Decisions Decisions...

[pillum]

I'm 60 now and a UK citizen, and I just received notification that the company I work for wants me to move from my present job in China to Aberdeen in Scotland.

The new job is a good one, though it will involve a lot of travel. The sea beckons but we've still got a son and a daughter in university, and a 12 year old son still at school. No retirement for me until my daughter finishes her degree in three years time, so I'm more or less committed to being full time land-based until that time.

Decision needs to be taken about our boat in the Florida Keys. Do we:

1. Leave her there on the hard in Marathon, FL and vacation on her each year.
2. Move her to Spain where we intend to retire, easier travel for vacationing.
3. Move her to Scotland for three years and weekend on her during the summers.



Any advice?

[Khagan1227]

I have a soft spot for Florida, so I'm a bit biased.

On the other hand, I want to be on my boat as much as possible, so having it closer and in the water would be my choice.

[Stumble]

Pillum,

You might want to consider selling the boat you have and buying something closer to home. As I understand the market boats are actually cheaper in the UK right now than they are in the US, and moving a US build boat to Europe can raise all sorts of problems with converting shore power.

It is also extremely expensive to have a boat shipped, or sailed across the Atlantic, and you would need to consider this alongside the value of the boat before I would consider it.

[pillum]

Originally Posted by Stumble

Pillum,

You might want to consider selling the boat you have and buying something closer to home. As I understand the market boats are actually cheaper in the UK right now than they are in the US, and moving a US build boat to Europe can raise all sorts of problems with converting shore power.

It is also extremely expensive to have a boat shipped, or sailed across the Atlantic, and you would need to consider this alongside the value of the boat before I would consider it.

Good points Greg, I got an informal quote of 6500 Euros to Spain. It would be nice to sail her myself, but finding time will be the problem.

She's a UK built boat though, and she is self-sufficient for power.

Cheers
Paul

[DeepFrz]

Have you talked to the Boatman?

[pillum]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Have you talked to the Boatman?

Yep Deepfrz, and got some great advice, thanks.

[TeddyDiver]

It's allways good practice to leave the decission later
Seriously, why not leave the boat for first year in Florida and see if it works. If it doesn't then take it over, or I can sail it over

[Talbot]

The western isles are one of the great sailing areas in the world, why would you voluntarily deprive yourself of that?

[carstenb]

Talbot,

I can only agree. Sailing western scotland and the irish sea is dream. And if you have time, you can also sail the baltic, which ain't half bad either

[atoll]

Originally Posted by pillum

I'm 60 now and a UK citizen, and I just received notification that the company I work for wants me to move from my present job in China to Aberdeen in Scotland.

The new job is a good one, though it will involve a lot of travel. The sea beckons but we've still got a son and a daughter in university, and a 12 year old son still at school. No retirement for me until my daughter finishes her degree in three years time, so I'm more or less committed to being full time land-based until that time.

Decision needs to be taken about our boat in the Florida Keys. Do we:

1. Leave her there on the hard in Marathon, FL and vacation on her each year.
2. Move her to Spain where we intend to retire, easier travel for vacationing.
3. Move her to Scotland for three years and weekend on her during the summers.



Any advice?

sell it!(especially if it is not vat paid)
buy something more suited as a liveaboard for spain, in the uk,
in the meantime you will have a great cruising ground on your doorstep and 3 years to get the new boat ready.