Free Stuff (and bargains) you HAVE acquired or snaffled!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

So the only cost was your integrity?

Huh?? exactly where was his integrity flawed? I think you might re-examine your definitions here, mate. I've exercised Taylor's warranty myself some years ago, and there was no limiting of it to the original owner of the fender.

Cheers,

Jim

[GaryMayo]

I own a tiny sailing forum dedicated to Clipper Marine sailboats. One day, a gentleman contacted me, and asked me to advertise his boat trailer on my site. He wanted $4,000 for a 1982
Trailrite three-axle painted steel
trailer. Good rubber and brakes. One catch, or should I say ketch, there was a 1976 Clipper Marine aft cabin ketch 32" sailboat on the trailer, that was free with trailer.

The boat had been for sale for three years, no takers. So he figured on giving it away, if someone purchased the trailer, to end the bleeding on storage fees 4,000 miles away.

I purchased the trailer, and with everything figured in, my free sailboat cost me about eight grand the first year, and another couple grand each year with maintenance and slip fees.

No such thing as a free lunch (or a free boat)

[Travelnik]

I got my boat back 6 years after it was stolen.

[S/V Alchemy]

Is there more to this story, or are you Calvin Coolidge?

[Travelnik]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Is there more to this story, or are you Calvin Coolidge?

The short story:
I bought the boat in the winter of 2003, and I was paying to have it stored at the marina. It was a small marina with 8-10 boats.

I paid them to look after the boat, and everything was okay for a while until I had to leave town for a work in late 2005.

I was mailing the payments to the marina owner, and occasionally a friend of mine would check up on the boat.
One day my friend asked me what I did with the boat. I told him that I didn't do anything, and he said that the marina was closed, and all the boats were gone.

I tried to contact the owner, but there was no answer. The police were about useless. It turned out that he had claimed that a few of the boats were abandoned, and he sold them, or parted them out.

I spent a few years trying to find out what happened to it, and last year I was doing a random web search on Westerly Nomads, and I found an ad on Facebook offering a Nomad for sale.

It was my boat! He even had the same picture that is in my avatar in his ad!

I contacted him last year, and he was willing to let me have it. He said that the marina owner gave it to him, so there wouldn't be any charge to get it back.

When I got it back, all the electronics were gone, and the boom is missing, but at least I have it again, even though I have a bit of restoration to do.

Anyway, that's the short version of the story.

.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Huh?? exactly where was his integrity flawed? I think you might re-examine your definitions here, mate. I've exercised Taylor's warranty myself some years ago, and there was no limiting of it to the original owner of the fender.

Cheers,

Jim

It wasn't so much. I was making a joke. Hence, the

[onestepcsy37]

a complete set of explorer charts for the bahamas in a dumpster at nassau yacht haven. guess the 'superyacht' it came off upgraded to electronic charts...

one and a half gallons of pettit trinidad 75 left behind by a boat that splashed the week before...

i've been given (free!) a perfectly good hypalon dinghy by a yachtie who decided to convert to a portabote....

there's more, just have to remember them...

[paralog]

Just installed a Nova Kool fridge unit and freezer box for $75. Fellow I bought it off was selling two units, one compressor worked but has u/s module. Other had a good module but us compressor. Installed it, added a can of R134 Voila one nice functioning fridge. Eventually have to tear the icebox out and re-insulate it buts that can wait.

My friends think I am nuts bin diving but get lots of goodies.

[sww914]

Good thread. I've found & scrounged and begged so much stuff that I don't even know where to start. I got a Perkins 4.108 for $800.00 from a member here, that was and still is great. I got a roller furler for $45.00, love it. I got ALL of our fenders for free either from the trash, other boaters, or floating free in the bay.
Rebel Heart gave me a badly needed 12v fan today, you name it, I got it cheap or free.

[stillbuilding]

I have to tell you of a recent gift.

I recently a 60' steel yacht hull off eBay for 7K ! Would not even buy the lead in the keel for that!

After my purchase the seller chatted and said I could have all the gear that came with it. He had stripped all the gear off and his life had changed after working non-stop on the hull for four years - just did not want to do that any more! So for the cost of a removalist I acquired the complete fit out and rig for the yacht including two masts, rigging, sails, 13 hydraulic winches, Cummins 150hp motor, generator, electrical and electronics. I have always had to work for my good fortune so I can still hardly accept this good luck. Just in the right place at the right time and really like this design. Still a big task though. Pic attached.

[sww914]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

I have to tell you of a recent gift.

I recently a 60' steel yacht hull off eBay for 7K ! Would not even buy the lead in the keel for that!

After my purchase the seller chatted and said I could have all the gear that came with it. He had stripped all the gear off and his life had changed after working non-stop on the hull for four years - just did not want to do that any more! So for the cost of a removalist I acquired the complete fit out and rig for the yacht including two masts, rigging, sails, 13 hydraulic winches, Cummins 150hp motor, generator, electrical and electronics. I have always had to work for my good fortune so I can still hardly accept this good luck. Just in the right place at the right time and really like this design. Still a big task though. Pic attached.

Beautiful boat!
I'm not sure, however, if I should offer congratulations or condolences.
That's a LOT of work.

[stillbuilding]

Originally Posted by sww914

Beautiful boat!
I'm not sure, however, if I should offer congratulations or condolences.
That's a LOT of work.

I do understand the task involved with this project - maybe still having to work hard for my fortune!

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by Bashleys

I agree Phil! I'm living in the US until the fools that pay for the, "Free stuff" wise up!

you can always renounce your citizenship and leave the country, won't have to pay taxes anymore.

[captain58sailin]

No actually, the IRS still expects you to pay taxes even if you renounce your citizenship.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

No actually, the IRS still expects you to pay taxes even if you renounce your citizenship.

They will exclude up to ~90k in taxable income if you can prove you were out of the country for 330 days in a year.