Living Aboard a Boat
Ramblings From the Dockside
Selling a Boat
The Roller Coaster Ride
Monday, May 08, 2017TheCambrians
I love roller coasters: The clicking of the gears as the
cars slowly climb uphill. The build-up
of butterflies from not knowing when the big drop will arrive. The thrill of being
hurled around corners at top speed.
I
still remember my first ride – my dad took me. We sat in the front row, and I
was so scared that I begged him to make it stop the entire time. But the minute
it was over, I wanted to go again.
Owning
a boat is a lot like riding a roller coaster – full of ups and downs, twists
and turns, oftentimes at high speeds. And so is selling one.
A
few months ago, we met a guy whose dream it is to own a Westerly Ocean 43. They
didn’t make many of these so it was hard to keep from getting excited about his
interest, especially after he spent five hours one day looking around the boat
with David. In the end, the timing wasn’t right for him. We weren’t surprised by
his decision, but it would’ve been great to sell Cambria without officially putting her on the market.
The
boat’s listed with a yacht broker in Australia at one of the largest brokerages in the country. A
few weeks ago, a couple saw the listing and were “keen” because they also want buy
a Westerly Ocean 43. In our minds, they were the perfect potential buyers –
people who live in the Southern Hemisphere that want to sail the Inside Passage
to Alaska before crossing the Pacific (we actually know several cruisers who
have taken this approach). Nothing came of it in the end but, once again, we
found ourselves struggling not to get excited by the prospect because, hey, wouldn’t
it be great to sell Cambria within days of listing her.
We
listed Cambria ourselves online – in the US, in England and in New Zealand. And there’s now a “For Sale” sign adorning her
pulpit that has passerbys asking questions. These types of inquiries are a lot easier
to shrug off. But they all three – the dreamer, the Aussies, the internet
browsers – have one thing in common: They plant a seed of hope that allows the
mind to dream. And when nothing comes of it, it’s a little disappointing
(though not surprising).
So
while I may love roller coasters, I’m already looking forward to getting off of
this one. I might not be begging anyone to make it stop (yet), but both David
and I will be really happy when it does. But until that time, we have no choice
but to sit back, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride.
Do you think cruising is like riding a roller coaster? How
about selling a boat?
