Well, I haven't written anything for awhile, but that's only because nothing of any real consequence has happened on the boating front.
I actually made an offer on another boat since my last post. It was one of those that I saw earlier, in Port Charlotte, and it sat no more than 500 yards from the other one that I had bid on down there. It was an OK boat but not as good as the other one, and since my preferred boat had gone for only $19K, I bid $18K on this one. Naturally, the seller had other ideas, and wanted more money. I'm sorry, the market just won't support his price. Granted he did come down almost $4K, but the reality is, that price is still out of line with the market. Boats, both used and new, are selling for 65%-70% of their posted prices, and the sellers are glad for the money. I might, as an act of kindness, pay a little extra for a really good boat, whose owner really doesn't want to sell, but I'm not going to pay an extra $5000 for someone's ignorance (or refusal to accept the realities) of the market.
I almost had another lead, but circumstances outflanked me. There was a 1974 model in LaBelle, FL, whose owner was more or less desperate to sell. The asking price was $13K, and if the boat was anything near as good as the pix indicated, it would have been a steal! Unfortunately, the timing sucked, and someone other than me got to steal it, last Friday.
As far as I can determine, the Florida Gulf Coast is a vast wasteland now. Nothing I would be interested in is currently available.
I wrote to my marine surveyor and let him know I didn't have any work for him yet, and he hooked me up with an East Coast broker that he thinks can find my boat. I've talked to her, and we're exchanging emails. She has a prospect in Daytona Beach, but the seller's broker is showing it to another potential buyer today. I'll probably give him a call tomorrow to see what the status is going to be, but I'm not running down to Daytona to see a boat that someone else has already bought.
Of course you knew I couldn't just let it lie, so in a moment of desperation, I actually considered taking on a project boat. I even went as far as visiting two of them that I found on Craig's List.
The first one was in the Florida panhandle, and was in pretty bad shape, with some deck problems among its issues. Deck delaminations aren't something I've heard a lot about among Morgans, so I suspect that the boat may have been pounded by something at one time.
The second one was in Jacksonville, sitting in the owner's back yard. He basically was asking only salvage value for it. Hull and deck were in very good condition, and he had brand new standing rigging ready to install. All the spars were present, the sails were in good condition, and he said the engine ran well the last time he was in a position to run it. Of course, that was 12 years ago! Even considering that the interior would have to be gutted and replaced, there is no doubt that this boat would have been a good deal, except for one thing: its current location. You see, it would take a very special kind of trailer rig to move it, and finding one turned out to be impossible. Add to that my desire to sail, as opposed to rebuilding a boat, and the outcome is a no-go. He indicated that if he couldn't sell it by June, he'd have to break it up and have it hauled off by dump truck. I hope someone buys it - such an ignominious end for such a good hull would be a tragedy.
I'm actually at the point of giving up for the summer. I figure that if past patterns hold, some of the boats that were purchased in the late winter and spring will have outlived their glamour by fall, and the owners will be ready to part with them. Hey! Maybe I'll even get another shot at my preferred boat! You never can tell.
Anyway, I'm not totally boatless. I still have my 26' Commodore on the lake, and with a few repairs, my Siren 17 will be ready to go exploring other waters - anywhere I can drive to! I'm just trying to remain positive about things, but don't look for any new posts for awhile.
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