How do you stay motivated while finishing a project

[SuperSaltAir]

I feel like I am running out of steam when it comes to finishing my new project it actually is a malibu and not a supra but I really like this board so thats why im posting up here. Plus you guys are more of the get it done types and not lets pay someone else to do it for us unlike most of the malibu guys. So here is my dilemma I have all the parts to have a lake ready boat by next weekend I just don't feel like going out and working on it. The engine runs it just needs some hose clamps and ods and ins wire ties ect. The interior is in just needs to be bolted in the windshield is in on it just needs to be bolted down. How do you guys stay motivated I really want to get this boat done. When I redid my saltere it took me almost 2 yrs I don't want this project to be the same at the same time I don't want it to feel like a job I want to be able to enjoy the build process any tips. Also would you guys like to see the project? It is a fully gutted and rebuilt 2000 malibu escape lsv

[cadunkle]

Take a day off from it, have a few beers, do something relaxing, look at pictures of previous projects you've done, and pictures of the end result, etc.. This helps when I feel burnt out. If I'm on a deadline there's nothing to do but chug a few energy drinks and get to it. Yeah it sucks to do the work when you're not motivated but it is what it is. If you want it done quickly you just gotta do it.

[rdlangston13]

the only thing that burns me out is looking at the receipt from parts ect for making repairs. That makes me question whether or not I really want to be a boat owner lol.

[DAFF]

Create a date log of what you want done by a specific time. Use a calanadar on the fridge for optium results. Nothing better than scratching off a line on the to do list. Only problem your wife will see good results and perform honey do lists on the same calandar !!!

[haugy]

Being on the water allows you to get these to go with. No boat, no bikinis.

http://www.adrants.com/images/bikini_girls.jpg
http://wakeboardingmag.com/files//2010/04/crispy-bikini-girls13.jpg
http://wakeboardingmag.com/files//2009/10/septemberchickscontest1.jpg


Nothing feels better than getting out on a boat that you've restored or gotten into shape.

[rdlangston13]

Being on the water allows you to get these to go with. No boat, no bikinis.

http://www.adrants.com/images/bikini_girls.jpg
http://wakeboardingmag.com/files//2010/04/crispy-bikini-girls13.jpg
http://wakeboardingmag.com/files//2009/10/septemberchickscontest1.jpg


Nothing feels better than getting out on a boat that you've restored or gotten into shape.

Now THAT is my kind of motivation

[jet]

what were we talking about??

[dshaff24]

Im with Jet.. I was about to type but then I got side tracked..

Anyway.. I want to be on the water and if I don't have my boat im stuck using a pontoon and boarding behind that is enough to make you determind!

[SuperSaltAir]

Thank you guys especially Haugy. I was able to salvage this day and finished installing the windshield and for some extra credit mounted the interior component speakers and x overs. Now if I can get my wife to clean the boat up a bit while im at work tom that is one less thing I have to do.

[wotan2525]

You can't look at the whole thing -- just break it into really small and simple steps. Last week I couldn't think about redoing my ski-locker cooler. But... I could think about starting with pullingit, sanding it flat, body fillering the low areas, drilling drains, epoxying it with 5 coats and then finally reinstalling it. Each of those small tasks felt like an accomplishment instead of constantly feeling like I didn't "finish."

This works for me and I'm generally hard to motivate!

[SuperSaltAir]

I made a mold for those a while back for my saltare but I never put the finishing touches on it or pulled a part from it

[Salty87]

go stand by the boat ramp and watch people head out for the day.

[Okie Boarder]

haugy's idea is the best...nice choices of pics. salty and the rest talking about being at the lake comes in a close second.

I agree with the break down approach. Just focus on what you can get done in one session/day and get it done. Either have a mental list or physical list and keep scratching things off. Kind of the "One day (thing) at a time" approach.

[sybrmike]

1-1/2 years into mine & finally starting to see the end in sight. My delay has been from lack of time (family, work, etc. take priority), not lack of motivation. Like others, I find lists extremely helpful and motivating. I've got a 5 page spread sheet and 4 page to-do list in rough chronological order - just grab a task, get it done, check it off, & move to the next.

I'd been putting off wiring cause I'm still a little intimidated by re-doing the whole thing and adding lots of extras. Break it all down into smaller tasks that can be finished in short stints. "Wire the dash" was too much, so I broke it down into smaller sections - set some time aside this weekend between kids soccer games & just sat down with tools and supplies & went to work. Switch & breaker panel - check, gauge panel - check, speedo panel - check. Felt so good to get those done, I went back to the garage last night & started wiring back at the transom & now can't wait to get back & hopefully check that off tonight.

