About a week after the Celtic Festival we had a couple of virtual showings of the boat and several requests for more info. With a virtual showing the broker walks on, around and through the boat with his phone in his hand and showing everything to the potential buyer via the video feed to their phone. Semi-high tech. The first virtual visitor flew in from Texas 2 days later for an in-person visit and then made an offer on the boat. It was close to what we wanted and we accepted the bid. This had been all too quick and we were going to have to prepare for leaving our home and lifestyle of 14 or so years. It was a lot of work, especially for Carol, to organize and clean the boat and what came next was even more work. For both of us.
Our outboard motor decided it was time for the carburetor to start acting up again. Ethanol in gasoline messes up boat carbs, clogs jets, etc. It takes about 2 years for the gasoline to start messing things up and, guess what, it's been about two years since the last time I swapped out the carburetors. I clean the carb and put it with my spare parts until it's time to make the swap again. It's not that hard but wrestling the outboard off and then back on the dinghy is a pain. A major pain. Back. Knees. Wrists. A reminder why we put the boat up for sale. Things that were very common and easy are no longer easy. Still common, unfortunately. Hoping not much else wears out or fails before we sell. These are not faults or defects, just normal wear and tear from full-time use. Sigh.
Our survey was in Key Largo, roughly 50 miles from Marathon. Before we went there with the boat we drove to Miami for a visit with my oncology-hematologist to do some blood tests and a check-up. All good. For now.
Alabama Jacks after our Miami visit.
Our passage to Key Largo was a bit lumpy but calmed as we went east (north). We anchored between Rodrigues Key and Rock Harbor after about 7 1/2 hours underway. It was very hot. Our haul-out location was in Rock Harbor, Key Largo. The breeze picked quite a bit after we anchored and it was a slightly rough night at anchor. Not terrible and we were comfortable knowing our anchor would hold with just a little extra scope. No one was near us. The morning was rough as we got underway to the marina that would haul us. We got to about 15 feet away from their wall and went aground. Apparently the strong winds (about 17kts) blew the water out of their basin. We struggled to get free but after nearly 30 minutes, with the genoa out and a lot of backing and filling, we got turned around and got away and headed out without getting ourselves hauled for the survey. We went to another marina a couple of miles away and up the Port Largo Canal to pick up our broker, the surveyor and 2 of the 3 potential new (we hoped) owners. We then went back out to sea to start the survey and have a demo sail. The sail was great! We hit 8.6kts. and the sail was enjoyed by all. We had not seen the mainsail in a while. This was all in Small Craft Advisory conditions. Sporty. We then went back to Marina Del Mar to continue the survey. The canal is very narrow with a lot of traffic. You have to call out securite warnings several times especially at a spot called 'crash corner'. Ominous but obvious why it's called that. A very tiring, frustrating and long day. The potential owners seemed nice as well as the surveyor. The surveyor seemed to be thorough and meticulous. Seemed. He worked for the new owners, not us. He spent a lot of time showing and instructing one of the two women that came from Texas, the 'official' spouse of the original visitor who made the offer a couple weeks earlier. Slightly unusual living arrangements let's say. Not quite defined for sure to us. No matter. Nice people.
The second day of the survey started with a 'free' breakfast from the marina. At what they charge for dockage (not paid by us) it wasn't exactly free. Everyone arrived a little after 0800 and got to work again. At 1030 we got underway again to try to get hauled out at the other marina. The one with very shallow water. There was more water due to less wind blowing it away from shore but we still got stuck. With some maneuvering and help from a man from the marina we finally got in position to be hauled. After an extremely rushed inspection we got away. With a lot of bottom bumping, slow downs and temporary groundings. The survey showed the bottom of the keels were damaged by the groundings of the previous day. Minor, easily repaired damage. But still damaged. By the marina chosen by the new owners for the survey. We then returned to our docking spot at the other marina and the survey continued. A couple of items will need attention but should not have affected the sale. If all was perfect we could have asked for a whole lot more $$$. The long day ended after 1600 again and all were exhausted. Except Cleo.
After three tiring days (including the passage to Key Largo) we got underway to head back to Marathon. The passage started out great! Fast. Comfortable. Then it got a bit sporty. Not terrible at all but choppy. Still fast, however. All in all it was a nice sail. We were home at Marathon but it was another tiring day.
