Difficult decisions!

[Laysula]

Don't forget though..................... You can't take your money with you.

 

[nicho]

If it's in the water, then you have little to lose by contacting some brokers.
Top tip, I have been really surprised by the poor quality of some photos in broker listings, so if you have any good ones look them out, and take some more if the sun should happen to show itself. After removing any clutter.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do. It's a tough decision. We might have a wonderful Summer....
I'd say consider all the options, like taking on a partner, but that kind of thing is definitely not for everyone, or every boat.

Good advice. The boat is always left in spotless condition, with every cushion neatly in place - SWMBO insists on that! I am having a bit of a wobble now, after being convinced this morning it will have to go. But, what if we find COVID restrictions are lifted by Easter (unlikely) or that we have a fantastic summer (even more unlikely). Sadly we will not know that in advance, and hindsight is a wonderful thing. The fact remains that Mrs Nicho is not really up to crewing, and at my age, single handed boating is not that easy. Could find a crew I suppose, but that would go against something we have never done. Still, we’ll mull it over for a while, make a decision and stick to it. Many thanks for all the comments on here, all helpful.

 

[nicho]

Don't forget though..................... You can't take your money with you.

Indeed - plenty to spend it on though rather than a boat!

 

[ashtead]

As a former Bav 34 owner I can see why you love yours so much particularly if it’s got the decent 30hp now compared with the somewhat under powered 19hp in any sense of an adverse tide. I’m sure there will be many also attracted by a bowthruster which must make it even easier to berth. We sold ours around 2014/15 after being original sole owner and found Ben at Clipper very helpful (no Connexxion just a satisfied customer) should you decide to sell. It’s seems to me a fair amount of capital to be tied up in an asset which needs maintaining leaving aside the berthing,insurance, engine servicing, sail drive leg reselling every so often,anti fouling,hull polishing etc unless you are able to find some family members to crew with you and take on some of the harder tasks etc but I guess you might have already dismissed this or of selling a share to a younger person to sail with. We sold ours to trade up by 2metres in summary but I still miss the simplicity of the Bav34 . My father had a centaur which he sold when usage became limited in his older years and he got a reasonable price at time but otherwise it would have sat on a mooring on the medina and never been taken out.
Only you can make the choice but merely as you’ve posed the question might indicate what your head is telling you. I know a somewhat retired couple at our marina who also had a Bav like ours and traded up to a larger Jen 37 ish but have now moved on to a mobo in advancing years so maybe a few years on a small Orkney or Nimbus might be another option to consider. I keep looking at mobo on the basis I suspect one day I might be in same position and have to find an easier choice even with self tacking headsails and power winch’s.

 

[Stemar]

Boy do I envy those octogenarians who just keep going - usually crewed by a flotilla of pretty girls!

It isn't difficult. All you need is a few billion...

 

[Bobc]

If you do decide to sell it, my advice would be to advertise it on Apolloduck and on the following Facebook groups before getting a broker involved. I reckon you'll sell it quickly without having to pay any fees.

Facebook groups:-

Bavaria yachts (run by Jeremy Bennet, a Bavaria owner)
Bavaria owners worldwide
Yachts and yachtie bits for sale (this is run by Scala of this parish).
Sailing and cruising UK

 

[nicho]

If you do decide to sell it, my advice would be to advertise it on Apolloduck and on the following Facebook groups before getting a broker involved. I reckon you'll sell it quickly without having to pay any fees.

Facebook groups:-

Bavaria yachts (run by Jeremy Bennet, a Bavaria owner)
Bavaria owners worldwide
Yachts and yachtie bits for sale (this is run by Scala of this parish).
Sailing and cruising UK

Thanks very much....good thinking

 

[Bobc]

The other option, as muted already, would be to sell a 50% share in it. At least then you still have it to use, but have reduced your costs by 50%. If you choose your sharer well, you may also find someone who would be happy to sail with you and your wife, so that you have someone to help with the crewing.

The other benefit of going that route, is that if you subsequently decide to hang up the anchor, you can sell the other half (and you can almost let the other partner do that for you, on the basis that they'll be the one sharing it with the new person).

 

[Capt Popeye]

Might also mention that as we do not yet have to pass a medical to Go Boating, we do to drive a car, DVLA etc; you might find yourself in a position that you loose your licence, eyesight usually, so if you have a decent Yacht moored up you just might be able to get a taxi to the Marina and Camp /Sail on board as uisuall and easier than Towing A Caravan ?

 

[nicho]

The other option, as muted already, would be to sell a 50% share in it. At least then you still have it to use, but have reduced your costs by 50%. If you choose your sharer well, you may also find someone who would be happy to sail with you and your wife, so that you have someone to help with the crewing.

The other benefit of going that route, is that if you subsequently decide to hang up the anchor, you can sell the other half (and you can almost let the other partner do that for you, on the basis that they'll be the one sharing it with the new person).

Thanks Bob. It’s not so much a cost issue, we can afford to keep the boat, but it’s more a ‘value for money’ issue. It will cost around £8k to keep the boat in 2021, but if we are using it more as a floating caravan, rather than actually using it in the Solent, then that makes it poor value for money. If my wife had her way, we would never leave the marina, as she’s really not interested in going anywhere these days, largely due to her difficulties. Therefore, that makes it poor value, and hard to justify on fixed pensions income. I’m still wrestling with this, ‘cos I am getting the “it’s up to you” from other half.

