Sailboat -vs- Dockside Condo

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

I have a friend who has a 37 CSY cutter. It has a full keel and is a great blue water boat. The sails are all new, he has all the safety equipment, and instrumentation for a blue water pasage, but there is one problem. He never sails it.

He and his wife use it as a dock-side condo. He likes yto socialize with the other owners who stay at the dock. The only time it is sailed is when my sailing buddy or I take it out. To do that, there are so many knick-knacks that have to be put away, that it takes over 2 hours of putting stuff away to even think of going out.

We just take my boat out because it is always ready to go. I'm afraid this open water beauty is going to sit there and become a useless hulk in the water after a couple of years

How many of you either know some one, or use your own boat as a dock-side condo. Is it trully worth it?

 

[TimCup]

There is a Hunter 37 cutter for sail cheap

in my marina. I want desperately to buy it as a condo!! It has no sails and needs alot of work, but it's under $15000. The admiral is moving me to the mountains next year, and I want a place to come for 3 or 4 months a year.

I never wanted to be a marina queen, but liveaboard life in downtown St Pete would be awesome! Most of the condos here are over 500,000. Getting the same views and neighborhoods, restaurants for 500/mo? What a deal! (I could almost afford divorce at that price!!).

You're right Patrick. It sounds like I need more than one boat...


cup

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mistress 39]

Many people.....

in just about any marina I have ever stayed in, has it's share of people that bought their boat for just that reason. A dock condo. Inexpensive waterfront living. To them ts worth it.
We cant instill our values on them.

TimCup: If that 37 needs sails and lots of work, $15K is still too much for it.


Tony B

 

[TimCup]

Tonyb-

Yeah, you're probably right, although I just don't see many 37 footers cheap that aren't total disasters. This one has lots good, too. But, geez, man, did you have to add that to your post where the admiral can see it???

Guess I better get some long pants for those tennessee winters...


cup

 

[Patrick , S/V Shangra-La]

The price of that 37 includes the dock

There is a 3 year waite for a dock at the St Pete Municipal Marina. Nice liva-a-board marina in a great location.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mistress 39]

TinCup

If you are getting serious about the Cherubini cutter, there is a great Cherubini site as an offshoot of the Hunter Owners site. I almost bought a 37 hunter cutter.
If fixed up it is a great sailing and cruising boat. That site has incredibly valuable info including what to 'look' for.

BTW, I thought you knew better than to let the admiral see this site. If you want her to see anything boat related use the ole 'cut and paste' routine. Works for me. But please dont ask me what SHE cut and pasted when i tried to embellish on a boat.

Tony B

 

[letterman]

yeah to that

E dock
Slip #1 - Fisherman - blown engine - boat out of water since July4th
Slip #2 - Tom - Sailboat -uses it to get away from the kids and wife, but lately has had them down there more. Has never socialized with the marina gang.
Slip #3 - Dave - 32' Powerboat -has a house in the rich burbs...comes down once or twice a month, then leaves early. Not a big socializer because he has Hepititus C and can't drink. His wife hates spiders!
Slip #4 Me - 37' Sailboat Always drunk, sail a LOT, sleep on boat to get away from nuisance neighbors at my house (African A's who stay up till 4, don't work, and play music WAY to high.)
Slip #5 Unknown - 36' Powerboat - he was there yesterday!! First time I saw him in two years. His boat is a aft cabin powerboat, and he is NEVER there.
Slip #6 Robert - 30' Catalina - sails all the time. Teacher - lives on the boat during the summer with his son. His wife prefers the land condo.\
Slip #7 Ken - newbie this year - 32' sailboat. Goes out once or twice a week, otherwise never there.
Slip #8 Dale - retired - single - 36' Aluminum powerboat -rarely there, but he lets his niece use the boat and she does, with kids.
Slip #9 Buck and Sherry - 40' Richardson - they live on the boat and are the resident old timers.
Thats it...9 slips...three liveaboards...two boats that never leave the dock.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mistress 39]

If I just wanted

a dock condo, I would get a houseboat. By far, the largest and cheapest to buy.

Tony B

 

[Allan R]

One of the nice things

about this country, if it's your money, you earned it legally you have every right to do with it as you want. If that's what they want, who are we to criticize someone for doing what they want.

Bottom line for me, I work for what I have and am going to do with it what I want, as long as I'm not hurting anyone there should be issue with it.

 

[Patrick , S/V Shangra-La]

I agree with Allan

It's nice to do what ever you want with your stuff. I do wonder why a man would pay $72 grand for a boat, invest another $35 - $40 grand into making it absolutely sea worthy, then goes from Jacksonville Fl, to Tampa Bay via the ICW with out ever raising the sails. Then leaves this most capable blue water boat at the dock to serve as a condo.

Allan your right he can do as he pleases, it does however, confound me as to why. Don't get me wrong, I think this is the most generous, and likeable guy I know, but when it comes to this???

 

[Bob F]

Inexpensive floating condos......

In san diego, many own "second homes" as floating condos with no intention of ever leaving the marina. Real Estate is REALLY expensive. Many folks from the desert in AZ and CA and NV will buy a nice boat for $100k-$250k and leave it in San Diego. Bingo, Instant waterfront property for a fraction of the cost of a real home. And when its 110 degrees in Phoenix, sitting on your floating condo in SAn Diego is pretty nice. On my dock only 2-3 boats go out on a regular basis. We go out a couple times a week when we are there. In the 8 years Ive had my boat at this dock, there are several boats that have never moved.

To each his own.
Bob

 

[Allan R]

Patrick, for some I guess 72 k +

another 35 - 45K may not be that big of a deal. For me it is, but then I imagine some think I spend elaborately to. I guess it's all a perspective thing based on your inflow or supply of cash or available credit as the case may be. I'm sort of middle of the road, I try to use Carina as both (water vessel and floting vacation home).

But I do have to admit, I wonder at times why some do what they do. Guess it's just human nature. What was it someone once said, "He who has the most toys when they check out wins"? It's not the amount of toys that matters to me, it's using and enjoying what I have til the end.

 

[Ctskip]

Growing up along the shoreline

opened me up to boating, not only for fun and enjoyment, but also as a life style. Moving to Oklahoma was a big change. After ten years in Ok and the last four years trying to sell and move to Texas. I decided to buy a sailboat while in Ok for several reasons. One being, a place on the water, and two, I immensely enjoyed sailing. So I got to fulfill both my pleasures while being land locked in OK. Now I'm in Texas on wonderful lake. I have the place on the water and a sailboat in a slip. I get enjoy those two pleasures everyday. Life is great.
Keep it up,
Ctskip