Is is normal to get so emotional when selling a boat?

[ChattingLil]

I bought my first boat five years ago and have experienced plenty of highs and a few lows. Unexpectedly and unplanned, I am now going through the process of selling. I keep bursting into tears when I think about it!! I love that boat.

Does this mean that I am not ready to sell it? or this is normal? or is it a case of 'never forgetting your first love'. Next time, will it be easier?

 

[dylanwinter]

yes

I bought my first boat five years ago and have experienced plenty of highs and a few lows. Unexpectedly and unplanned, I am now going through the process of selling. I keep bursting into tears when I think about it!! I love that boat.

Does this mean that I am not ready to sell it? or this is normal? or is it a case of 'never forgetting your first love'. Next time, will it be easier?

of course it is

-although I draw the line at actually weeping

I have mourned every boat I have sold

I am sad at all those holidays, the youth of my children, the dog that is no longer with us, the happy days, the meals, the beer, the wine, the sunsets

nope it does not get any easier

Dylan

I wrote a column for Small craft Advisor about selling boats

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/blogs/parting-is-such-sweet-sorrow/

 

[Talulah]

I was very emotional when I sold our first boat.
We had built it during my teenage/college years and then I refurbished it about 20 years later.
So there was a lot of myself in the boat. I still think my father hasn't forgiven me for selling it.
However, I had to sell it in order to move on. The first boat was the boat my father wanted. Not the boat I wanted.

 

[haydude]

Yes it is, but not so much if you move to a new and better one.
If instead you sell without intention to buy another one, well, that would be the end of an "era".

 

[robp]

My first boat was a Mirror Offshore. I was on my fourth boat when I chance met the vendor of the Mirror, on an early Scuttlebutt Cherbourg binge.. er I mean rally.
When I reminded him about the Mirror, he said that he hadn't particularly formed any attachment and wasn't that sorry to see her go. I was surprised but did realise that as you move onward and upward, new toys/loves harden you!
Selling with no replacement in sight will be the hardest... I might have a good sob then.

 

[NB Willawaw]

I'm not sure about tears but boats are important to us and contain important memories so its normal to be upset when selling. I think it makes a big difference whether you are trading up or giving up.

 

[Vara]

Yes it's a very emotional time, only tempered by the wedge you get as a result.

And then what happens, instead of spending it on loose living you go out and get another one and repeat the whole sorry cycle

 

[[70521]]

At least you can't bump into her in Tesco, Sainsbury, Watrose or Morrisons.

 

[Lucky Duck]

At least you can't bump into her in Tesco, Sainsbury, Watrose or Morrisons.

My last boat is kept the a marina a couple of miles downstream of where we are currently berthed so I see it out in the river quite often.

The new owners obviously didn't appreciate my choice in boat names as it has been renamed (the sail number is the same).

 

[epervier]

The old adage, "The two best days of boat ownership are, the day you buy and the day you sell" is a crock of **** imo, this statement, I believe is only applicable to someone who has fell out of love with their boat, and are just glad to see the back of it.

Most boat owners seem to fall into a very different category, they buy their new, or new to them boat, then spent time and care to bring the boat up to how they want it, this could be over a few days or indeed years, and take pride and pleasure from doing so, then when the choice is made to move on, whether it be upgrade, downsize, or even get out of boating altogether they find it a wrench, I certainly did with all the different boats I've owned over the years, as said above, not to the degree of weeping, but certainly a low point.

and remember, It's better to have had memories than dreams.

 

[ChattingLil]

reading this thread has brought the tears on again!

 

[Zagato]

Pull yourself together man...er girl

I seem to sell a lot of thinks I swear I love and will keep for life but as long as you are selling it for something more exciting - you won't regret it

 

[Seajet]

Emotional ? Of course !

I sold my A22 after being dumped by a fiancee, instantly regretted selling the boat and didn't take to the larger cruiser racer I bought in her ( the Andersons' ! ) place.

After a few years thinking ' what have I done ? ' and leaving messages at the yard where she was left ashore I managed to buy her back, now I kiss her goodbye every time I row away.

 

[xyachtdave]

After a few years I managed to buy her back, now I kiss her goodbye evey time I row away.

I sometimes pat the mast after a trip or gently tap the hull when going upwind sitting on the rail - no kissing though - although I'm not ruling it in for the future!

I hope the boat appreciates the money spent maintaining her...

 

[wotayottie]

Does this mean that I am not ready to sell it? or this is normal? or is it a case of 'never forgetting your first love'. Next time, will it be easier?

Normal. Boats are like women. Some are an overnight stand but some you marry and the divorce isnt pleasant. Usually expensive too if you go for a newer model.

 

[oldharry]

Most boats I have been sorry to see them go, even though the next was 'better' in some way. One or two i was glad to get shot of....

The real sadness is seeing my lovely old Eventide left mouldering in a mud berth by her new owner, rapidly falling apart, neglected, unloved, paint peeling off and half full of rainwater.

Heartbreaking, when I remember the way she always looked after me.

 

[Stork_III]

No its not normal, but maybe its the thought of your new purchase making you cry, those fuel bills.

 

[Seajet]

Most boats I have been sorry to see them go, even though the next was 'better' in some way. One or two i was glad to get shot of....

The real sadness is seeing my lovely old Eventide left mouldering in a mud berth by her new owner, rapidly falling apart, neglected, unloved, paint peeling off and half full of rainwater.

Heartbreaking, when I remember the way she always looked after me.

Old Harry,

people have been known to buy Big Guns to sort out lesser crimes !

I hope your old boat is saved, or at the very least you don't have to see her; I couldn't stand that.

Andy

 

[PhilipH]

OMG -what is going on? What happened to "stiff upper lip" and stoicism. All this talk of emotion is enough to make me blow fuse. Which emotion exactly are we talking about? I expect that Emotion and Sadness are being conflated.

The basic eight emotions are:
Fear → feeling afraid. Other words are terror (strong fear), shock, phobia
Anger → feeling angry. A stronger word is rage.
Sadness → feeling sad. Other words are sorrow, grief (a stronger feeling, for example when someone has died) or depression (feeling sad for a long time). Some people think depression is a different emotion.
Joy → feeling happy. Other words are happiness, gladness.
Disgust → feeling something is wrong or dirty
Trust → a positive emotion; admiration is stronger; acceptance is weaker
Anticipation → in the sense of looking forward positively to something which is going to happen. Expectation is more neutral.
Surprise → how one feels when something unexpected happens.

Dontcha feel anger at the generic use of the word 'emotion' too?

 

[Seajet]

OMG -what is going on? What happened to "stiff upper lip" and stoicism. All this talk of emotion is enough to make me blow fuse. Which emotion exactly are we talking about? I expect that Emotion and Sadness are being conflated.

The basic eight emotions are:
Fear → feeling afraid. Other words are terror (strong fear), shock, phobia
Anger → feeling angry. A stronger word is rage.
Sadness → feeling sad. Other words are sorrow, grief (a stronger feeling, for example when someone has died) or depression (feeling sad for a long time). Some people think depression is a different emotion.
Joy → feeling happy. Other words are happiness, gladness.
Disgust → feeling something is wrong or dirty
Trust → a positive emotion; admiration is stronger; acceptance is weaker
Anticipation → in the sense of looking forward positively to something which is going to happen. Expectation is more neutral.
Surprise → how one feels when something unexpected happens.

Dontcha feel anger at the generic use of the word 'emotion' too?

I have a stiff upper lip when I see aircraft bite the dust, less so when they contain people I have known - while one can become fond of aircraft, sailing boats have souls; to miss that means missing a huge point about sailing itself.