BST: sell/rent me your boat?

[Dave Clark]

My wife and I have spent the last 30 days in a very fast paced and intensive
search for our "Great Loop Boat" traveling all over the mid-Atlantic, East and
Gulf coasts of Fl and Alabama. We visited as many as thirty boats (lost count)
and although we identified about three boats that could have worked for us
none worked out for one reason or another. Frustrated and disappointed we are
retreating to our Arizona home to regroup. Perhaps we suffer from what one
called "Analysis Paralysis" I don't know.

Our "around $80K" budget puts us into a lot of older trash boats and we have
discussed borrowing a little money in order to buy the "right boat" if
necessary but would rather not. It is very important to us to be positioned
with a nice boat that will sell somewhat quickly in one year without us
loosing tens of thousands of dollars. I expect this "buyers market" will do
nothing but get worse during the next year which will make it bad for us but
we're prepared to deal with that.

We have come to the conclusion the boat should be 38-42 feet OAL. I do not
want the worry of teak deck leaks and rot or iron fuel tank leaks. Nor do I
want a boat that has sat unused and neglected where the owner expects a
premium price. Unused means many things can go bad once it's put into use
again and they might not, no, probably will not show up on a survey. I am
capable and willing to fix any number of things if the boat is sound and it's
priced accordingly.

We've also had some thoughts to just renting a boat if that fits with an
owners plans. Better to have it used than sit and rot. So if you're about done
with your boat and think it might be of interest to us please respond. Or if
you know of a boat that might be available a tip to us would be appreciated.
We have pretty much exhausted the current Yachtworld boats.

Dave and Marcy Clark
av8tor-at-theriver.com
360-317-4775