Recently, I acquired a boat after selling my last one. I have pondered back and forth about writing about it at the risk of sounding like it was a bragging blog and then I decided that it’s truly not about that but more about keeping a log and a way to look back and maybe share some useful tips and information. I have been looking at boats all last year and beyond. I have wanted to get one that I could use more often and leave in the water because launching a boat each time I want to be on the water is not the way I wanted to “boat”.
I few weeks ago, I spotted a great deal on Craigslist and the negotiations began. As it turns out, this boat was well cared for but the owner had a tendency to get seasick on the dock. In short, he wasn’t really a boater and I am sure he just wanted out. This boat came with everything from a full set of good tools, life jackets, spare parts, a well stocked refrigerator complete with beers (good ones) and soda. It also came with a small boat and that boat also had it’s own little engine. It been a nice way to enjoy a little time after work relaxing on the water.
The deal was completed and the day I was planning on going to buy the boat, I sold the one I had listed only 5 days before. That is a story in itself.
I was thinking that I would need to sell my existing boat and that would do a few things. It would free up some yard space and make the cost of the upgrade to the new boat an affordable one. The old one was listed and within just a few days there were a lot more posted and I was worried a little that mine would be lost in the cache of excess boats on Craigslist. On Wednesday I was laying down for the night and had contemplated re-listing my boat to get it to the top of the list. Then about that time, I had this little voice in the back of my head that said, “You have not, because you ask not”. So I got down on my knees and prayed that the right buyer would come at the exact right time. THAT is exactly what happened. I got an email the very next day and it was the buyer for my old boat. I shared everything that was in need of care or repair and they came to my house the very next day and bought my boat for exactly my asking price. That same evening, I completed the deal for my new boat and brought it home that night.
This arrival of the new to me boat will be the source of the blogs in the “Marine Life” section and I hope you might get some useful information and maybe some enjoyment out of it.
Rowland Ramble - 