How do you swallow the anchor?

[Capt Popeye]

Well thanks to the OP for posting the thread. I face the same dilemma. And thanks to all the experienced contributers.
Being a skipper / boat slave is part of my character. Sell the boat and what do I become ? - An old geyser without a boat?
I need a new addiction.

Yea , well I am well into the last active years I have left ; (rather pushing my luck these days as I am well aware that I cannot get myself out of certain sittuations , without help or assistance) ) but still owning a few boats gets me out and into the fresh air , sea air , that is ; chatting to other boat owners (similar interests) either on the forshore , Club , local Cafes etc etc
Making modifications to present boats to improove them , reading up on Boats n Boating etc keeps my mind active , but I have been down sizing both number of Boats plus the Sizes of them ;
Would I be without a Boat to worry about ? dunnow yet , but treating each year as my probable last year afloat , (that bloody Lock Down era really put me into a quandary ) , but still ere messing about on the Forshore almost daily these days ;
Taking my camera with me always now , getting Photos from different angles and perspectives that only a Boat Person would see plus appreciate , I guess

So my Self Question is , is this my last Season or not ?

That Grim Reaper might decide for me I guess ?

 

[Wansworth]

Yea , well I am well into the last active years I have left ; (rather pushing my luck these days as I am well aware that I cannot get myself out of certain sittuations , without help or assistance) ) but still owning a few boats gets me out and into the fresh air , sea air , that is ; chatting to other boat owners (similar interests) either on the forshore , Club , local Cafes etc etc
Making modifications to present boats to improove them , reading up on Boats n Boating etc keeps my mind active , but I have been down sizing both number of Boats plus the Sizes of them ;
Would I be without a Boat to worry about ? dunnow yet , but treating each year as my probable last year afloat , (that bloody Lock Down era really put me into a quandary ) , but still ere messing about on the Forshore almost daily these days ;
Taking my camera with me always now , getting Photos from different angles and perspectives that only a Boat Person would see plus appreciate , I guess

So my Self Question is , is this my last Season or not ?

That Grim Reaper might decide for me I guess ?

Very perceptive comments

 

[RAI]

I guess popping off and leaving the kids to sell the bost(s) is an option.

 

[PlankWalker]

Thank you so much for all the comments, especially to those who have already swallowed it. The general consensus seem to think I should sell her and downsize, The downsizing bit is easy as I have a Chameleon dinghy that needs a rig built, and playing with. Its the selling that will be a problem,
I had thought that one of the Golden Globe jockeys might take her on as she'd like that, and she's of the most populous class, but with her swept decks, solid teak interior and big diesel, she's far too heavy, not competitive, they like them light.

So I'll give it to the end of this season, something may turn up.

Plank

 

[Stemar]

Cant advise. I swallowed the anchor last July after some30 years - and bought a new "anchor" this March. My reasons were the same as yours, lack of use and risk of deterioration. But lack of activity and deterioration in me made for a change if mind. So I downsized to a modernish 29 ft bilge keeler that is my "man shed" and gets me out of the house. Had it 3 months so far and only sailed it once. So what? Even if all I do is to go down to the club and have my lunch on board, its better than staying at home and getting knobbled for DIY etc.

The people we bought our boat from had gone from their mooring to the pontoon to sit in the cockpit and little more for a few years. They only sold because they could see even that becoming beyond them. The only issue with that is the tendency to defer maintenance, which inevitably reduces the sale price when that inevitable moment comes.

 

[steveeasy]

I get it big time. It’s a reflection of the sweat and tears you’ve put in. Why you’ve got it you can still use it. Experience things. Visit the yard. It has absolutely no rational about money at all.
I advertised mine and got offered exactly what I asked for and could not part with it.
Of course in principle it’s just a boat. While the blood flows you need the stimulus. I’m going to get something small to sail perhaps consider a new challenge none of us are too old.
steveeasy

 

[Tomaret]

Well thanks to the OP for posting the thread. I face the same dilemma. And thanks to all the experienced contributers.
Being a skipper / boat slave is part of my character. Sell the boat and what do I become ? - An old geyser without a boat?
I need a new addiction.

