Bob: My experience. 10 years ago with a 3year old and a 1 year old we bought our boat, with money we could ill afford to spend as I had just started a business. The kids (3 now) consider sailing as just part of what we do as a family. Having the boat has opened friendships and connections with families we would never have had reason to be involved with. Some of those people are our closest friends today. My children don't always love going out on the boat but do you know any 13 year old girl that loves doing family stuff.
We have had the advantage of not having to pay for a slip, the boat lives with my inlaws. This I know is a big cost for most of you but if we didn't have the place we have now then I would pay for a slip. I live 2 1/2 hours away from the boat. At times that is a real inconvenience and sure makes maintenance jobs a chore. The big thing for me is that the boat is my hobby. I can not see a day that I will not want to be able to go sailing short of a life changing injury. For me getting the boat was a case of choosing to do it now and not wait until later. Later may not come or life may deal a blow that changes everything. Keep the boat if you can. Go sailing with your young family and enjoy every minute of it. Look for others who are doing the same thing as you your sail boat costs a lot less than many silly pastimes and it is something to do as a family. Mark Tamblyn Charlottesville VA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 7:24 PM To: [email protected] Subject: catalina27-talk: Selling C27 Dilemma? Listees, I have a bit of a dilemma I want to share with the List and hopefully get some suggestions. I am thinking about selling my 1984 C27. I don't want to, but I think it makes financial sense, however, I am open to suggestions. See 1 ) we just had a baby girl in June and I don't see where I can sail and really enjoy it until she is 6 or 7 years old. 2) I now live about 2 hours from the marina (NOT including brutal NJ summer shore traffic) which could easily increase that time past 2 hours. So I can't just shoot down and go out for a short sail in the morning or evening. It is an ALL day thing. 3) I don't have anyone except my wife who I sail with and I don't think she would appreciate me taking off all day and leaving her with the baby. Dropping the baby at the grandparents every week is not an option. 4) I pay $1800 for the slip and $700 for winter storage (it is $1400 for dry land storage in the summer). So at the VERY least it is $2100 per year for 6-7 years and I am NOT sailing. 5) When our baby gets to be 6-7, she may not even want to go to the boat, rather hang out with her friends at home. Taking a friend for her down to the boat is OK - but it would be a sleepover and having the responsibility for someone else's child every weekend doesn't sound too appealing. So I was thinking of selling the boat and setting the cash aside. If she shows an interest later on, I could buy another boat. Just the 7 years at $2100 per year amounts to $14,700. Other folks must have been in the position before. That is why I am writing to you fellow sailors. I am not too fond of the leasing issue because I don't think the lessee would take any great care of it and then I am left with a boat needing some costly repairs. Are there any other alternatives? Only serious replies. Please Bob "Eileen" 1984 C-27
