Pipedream has retired - what was your "first" lke ?

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CPD

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Sorted the detail this morning and she will be sailed off by her new owner to her quieter life based near Lowestoft on Monday. I detached myself emotionally several weeks ago, but have to say it was very hard to see her again with someone else waving a bag of tools at her.

I guess the "first time" for all of us is a bit special. What was your's like ?.
 
CPD said:
Sorted the detail this morning and she will be sailed off by her new owner to her quieter life based near Lowestoft on Monday. I detached myself emotionally several weeks ago, but have to say it was very hard to see her again with someone else waving a bag of tools at her.

I guess the "first time" for all of us is a bit special. What was your's like ?.
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****. It was over in a few seconds then forgotten about. I only regret spending the money.

In all seriousness, I can imagine how you felt. I'd be uncomfortable with Kudu being in the hands of another, at least if I didn't know them. I suppose it makes it even harder when you have been through so much with the boat.

I'm not sure what to do myself. I'm set on the livaboard life, but I can'trealistically stay on Kudu. Girls hate her. The poor girl has never been christened, but not for want of trying, you just can't contort into that sort of position on a first date.

It's a case of either keep Kudu and make her my hardcore blue water cruiser while keeping another boat for living on (motor cruiser, narrow boat or similar), or sell Kudu and buy a bigger sailing boat to serve both needs.

I think I might be able to get my hands on a Van De Stadt Pioneer 9 for less than I could sell Kudu although not as well equipped, so... maybe.
 
I think that Second Chance was my 'special' boat, a little Jouet 680, as Lynn and I put so much into her.
To see her languish unused (but not unloved) in Fambridge was quite painful.

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I shall be distraught when Full Circle goes eventually. I wonder how long that will be?
 
I was happy when mine sold within a couple of weeks to the first person who saw her - but got unhappier over the years through a succession of absentee owners leaving her slide into a giveaway (which I missed by a week :().........but then she got 2 owners who between them have turned her back into a cracking little boat :)
 
nathanlee said:
Kudu. Girls hate her. The poor girl has never been christened, but not for want of trying, you just can't contort into that sort of position on a first date.
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Maybe you're not frequenting the right type of young lady? Or your contorsions need some practice? Have fond, if distant, memories of action on very small boats.
 
Wasn't bothered - the emotional bond (for me) is easily transferred to a new boat... the missus and daughters had a cry though
 
No-one wanted to buy my 2 yr old Cirrus in 1973 (older members will remember the economic chaos of the time) and I eventually got a bite from a German who I met at a cafe near Wembley station. He knocked me down a couple of hundred pounds, from about £2,200 and that was the last I saw of him or the boat. I think the excitement of getting a bigger boat took over.
 
CPD said:
I guess the "first time" for all of us is a bit special. What was your's like ?.
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I've never sold a yacht, but I do remember the feeling of regret as I watched the rally car I had built from a bare shell being towed away. I had of course temporarily forgotten the blown engine, major expenses and severely melted credit card that lead up to the sale... :confused:
 
For us the reason to sell a boat has always been to get another one, so far each bigger and "better" than the last. As we've bought before selling every time, it's always been a huge relief when the sales have been concluded.

I have immense nostalgia for the boats we have sold, because they were all wonderful and gave us great times as a family. Santana still carries pictures of and logs from them all, and there isn't one I wouldn't be happy to still be sailing/owning.

I guess we've been very lucky indeed though in the buyers we've had:

1) Sold the Drascombe to a delightful chap in Pin Mill who has become a great friend, and has sailed with me once or twice every year since.
2) Sold the Finesse 24 to "Kilter", a forum regular who clearly takes great pride in her and knows a thing or two about sailing.
3) Sold Golden Hind "Francis Fletcher" to someone who is going to eventually sail her to Australia. She was close to Santana in the yard for his first winter of ownership, and she benefitted from having the hull epoxied, a full electronics refit etc. He periodically emails me photos of her.

Do (exclusively) racing people feel the same about their boats as those of us who cruise?
 
As I've alsways sold for a reason, normally wanting something more capable, roomy etc it means I've grown own of the last boat - but its still a wrench.

Happily my first boat is still sailing from Woodbridge 30 years later, and is moored in the mud on Eversons pontoons looking pretty as a picture, which makes me very happy now. (White hulled 20' Bermudan sloop 'Black cat', vintage 1939).
 
CPD said:
I guess the "first time" for all of us is a bit special.
Click to expand...

After many years of working my way up from tiny sailing dinghies I finaly managed to find a low cost somewhat neglected 28 footer.

Sailed and even raced her for several years then decided I had to go bigger, I had only carried essential work to this point and decided to do a complete refit to improve the value and chance of a quick sale.

Turned out to be a major refit and almost 2 years. The job was completed but for the final coat on the topsides when this bloke walks up and asks, "is this boat for sale", he made me an offer and I advised him I would consider it overnight.

As soon as he got out of the yard I let out a huge cheer, and, yes the next day sold him the boat.

Some months later I spotted her in a local marina and could not resist having a look. To my horror I discovered the interior was now purple with what looked like shag pile purple carpet all over the walls and bulkheads with multiple huge speakers all over the place.

I was so sad, and upset to think that all my efforts to make her lighter and stronger had been wasted and she was now a floating gin palace with a built in disco.

Luckily the new owner sold her after only a couple of years and very few sea miles. The new owner was planning to live aboard and cruise the East coast then sail around the West coast over a 5 year period. She started by cruising the Whitsunday Island and worker her way north to Cairns where I managed to get another look at her and meet the new owner.

She loved sailing but to find a companion who new how to navigate when moving from one area to the next. Anyway she decided to take the further north and alone for the first time.

She got as far as the ribbon reefs and ran into the most southern end and struck the reef, the boat is still there with a huge hole on the bow that runs back to the keel and continues down one side of it.:eek:

I have managed to buy and sell other boats since but for some reason the sale of this, my first 'real' boat has always haunted me and I regret it to this day.

Avagoodweekend......:rolleyes:
 
CPD said:
I guess the "first time" for all of us is a bit special. What was your's like ?.
Click to expand...
Selling 'Soulmate' my first wasn't a big deal. What I hated was seeing her a couple of seasons later in Morgan's yard with the hatch stoved in and totally uncared for.

Had a call from the guy who bought Flipper on Thursday. She has been strengthened, reglassed and is back afloat! Over the winter he is going to help me rewire Karouise (he's a sparky) one weekend in exchange for the 2 season old sails I didn't include in the package! He is talking of Jester 2012 too so that would be good to see her on the start and finish lines. :D

Sailing in the Solent last week I saw a sister to Soulmate and to Flipper - quite remarkable as they were not mass production boats!
 
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