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sailorboy1 · 06-04-2009, 13:38

Our offer on a 1988 Cal 39 has been accepted. So it "almost" is our first happy boat owner day. Now just need to finish getting the finance taken care of. Maybe Essex Credit will stop messing around and approve my loan for a boat that I'm putting more than 30% down on and bought at the low end of the price range.

Jolly Roger · 06-04-2009, 14:15

Congratulations! I hope you get it squared away. Remember what they say though, "The two happiest days of boat ownership are the day you buy it, and the day you sell it. The days in between; well……could be anything.”

Soft Air · 06-04-2009, 14:19

The days in between are nothing but what all the rat racers wish they could be doing: messing around the boat, fixing things to make live easier, learning from errors, anchoring in paradise, watching the stars, cruising... in short living...

Big congratulations to you, let us know once the credit get approved so we can all toast for you...fair winds captain

jimking100 · 06-04-2009, 14:29

Conratulations and welcome aboard. I just boat my Cal 39 a year ago and am slowly in the process of all the "in between" stuff that Soft Air talked about.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I am. PM me and we can Cal-talk.
jim

sailorboy1 · 06-04-2009, 14:56

first day - the day you buy, second - the day you sell it; which is why I said it is my first boat happy day, but almost as it isn't mine quite yet :-)

Jolly Roger · 06-04-2009, 17:13

You're all just a bunch of old softies.

Soft Air · 06-04-2009, 17:43

I bought mine a year ago but I needed to fly corporate one more year to fund her commissioning. I am here at the BVI now living on board. The dink's yamaha new engine is giving me a hard time, the diesel engine alternator is not charging the battery bank and I fought 2 weeks with 3 million ants before get them out of my boat but I am very, very happy of being out of flying big shots on their corp jets, this is much, much better including all I mentioned and not forgetting the beatiful waters of the BVI...life can't just be better....sailing to Puerto Rico for a few weeks next thursday...

Bye bye all corp rats I left behing retiring at 37 haha

**Pblais** · 06-04-2009, 19:33

Don,

All the best of luck. So long as you sail as much as possible you can win the deal. Sailing is at the end of the day mostly about showing up and ready to go. The only thing you ever get out of a boat is the fun you have. Try to have more than most people. It's OK if you don't win but you should give it the best you can.

SouthernComfort · 06-04-2009, 20:09

Wow, congrats on the boat. Those Cals are nice.

I have learned so much about the interworkings of my boat since buying it. less than a year ago. My goal is to leave the boat knowing full well that it is in much better shape than when I bought her.

I think the happiest days is when I bought her, but after the period that I have fixed her up and maintained her will make selling her a very sad day (if that ever even happens

)

Bash · 06-04-2009, 20:45

While I've heard the "happiest days of boat ownership" maxim any number of times, for me the most bittersweet day of boat ownership was the day I rafted the old boat to the new boat and moved all earthly possessions, one box at a time, from old to new. Once all gear was transferred, it was a tough moment to sail away from the old babe, a fine yacht that had been our home for eight wonderful years.

Still miss her, not that I'd ever go back after a couple years getting the new boat right.

sailorboy1 · 10-04-2009, 04:51

Well my survey went well and all comments were minor and mostly cosmetic (1 I think is bigger than what the surveyor thinks). But, overall not much for a 21 year old boat. Essex Credit finally says I'm approved. But they say they will only finance 70% "value". The thing is I don't know where they they got their "value" as it is pretty low and at the dollar amount they say they will finance I really have to put 37% down. This doesn't stop me but it does cut into funds earmarked for something else. Insurance company wants me to pay for more "captain" time, guess I'm OK as I needed help in moving it up the coast anyway. Even though I checked around months ago and it seemed to not be a problem; currently no word back from marinas about mooring space (biggest concern in my mind at the time). So many things to do. Seems on paper that the boat is close by to work on them (2.5 hr drive each way), but once you do it a couple of times it starts to seem a long way.

Little Otter · 10-04-2009, 11:08

Congrats Don, send us somepictures, I think we all would like to see it.

Sandero · 10-04-2009, 11:10

Awesome Don!

Now you can begin your list which will never be completed.

Where are you going to keep her?

sailorboy1 · 15-04-2009, 14:49

Between getting the finance, insurance, new location etc etc all taken care of; I'm starting to wonder if the Happiest day thing referrs to getting the boat or just being done with the paperwork! Anyway arranged a mooring for Salem MA. Would post a picture if I could find the time to figure how to do it. Having not even closed on the boat the "list" already seems to be getting out of hand. And this for a boat that doesn't have anything that needs to be fixed now (nothing pressing of the project list that I know of yet). Oh well, go forth and sail you middle-aged idiot!