When to give up on a good old boat

[tsell]

My good old boat is 47 years old, and when I bought her, she was considered not seaworthy. We do all work ourselves, and did enough the first spring to get her in the water by mid June. The paint and bright work looked old and worn, the portlights crazed, with minimal electronics, no working head, and a few deck leaks, but we sailed. I continue to do the big projects over the winter and spring, then we focus on having fun. We work on her as time and money allow. We love the boat, and while we are well aware that the money will never come back, we never pine away for the dollars. It is an investment in life and family, enjoying every minute, as the whole family works and plays together.

When to give up is a personal decision that you need to make yourself. We all have different goals, and only you can decide when the pain outweighs the gain.

[Don C L]

Every boat lives because someone dreams.

[laika]

very nice

[Ramblingman]

Originally Posted by tsell

My good old boat is 47 years old, and when I bought her, she was considered not seaworthy. We do all work ourselves, and did enough the first spring to get her in the water by mid June. The paint and bright work looked old and worn, the portlights crazed, with minimal electronics, no working head, and a few deck leaks, but we sailed. I continue to do the big projects over the winter and spring, then we focus on having fun. We work on her as time and money allow. We love the boat, and while we are well aware that the money will never come back, we never pine away for the dollars. It is an investment in life and family, enjoying every minute, as the whole family works and plays together.

When to give up is a personal decision that you need to make yourself. We all have different goals, and only you can decide when the pain outweighs the gain.

It truly is a personal choice. I've done it twice. I had an Egg Harbor that we took on and we were 75% done when her spine broke and we stripped her bare, cut her up. The other was an Elco we just could not save, too many rotted board and too little time and money. We gave her to a museum.

There are just as many type of boater as there are boats. From "checkbook sailors" to "yard dreamers" and all of us in between. The key is making sure it is your pleasure craft.