Hmmm...
Let's see. Pat and Ali went to one of the more advertised catamaran brokers in the US. 2Hulls. They probably expected these "experts" that receive a fairly significant commission to guide them toward a boat that meet their cruising requirements. 2Hulls probably did so, else they would probably be sailing arround in a Gemini right now.
They found a good prospective boat in what was probably a reasonable price range ( the boat was listed for 169,000, I think). Hmmm... That's not that "cheap" in my estimate surely. They then proceeded to contact another "expert" Mr. Cantor to survey the boat to let them know if something was wrong. They paid him a GOOD price for the survey, not "cheap". He has more than 30 years of experience. He gave them a list of recommendations. I believe they did them all! Spent more than $25,000 additional dollars in outfitting. That's after the boat was taken across the Atlantic and outfitted by the prior owner. Certainly not "cheap"
They sail the boat in the Bahamas. Close to home. Gaining experience. Found some problems, fixed them. Gained some more experience. Sail through the Panama canal, haul the boat to have preventive maintenance done to it. <clap> Find a problem. Don't fix it there were it is "cheap" Find another "expert" with more than 35 years of experience take it to him. He tells them what is wrong. He fixes it.
Hmmm... I don't see anything that I'd call a serious lapse on their part in that scenario. They are not as experienced as many, but they don't attempt to skimp ,and have called in top flight people whenever there was a question and paid them good $$$ for their expertise and services. I would be happy to make the same "mistakes". Probably because I don't view them as mistakes. I think anyone could find themselves in a similar position. Ever have to take your car in for service and come away with a "big" repair bill? Well gee, you should study more. Gain experience by buying a cheap OLD VW bug. Rebuild it from the ground up to gain experience. Only buy VW bug's from then on because the new VW's are VERY different! That way, if anything goes wrong, you'd have the expereince to make the repairs yourself. Hmmm.... That's what I did. Excepted I bought this Mercedes. My Mercedes dealear still P*SSES me off when he tells me it is going to cost $1000 to replace my control arms, or $400 to replace brake pads!! The point being maybe expereince would not have helped them make better decisions in this case.
Does it amaze me they can't cook! Sure does! Does it amaze me they they would sail to paridise and complain about no pizza! Sure does! But I have a confession to make. When I lived in Brazil after about 6 months I got this craving for a hamburger! I mean a REALLY bad one. I could not find a "descent" hamburger anyplace I went. You put corn??? on my hamburger????? ARGH!!! Well anyway, to make a long story short. The only place I could find a hamburger that satisfied my craving was at .... UGH... McDonald's. Now mind you I won't eat a McDonalds hamburger here will I am in the US. But, after a year down in Brazil, it really met my craving.
So when I read Bumfuzzle I smile, I say how silly, how could they? Then I go back and read some more and remember, they are out doing it. I am still tied to the dock. (making progress though, the other engine goes in next week!!!)
Keith