My plan when I sell up is to “re-invest” the proceeds in a Morgan - it will still need the tinkering, but won’t need an expensive mooring And you are never far from a branch of the Morgan Sports Car Club to mix with other old geysers. Like owning a cruising yacht Morgan owning is an old man’s game?

 

[Capt Popeye]

My plan when I sell up is to “re-invest” the proceeds in a Morgan - it will still need the tinkering, but won’t need an expensive mooring And you are never far from a branch of the Morgan Sports Car Club to mix with other old geysers. Like owning a cruising yacht Morgan owning is an old man’s game?

Ye methinks along similar lines , we have a Morgan Car specialist nearby , about 5 miles away , I find myself making a Detour through the Villiage and stopping by to look at his changing stock of Morgan cars ; I have always had an incling for a 3 wheeler , but the 4/4 looking good to me ; Priced around the 9k in a regularly used condition , road worthy rather than a pristine show room condition ; spoke to a fella a while back , ouside the Show rooms , he had just placed an order for one , but before he did he hired one for a weekend ; he stated that his wife said that it was the best Car Riding FUN experience that She had had , so that convinced him to go ahead and Buy one .

 

[Frogmogman]

My plan when I sell up is to “re-invest” the proceeds in a Morgan - it will still need the tinkering, but won’t need an expensive mooring And you are never far from a branch of the Morgan Sports Car Club to mix with other old geysers. Like owning a cruising yacht Morgan owning is an old man’s game?

There are certainly some parallels between sailing and owning a Morgan. You spend a lot a lot of your time being cold wet and miserable [only joking].

I bought a new Morgan 4/4 in 2011, owned it for five years in which time I did 30,000 km. I sold it in 2016 for pretty much the same price as I paid for it new. I bought a new one, as I was looking for the classic car experience without having to do any tinkering; I just didn’t have the time. The whole experience was an absolute joy; The only things more likely to make strangers come up and engage you in friendly conversation are a baby or a puppy.

FWIW, I consider the 4/4 to be the most charming model, as it’s light weight and skinny tyres give it the most vintage character and looks.

I would say go for it. At the very least, a Morgan is a lovely thing to look at.

Here is a photo of my one.

 

[benjenbav]

There are certainly some parallels between sailing and owning a Morgan. You spend a lot a lot of your time being cold wet and miserable [only joking].

I bought a new Morgan 4/4 in 2011, owned it for five years in which time I did 30,000 km. I sold it in 2016 for pretty much the same price as I paid for it new. I bought a new one, as I was looking for the classic car experience without having to do any tinkering; I just didn’t have the time. The whole experience was an absolute joy; The only things more likely to make strangers come up and engage you in friendly conversation are a baby or a puppy.

FWIW, I consider the 4/4 to be the most charming model, as it’s light weight and skinny tyres give it the most vintage character and looks.

I would say go for it. At the very least, a Morgan is a lovely thing to look at.

Here is a photo of my one.

View attachment 136351

Oh dear… not only am I now looking at smaller boat adverts but a friend is coming over for lunch next week in a Morgan.
Maybe it’s fate?

 

[PlankWalker]

A Morgan is no good to me as I already have something better, a W650.

 

[Poignard]

Ye methinks along similar lines , we have a Morgan Car specialist nearby , about 5 miles away , I find myself making a Detour through the Villiage and stopping by to look at his changing stock of Morgan cars ; I have always had an incling for a 3 wheeler , but the 4/4 looking good to me ; Priced around the 9k in a regularly used condition , road worthy rather than a pristine show room condition ; spoke to a fella a while back , ouside the Show rooms , he had just placed an order for one , but before he did he hired one for a weekend ; he stated that his wife said that it was the best Car Riding FUN experience that She had had , so that convinced him to go ahead and Buy one .

