How Do You Let Go?

[four winds]

Julie, do think this boat is a derelict?

I'm thinking not. But if you do then you might be a hopeless romantic and may need to listen to Ms. Logical.

[Sandero]

I would think that a boat which has not been used for several years will have a lot of upgrades and repairs to systems. But it depends on where she's been lying. Obviously some climates will take more of a toll.

Wiring in an older boat is of concern... you get corrosion which will make for bad electrical connections and can even cause fire in some circuits.

There is cosmetic work and then there is cosmetic work. Even a deep cleaning can only remove dirt, but finishes take a beating and you might be facing more than work to restore them. Then there is the bedding and so forth at chain plates and stanchions and deck hardware. If she's an old gal probably wise to re bed the lot.

Your windlass will probably have to be stripped down and lubed and so on. A working windlass and chain is mission critical for anchoring which is what you will be doing most nights.

And you will need to put together a lot of spares... filters, impellers, gaskets, belts, pumps, hardware and likely replace a lot of the running rigging... and perhaps upgrade/redo wiring.

It might be more than a couple of months... And surely much can be done while you use the boat. But I wouldn't take off until you tackled all the main items on the never ending boat list.

[a64pilot]

Really, you ought to at least tell us what it is, yr model etc.'
Pics would be nice


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Julie Mor

I didn't want this to be about making the purchase happen but rather about walking away. Pure emotion drives me toward the boat but common sense tells me to settle for something less. So I was looking for help in letting this dream go...

Julie. You've said this a couple of times in this thread.

It's like reefing - By the time you think you need to do it, you should have done it already.

You haven't specified what's "wrong" with the boat but if your logic is saying walk away, walk away.

You aren't giving up "the dream" - maybe avoiding the nightmare. There are other "dream boats.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Julie Mor

I didn't want this to be about making the purchase happen but rather about walking away. Pure emotion drives me toward the boat but common sense tells me to settle for something less. So I was looking for help in letting this dream go...

Julie, all these cute emoticons and practice at being a novelist is fun to watch, yet let's now separate the wheat from the chaff, shall we? My crystal ball is now beginning to inform me that you are merely worried about personal finances. Am I getting close? When you stated "something less", I suddenly realized that you might be less concerned about needed refitting as you are about whether you can even afford the boat. Eyes bigger than the stomach, perhaps? It happens to all of us, sometimes. I'm guessing that what you are trying to say is this: "I really drool over that used 70' Hinckley sloop that's been sitting for 3 years, when my budget tells me to stay closer to a new Hunter."

As Señor Ex-Calif alluded to, why not just cut to the chase and tell us what the boat is and the asking price, photos included?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by PortClydeMe

When you stated "something less", I suddenly realized that you might be less concerned about needed refitting as you are about whether you can even afford the boat.

This is the financial coffin corner of buying a boat.

"Ooooohhhh... This boat is "worth" $200k. It's for sale for $75k and it only needs a couple of months on the hard."

Yes - and $125k in "gear" - Yes there are tons of guys here that did the $200k boat for $150k." They spent years on the hard, have mad skills and waited for each and every gear deal on eBay.

There is no "free" lunch in boating.

If you have an $80k budget, buy an $80k boat.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

This is the financial coffin corner of buying a boat.

"Ooooohhhh... This boat is "worth" $200k. It's for sale for $75k and it only needs a couple of months on the hard."

Yes - and $125k in "gear" - Yes there are tons of guys here that did the $200k boat for $150k." They spent years on the hard, have mad skills and waited for each and every gear deal on eBay.

There is no "free" lunch in boating.

If you have an $80k budget, buy an $80k boat.

Yes sir! In complete agreement. I had a friend in the Boston area years ago who owned a mattress company. When we would occasionally meet for lunch, he was always wearing the same blue tie with the repeated lettering in small white type: "TANSTAAFFL TANSTAAFFL TANSTAAFFL"

One day, I asked "So, want to tell me what TANSTAAFFL means?"
My pal: "There ain't no such thing as a free f**king lunch!" "I tell it to all my employees."