 

[nicho]

Might also mention that as we do not yet have to pass a medical to Go Boating, we do to drive a car, DVLA etc; you might find yourself in a position that you loose your licence, eyesight usually, so if you have a decent Yacht moored up you just might be able to get a taxi to the Marina and Camp /Sail on board as uisuall and easier than Towing A Caravan ?

True.

 

[ashtead]

Might also mention that as we do not yet have to pass a medical to Go Boating, we do to drive a car, DVLA etc; you might find yourself in a position that you loose your licence, eyesight usually, so if you have a decent Yacht moored up you just might be able to get a taxi to the Marina and Camp /Sail on board as uisuall and easier than Towing A Caravan ?

Certainly lots racing in the Solent in the summer with poor eyesight ?but might be another reason to find a co owner to cruise with. If selling privately you can find a lot of time wasters and it might be somewhat emotional to have a lot of time wasters whining about a few osmosis bubbles in the rudder blade or suchlike of your pride and joy. I guess it depends if you want the hassle but for a Bav34 value the fees seem quite modest of many brokers and they do help with a number of other issues having seen most tyre kickers before etc.

 

[Bobc]

Thanks Bob. It’s not so much a cost issue, we can afford to keep the boat, but it’s more a ‘value for money’ issue. It will cost around £8k to keep the boat in 2021, but if we are using it more as a floating caravan, rather than actually using it in the Solent, then that makes it poor value for money. If my wife had her way, we would never leave the marina, as she’s really not interested in going anywhere these days, largely due to her difficulties. Therefore, that makes it poor value, and hard to justify on fixed pensions income. I’m still wrestling with this, ‘cos I am getting the “it’s up to you” from other half.

I went through something similar about 15 years ago with my Beneteau. I ended up selling 1/3 share which worked very well, but after a couple of seasons I realised that I didn't have the time, so sold a further 1/3. Again, a couple of seasons went by and I hardly used the boat, so eventually sold my remaining third.

What this approach did enable me to do was to keep access to the boat and the ability to go sailing without the cost or running the boat on my own. It also meant that even when I couldn't sail, the boat was being used, cleaned, and maintained.

If you really feel that you probably won't sail again, then sell it and go on a world cruise once all this covid stuff have gone away.

 

[Stemar]

Certainly lots racing in the Solent in the summer with poor eyesight ?

That's not nice. True, but not nice

 

[oldharry]

That's not nice. True, but not nice

Not nice on the receiving end either!

 

[nicho]

Update. Decision made over a bottle last night........the boat will go on the market ASAP. My biggest concern is my wife’s health. As mentioned, she suffers from Sjogrens, an auto immune problem whereby her immune system attacks her body, especially her joints, in particular causing weakness in her hands and knees. Also, last October she suffered a bout of double vision, and was sent for a CT scan on her head. Surprisingly, she was told she had at sometime in the past 5 years suffered a “large stroke”, which surprised us as she had never displayed any normal symptoms of a stroke. She was told she was lucky not to have suffered some paralysis!! So, as she does get stressed when we are out on the boat, I am not prepared to put her at risk. Sadly then, that will be the end of our boating, which has brought us great joy over the past 30 odd years, and the boat will go on the market ASAP. Thanks all for your input.

 

[Tomahawk]

I am very pleased you have come to your own decision and am making it instead of having it absolutely forced on you.

What are you planning in lieu of a floaty thing?

 

[nicho]

I am very pleased you have come to your own decision and am making it instead of having it absolutely forced on you.

What are you planning in lieu of a floaty thing?

Thanks. We also have a touring caravan, so will be spending more time away in that. North York’s, Lakes District Devon/Cornwall and of course the South Coast etc. Also, will spend more time flying, and complete the sim based 737 type rating I started recently. My wife loves the caravan, much more so than the boat, so we will be busy......oh and the garden needs a makeover!!

 

[ashtead]

Good luck with your sale - I doubt there are many Bav34s out there with a bowthruster so for the right purchaser that will be a great attraction along with the new engine. If you are able a few photos might be of interest to other Bav owners . I do recall that a chap I knew had a bowthruster retrofitted to a Hanse 32 or thereabouts but never seen one on any Bavs of this size. Don’t know which cabin layout you have but there don’t seem to be many of either config for sale in UK currently generally.

 

[Bobc]

Update. Decision made over a bottle last night........the boat will go on the market ASAP. My biggest concern is my wife’s health. As mentioned, she suffers from Sjogrens, an auto immune problem whereby her immune system attacks her body, especially her joints, in particular causing weakness in her hands and knees. Also, last October she suffered a bout of double vision, and was sent for a CT scan on her head. Surprisingly, she was told she had at sometime in the past 5 years suffered a “large stroke”, which surprised us as she had never displayed any normal symptoms of a stroke. She was told she was lucky not to have suffered some paralysis!! So, as she does get stressed when we are out on the boat, I am not prepared to put her at risk. Sadly then, that will be the end of our boating, which has brought us great joy over the past 30 odd years, and the boat will go on the market ASAP. Thanks all for your input.

Good to hear that you've made a decision. One place I forgot to mention was the BOA forum. You just have to register (it's free), and you can then post your advert in the for sale section.