Black Holes Everywhere!

[parito]

So this is supposed to be my Confessional. Oh god, I am so embarrassed..

1. Buys 21 ft (1969) bilge keeler on ebay for 2500 gbp (+ 600 gbp delivery)
2. Spends ~5000 gbp on refurbishing the boat (honda motor, new rudder custom built, new mainsail + mainsail cover, ,new autopilot, radio, gps, toilet, bronze through hull fittings, all interior refurbished and improved)
3. 7 months later leaves UK - boat too small to sail to the new place
4. Decides to sell - everyone's telling he should not expect more than 2000 gbp for the boat

[Hoofsmit]

Yep welcome to the world of boat ownership


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Ex-Calif]

Ouch...

I know it's not the queen mary but where won't this boat go?

I don't know anything about Northern European sailing but it seems like with good weather windows you can do a lot of coastal sailing?

[parito]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Ouch...

I know it's not the queen mary but where won't this boat go?

I don't know anything about Northern European sailing but it seems like with good weather windows you can do a lot of coastal sailing?

I would need to sail it from UK east coast down to Canaries..

Don't really have time and/or effort to do that..

[biker6977]

Yep, sounds like a good deal for the next buyer- I suggest you use it, enjoy it- make the time- YOLO!!!!

[Prairie Chicken]

Maybe small enough to ship?

[scuba0_1]

Originally Posted by parito

I would need to sail it from UK east coast down to Canaries..

Don't really have time and/or effort to do that..

humm so as you were buying a 21 ft boat and spending 5000 on it what did you think you would do with it if you don't want to take the effort to use it. Surly you did not think that was a investment.

[parito]

Originally Posted by scuba0_1

humm so as you were buying a 21 ft boat and spending 5000 on it what did you think you would do with it if you don't want to take the effort to use it. Surly you did not think that was a investment.

Well my plan was on using it along the UK coast.. sail a 21ft old bilge keeler ~3000 miles .. not really..

That's why it's confessional afterall!

[Scot McPherson]

So why can't your sail it to your new home?

[parito]

Originally Posted by Scot McPherson

So why can't your sail it to your new home?

1) 3000 miles trip with such a small boat seems too big of a challenge for me to single-hand.

2) It would be difficult to arrange such a long leave from my work

[CharlzO]

I can only assume that you didn't know about the moving 7 months later? I guess it depends on what your plans are, and if the boat is worth it to you after the time and effort you've put into it. If so, check into shipping it instead, and continuing to sail after you're there.

On the other hand, if you knew beforehand that you were moving...then yeah, that might be on you

[Cheechako]

Cost per mile is very expensive for short term owners! Don't ask me how I know. I eventually took to deciding on upgrades or new toys by estimating how long and how many times I would use them. Not necessarily a great way to do it... but it sure brings some things into perspective!
For instance: Old GPS shows heading, lat and long only. cost Free.
New GPS Plotter shows everything, Cost $2500 + installation.
Estimate boat ownership to be 3 years.
Estimate usage to be 15 times a year.
Cost of new GPS= $58 every time I go out. (if I install myself)
If I only got out 8 times a year it's about $100 each time!
Now do that exercise for the other things you want to add and pretty soon you realize, they are costing you $500+ every time you go out!

I think it's a good exercise for an instance like the OP's. New boat owner, passion to buy "stuff" and rebuild the boat... all of a sudden he has way too much in the boat. It's good for those thinking of going offshore but not commited yet also. You don't need all that expensive bluewater stuff to coastal sail!

[Matt Johnson]

Cheechako,

Funny, that is close to how I figure every single purchase I make. Instead of cash value, I figure how many minutes I had to work to earn the money to buy something... coffee = 1.5 minutes of work needed to purchase. Almost always talked me out of buying something "extra" when I was working. My wife hated it, but it got us out cruising.

Matt

[Cheechako]

Yeah, it's not rigid, I still buy things based on "I gotta have it!" sometimes... but it does help put things in perspective! kinda like "gee, would I be willing to hand someone a fifty dollar bill everytime I use this?"

[Scot McPherson]

Well that's just like the radios....if you are doing coastal cruising do you need
More than a simple VHF radio?

If you are
Making ocean passages, you probably want a broadband HF rig, but does it have to be a $3000 kenwood?

At this point depthfinder/fish finder/plotter combos cost like $350. Like the hummingbirds with a navionics chip...it might make sense to have one if you also fish a lot, but a simple depth finder is probably enough if you don't, but the charting and way pointing is kinda nice.