Farewell Blue Yonder

[txav8r]

This last week my second boat, the Blue Yonder, found a new home with @Betik and family. It isn't ever a tough thing to see smiles and excitement on a new jetboat owners family. It is however tough to consider being boatless again. My belief is that this is just another phase, however I have no current plans to replace her. All of us go through changes in their lives. For many of you, retirement is far from your near vision. For us, we have just 4 years until the work week will be replaced with something we hope will add fun and reduce stress...retirement! While the boat would be something that would add to that, our focus is different today and seeing the boat sit for most of that time, isn't my preference. So she has found a new home.

We are working on removing trees, improving landscape, adding an RV barn, and enjoying our RV ongoing. The current barn opening gives room for a tractor! So I will be shifting my jetboat skills to driving a tractor!

I'm not going anywhere, I am a huge Yamaha, and jetboat in general, fan. And as always, I am a believer in our forum here and will always be a Jetboaters.net member, just like you!

 

[Gym]

Happy/sad for you @txav8r but I'm glad you're sticking around to continue sharing your knowledge and wisdom. Maybe you can start a tractor section on this forum. Will it be jet powered???

 

[itsdgm]

@txav8r congrats on the easy sale of your boat, again. These yamahas almost sell themselves

I'm excited for you guys looking towards the next chapter in your lives. I'm not that far behind you. It pains me to see my boat sit so much too.

Hopefully you've found good advice on tractor maintenance online. But I'd guess that you won't get the same kind and timely responses on those sites that you're used to here

 

[swatski]

@txav8r I would give you a double winner if it were available! Awesome deal.

Please do share your thoughts/experience on putting up a "RV barn". I suppose it wouldn't be much different than a "boat barn", something I am currently pondering.

--

 

[jawsf16]

"DISLIKE"!!

I understand why you are doing it Mel, but much like when my dad sold the Salty Dog, I don't have to like it! Take a short drive to Texoma if (and when) you need your jet boat fix and you will have plenty of boats to choose from for a day on the lake.

 

[4x15mph]

@txav8r , good luck on this next phase and congratulations on a well laid out plan.

 

[txav8r]

Thanks guys! @jawsf16 , I owe @PEARCE a visit to see his new boat too. So I'm sure we will venture out with the coach and beg for a lift from shore! lol And I appreciate you not liking it, me neither, but other than Powell and Murray, it didn't hit the water but those two times in 2 years!

@swatski , I'd be happy to share plans. My first barn for the boat, was a pole barn clad with R panel just like a metal building. This barn, is a Future Steel Quonset Hut style construction. It isn't round, as it has straight 10' walls, but the transition to roof pitch and the top "beam" are curved to connect the flat pieces. The new barn is 20' wide x 44' long x 18' tall. I have a pic for here but will start another thread for it as I think it would make a great boat barn too. And because the sides and roof are self supporting with wide open free span and no rafters, it's a great concept.

And a pic of the pallet that will be shipped to me...not my building but how it's shipped.

 

[swatski]

@txav8r That is a pretty awesome design, down to skylight/roof windows. Wow. Looking forward to your barn thread.
Should be more than enough space for the RV and your next boat!

 

[Britboater]

Good luck @txav8r with your future, I don't know you personally but I've been around long enough to know your one of the old school and originators of jetboat forum help, (old school meaning wise and experienced ). Good to know you still plan to visit this site, enjoy your upcoming new phase in your life.

On another note, will you need to insulate that barn, I'm thinking you'll get condensation on the inside being bare metal?

 

[txav8r]

The barn won't hold more than the coach with about a foot and a half on each end. The width is so I can open all slides while in the barn. I won't insulate up front but may in the future. We have a good deal of humidity in Texas but most of us with metal buildings don't notice a buildup of condensation on the metal, however we do on Windows. I am not installing skylights as they are both an expense and an integrity issue going forward. I will install plenty of LED lighting so it won't be necessary to have natural light in there.

Thanks for the kind words, and yes, I'll stay active here as we are a good mix on the admin side, and we balance each other nicely!

 

[DCB-270]

Like the barn! Not the boat sale. When we have a Texoma trip just yell and I'm sure we can get a boat to pick you guys up.

 

[zipper]

@txav8r Good for you and your new direction, if I did not own a farm I would have an RV. I love my Yamaha ar230ho, but I also love my Kubota M4900 w/cab. We could not live here without it.

 

[Evil Sports]

Wondered why you been so quiet this summer. Have fun my friend.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

Congrats on your decision Mel, we all have to make choices for our future and sometimes they are for the greater good. Now as a side note, when you buy a tractor, buy a Kubota, you will thank me later!!!

 

[Zarrella]

Congratulations on the sale and new direction. I on the other hand have less then 5 years till retirement. We are planning on boating and camping even more. We also are making all of our new purchases now to be totally debt free when we quit working. So .. .she got her a new toy this weekend .