Are boats disposable assets?

[BarryD]

Some would have you believe that the fate of a man (or a woman) is controlled by three witches - one who holds the thread, one who holds the scissors and one who has the eye. They take turns with each tool and share the shaping of your future etc...

Now this is total bunkum, you make your own rules, are free to cheat as required and play the game of life as you see fit - if that's OK with you SWMBO.

Having just got into the nicest, most tidy, best deal ever twin diesel 32' sports cruiser with bow thruster (anyone smell a sales pitch here....). The proverbial Mack truck has blindsided me and I'm now in decision, as of September-ish no boating for about two years - as no crew, poor attention span and inability to survive a 2hr drive.

My gut feel is to put her on the market now and treat her like a charter boat for the season. Or perhaps trade her for a closer to home ditch crawling thing as I think 440hp / 38kts might be unsuitable for the Grand Union / Ouse.

So esteemed and learned chums - sell the boat now at the start of the season or sell her at the end of the season? She is so recently into our ownership that some brokers are still advertising her - under her old name! To say I'm slightly gutted is an understatement <G>.

Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)

 

[tcm]

Re: DaveS are you reading?

couldn't quite work out exactlty why it has to go, but seeing as 3 weeks in BarryD's boating life is like 3years for everyone else...

The answer is of course to put it up for sale soonest, in summer, when everyone thinks of boating, rather than later.

Note that if it's sold by November then you get your 5 quid back!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I'm somewhat gobsmacked by this posting, Barry. If I read you correctly, the family seems to have lost interest in boating all of a sudden. All I can say is I get this regularly from my SWMBO, usually about once a month
From a purely financial point of view, right now is the busiest selling time of the year. If you leave it until the end of the season there is less chance of selling her and she'll be a season older and worth a bit less. You'll probably have to spend money on a service as well
I would bung her on the market now but resolve to accept only near asking price in the hope that she does'nt sell quickly and you can a few more trips out of her. Why not try taking her out on your own? I do and its not that difficult with a bit of pre-planning

 

[claymore]

What a shame... does she really have to go?
Oh well, as everyone else says, now is the time to sell - get to november and everyone's thoughts turn to other things and no-one will want to be tying up capital in something they cannot use for a few months. I've always bought boats in the back end because my theory is that you can chip away at the price as owners are normally desperate to sell.
Are you sure....?

regards
Claymore

 

[jfm]

Re: Eh?

Bit confused too about the reasoning (Mack Truck?) - yr post was too cryptic for a bleary Friday morning. I mean Thursday, dang. Issit wot I think it is (there are plenty of unused bedrooms in yr house - geddit) or wot?

No, keep it. You can't sell it so soon. I hereby volunteer as crew wenever needed. I would offer to drive down some weeks but that wd be dangerous (for you). In fact, it can become the "forum boat"

 

[claymore]

Excellent - Forum Boat

Now it has become a disposable asset as we can all use it and dispose of it once we have finished.
Splendid Suggestion
It will need a Burgee, Radar, Soltron a spare Volvo engine and a few lobster pots to meet the varied needs of contributors and users.
Can we have a personalised call-sign and can the forum take up membership en-bloc of the RYA?


regards
Claymore

 

[tcm]

Re: Eh?

ah i unnerstand. He's going long on short people, possibly? I'll crew (hic). Also, even quite short people like boats if er that's all they know. And, boats v good for hols: arrive with all junk, then no more packing/unpacking. imho.

or has he indeed bort a mack truck? Very possible for Barry, cos large and american. But praps too many cylinders? dunno....

 

[tcm]

Re: alternative hobby for Barry

He's done the boats, and the aeroplanes, and both of these require large amounts of dosh (which is ok) and other people to be dragged around (which now isn't ok).

What he needs is another hobby, but being a proper bloke of course things like fishing and boring golf won't do at all. The hobby must be focussed around a
Decent Bit Of Kit That Does Things And Looks The Part But Not Too Dangerous. So, no motorbikes of course. Indeed, motorised transport right out cos of the no drinking - unless a boat of course.....


Ahem, I have found the very thing. And indeed bort one! It's a harley-davidson style bicycle! The absolute biz I must say. It has a "coaster" rear hub so you backpedal to stop, meaning no fussy brakes cables and wideglide handlebars with lowrider chopped er er not sure what I'm on about now but the jargon is bound to be easier than boats.

http://www.dynokruiser.com/images/bike/main/roadster.jpg

(nubile woman not included..)

 

[BarryD]

Re: alternative hobby for Barry

Strewth TCM - I'm not dead yet. Where are the engines, the bow thrusters. The RYA certificates etc... This looks like someones had a wreck with a Raleigh Chopper and a mountain bike.

No I don't think so chum.

Forum boaty now that's a plan - but I might just sell MVIII hide all the dosh and turn up on strange pontoons waving my fourm burgeree and begging lifts in boats of other members for a year or so.

Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)

 

[petem]

Barry,
What's the significance of two years?
Is that when you're getting a new SWMBO?
Pete

 

[DavidJ]

I understand that you are antisipating selling now to buy again in about two years.
Don't do it
The pot of money will have been spent at Ikea.
You will in 2 years have to persuade 'her indoors' that boating is an investment again.
My guess is that there will be not so much difference in value in two years time if the boat is stored well.
I speak from having done it, following a two year expatriation in Asia. Came back to trade the boat in for another at a good price. Maybe the age of the boat effects the economics mine was a 1993 so getting on a bit and traded in for a new one.
David

 

[BarryD]

reply to DavidJ (and PeteM)

Yep, I see your point. MVIII is 4 years old with 113 or so engine hours, note that she is also on finance - so storing is not really an option, boats like cars are best used.

The pot of money will not last of course but please not to Ikea. Now Porsche maybe...

Should be no trouble to convince herself to rejoin the world of boating, it's just how to pass the two years when we can't really do it.

Why can't we do it? Very new short person in the offing and I know from experience that the 2 hour journey will be too much for it. and that SWMBO will be (as I will) very protective so no water wings for a while.

Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)

 

[wakeup]

I tend to agree. It'll propbably take best part of a year to sell it (Unless you give it away at a daft price) and if you're serious about taking it up again in two years time you should start looking for another boat once you sold the current one because if you go for new chances are there will be a waiting list, and now that you've experienced a decent 32 footer with all the kit you're more likely to me more picky over a 2nd hand boat and will therefore take ages to finf a boat you like.

You will loose more money selling your boat and then buying another one 24mnths later than just gritting you're teeth as you suggest and go with the costs and perhaps charter if possible.

Just my two cents worth.

yada yada..

 

[hlb]

Re: alternative hobby for Barry

Dont sell the boat Barry. I'll lend you Tutt's for a couple of years or three. Boat far to important to make snap decisions.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

Re: reply to DavidJ (and PeteM)

May wish to point out to SWMBO that we live 1.5 - 1.75 hours from the sea, and SWMBO was waterskiing with 8 week old firstborn in boat next to me. Frankly, no excuse. Need to meet up with more people with similar sized small people. I know I'm not a qualified doctor, but I think it's probably true that if SWMBO now aware of new small person in build, then you've got all this season before it's launched.

Contact me if need help convincing her (not this weekend, cos the weather's crap, and she's off on some charity bike ride)...

 

[tcm]

Re: hear hear !

INdeed. It's a rubbish excuse for boat selling. Houses have got far more stairs, so best get rid of that and live in the boat.

 

[jfm]

Re: inane suggestions for Barry

Congratulations on short person production confirmation. Twins praps?

I've heard of "up the duff" and suchlike, but not "blindsided by proverbial Mack Truck". Not very complimentary?!

You could get AmPie trucked up the granUnion canal, store at Peartree marina, bottom of my (new garden) so will get covered in builder's rubble for a while. Or get massive 6 wheel triler and use at Cosgrove lake. Or praps see how 2003 season goes - you can just go with Brad every 3rd week or so, other crew recruited from this BB. Or you should have done wot I said, buy 1/3 of flybridge (more accomm for your soon-to-be 4 kids -don't assume it's not triplets - and 1/3 reflects your likely usage in view of 2 hr drive). Decision decisions.

Put it up for sale anyhow, now, for 5k more than you paid, just in case. It's in tiptop nick, and you'd probly have bort it if £5k more. If someone comes along to but it, fine. You can come out on BH this summer to satisfy boatie craving (provided heidi has doctors note to confirm no, erm, early arrival etc). Also use some of proceeds for super-fab radio control boat for lake near home. Otherwise keep it.

Finally, if you do decide to buy a ditch crawler, do a part-ex with Coliholics mirage!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Short person boating

Many congratulations but never heard such a rubbish excuse for not boating. My SWMBO was still boating upto about 6 weeks before appearance of son+heir and then that was only 'coz it was winter and the thing was out of the water. Sprog's first trip out in boat was at 7 weeks of age and at 3 months he crossed the channel - he used to nod off the second the engines were started no problem
The real problems start when they can walk!

 

[BarryH]

Umm! Me thinks that some of those hormones are getting into your food and drink. Its the pregnant woman that does the nest making and planning. Seeing as you've just got the thing and you say its on finance. Have a look at the early settlement terms, or am I teaching granny to suck eggs!. Boat like that is going to take a while to sell. So in the mean time take sprog number ? along with you a couple of times to see how it goes. I've done it with two now and the second one was taken to out on the boat 7 days after the birth! They love it. The 2 hours in the car is ok. its peaceful cos they both sleep.

The Porsche idea. Forget it. Got 2 of them and to be honest, they ain't all that. Selling mine but the wife wants to keep hers. Its a "Jones" thing with her. And they're crap for putting kiddy thing in. They'll cost you more than the boat. Only saving grace is that the Receptionist at Porsche western Ave has got a great pair of ti.....tea bags.

Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!

 

[KevB]

It happens to the best of us...

...Don't give up yet Barry, not at least until you have tried it with the baby. As you know we are in a similar position with #2 arriving in August. It hasn't affected SWMBO eagerness to get down the boat. And all babies do is eat, $hit and sleep, mostly sleep so the journey down will not even be notices by the little un.

Always space available on Nirvana if you do get rid of MV111.


Politically incorrect and proud of it.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by KevB on Thu May 23 16:57:05 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>