Is it really one of the best days???

justsomeguy · Mar 21, 2015

Those old sayings are not necessarily meant for you.

And vice-versa.

Capt jgw · Mar 22, 2015

Been there. The last boat I sold, I had for 14 years. New owner was going to sail her from Muskegon on Lake Michigan, to a port in Canada on Lake Huron. Took him a few days to get ready, and I was living aboard on the new boat right next door. Had to do a road trip on departure day, just couldn't stand to be there when they left.

thinwater · Mar 22, 2015

I felt like that on the last sea trial of my Stiletto 27. With new paint inside and out, fresh bottom, new lines, and all of the accumulated junk removed, she really flew, hitting the mid teens in no wind at all. The new owner commented that I clearly had her complely dialed in, which like you, I did.

I too had my new cruising boat, but that didn't blunt the pain entirely.

And like a first girl friend, I still miss her. I don't want her back, knowing all of her shortcomings, knowing we'd grown apart, but I miss her.

trainmanjess · Mar 22, 2015

hello all

i just sold my 1971 Morgan 35ft sailboat to a fellow disabled veteran... i know he will make her his, and he will have much fun sailing her... but i also feel i just lost a part of me... i enjoyed sailing and spending my time on my Morgan 35....

like you all, i too have a new to me boat... i recently purchased a 1979 Dufour 45ft ketch sailboat.... my wife and i plan to move onto it and do the liveaboard routine.... i have refused to part with my 1967 Kittiwake 23ft sailboat... that is my link to fun daysailing, while the 45ft ketch will be our home and vacation sailing

sincerely
Jess

Capt jgw · Mar 22, 2015

I have friends doing the two boat thing. The have a trawler in the Florida keys and they kept their Mac 22 up here for the summer. They still own a home here as well. Works well for them.

Chimera · Mar 22, 2015

Parting with boats

Well parting with my Stiletto 30 a long time ago, after so much fun, was hard. Always remember my buddies quotes, who had only sailed on monohulls, after we took off down the Chesapeake - "you need seat belts for this thing" and,after handing him the tiller and saying head for the smokestack - he looks ahead and says "what part of the boat do I point at the smokestack? Parts of this boat are pointed at the entire horizon":dance: What I will really miss are all the nice light air days sailing when everyone else was motoring. I am older now and dont care how or how fast I get anywhere.....

thinwater said:
I felt like that on the last sea trial of my Stiletto 27. With new paint inside and out, fresh bottom, new lines, and all of the accumulated junk removed, she really flew, hitting the mid teens in no wind at all. The new owner commented that I clearly had her complely dialed in, which like you, I did.

I too had my new cruising boat, but that didn't blunt the pain entirely.

And like a first girl friend, I still miss her. I don't want her back, knowing all of her shortcomings, knowing we'd grown apart, but I miss her.

Kermit · Mar 22, 2015

I sorta had those feelings when I sold my H23. Delivering and helping set it up helped me to see what a good home it was going to. I understand your pain and was actually glad that I was not glad to be "getting rid of it." We were just ready for something different.

Bad Obsession · Mar 22, 2015

When I sold my Hunter 22 I was pretty happy. It went to a great home and I had already bought my Catalina 30.

When I sold the Catalina 30 my heart sunk. I was downsizing to my Compac 23. There are so many things I will miss on my Catalina 30. I knew every square inch of her. She was a beautiful boat. I miss her badly but the upkeep cost was catching up with me and I haven't gotten a big raise in years thanks to the economy.

Part of me wishes I still had her. I comfort myself with working on my new Compac 23 and the promise that one day I will go back to a larger boat. As for now, the Compac is a nice boat that sails well. I am busy modifying her for more extended cruising and she is coming right along.

Stargazer3 · Mar 23, 2015

I spent years getting my O'Day 30 fitted out to be just PERFECT for me. New sails, etc. etc. etc. Like most - I had an inflated opinion of what the boat was worth and was disappointed when I only got about 60% of what I THOUGHT I should have gotten! I LOVE my Hunter 410 - but sometimes wish I had kept my O'Day. As nice as the Hunter is - I really need two people to sail (& DOCK!) her. That limits my time out on the water. Capt Bill on STARGAZER

Patrick Boylan · Mar 23, 2015

I haven't yet sold my boat, and I haven't really experienced that other "best of days". When I started out I had 2 partners, one of whom dropped out. We paid him his share, the title was in his name, he asked that we allow him to continue to sail it, we said sure, since we always want company.
We got 2 new partners who were also yacht club members, did the arithmetic and figured that even with dues it was cheaper to join their club, and have 4 partners, than it would have been to keep paying a commercial marina.
Our former partner now insisted that we had broken our agreement, since non-members could get onto club property only if a member accompanied them, and he thought we had agreed that he'd be able to sail by himself. So he demanded more money before he'd sign the title over.
Finally this year I bought out the other 3 partners. A friend of mine insists then that I've bought the same boat 3 times.
I can't say that any of the times I bought the boat were my happiest day. I've had many much happier days since then sailing it. So I guess it's also going to be untrue, if I ever sell it, that that'll be anywhere close to a happy day.