True story

Maybe I'll name my next boat "TANSTAAFFL".

[Terra Nova]

If the boat has sat completely unattended for a few years, you should expect to find serious corrosion on all underwater metal fittings: prop, shaft & log, rudder shaft, thru-hull fittings/seacocks..., due to not having zincs.

[sailorchic34]

The sad thing, is most boats sit unused and uncared for years anyway. Most and that is over 85% of boats in marina's never go anywhere. So it's always buyer beware.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

The sad thing, is most boats sit unused and uncared for years anyway. Most and that is over 85% of boats in marina's never go anywhere. So it's always buyer beware.

Yup! And the fun fact? If the boat is a Hinckley, it's automatically going to be a much nicer boat than 95% of the others, and 100% more expensive to repair. A double "win-lose" whammy!

[TacomaSailor]

I have not read through all the posts here. But, I'll offer up the experience of the friend I have know for 50-years and sailed with for 30-years.

He too found a "beautiful boat" that had been neglected. A Lake Washington "fresh water boat." A Hallberg Rassey - you can not get 'better bones' than that. Even a Hinckley is just even with an HR!

The boat was an estate sale and had, literally, not been opened for 3-years. He purchased the boat for about 1/2 of what a comparable age and size HR would sell for.

My friend spent three years and 50% of the initial cost of the boat on repairs, rehabilitation, and upgrades. He hired "little old Swedish craftsman" in Poulsbo, WA, a lovely little Swedish community, to do all the work.

At the end of three years the boat was still unreliable and scary to sail.

At the end of four years he sold the boat for a huge loss to someone who was buying an "old boat that needed some TLC."

Why??? did he sell?

- fuel tanks were perforated and would have cost a fortune to replace
- rudder stock was corroded away and needed replacement
- his wife said "no more money"
- his wife said "no more time working on the boat"
- he and his wife said "I want something reliable and safe"

The new owner put another 50% of the cost of purchase into the boat and sold it in four years at a huge loss at the end of five years.

Is it worth the risk?

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

He too found a "beautiful boat" that had been neglected. A Lake Washington "fresh water boat." A Hallberg Rassey - you can not get 'better bones' than that. Even a Hinckley is just even with an HR!

Hey now!!! Watch your step!! (joking )

Why??? did he sell?
- his wife said "no more money"
- his wife said "no more time working on the boat"

And there you have it! Rule number one: Never tie the wrong knot!

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

The sad thing, is most boats sit unused and uncared for years anyway. Most and that is over 85% of boats in marina's never go anywhere. So it's always buyer beware.

I just noticed - When did you become a mod, oh exalted one - LOL Congrats on that...

Anyhoo - How about that crowd-funding site where people click to donate and one makes a better peanut butter sandwich or something?

Bear with me. We all love boats. We all feel real pain when they are neglected. So let's start a boat rescue project. We can't save 'em all but we can make a start.

We move somewhere warm (not too warm) with good UPS delivery and we get donations investments to rescue boats.

We do them up "right" not Bristol. But bring 'em back to life and sell them on to worthy adoptees. We appeal to owners to let them go cheap with the romantic notion we will save them. We sell them (at a profit - wink, wink) to worthy buyers who meet our stringent adoptive parent rules.

Who's in?

Originally Posted by PortClydeMe

Yup! And the fun fact? If the boat is a Hinckley, it's automatically going to be a much nicer boat than 95% of the others, and 100% more expensive to repair. A double "win-lose" whammy!

Pedigree boats may not fit the business model...

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Pedigree boats may not fit the business model...

I know what your saying! I've been searching high and low for a derelict beat-up Hinckley that someone is dying to unload for $35K. Ain't having much luck, but will keep searching.

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

I just noticed - When did you become a mod, oh exalted one - LOL Congrats on that...

.

Finally, proper recognition .. Gee I've been a MOD for almost 6 months. But no kneeling or bowing.... well not too much

I like the rescue boat idea. Lots of neglected boats out there.