There is nothing like being out in the ocean, watching the landscape shrink down to a picturesque backdrop.
The saltwater breeze and rhythmic waves create a peace felt nowhere else in the world.
But being out at sea is not an easy, or cheap, endeavor. The training and maintenance required to operate a water bound vessel is extensive.
That’s why they say the happiest day of a boater’s life is the day he buys a boat…and the day he sells it.
But did you know you don’t have to own a boat to hit the open seas?
Believe it or not, there are ways you can become a boater without the craft.
This may seem like an oxymoron, but there are options for boat training and boat rentals without the costly purchase of actually owning a boat.
Steve Sansford, who has written many Transport Canada safety and navigation ratings, as well as authored pieces in Powerboating Canada Magazine, reports in Northern Ontario Travel:
“I consider myself a boater, despite the fact I neither own a boat, nor am I in the market to buy a boat. I am simply an individual who enjoys boating. I realize this seems like a bit of a contradiction, but I assure you: one does not have to own a boat to experience the fun of getting out on the water.”
Boats are not only expensive modes of transportation in and of themselves, but the maintenance and storage of them can drain the bank account quick.
So, here are some great ideas to get your sea legs without the hassle of storing and caring for a boat—and still having boatloads of fun along the way!