I would like to own one but, being plagued by a bad back, I doubt whether I would be able to get in and out of it!

 

[Frogmogman]

I would like to own one but, being plagued by a bad back, I doubt whether I would be able to get in and out of it!

The long door models (post 1997 IIRC) are MUCH easier to get in and out of.

 

[Poignard]

The long door models (post 1997 IIRC) are MUCH easier to get in and out of.

Don't tempt me!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

How about one of these

Google Image Result for https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/images/8/105/medium_1979_0811_0003.jpg

 

[Poignard]

How about one of these

Google Image Result for https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/images/8/105/medium_1979_0811_0003.jpg

People can be so unkind. ?

 

[Tomaret]

There are certainly some parallels between sailing and owning a Morgan. You spend a lot a lot of your time being cold wet and miserable [only joking].

I bought a new Morgan 4/4 in 2011, owned it for five years in which time I did 30,000 km. I sold it in 2016 for pretty much the same price as I paid for it new. I bought a new one, as I was looking for the classic car experience without having to do any tinkering; I just didn’t have the time. The whole experience was an absolute joy; The only things more likely to make strangers come up and engage you in friendly conversation are a baby or a puppy.

FWIW, I consider the 4/4 to be the most charming model, as it’s light weight and skinny tyres give it the most vintage character and looks.

I would say go for it. At the very least, a Morgan is a lovely thing to look at.

Here is a photo of my one.

View attachment 136351

Very nice. I had a 1972 4/4 4 seater but it conflicted with my sailing. I found I was driving the long way round to the boatyard and missing the tide, or rushing down the A3 to catch the tide and not enjoying the motoring. An old Morgan isn’t at its best on motorways! We’ve now moved to Shropshire with mile after mile of B roads made for Morgan’s (and W650s).

 

[Greenheart]

It's great that you gents are equally keen on substitutes to sailing, but given that these are mostly motor-toys, isn't an obvious answer, a motor boat?

On aesthetic grounds I couldn't part with money for anything designed this century, but there are plenty of attractive older motorboats, in low-maintenance materials, that would provide exactly equivalent enjoyment to PlankWalker's current boat while at his berth, plus the freedom to make rapid passages with minimal preparation and without having to endure adverse weather, arduous upwind work or any physically demanding involvement.

It's one thing if he really wants to swallow the anchor and hasn't quite convinced himself he'd be happy, sans bateau. But if that's not the case, he could have years more fun afloat without the hard work of sailing, by making a smart switch.

 

[Poecheng]

So anybody out there who has swallowed the anchor, please tell me how you did it?

Before you swallow it, you have to decide which one and how suitable it will be.
As you know, that debate is never ending and futile so the answer is, you cannot swallow it, you just have to carry on one way or the other.
May as well get old(er) sat in the cockput doing SFA as anywhere else - it provides a sense of identity or belonging.

 

[oldharry]

I think op answered his own question. If you have a decent boat and maintenance is falling behind due to lack of time / health /motivation, you have to face the fact your pride and joy will be compromised. For me, health issues for both of us meant every time I went aboard I saw more and more that demanded time and effort I could no longer give.

It made the decision to accept an offer from someone keen to do the work to bring her back to prime that much easier. That lus the last time I had overnighted, I got home to find my better half had been taken to hospital. ' I didn't want to spoil your trip'. You can imagine how I felt!

I soon found myself browsing àd lists, but the reality of owning a decent boat I can't use properly was strong enough to ensure I did nothing foolish. But then for me, sitting in cockpit doing SFA never appealed. It was getting out there and working the boat to her full potential that was the appeal.

I took up photography instead, bought myself some decent gear, and set myself some serious challenges : no it doesn't replace the joy of sailing - nothing ever will, but I view it now like memory of a fabulous one off 'bucket list' holiday. Glad I did it, many happy memories but now life goes on..,