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Subject: Re: [world-cruising] Digest Number 110
From: Bill Branum (Bill@XXX.XXX)
Date: Sat May 17 2003 - 01:56:43 EDT
II own a steel sailboat, and would appreciate some help from any
knowledgeable people here.
Here’s my story, sad but true.
At the beginning of 1998, my soon-to-be wife and I set a goal of buying a
sailboat and seeing the world. We set a “sail-away” date of July 4,
2005. At the time, I was 42 and she was 39. First marriage for us
both. At the time, we hoped to be able to save $100,000 for the boat and
another $100,000 for the cruising kitty. We hoped that the modest 401Ks we
both had would take care of us after we were no longer able to cruise.
We took our honeymoon spending a week in BVI on a ASA101 and ASA103 private
charter. We departed from St. Martain, sailed to St. Barts and other
places (including anchoring out at The Baths). We learned a lot, but also
realized that until we had more sailing time, most of what we had learned
would soon depart us.
After getting home from the trip, we went to the local yacht club to
volunteer to be crew on the days that it was open for outside crew. WE
WERE A DISASTER. Shouts here, commands there, we didn’t have a clue what
was going on, how to help, how to contribute, etc. We tried it again the
next week…same results.
So we decided the only way we would really learn to sail is to buy a small
sailboat and learn by trial-and-error.
As luck would have it, in the early part of 2001, we were very fortunate to
have a company that I had invested all of our savings in be bought out by
another company, at a HUGE profit to us. So we were shopping for a small
sailboat to learn on, but we had all this “new-found” money in our
pocket. Dangerous combination.
We spent a couple of weeks (on off days) looking for our “learning
boat”. Then we stumbled across… IT.
IT was an English built, steel hulled, world class cruiser. She was owned
by a retired marine Colonel, whom had it custom built by the premier
shipyard in England, to his personal specifications. In fact, it had only
one “sister-ship”, and it was the personal yacht of Princess
Margaret. Unfortunately, the owner, Col. Jim Patton, has recently
developed heart problems, so it can be bought for a fraction of the real
cost. In fact, this ship is registered in Lloyds as the last ship under
65’ to be certified as class “A100+”.
HOOK, LINE, SINKER.
WOW! This is a once in lifetime opportunity. So we did it. We spent ALL
our new found wealth on this rare gem. We were SO HAPPY! We hosted
dinners, we showed off the ships systems, we oiled the teak, we were ON OUR
WAY!
Of course, then there become problems. We first realized that the “black
water” holding tank was ruptured. Then we found out that the windlass
didn’t work. Then we had to replace ALL the hoses for the head. Then we
found out that the diesel heater doesn’t work. And the deck mounted bilge
pump doesn’t work.
We fixed all those things (except the black water tank….we installed a new
tank for that).
To make a long story shorter, my wife finally had enough. For some reason,
the battery charger has quit working, and there goes the refrigerator. So
she is leaving, she has had enough of the living aboard life, she doesn’t
want to deal with it anymore.
So, it is a now a question of the value of the boat. FACTS: She was made
Bay Class Yachts in England. The architect was Ted Speers.
Help appreciated,
Bill
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