What on earth do I do now?

[James W]

So, I bought a new boat a month ago. No problem I thought, finish fitting out the old one, move her in early April to home mooring (hard standing not great so wintered elsewhere), sell her and finish working on new boat for a month or so before launching and moving back to home mooring too.

And then Covid 19 hit the World.

So, I now have two boats in a more expensive location than I would like. They will do me a bit of a deal but still a fair bit more money than I would like to pay. Oh, and I have no work whatsoever as I am freelance and all of my events have been cancelled for the foreseeable. I won't be able to sell the old boat for at least a year and I had kind of budgeted for 3-6 months as she would have been a good price for someone. After tonight, I'm guessing I won't even be able to work on the new boat as I imagine the yard will be shut down, not even allowing the old boat to be launched and moved.

In perspective, nobody has died. I am fit and well and my family are too. Others have huge problems, I know this. But still, it's a minor disaster. Any helpful ideas?

 

[Old Bumbulum]

I'm in much the same position, an expensive new marina berth paid for and the boat on the stocks elsewhere waiting for work that may not be done this summer. Wait and see, there's nothing else to do.

 

[Quandary]

Unfortunate, puts my problems in perspective, can you not get either of the boats to a place where you can work on them before things tighten up further as they are bound to do. I think it is probably already to late to sell either even at a bargain price but if you revealed the locations perhaps someone local might have an idea.

 

[[70521]]

Have you picked up the telephone and spoken to the yards?

 

[James W]

I can work on them now, the yard is only 15 minutes away. The trouble is that I think we might be locked down very soon. Potentially, I could launch the old boat on Wednesday, but is sailing a few hours the coast an option? What happens at the other end? Ordinarily my wife would pick me up with the kids, but that might not even be possible! Maybe sitting tight and swallowing the cost us the best option after all.

Like I said, it's not life and death. Just skint or even more skint.

 

[James W]

The home mooring will happily take me, no stress there. It's just getting the boat launched and around the coast. I'll wait and see what Boris says tonight but the mood music isn't good after the mindless activities of the weekend.

 

[Kelpie]

There's lots of people clamouring for government assurances on help for small businesses, zero hours contract workers, self employed, etc. I totally understand and am actually massively affected myself. A minor concern, financially, is that our boat is currently stuck in a marina where the winter berth is about to run out, I cannot travel there (would need to get a ferry) to move her back to her (free) home mooring- but I am hoping for clemency from the marina and at the least a reduction in the berthing charges I am going to incur.

Given the seriousness of problems faced elsewhere, though, worrying about these things is like the proverbial deckchairs on the Titanic. Let's stay home, make no unnecessary journeys or human contact, and sort everything else out later.

 

[lw395]

So, I bought a new boat a month ago. No problem I thought, finish fitting out the old one, move her in early April to home mooring (hard standing not great so wintered elsewhere), sell her and finish working on new boat for a month or so before launching and moving back to home mooring too.

And then Covid 19 hit the World.

So, I now have two boats in a more expensive location than I would like. They will do me a bit of a deal but still a fair bit more money than I would like to pay. Oh, and I have no work whatsoever as I am freelance and all of my events have been cancelled for the foreseeable. I won't be able to sell the old boat for at least a year and I had kind of budgeted for 3-6 months as she would have been a good price for someone. After tonight, I'm guessing I won't even be able to work on the new boat as I imagine the yard will be shut down, not even allowing the old boat to be launched and moved.

In perspective, nobody has died. I am fit and well and my family are too. Others have huge problems, I know this. But still, it's a minor disaster. Any helpful ideas?

As an ex-freelancer, I'm often amazed how some freelancers take huge risks, committing themselves to spending money over the next 12 months which they may never receive. When I was freelancing, I would never have taken on a commitment based on future earnings. I still have lots of friends who are freelance, some of them are quite worried at the moment, some are more prepared to take the money side of life as it comes. Some of those who are quite worried have a lot more in the 'war chest' than some who are less concerned.
So it's hard for anyone to know what sort of measures you should be taking.
Personally I would suggest sitting quietly with a bottle of red wine and writing a list of ways you can earn money.

I wonder if there is any legal protection for you, the boatyard has agreed to provide a service, as they are not able to deliver that, is it reasonable that they make a big profit from charging you winter storage rates all Summer?
Maybe a group of people in similar positions could take up the issue with the RYA?
Personally I've just paid a year's sub to two sailing clubs, but as these are members' clubs, I am more concerned about the clubs' survival than my few hundred quid.

 

[James W]

There's lots of people clamouring for government assurances on help for small businesses, zero hours contract workers, self employed, etc. I totally understand and am actually massively affected myself. A minor concern, financially, is that our boat is currently stuck in a marina where the winter berth is about to run out, I cannot travel there (would need to get a ferry) to move her back to her (free) home mooring- but I am hoping for clemency from the marina and at the least a reduction in the berthing charges I am going to incur.

