Project Boat?
When shopping for our first boat, Rebecca and I were both fully in agreement on one thing: we did not want to buy a project boat. Instead, we were willing to spend a bit more to purchase a newer boat that we felt was ready to go. As it turned out, we still ended up doing numerous upgrades to our PDQ 32, but those were improvements, not repairs.
Our PDQ 32, now for sale, is definitely NOT a project boat!
After having a portion of our new boat torn apart for the past week, Rebecca lamented that she feels we are now the owners of one of those dreaded project boats. With all the work that we’ve taken on the past few months, it’s understandable that she feels that way. In some ways she is correct, our Amel is 32 years old, and it can’t be compared to our lightly-used 2000 PDQ. Frost is a good boat though, even if we do need to keep reminding ourselves of that. I know that if we wanted to sail away today, we’d still be much further ahead than many who are, right now, out there crossing oceans.
Earlier this morning.
I guess sometimes it is a matter of necessity for financial reasons?
What’s unfortunate is that in some cases people do it to save money and in the end they waste it. The only thing worse than wasting money is wasting time.
Are y’all still in Grenada? I was fooled for a minute when you posted the pic from the USVI.
Good luck, many of us wish we were in your shoes, even those of us who have a firm grip on cruising realities.
I agree. Sometimes that project boat that seems like such a good deal ends up costing significantly more in the long run, especially if a value is placed on time, yours or technician’s.
When you originally bought ZTC, you followed what we believe is the first rule of successful cruising boat shopping – you purchased a fresh water boat. The best advice we ever received on boat shopping came from our broker, who said to just forget about all the Florida boats for sale and focus on the Great Lakes and inland freshwater rivers late in the season, like September or October. That’s when the owners are having to face the fact that if they don’t sell quickly by offering a good price, they’ll have to haul and store the boat for another winter. We found Eagle Too on a lake in Tennessee, and even though she’s 18 years old, she shows like a boat less than half her age. Consequently, all our effort has also gone into improvements rather than repairs. Even after the cost of shipping the boat to Pensacola, her total cost still came to less than similar Florida boats were selling for, and with none of the saltwater and UV damage.
Rhonda & Robert
S/V Eagle Too
Pensacola, FL
http://www.LifeOnTheHook.com
Not always possible but there is definitely a difference.
Don’t think project boat! Your boat has soul!! Part of your working on your boat is out of necessity and part out of making her your own. After all Frost is your home, you take care her, in turn on your adventures she will take care of you! No I’m not crazy. . . .
We’re definitely taking care of her. 🙂
One positive aspect of owning a project boat is you will know every inch of her, something that seems to always pay of down the road.
Getting there!