Just keep at it - sounds like you're close...

[jet]

Im with you man..I have so much to do and so little time Im getting deprssed about mine. I have a PILE of new stuff and cant even start on it untill the floor is done. : ((

but those pictures helped!!

[Ptownkid]

Yeah, i have no issue with motivation...just time and finances.

[NeilMcg]

My problem was the physical toll it was taking on me. My hands were shot and worst of all, it seemed that no one really cared. But take Wotan's advice...look at one thing at a time concentrate on that. I suggest meditating on how much guts you had to do this and that you've MADE IT through the hardest part. Also remind yourself that once it's done, people will magically appear and go crazy for a ride...all the while not knowing (or caring) about the blood sweat and tears you put into it. But that will be your little secret. I even guess you'll get a silent chuckle at how clueless they are about just how hard it was to do. C'mon man!! Don't throw the book down during the last chapter!!!! You WILL get it done. If we didn't believe in you, you wouldn't have all of us people responding.

[SuperSaltAir]

Man I don't know about going to the lake this weekend but I think I will get the boat out front and take some pics for you guys thank you for all of your kind words

[wotan2525]

I thought of one more thing... Post regular updates on here. It feels then like you are responsible to someone/something!

[devovino]

For me as well, it all boils down to time and money! Sometime more time than money, but there neck and neck. Between installing a new wood stove over the winter,school, having my newborn, I barely had time to tear into the Salt, so it sat there just waiting for me to do something for her! Now that spring is here, I have been frantically tearing down the interior, rebuilding 90% of the seats, and having them all reupholstered, its coming along, but seems slowly. Now balancing the Bambino, seeding a new lawn, installing new french doors ( have to keep momma happy) I walk a fine line. Sometime I have to take a step back,and take a deep breath.
But I now in time, it will be thing of beauty, all my hard work paying off sitting in the sun, surfing the wake, sipping a cold one. Right now the upholstry is almost all done, reduilding the rear seats to be larger, pulling up the floor to install some hard tanks underneath for ballast. At least one good thing about having time to sit and look is I was able to map out what I was going to do to her. WEll here soon some pictures will follow, if anybody is interested....:rolleyes:

[haugy]

Everybody is different. It's also a matter of priorities.

Me, most of my friends know I'm nuts. I worked on the Saltare last weekend till 4am. Fell asleep next to the motor for 2 hours, and started working again.

You've got to remember that you need to be enjoying yourself. No matter what. The moment you "hate" having to go work on it, something is wrong. I love projects. I'm always working on something since I can't sit still. But there have been times where I was just flat out exhausted, and tired. That's normally when I would put the cover on it, and let it sit for a week or two and allow me to decompress.

Just do what you can, when you can, as long as you enjoy it. It will come with time. But if you hate the whole process, it won't be worth it, and you'll regret the lost time. That's not what you want at the end result.

If you were in my area, I'd say let's knock that sucker out, but your a weee bit far from me. Do you have to worry about a fire or anything in your area?

[jsandy]

think back to happier times and what it will be like to get back on the water
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/thetoystore/rivercamaro017.jpg
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/thetoystore/rivercamaro016.jpg
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/thetoystore/rivercamaro009.jpg
have the sudden urge to get the boat out now

[haugy]

Where the hell were these girls when I lived in Florence!?!?!?!?!?!?!

This was the weekend the Mariah was finished. Ohhh so worth it.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/LakePictures11.jpg


And then I was able to enjoy the company of the local Coyote Ugly girls making use
of the tower.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/coyote6.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/coyote2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/coyote7.jpg


Key point to notice.......no dudes.

[haugy]

Just some more motivation for ya.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/back_of_the_boat.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/P1010626.jpg


Click to play. No sound.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/Board%20Bonanza-Aussies/th_P1010698-1.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/Board%20Bonanza-Aussies/?action=view&current=P1010698-1.mp4)


That's how I roll. Now get your boat done, and come on out on the water. LOL

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/customcj7/P1010690.jpg

[jsandy]

i wanna hang out with haugy

[wotan2525]

Hey... we let guys dance, too!

http://youtu.be/Q0XS6twpF1E

[haugy]

Hey... we let guys dance, too!

http://youtu.be/Q0XS6twpF1E

Please tell me that's you!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[wotan2525]

Please tell me that's you!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Not me... but... one of my friends. I think he was dancing with a box on his head for over 5 hours that day. Thank god they banned 4-Loko.

