Leaving the boat with a project list

The week is over. It was a real rush. Surveying, closing the purchase, relocating, storing and preparing a sailboat within one week was a very tight schedule. Finally, everything worked out fine.

To store the boat for a couple of months in the tropic was the hardest part of the week. We had to take own the sails, taking everything off the boat we could and which could be prone to grow mold in the humid environment. I had no experience in storing a boat of this size. So we followed the recommendations we found on the Internet and which we thought they are reasonable: Pumping out all holding tanks, topping up water and fuel, removing the sails, removing all textile exempt the mattresses and cushions, paper (books, charts etc.), oiling all interior wood, drying out the bilge, leaving open all drawers, doors etc. to allow air flow throughout the interior, making sure that there is no open window or hatch allowing water to enter the boat. In addition we placed a dehumidifier in the middle of the boat (on the galley top), draining directly in to the sink. This was the only sea cock we left open. All the other sea cocks were closed and we inserted bronze wool from the outside to prevent from insects finding a new home in our boat. A couple hanging DampRid bags in the aft and forward cabin should help to trap the moisture.

Beside of a whole bunch of stuff we removed from the boat and stored in to our garage, I took away a long list of projects. Apart from the "must do" projects such as the rudder or the shaft seal, there are projects to improve the safety, improve the usability, or just satisfy the Admiral's or the Operator's need for comfort. Some points on the list are just part of the regular maintenance. We will come back in autumn 2013 and get most of these projects done.

Now it's time to fly back to Europe. Again a very special moment. You know the feeling when you bought something new such as a car or gadget - you like to use it, or spend as much time as possible with it. It's hard to say good by Tranquilizer after a couple days of hard work, without having the time to enjoy it. All what remains are pictures and a set of keys, which I carry home, remembering us that we just made a wide stride forward towards realizing our dream.

Relocating the boat

At the end of the survey, all administrational stuff was done and the ownership of the boat has been transferred. On the next day, we meet at the boat in Lake Worth FL to launch in the morning, heading north to the new home of Tranquilizer in the Stuart FL area. What a feeling, standing on the controls of MY sailboat! The weather was just perfect and we had a great time motoring up the ICW. I had plenty of time to gather information from the previous owner and he had time to enjoy his last cruise on the vessel he bought and enjoyed for 14 years. It was very helpful to have a local aboard, explaining the procedures with the bridges.

I sailed in different areas, mostly in the Mediterranean Sea. I learned quickly, that shoaling is a much bigger issue in the Florida waters than in the Med. Although we followed the markers carefully, we had a very soft grounding in the Jupiter area. Luckily we could free our self just by backing up a little bit. The sailboat which followed us all the way up from Lake Worth, was now ahead of us. They were turning in to Peck Lake to anchor. Only a few yards in to the lake, they ran aground as well. Five minutes later, we heared them calling for towing service. Hopefully they had the required insurance coverage...

One of the five bascule bridges on our way from Noth Palm Beach to the Manatee Pocket

After 5 hours of cruising on the ICW, we reached or destination in the Stuart area. Stopping at the gas station to top up the diesel tank and pump out the waste water tanks and - I could not start the engine anymore. The starter battery was empty.  So I had to call the nearby marina to borrow their jump starter. Once the engine was running again, we were pulling over to the marina, where the boat was hauled-out and put at the dry storage. During the following two days we had to make everything ready to store the boat for a couple of months on the dry.

Time has come to say good-bye and fly back to Europe.

When the unwanted gets confirmed - the survey (July 2013)

After inspecting the vessel with the broker, it was time to think about making an offer for her. Remember, we live in Europe and did not had the chance to see the boat several times. So after seeing her one time, I had to investigate on the Internet about the pros and cons for these boats, and tried to find a reasonable price to make an offer.

 

Once the previous owner agreed on the price, it was time to arrange the survey. Booking the flight, making the arrangements at the job allowing me to leave for a week on short notice, finding a surveyor, making reservation for the haul-out to conduct the underwater inspection, looking for insurance etc., all this wasn't that easy from abroad.

 

The day has come and we met early in the morning on July 1st 2013, together with the broker, the surveyor and of course the previous owner we went aboard. I arranged with the surveyor to take the required oil samples already the week before the survey. He also inspected all the interior and exterior of the boat to make sure, we could complete the haul-out and the sea-trial in one day. So once we stepped aboard, I already had a good idea on the condition of the various systems and the hull. There was only little time left to motor to the marina for the scheduled haul-out. I read, that the rudder might be an issue on this boat.

 

The rudder post caused problems for other owners. Once the boat was hauled out, we could immediately see, that the rudder was ripped off on the bottom. The slip, where the boat was moored, lies in a small channel beside of the ICW. During very low tide, the water depth was just about 5ft, the actual draft of the boat. Adding a little effect from the wakes, and here you go. The aft installed gen. set caused the rudder to touch ground first. The bottom of the rudder became damaged from the gravel and the foam was soaked with saltwater. The ruder post showed a little play too. So it was clear, I had to work on the rudder or replacing it.

 

Other than the rudder, there were no further issues to be found during the haul out. No blisters, no hull damages. So it was time to get her back in to the water and do the sea trial. The wind was blowing with 25 kts, and the sea on the ocean was rough. Thus the owner did not want to take her through the inlet to the open ocean. So we performed the sea trial in the Lake Worth area.

 

Another thing raised our concerns - the thru-hulls and sea cocks. Were they serviceable or do I would have to replace some of them? Knowing this could end up in high costs, but not having a clear idea of how many thru-hulls and sea cock I would need to replace, I did not know what to calculate to fix them.

We found that the drip less shaft seal was causing spray to the bilge. The pressure on the bellow probably has never been adjusted. So I had to put this on the "to-do list" as well. Some other minor things, asking for maintenance, turned up as well.

 

It was clear - the boat is generally in good condition, but there are several things, I had to invest time and money, before we could start our adventures. I had to take a decision - how much money will I need to spend to fix all the issues? Will the owner accept the price reduction? I did not want him to fix the issues for two reasons; first I like to have it fixed my way - first time right and for a long time, and second I like to build up my knowledge while doing it.

 

The owner bought the boat new from the factory in 1999. He still was in love with her, but his age did not allow him to sail and maintain it as he should. So it was time for him to sell her. It was a difficult negotiation but we finally found a way through and we both agreed on a fair price. The uncertainty for the buyer remains - will the price reduction cover the expenses for the repairs? I think it is a very difficult path for both - the seller and the buyer and probably both parties don't like the situation. Both parties do hope that the survey don't turn up things which have an impact on the boats value or adding costs for the buyer.

 

Nevertheless, after a while, and a drink the now previous owner offered me to accompany us on our way up north to the marina where the boat will be stored for a couple months. It was his most preferred route and a good chance to be one last time on the boat - saying good-bye to her. And it was a very good chance for me to ask all the burning questions of a new owner about the boat, the equipment and the area, for which I never hat time or the chance to ask. In addition I had a very good lesson in cruising on the ICW with all the bridges etc..