woodster · Mar 23, 2015

Patrick Boylan said:
he thought we had agreed that he'd be able to sail by himself.

key word here is Thought....

word of advice ...never have a partner in matters such as this...if you break that rule make sure your other 3 partners all can wear a #52 jumper and a # 14 shoe and look like shaved gorillas...sorry you had the dilemma but sounds like all is better now

SailorTom · Mar 23, 2015

I'd say it was always a good day when I sold and great day when I bought. But After a bit of time I remember the good and forget the bad and have even tried to buy back an old boat

pateco · Mar 23, 2015

Stargazer3 said:
I spent years getting my O'Day 30 fitted out to be just PERFECT for me. New sails, etc. etc. etc. Like most - I had an inflated opinion of what the boat was worth and was disappointed when I only got about 60% of what I THOUGHT I should have gotten! I LOVE my Hunter 410 - but sometimes wish I had kept my O'Day. As nice as the Hunter is - I really need two people to sail (& DOCK!) her. That limits my time out on the water. Capt Bill on STARGAZER

Love your Boat Name.

tbilyeu · Mar 23, 2015

Morgan 44

I bought my Morgan 44 new in 1989. Sailed her for 24 years. In the fall of 2013 we decided to move up to a new Beneteau 45. It's a great boat and I do not regret the trade. However, when the delivery crew sailed the Morgan out of the harbor it was the first time she left the dock without me at the helm. Kind of a sad day!

gbgreen59 · Mar 23, 2015

I'm on the opposite end of this. I bought a boat, where the previous owners were the original owners from 1984. The husband of the couple died and the surviving spouse sold the boat to me.

I took a chance and wrote to the previous owner and wrote how happy I was to have received such a fine vessel. Some months later, the a couple of mysterious packages showed up on my door steps. It contained books, maintenance articles, and the original documentation on the boat. Also enclosed was a really nice letter with a bit of description of the vessel's origins. After a season, I sent another letter describing some of the maintenance and upgrades, also added the description of the joy of sailing my new girl.

The previous owner then responded with a detailed description of when/where the boat was purchased, the legacy of the ownership, and a picture of the boat with the owners just prior to first launch. I was almost in tears. I wanted to ask for such a picture, but was afraid to ask. My wife and I will have that picture on board and will keep those letters describing the pedigree of this grand prize.

What an amazing experience.

MLampner · Mar 23, 2015

Awaiting the Trauma

I knew when I bought it that given our plans it would be a relatively short love affair. There were two must have trips that drove the decision to move up from my dinghy sailor to the H30. One is now under the belt and the other weather permitting will be in two months. I retire in two years, and we plan to relocate to the Eastern Shore of Delaware. My 30 draws 5'3" and other than two ports both at least an hour away in peek season the water is too skinny for such a craft. Also as the Admiral is like the ruler of the Queen's navy and stays safe at her desk these days crew will be limited there. So after this next trip she will be up for sale. I plan to ask top dollar this season, if someone wants to buy my dream they will need to pay, but next season I will set a more reasonable price.

As a soon to be retired guy with a wife who hasn't been out in five years I realized by the time I am done with a season I have forked over 4 to 5 thousand every season, to keep her, between dockage, maintenance and repairs and insurance and I could be using that money for other things we can both do together, so I may well cry when she is gone but I always knew the day would come.

I will be downsizing in the extreme as water in close proximity to where will be home averages about 3 feet with the channel being 4.5 where it hasn't silted in. Given that I am planning to revert to my origins as a sailor. I may not cry but I will miss her! (Not the admiral, she has put up with me for to long to part with her.)

paul miller · Mar 23, 2015

We spruced up my last boat to sell her, got rid of the clutter, cleaned, waxed, oiled everything - she never looked so good. Kind of reminded me of that feeling you get when you run into a girlfriend you dumped a year later and she looks absolutely mind numbing fantastic. And you're still you. Oh well.

Sunday Sailor · Mar 23, 2015

I guess the trick here is to buy something, at least first, that you can't possibly fall in love with but gets you around fine. I can handle my 25 footer alone but had 6 people on her last year. I'm also not tempted to put too much money into her.

ALNims · Mar 23, 2015

Think of it as a new challenge. The all to familiar can get a little boring overtime. Anyway you decided to make a change so I would suggest you concentrate on the pluses of that and not dwell on the negatives of selling your last boat.