We got back into the regular routine, pickleball, happy hours, Crane Point tours, etc. Then nasty weather hit us again (damn El Nino) and we stayed on the boat for three rough days. The day before we were scheduled to get the survey report our buyers decided they no longer wanted the boat. They are going to buy a house instead. A bit angry here. We disagree with our broker on our next steps but what we agree on is that the boat is back on the market. The next day we had our first video visit and we know there are around ten other interested parties but, of course, we don't know how serious any of the others are. We were not at the beginning of the process again but close to it. Video visits are steps three or four with in-person visits, offers, contracts, surveys, etc. to follow. Again. Grrrr. Just before we had our second in-person visit we received a copy of the survey. Carol printed it out at our local library, 164 pages. Crazy. It was signed by a surveyor who was never on the boat. Turns out our surveyor was a student. Not how he represented himself. Some strange things were noted. Some irrelevant. Some things missed. And a few things we will need to correct. All-in-all, it was okay for our boat's age and price. Not perfect. A few items in the report indicated to me some lower level of expertise, on the surveyors part, than he claimed. Oh, well. The survey, as wrong as it was in some parts, should not have affected the buyers decision to buy or not buy. If they were smart. Apparently not. They spent a lot of money (a lot) and cost us some money just to back out in the end. Without a real reason. Sigh.
So we got back to our winter routines and our original plans to haul the boat somewhere in the south (for the summer), come home, live with our daughter and her family and look for a dirt based home in Connecticut. Then we would return to the boat in the fall to sail back to Marathon. Not sure if any or all of this will happen. Not sure exactly what the future will bring. Not sure we're ever sure. Another adventure. We got to work on the survey issues that were legitimate, changed the engine oil and continued to prepare for showings or a departure northbound. We had a family with kids visit the boat but they did not make an offer.
A few weeks later Paul and Karen Rosa came to Marathon to visit. They sold their house (and boat) and bought a mobile home to cruise the United States. They parked their home in Key Largo and drove their tow vehicle down. We showed them the marina and took a cruise around the harbor. Great to see long time friends!
The final couple of weeks had us preparing as we always did. Resupplying food, fuel and water and cleaning the bottom of growth. It only takes a month to get plenty of drag inducing barnacles, grass and fuzzies to collect under water. We also prepared our taxes and took care of other financial issues. What fun.
The weather really got nice our last few weeks in Marathon. Hot at times with high humidity. Not our favorite conditions but better than cold and wet. BTW, cold here is under 68°F. Brrr. Everything got stocked and topped off (food, water, fuel) and we did a tour of our favorite restaurants. We went to our last few Friday social hours and the monthly brunch and gave a last few tours at Crane Point. I got a chance to say good-bye to friends there as well as Rocco and Charlie. The latter two are African Spurred Tortoises that I pet and feed sometimes. I also give mini-talks to visitors about them occasionally. They were very friendly to me on my last day. Hugging and rubbing up against me. Of course, the previous week I gave them some sweet treats, hibiscus flowers and apple bits which may have led to the affection. Apparently Charlie forgot he bit me the previous week. On the finger and totally my fault as I gave him too small a piece of flower. Still hurt like hell. A deep puncture wound with no tearing. They have strong beaks and powerful jaws. Totally not aggressive but... Anyway maybe his extra affection was in hope of getting more of my blood. Not sure how sweet it is.
It was a very unusual winter season. El Nino meant up and down weather patterns. Cold (for here) and rainy at times. More storms than usual but also very warm days, too. Up and down. It was up and down emotionally, too. Putting the boat up for sale. Dealing with the preparation. Dealing with Essex Boat Works not wanting to take responsibility for the damage they did to our saildrives. Issues with the survey. The sale falling through. New interest but then no new offers. Finally we just decided to enjoy our last month in Marathon like normal and look for a marina to haul us out for the summer hurricane season. We plan to leave the boat in the Charleston, SC area and drive home, spend time with the kids and then look for a dirt based home in Conn. It'll be a change. We have no idea if or how it will all work out. An adventure.
I may have mentioned before just what I think of adventures.
Quite a saga. Hang in there. We're standing by if you need anything.
ReplyDelete