Recently, Dale (Cap'n Kidd) wrote: "It's been said numerous times that the two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys and the day he sells."
I've only ever experienced the first half of that saying . . . . .
. . . . . . . until today.
There goes Urchin taking with her, the last 50 years of my sailing memories? ???
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Nope!!
Still got the memories, ;D just don't got the boat.
A lot of people sell a boat, then grieve for the loss; I didn't.
My grieving occurred over a year ago, when I first realized I was not able to safely handle her by myself, any more. :(
And it was made a LOT easier, knowing she was going to a good home, in the hands of a most capable sailor: Ed Combs.
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And his wife, Becky:
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I mean, I COULD have kept her and taken her out twice a year, when I had a son, daughter, or grandson help me handle her, but that would have been a cruelty.
That boat needs to be used, sailed, hull canted a few degrees and the swing keel pennant just beginning to hum and just the first faint whispers of wind, sighing past the rigging.
That's the only time that boat comes alive.
Very nearly the only time I ever really come alive too, come to think of it.
But I am getting older and not quite up to some of her demands and needed a smaller, simpler, boat.
And I needed Urchin's equity to finish funding that smaller, simpler, boat.
I'm grateful to Ed for the purchase and I'm grateful to all the TSBBers, who offered advice on how to sell a boat.
Some of the suggestions quite pointedly illustrated to me, shortcomings I had let slide a little over the years, that needed immediate attention and remediation. :-[
It's eye opening, looking at a boat, like a buyer looks at a boat.
Small details, mostly.
A broken fishing rod holder.
A frozen anchor shackle.
An anchor painter, whose end needed to be re-seized.
A thorough outboard engine lube, not just the most common easy-to-reach spots.
Things that needed updating, just because.
I was reminded of Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-tale Heart, when thinking of the trailer bearings. :o
I mean, I KNEW they were in good shape, but the thought of Ed driving 6 hours up the road at Interstate Speeds, on bearings I had not put an eyeball on in over 5 years, filled me with an ever-increasing dread. :o
Thursday, I could no longer stand it and I went out and got two sets of bearings.
There already were two sets of spare bearings in addition to the spare hub with bearings already greased and installed.
But if I used them, then Ed would have only the hub, so I went and got the additional bearings, so he could travel with the same amount of spare parts, that make me comfortable to travel with.
And, OF COURSE!! >:( When I pulled them out, they looked absolutely perfect, but at least, now I KNEW what shape the bearings were in (Brand New) and no longer had to guess.
As we ALL know, with Brennan being eternally damn'ed by the gods and all, if I HADN'T changed them out, sure enough one (or both!) :o would have flaked out, on his way back to north Georgia. :o
It's all very much like a home.
A home that's more than good enough to live in is nonetheless, not NEARLY good enough, or clean enough, to sell to a total stranger!! :P
But I am very happy that the boat will stay in the TSBB Community and that I may get to see her from afar, every now and then.
(BTW, "From afar" is how I always see ALL the boats on the CDCR, the Fl 120, and the BEER Cruise, and what not!) :'(
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Enjoy, Ed.
Hope you have many days ending just like this one did.
Thanks to you all,
Charles Brennan
Yes, you were very fortunate, kinda sold in the family, consequently trust was there so everyone is past the first phase of a selling event, "can I trust this guy".
You're right about the memories, I've owned four sailboats, either by myself or in partnerships, and the memories have been retained, but none of those boats (including the one I have now) is right for me at this stage of my life. But all of them were right for me at the time that I initially owned them.
Thanks again Charles. Urchin towed like a dream, even in the stop and go of downtown Hotlanta on a Saturday afternoon/evening. Grandson climbed everywhere inside and wanted to spend the night on the boat, tonight. He can't wait to go sailing with Grandpa. I'm beat after a nearly 16 hour round trip, but definitely worth it.
I am a fan of happy endings. My only regrets are the things I should have done. Good memories are prized gifts to be cherished. Congratulations to both of you.
Grandson just loves his new boat!
Nice thread. Good for everyone!
Charles, just to note: you did grieve (just not when you sold her).
Like you, I was pleased to sell my boat to someone I believe will sail and appreciate her, and someone who sails in somewhat the same circles as I.
Anago was my third pocket cruiser totaling 26 years. Not as many memories as some, but memories nonetheless. I recall when I bought my first one, my wife told my daughter who was away at college that I had bought a boat. She was totally befuddled! Very "out of character" for me. Anyway...
Here's to Urchin I & II, Anago, and Disciple Ship and many days of fair winds and following seas.