Given the seriousness of problems faced elsewhere, though, worrying about these things is like the proverbial deckchairs on the Titanic. Let's stay home, make no unnecessary journeys or human contact, and sort everything else out later.

Indeed. A bit of perspective is good and much appreciated. It will get sorted one way or another.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I'm an old man and should probably shut up. But looking back, all the adversity in my
life ended up as positives in every case. Either I grew as a person or I found out what I really wanted in life. Us humans need it you know. I still hope for at least another 20 years sailing. I too am in the irresponsible position of owning two boats.

 

[V1701]

Another two boater here, although it kind of doesn't count as I live on one. I'd booked a year off work from 1/6 and had planned to sail slowly to Portugal. Last week I managed to cancel the year off by the skin of my teeth before they appointed someone, boat number two will remain in the marina berth where she currently is and it's the same marina I live in so I can work on her and maybe do a bit of sailing as long as we're allowed. I work for the NHS but not frontline, we're combining skeleton staffing and working from home. As someone else said our problems in the grand scheme of things are utterly irrelevant but I'm gutted nonetheless. We've got a horrible few months ahead here and I think of the so-called third world countries and what they have coming to them. Stay safe everyone...

 

[James W]

I'm an old man and should probably shut up. But looking back, all the adversity in my
life ended up as positives in every case. Either I grew as a person or I found out what I really wanted in life. Us humans need it you know. I still hope for at least another 20 years sailing. I too am in the irresponsible position of owning two boats.

Please don’t shut up, that’s a lovely postive post. Thanks.

 

[Kelpie]

I forgot to mention I'm also a two-boat person (why? why??)- the Deb is needing prepped for putting on the market, and is sat on a mooring within walking distance. The Moody is up in Stornoway and out of reach now that Calmac is essential travel only.
I suppose I could, maybe, if I felt reckless, jump on the Deb with SWMBO and go and get the Moody. It could all be done without touching anything other than the two boats- raft up, cut the lines... sail back one boat each. But I know it's not sensible. Best just to wait this out and limit all possibility of travel and human contact.

 

[stevie69p]

Another 2 boat freelancer here! Marina just announced total closure effective immediately. I had work today but likely not tomorrow. Have a contingency put by but it's finite. Worried doesn't even begin to cover it

 

[Graham376]

I'm an old man and should probably shut up. But looking back, all the adversity in my
life ended up as positives in every case. Either I grew as a person or I found out what I really wanted in life. Us humans need it you know. I still hope for at least another 20 years sailing. I too am in the irresponsible position of owning two boats.

Hopefully, something positive may come out of this when people at last realise we depend on each other and not be so bloody self centered and selfish.

 

[James W]

Hopefully, something positive may come out of this when people at last realise we depend on each other and not be so bloody self centered and selfish.

it didn’t start well with the panic buying though, then the mass gatherings on Mother’s day. Unfortunately, a whole lot of people have shown their true colours.

 

[Daydream believer]

Hopefully, something positive may come out of this when people at last realise we depend on each other and not be so bloody self centered and selfish.

Do we?
I have to admit that although I have lived in the current house 19 years, I rarely speak to my immediate neighbours, over their 6 ft fence & dense hedges.( I have to listen to their b..dy dogs yapping every time I go into my garden though)
However, I do not have a clue who lives in the house immediately opposite me. I just know that there are lots of cars in the drive & they slam the doors at all hours of the day
I suspect that I am not alone in this & it may be a sign of the times
I think that the way we socialise is probably different. Especially across the age ranges.
So it is probably not surprising that it is one for one & no other.

In my last house, where I lived for 31 years, I only spoke to those opposite when I was drunk- but that was a graveyard
But then I was in Round Table & friendship had a real meaning. Things change

 

[LadyInBed]

With the PM's announcement last night, almost everything is in shutdown, that should include boatyards as they can't be considered essential!
I've been working on my boat for the last two weeks, I will put it back on its mooring today, luckily it's in the water, as the boatyard will close this pm.
I am really sorry to hear your plight but I can't see an answer.

 

[25931]

Another 2 boat freelancer here! Marina just announced total closure effective immediately. I had work today but likely not tomorrow. Have a contingency put by but it's finite. Worried doesn't even begin to cover it

Will worrying help you ? if not, be positive - you are still alive. You'll probably think "Daft old bugger" well perhaps I am but I've survived one or two unpleasant situations in my 88 years and I'm even more of an optimist because I'm still alive. I wish you good luck

 

[Graham376]

Do we?
I have to admit that although I have lived in the current house 19 years, I rarely speak to my immediate neighbours, over their 6 ft fence & dense hedges.

We don't socialise with our neighbours although on friendly speaking terms, most are coffin dodgers. Next door keep an eye on our house while we're away and I do odd jobs for them as he's getting well past it now. We're scheduled to arrive home today and will no doubt over the next weeks be doing some shopping and jobs for those who are not so mobile and at greater risk. I was also thinking about dependence in general, the invisible supply chain, the utility service workers who keep the lights and such on, the emergency service workers, public transport operatives etc. many of whom are placing themselves at risk by going to work.