We’re surrounded by boxes again, and as usual frantically running around in our last few days trying to pick up the things we’ve forgotten. Beer kits – check. Lots of fleece for a cold month in North Carolina – check. Down slippers with nice little elastic bits to keep my pyjamas tucked in – check.
I’ve held back from writing much about our latest boat buying adventure mainly because of the disappointment of the last one, and a little faux superstition that talking too much about it might be tempting fate. But I thought a proper update was due before we head off to Virginia tomorrow morning.
The boat is a Beneteau First 38, and is actually 40 feet long, which was our original goal actually, although we revised this down when our money started to get tight. We found it online after our last purchase fell through, and weighed it up against the boat in Alameda that we had been considering. The main benefit in the end was that it was on the East coast of the states, Deltaville Virginia, and we could just sail it out of there instead of having to put it on a truck, an additional cost of up to $10k.
We offered on the boat at the start of November, and we signed off on it with a completion date of the 3rd December – tomorrow week. Having learnt a lesson in caution after our first failed purchase we decided we would arrange for a surveyor to inspect the boat first and give us a report on its condition before we booked flights and travelled out to view it ourselves.
Our surveyor gave us a verbal report on Saturday and the boat is in pretty good shape, with a few minor issues that we will need to examine carefully when we get there. We’re buying a 1985 boat, so it’s never going to be perfect, but we need to ensure that it’s in good overall condition, and all the essential electrical, mechanical and structural systems are sound.
Tomorrow morning we fly to Richmond Virginia, and then drive across to Deltaville to view the boat, and then take it out for a seatrial on Friday morning with our surveyor. If all checks out and the seller is willing to work with us to resolve any issues that arise from the survey and seatrial then we will be boat owners. At this stage it’s too early to tell if that will work out, but Keli and I are confident that this model of boat will make a fantastic home on the ocean.
So today is all about packing, getting things finished, and saying goodbye. We’re taking Dennis and Pat out for dinner tonight at the Boathouse for a celebratory dinner. They’re in the process of boat buying too, so they’ve been a great support in this difficult process, and despite having a fair idea of the perils we’re getting ourselves into have been overwhelmingly positive in endorsing our mad plan.
More details to follow soon, but for now it’s back to work.
Stu.
Tue 25th November, 2008
at 8:57 pm
Congrats on the progress so far mullingtons! good luck for the next stage. very excited for you. xxx
Wed 26th November, 2008
at 8:06 am
Flip, i think i picked the right time to start checking the blog. things are shaping up hey? Been thinking of you both frequently, not in an unhealthy way, but aware that i miss your presence in belfast. in total agreement with Kellie, all the very best! in fact i will venture to say im praying for you – whatever that means. Chris E is coming over next weekend again, this time for my 30th birthday. Only having a few peeps to the farm, but would have loved if you could have been there. I guess we will do all sorts of celebrating onboard. Emily is going to NZ in about 10 months, she is still up for the adventure.
so lovelies, im getting up, getting washed, then get to hang out with Susan and the Corry crew today.
massive hugs, emxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo xoxoxoxoxox just in case xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Wed 26th November, 2008
at 10:21 am
Nice one Mullingtons. You’ve been land locked too long. I’m reminded of Ishmael in Moby Dick: “Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principal to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off – then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball.”
By the way is that boat called ‘ Jesus de la mer’? T