I give up!

[Jake001]

Since this is the confessional section I thought it would be fitting to confess that I'm giving up on my project boat.

Probably like most I overestimated the time I have available to fix, replace, and upgrade the boat.

It's bitter sweet as I sit here in her cabin typing this post. Hopefully someone with time and energy will buy her at the bargain price and finish what I started.

I had to realize in the end what I wanted was to go sailing and having this boat bobbing in the slip week after week didn't work anymore.

Done.

[Magnawake]

Yeah I hear ya. Working on a boat is not nearly as much fun as sailing a boat. Save up for a boat that is water ready. Trust me, you'll have to work on it too.

[gasngo]

Sorry to hear that but I understand. I have completed a few projects just to find a spun bearing in my hot rod motor. Out & In. My jet boat total resto only to do something stupid and crack up some fiber glass while it sat the block froze and cracked I thought I was done. I went in together with a buddy on a 27 ft Catalina that needs some good TLC and few dollars and getting him to recognize the need to stay at task is a task in it own. Its not the end of the world. Heads up and keep on moving. I have a buddy in Kemah that sails a 27 Cat. Pm me and Ill put you in touch maybe something good will come of it. Brad

[SaltyMonkey]

Agree w/ Magnawake.

And get one that is in high demand as a design

[Hoofsmit]

It's hard to work on a project and know it's defeated you. I had the fortune to have a father who's motto was " if you can't afford it ... Make it !" So I know where you are coming from.
The joy of a rebuild / repair is that you know how it works and how to rebuild/ repair it again
The great thing is ... It's a learning experience, the next one, I am sure will be within your remit/ time frame
I wish you well

[David_Old_Jersey]

I have given you an honorable mention........

Refurbing / Refitting an Older boat - Advice and Ideas - Page 32 - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

Sometimes it is good to come up with a plan B. The good news is that at least some of the time and money will be recouped by bringing your learning from plan A to the picking of the next boat.

[w1651]

I hear what your saying Jake and I have felt what your feeling. I know it is a long road to my boat being safe enough (For me) to sail but I am about to take a major step in getting it done. I just keep looking ahead and try to get one thing a week done.
It doesn't matter how big or small it is. One thing a week and after over two years it is starting to come together. A daunting task I know but for me I am starting to see the light.

[hpeer]

Sometimes I think you haven't truly experienced sailing if you haven't sat in the cockpit and weeped.

Good luck, however it unfolds. I've got my hands full myself.

[sww914]

I gave up several times. I sat in our boat when it was still on the hard and cried. I also gave up cruising a couple times along the way. Here we are still cruising and last night, flying home at 25 knots in our dinghy on perfect black glass with our wake glowing nuclear green from the phosphoresce and a huge orange moon rising on the horizon, I almost cried from the beauty of it all.

[dandkg]

after our boat was torn-up in storm i wanted to sell boat and start with a new 1 but wife said hell no our boat made it thru hurricane force storm. we started rebuilding 3 years ago and have recently made our 1st cruise and still have issues we work on ,,,have to make punch-list ever trip out to either do or redo but i do understand your frustration.we did as other commented had friends at marina to go out sailing with,,,made us wanta work harder to complete our boat.we completely gutted our boat and rebuild interior and exterior,buy new mast and rigging. it was a long 3 years but was worth it we love our new/old boat. just make a friend and go out sailing it will give you new look on rebuilding yours

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Jake001

Since this is the confessional section I thought it would be fitting to confess that I'm giving up on my project boat.

Probably like most I overestimated the time I have available to fix, replace, and upgrade the boat.

It's bitter sweet as I sit here in her cabin typing this post. Hopefully someone with time and energy will buy her at the bargain price and finish what I started.

I had to realize in the end what I wanted was to go sailing and having this boat bobbing in the slip week after week didn't work anymore.

Done.

If it's bobbing in the slip, sounds like you are halfway there. Can you raise one of the rags (sails) that came with it? If so, you are in business! (if the rudder is working)

Tom

[rw58ph]

We bought the Eagle thinking it was a 3 year project turned out to be a 6 year to get to a point of cruise and 17 years later we still have things on the original to do want list not done. However, there very seldom as a time that the Eagle could have left the dock. However, we have a 19 ft run about and a 11 ft dink we use almost every day that is teed/moored next t the Eagle. In fact I enjoy taking out the run about and dink far more than taking the Eagle out. So you might want to think about buying a small boat/dink to use on a daily bases while you work on the bigger boat.

[JPA Cate]

Everybody feels discouraged sometime. If what the OP really wants is to quit, that's okay. There is virtue in recognizing that you bit off more than you thought you could chew.

However, in a sense, simply starting the thread is a "cry for help". So I say, look at what these other guys are saying: that it may take twice as long as you planned, that they, too, felt discouraged at times, the victory at the end is incredibly sweet, and that if your boat's bobbing in the slip, maybe she's closer to a daysail than you're feeling right now.

Nobody promised us a rose garden when we were born, we're just here, and sometimes it's more fun than others. If you absorb this hit, and carry on will you feel better about yourself? Only you can answer that one. Good luck with it, whatever your decision.

Ann

[Mark1977]

I feel your pain. see also...http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ghlight=i+wish

[SkiprJohn]

My project boat will be done when I'm gone. Just like my project cabin and project house. Just have to step back a bit once in awhile.

Luckily I have a club that allows me to sail and friends who invite me to cruise with them. If I didn't have that then I'd be getting rid of my project and buying a boat that's sailable.

One thing I've learned is that I don't need any more project cars and project motorcycles.

Good luck in whatever decision you make and the other side of the coin is that the burden of a big project is immediately gone when you either sell it or give it away. If you've weighed all your options and your decision is to let it go then that is the right decision for you.