edited by Giles B SourPowerS ARNCA 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 19
                                    • B
                                      Bridger
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      @Giles
                                      Joined:

                                      @Giles said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

                                      Essentially, "ukiyo" embodies a sense of living in the moment, appreciating fleeting pleasures, and being detached from the burdens of life.

                                      Great name @Giles. Another cool Japanese term and philosophy that I will try to incorporate into life.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • motojoboboM
                                        motojobobo
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        Ukiyo appears aimed at pure, reckless, unbridled fun!!

                                        The journey is the objective.

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • S
                                          sabergirl
                                          見習いボス
                                          Joined:

                                          Well, isn’t that just cute as a button?!

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • SourPowerS
                                            SourPower
                                            Haraki san Expert
                                            @Giles
                                            Joined:

                                            @Giles love a center console, what a workhorse. That is some beautiful and stout aluminum decking and gunnels. Hull color is gorgeous!!! How many HP?

                                            Excess In Moderation

                                            last edited by GilesG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright Iron Heart 2025.