Now What?

Now What Indeed


So we own a boat, now what? The first thing I did was locate a mechanic to work on some of the survey concerns. I got lucky because "Gary" turned out to be a very accomplished mechanic with a kick back nature that made the process an easy deal. You see it makes a difference when you are in one part of the country and your new boat and the repairs it needs are in another.

I also have to decide whether I'm going to have this boat shipped, via flatbed truck, or sail it home to Knoxville. It was this research and a talk with Gary that taught me the acronym for B.O.A.T. : "Break Out Another Thousand"! Boy, that's "choke a horse" stuff right there. The really scary part is, it seems to be playing out as a "real time" truth.

My wife said, "Ship it!" However it didn't take long for me to come to the conclusion that if I ship it all that way, it will cost just about as much as if we sail it back. And look at all the fun and education I'll pass up by having it shipped. So the "sailing it back" plan wins in my mind. However, Marci, and everyone else are very fearful of this idea, which after-a-while starts me thinking: "There aren't very many people who have much confidence in this old, up and coming skipper"! So for a time I let 'em all just "Soak", which is cowboy for let 'em stand tied for awhile and just calm down.

After a fashion, it is my son-in-law, Chris, who comes to the rescue by pointing out the obvious. People, namely Marci, start getting into step with the "sail it back" economics/education plan. Actually, I don't ever recall anyone being concerned for my welfare. The conversations had seemed to mostly revolve around the time/financial aspects of sailing versus shipping it home. I just figured that at my age, I guess maybe I was what the navy would call an "expendable item".

But there is going to have to be a Florida trip in my immediate future. Another potentially expensive trip in light of the items necessary to outfit a boat for a long trip or any trip for that matter.

Here's where we are then... Boat is purchased and surveyed. Arrangements for repairs have been made. I have decided to sail it home instead of shipping it. And I am intending to go to Florida with a truck load of stuff to outfit the boat.