So Many Beautiful Boats Rotting Away in Their Slips . . . Why ?

[Piney]

Any one of yours local marinas has literally thousands of beautiful sailboats just rotting away in thier slips, completely neglected. I just dont get it.. This just seem to me as nothing more than another symptom of the pure gluttonous greed that so permeates our society. Why buy a boat to just let it rot away? is it a staus thing? It pains me to see these when I would love to own and be more than happy to give these deserving craft the loveing care they require.

About 3 years ago, a newer 30ish foot sailboat moved into the slip next to me, it has not moved since. she just sits there growing mold chafing away at her dock lines. Somebody must be making payments?, paying slip fees?. The tags has not been renewed since 2008. It literally has never moved. Why buy a boat if you cant or wont use it?

It is really sad and bothersome to see a boat that I would kill for dying a slow death because of neglect.

[zeehag]

find out who owns it, contact them and mebbe find a new boat. never can tell and staying silent just makes boat older and more neglected.

[s/v 'Faith']

Probably as many reasons as there are boats.

Many folks buy and then loose interest.

Some buy too large, and don't find the time to get crew together to leave the dock (the size of the boat is inversely proportional to the likelyhood it will get used).

Not to mention, some have the dream... and then mess up and listen to the dream stealers....

... never listen to the dream stealers.

They say the dreamstealers have abandoned their dreams, and often delight in taking yours.

[MikeTurner]

Some folks get into too much boat and never sail. I have to admit I'm sailing a lot less since I moved up from 23' to 32', but I'm still sailing.

Some folks take on what turns out to be too much of a project. There's one guy in my marina who now has 4 project boats in the water, none of them moveable.

Some folks get on in years and can't handle their boats any more. I expect that someday the day will come for me to sell my boat, and I'll bet I won't want to do it. Some folks move away and leave their boats behind.

I agree, it can be sad. There's a boat one slip over from me that has moved once in 4 years, and that was to go over to the fuel dock and back. Some boats in my marina and yacht club haven't moved in the 5 years I've been here, and from what I can see of marine growth on their hulls, for a long time before that.

[Piney]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

They say the dreamstealers have abandoned their dreams, and often delight in taking yours.

So true!!

[pressuredrop]

found a sorely neglected skipper 20 at a small marina down in the keys, obvs. handnt been sailed in 5+ years, i asked the marina if it was for sale, or if i could get the owners contact info, they said no, that is our favorite customer, always pays the bill and never uses the boat... go figure

[Capt Phil]

You would be amazed at how many are bank owned and have a hugh moorage bill outstanding at the marina where they are lying. Drove a charter recently out of a marina in San Diego and the boat on the end tie in front of us was a beautiful 97 footer that had just been bought for $450K... go figure! Capt Phil

[S/V Illusion]

Lots of reasons. In our case, the boat is 1000 miles away and we don't get a chance to travel to it much so it gets used once or twice a year for a 2-3 week trip. My dock neighbor uses his very little as well which is his choice. The reason we keep them is because we want the option of using them but not constantly.

[zeehag]

not constantly in many cases is once every 10 yrs then they wonder aloud why their boat isnt running well.............

[Jamel]

I was in Marina Del Rey, California, it has a huge marina infact it has its own post code!

I asked the broker at CYA" where do all the boats go to on long weekends and holidays...to Catalina Island"? The answer was ..."most just never move...anywhere"!

[imagine2frolic]

I type this one pretty often, and even earlier today. Do you really want all those boats on the water every weekend. Be glad they stay where they are.........i2f

[stillbuilding]

Similar situation in Melb Aust - boat did not move for three years then one day just gone - to Valparaiso ! Many reasons for disuse I guess.

[tropicalescape]

someones accountent told them to spend some money or lose it to the gov. and then they forgot that they even owned the boat until one day in Las Vegas they gamble away a fortune and go home to lick their wounds and then ask the accountant what ass-ets they have to sale until the next check comes in and they start over...

[David M]

I think for some the novelty wears off but the amount of work remains the same.

[sdowney717]

90% of boats at the marina I never see any owner and I have never seen the boats move. I tend to go the marina every other day for 3 or 4 hours work on the boat and other stuff. Most active people there are the live aboards since they are with their boat majority of their time.

I am really surprised more boats dont sink at the dock due to negligence. The few people I do see come out just to see if the boat is still floating. Perhaps they can afford the dream as far as ownership but using the boat is rare for them as they cant afford to motor out of the slip. So they really can barely afford the time and money to go boating.