Have you ever turned down a boat and then regretted it?

[doug748]

One of our esteemed members wrote this in another thread:


"I've never heard of anyone regretting not buying a particular boat but I've heard of several that did regret buying the one they had!
Poignard.


I think I agree.
I once looked at a ten year old boat in excellent general condition, the Autohelm was still in a box covered in cellophane. It had stood ashore for a couple of years and, although expensive, was good value for a very late example. It was a Twister but that is neither her nor there, called Annie D ( or maybe B ). We could not agree a deal and for months I regretted it. However, in the end I was very happy with the way things turned out.


So have you ever looked at a boat, failed to buy it, and then regretted the decision in the long term? Tell us.


.

 

[madabouttheboat]

Yes, a few times. Usually a very cheap boat that I felt suspicious of because of the low price, only to find out later it was an absolute bargain.

 

[Falling Star]

We looked at a Haines 34 and a Sheerline 1020 which were on sale just as the pandemic was starting. Decided against buying either of them.
That was a mistake as they are both quite rare.

We are still looking so if anyone has one they are thinking of selling, please get in touch.

 

[Sandy]

Nope. I've always been delighted with what I am currently sailing.

 

[Wansworth]

Don’t know yet but quite likely will do?

 

[Ink]

One of our esteemed members wrote this in another thread:


"I've never heard of anyone regretting not buying a particular boat but I've heard of several that did regret buying the one they had!
Poignard.


I think I agree.
I once looked at a ten year old boat in excellent general condition, the Autohelm was still in a box covered in cellophane. It had stood ashore for a couple of years and, although expensive, was good value for a very late example. It was a Twister but that is neither her nor there, called Annie D ( or maybe B ). We could not agree a deal and for months I regretted it. However, in the end I was very happy with the way things turned out.


So have you ever looked at a boat, failed to buy it, and then regretted the decision in the long term? Tell us.


.

Oh yes!

A slightly tired looking Bavaria Ocean on our local brokerage pontoon for a couple of years getting nothing more than greener.

Price was a bit high but not excessive for the amount of quality kit and for the general condition at £130k

Price started to come down and was at £85k after a couple of years and one day I wandered down to have a look and it had gone!

Still get ribbed about missing the chance of a very fine boat that needed only a little TLC.

You live and learn. Carpe diem, as Del wouldn't have said.

Ink

 

[Wansworth]

The owners of yachts for sale always get in a line as a parting shot,”there’s someone else interested”?

 

[Stemar]

I've often looked at a boat and regretted that I didn't have the budget to buy and run it. Does that count?

 

[PlanB]

No, but I did once meet someone who was going to make an offer on the boat we bought, but didn't move fast enough!

 

[Blueboatman]

Yup
My thinking hadn’t caught up with what was actually a really well sorted , stripped out, engineless 30ft, racer in the Caribbean that was based on a very able American cruising boat called a Pearson 30. The price seemed high but really really wasn’t and that boat would cross oceans in standard trim tight out of the factory and then day sail or clean up in local races .. hey Ho
It was a funky lime green too ?

I’ve also regretted selling one boat years ago too even though I knew I had outgrown it !

 

[Slowboat35]

I once went to view a gorgeous Jones-built Buckie double-ended trawler yacht - 8 inch frames on 8 inch cetres iirc, it looked as though you could have left the planking out and just caulked the frames! It had a stonking great 3 cyl Kelvin diesel and a nice ally deckhouse.

I still think of her occasionally.

Name of Banamhigstir (spelling?) - she was on the Solent back then - mid '80s. Is she still around?

 

[SaltIre]

I once went to view a gorgeous Jones-built Buckie double-ended trawler yacht - 8 inch frames on 8 inch cetres iirc, it looked as though you could have left the planking out and just caulked the frames! It had a stonking great 3 cyl Kelvin diesel and a nice ally deckhouse.

I still think of her occasionally.

Name of Banamhigstir (spelling?) - she was on the Solent back then - mid '80s. Is she still around?

She was For Sale last year:
New Listing - 43' G.L. Watson / Jones of Buckie Motoryacht 'BANAMHAIGHSTER' - Mark Cameron Yachts - Specialist Sail and Motorboat Brokerage

 

[Juan Twothree]

Last year we looked at a yacht, then told the owner we'd go for a quick walk to think about it.

Went back 15 minutes later to offer the full asking price, only to discover that he'd just shown another couple the boat, and they'd pipped us to the post.

As it turns out, life has taken a slightly unexpected turn since then, and we're quite relieved that we're currently boat-less.

But it was rather galling at the time, especially during the two hour drive home.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

yes.
GF at the time wanted standing headroom.
Almost my first thought when we split was " I should have bought that boat". ???

 

[Wansworth]

I once went to view a gorgeous Jones-built Buckie double-ended trawler yacht - 8 inch frames on 8 inch cetres iirc, it looked as though you could have left the planking out and just caulked the frames! It had a stonking great 3 cyl Kelvin diesel and a nice ally deckhouse.

I still think of her occasionally.

Name of Banamhigstir (spelling?) - she was on the Solent back then - mid '80s. Is she still around?

An Inchcape,wonderful boats that roll wonderfully,spent a week end on one in the Solent

 

[Just_sayin']

We looked at a Haines 34

Was that the manual version? ?

 

[cherod]

nope

 

[Habebty]

Yes, the GT35 was berthed next to me for a few months at a really good price.

 

[michael_w]

J92. Don't hire an old fart surveyor to look at a cored hull.

 

[Koeketiene]

Looked at a Contessa 32 last year - at the upper end of my budget for a 32' boat.
In pretty good nick and with a lot of recent kit aboard.
Put an offer in (close to asking price) only to be informed at that stage that quite a lot of the recent kit was not included in the sale.
So pissed off by this that I walked.

Delighted with current boat, but from time to time I do wonder: what if...