Shopping For Sailboats or Working On Anxiety? – 10 things I Have Learned
09 Mar 2018, Posted by in Boat, Finances, LifeI know that this next statement goes against what I’ve learned; but I am only looking at Bayfield 29s & 30/32s, nothing else.
Why? Because everything else in that size/price range does not have mechanical deck/hull joint fittings and none of the others have a proper stepped mast. I do not what a bulkhead mounted deck stepped mast. Sure they work fine for hundreds of people, but since I doubt I will ever buy another boat, it has to be the best I can get for the paltry amount of $$ I have to offer.
I AM ONLY LOOKING AT BAYFIELD 29S & 30/32S, NOTHING ELSE.
WHY? BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THAT SIZE/PRICE RANGE DOES NOT HAVE MECHANICAL DECK/HULL JOINT FITTINGS AND NONE OF THE OTHERS HAVE A PROPER STEPPED MAST.
So far I have had a very very nice decline, an “if it doesn’t sell … we’ll call you”, also very nice, and several more people who would disappoint their mothers in how they responded [Update 03.1118 – I have an offer in on a very very nice B29 owned by an nice couple in Miami also an If-it-doesn’t-sell, but I’m hopeful] [Update 3/30/18 – My offer was accepted and I have bought a Bayfield 29 named Frannie C]. So now when I make an offer I include a copy of my bank statement (cleansed for the Internet) so hopefully I won’t get anymore nasty responses. You know you could just say “No Thank You”, but I guess I should be thankful they respond at all. It’s not like I’m offering what they want, I’m offering what it is I have. Yeah, I’ll take that outlook, ‘I’m glad they responded’.
I never would have guessed that the most stressful part of the saving/shopping would be shopping with too little savings. After reading that last line I have just discovered I am a moron. Still it doesn’t make it any less true. I have just weeks left on my lease here in Seattle and there is exactly dick in the way of affordable small cruisers that are either affordable or even cruisers. Lots and lots of day sailors, weekenders or just plain rubbish.
So to counter that I am looking for boats anyplace I can A) Get to and B) Get out of. Landlocked boats are obviously out, but also are the ones that are in foreign countries, since I’ll need to find work ASAP and I’m not breaking any laws especially in a foreign land.
I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT THE MOST STRESSFUL PART OF THE SAVING/SHOPPING WOULD BE SHOPPING WITH TOO LITTLE SAVINGS. AFTER READING THAT LAST LINE I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED I AM A MORON.
What I have learned so far in this process is;
1) You will never has much time (and room!) to do everything as you think you will.
EXACTLY like how on-board everything takes 3x longer than you thought it would, even when you factor in that knowledge. So the advise here is to already act like you are living aboard already when dealing with time management. You will never have more time available to you than you do Right Now.
2) Pretty much no one else shares your dream, especially if they are a broker.
Most Brokers, I think, just don’t give a sh*t about ‘your anything’, they just want to move product and get paid and who can blame them?. BUT, come to find out that some places the broker is legally required to bring all tabled offers to the owner regardless of how ridiculous the offer is. So pitch fearlessly, all they can do is say no or tell you to piss off.
As far as pitching owners, all I can recommend is be honest and forthright. So far this approach hasn’t worked for me but I’m not going to (and you shouldn’t either) stop to pitching offers.
3) If you live where there are no (suitable) boats, you will have to move to where the boat(s) is/are.
You would think with the Puget Sound’s long and illustrious maritime history and boat building history that this place would be flooded with vessels (haha) in all price ranges. Think again. It’s awash with day sailors and weekenders, followed by boats way way out of my budget, followed by boats that have been just left to sit and rot and leak and die. Then because it is SO expensive to live here all the boats are more expensive than a comparative boat in Florida, Maryland, New York or Texas.
4) Pre-plan where you intend to store the boat. Some places don’t allow slip transfers, other times people need their slip for a new/another boat. Liveaboard slip spaces here in Seattle have a 1 year plus waiting list. Some you even have to put down a $50 deposit JUST to get on the list. Which leads me into #5.
5) Get out and meet in person as many slip/marina managers as you can, eye to eye and a handshake goes a lot farther than an email or a phone call. Look them straight in the eye, be dead honest to any questions they ask and be humble. Many of these managers have been put through the ringer by a******s before you, so yes, you will have to ‘pay a price’ for the actions of others. Don’t expect that to change once you venture out.
6) Be Honest, have good karma, a clean soul, or whatever it is you believe in. Don’t start your journey tarnished and don’t tarnish the lives of others. You aren’t looking to f*** someone out of their boat, you are trying to build a relationship with the owner and come to an agreement that pleases both of you. You never know when you might need to contact them for help and again, good karma, clean soul. Would you try to screw someone out of a dog or cat? Hell they only last 10-20 years while your boat will probably outlive you. Don’t screw up your present and your and someone else’s future by being a shit to anyone.
7) Ask when the last time things were used. Such as any electronics, the power plant, etc etc. Just because it lists a Hummingbird Depth Sounder, doesn’t mean the damn thing works. Same for pretty much everything else on the boat. A boat that is being used will *probably* be in better shape than one that has just been sitting. Notice the *, and that’s because life is dynamic and not static. Get copies of any surveys done, extra pictures, and search the Internet for the boat by it’s name. Lots of times people have pictures published on social media which if the pics are a few years old, you can sometimes see the progression or digression of the boat to some extent.
There is also the fact that most people only publish the best pictures they can muster for a For Sale post. I’ve come across a few boats that online and on the phone they sounded great, but then one I get to it and hop aboard, it’s like a bad caricature of a sailboat. Granted if I had more money most of these problems would go away, but alas it just hasn’t worked out that way.
8) Consider past maintenance over age. If the boat has been maintained well that should be considered 1st over the same exact boat made later but not well maintained. Preventative Maintenance is THE term. It’s also a lifestyle, but that’s another post.
9) Conduct your Internet searches daily. I learned this the hard way and missed out on a decent boat. Every single day becuase in our price range and style of boat we are looking for, you and I aren’t the only ones looking.
10) Don’t get discouraged. This one is easier said than done. I’ve been pitching people for 2 months now and each week that passes by with no boat is another few dollars in the bank toward it. So I try to focus on that and not the disappointment of a turn down, or worse snide jackasses who don’t get it.
When it’s meant to be, it will be, for there can be no other way.
Simple living isn’t easy living sometimes and boat shopping is one of those times. 🙂
Good Luck and Don’t Give Up!
Peace Love & Dub
– Shrub
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Le Walker
He has been a Bartender, Manager of Information Systems, Long Distance Over The Road Trucker, Lifeguard, Systems Analyst, Boat Yard Worker, Hacker, InfoSec Professional and a Single Handed Sailor.
He has traveled through several foreign countries and the entire United States, only missing Michigan, Alaska.
He is now focusing on improving living conditions of the peoples that he meets via donations of computers & technology, education & support, and introducing Circular & Blue Economies to help people secure their future locally.