[Okie Boarder]

Everybody is different. It's also a matter of priorities.

Me, most of my friends know I'm nuts. I worked on the Saltare last weekend till 4am. Fell asleep next to the motor for 2 hours, and started working again.

I remember a few nights similar to that during the floor and stringer rebuild process. I had my gut check and frustrating moments and there were times where I wish I was done, but I always looked at what I was accomplishing and how much I love doing projects and getting good results. Sometimes I would take a break, like haugy mentioned. Sometimes I would look at pictures from the beginning of the project then go out in the garage and look at where I was currently at to realize how far I had come.

[Okie Boarder]

Great pics haugy...if that doesn't inspire the OP, I don't know what will...LOL!

[jsandy]

and one inportant thing to remember is ingenuity when trying to finish your boat. example
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/thetoystore/boat.jpg
see how a simple noodle can become a structual support pole.

[jet]

I love this fourm..you learn so much. Did yall hear me that im having trouble finishing my floor, interior, custom stuff, stereo and ballast system??

what can you do to help me???

[haugy]

I love this fourm..you learn so much. Did yall hear me that im having trouble finishing my floor, interior, custom stuff, stereo and ballast system??

what can you do to help me???

Floor, interior, custom stuff, stereo, and ballast eh????

Here ya go:

http://files.encuentra24.com/46/24/462475.jpg

+

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05027b.jpg

+

http://bigfinboats.com/forums/uploads/monthly_03_2008/post-1-1205462660.jpg

+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ghettoblaster-family.jpg


Then some lead weight, and you're done!!!!
Aren't ya motivated!?!?!?!?! Get to it!!!

[WakeSurfCanada]

Enroute to work in the morning, driving past the marina/lake, seeing it smooth as glass. Thinking about the early morning sessions before work. Also working a 9-5 in the city, and coming home to get out on the lake for an evening session! That's what's keeping me motivated at this point! Oh yea, and all those pic's of girls in bikini's haha.

[jet]

Haugy..I dont want to see wood!! lol. But I do like the foreward pointing sea-doo killer. lmao

[SuperSaltAir]

So it payed off I got allot of it done and tom morning we are going to the lake to brake the new motor in I hope it holds together. And if does I will be sure to take a run or two I hope. I want to thank all of you guys for the kind words of motivation and you can expect to see some of the build and almost finish pics.

[Ptownkid]

Yeaaaaah buddy, keep on keepin' on, we're all pulling for you!!!

[SuperSaltAir]

It works I got to ride behind it today pics coming later now I am off to work

[mapleleaf]

Enroute to work in the morning, driving past the marina/lake, seeing it smooth as glass. Thinking about the early morning sessions before work. Also working a 9-5 in the city, and coming home to get out on the lake for an evening session! That's what's keeping me motivated at this point! Oh yea, and all those pic's of girls in bikini's haha.

Talk to to me about this commute from the lake, this is my goal!!!! Didn't grow up in Toronto, don't really want to stay much longer....been giving Aurora a lot more thought lately......

[WakeSurfCanada]

Maple,

Grew up in/around the GTA and knew it was never somewhere I wanted to settle, spent lots of time on the lakes and in the bush in northern ontario. When I finally decided I wanted to buckle down this was a logical move for me. I drive by the marina every morning on my way to work.
I'm north of Bradford, little community right on the SW side of Simcoe.

Lake Simcoe is defiantly a big lake, and can get some serious chop, but in my 9 months of living beside it, I have seen countless times that it is just glass(Usually early am/dusk but I'm ok with that). Had my SS in it last year and even when it was gnarley out on the lake it faired quite well

My office is Duffern/Finch area so my commute w/o traffic is 40 mins door to door.

I ride mx, snowmobiles and all those other fun things that you can't do in the city so its perfect fit for me!

Once my boat is back in action I would be happy to have you up, and check the place out, maybe even a weekday wakesesh!

PM me if you would like anymore info!

[mapleleaf]

We'll def. have to talk, I was thinking about the bottom of Simcoe or access through the Holland River. Def. not a lake for a comp boat, but fun none the less. I put in at Monte something Marina last yr, loved it, water temp on that side of the lake was like a swimming pool. Definitely to be continued.....

Sorry for the thread jack Salt.....