Selling your boat is so hard

[Tedsomango]

One day a man came to my boat from new jersey, he was there to pick her up, i knew he was and i knew that today would be the day, I had many other offers besides this one but i was out of money and couldn't pay slip... He haggled prices and discounted her worth, he hit her haul and mocked all the work that i had done, but when he sailed her he said wow these com pacs really sail great you have yourself a deal.

How can someone insult and criticize a boat such as her,, at sunset we would catch winds and drive her way up the icw dolphins jumping at our wake, there is something special about the way she heels and all of your worldly belongings heeling with her, looking through that hatch and seeing your home... moving with out the use off fossil fuels... partaking in one of the most ancient forms of travel.. something about hitting your head every morning when you rise because there is no standing room in a compac 23, All the while i complained about her size and about her capacity for weight, but i do believe now that i was commanded by fear, i was commanded by the fear of the unknown of the ocean,, sure she was very small with a shoal draft keel, but i know now that she would have done anything for me..

will the new owner love her, will the new owner know what it was like al those stormy nights as water poured though the Deck to haul joint before i fixed it, will he know the first night when i didn't sleep cause the black flies and mosquitoes ate my flesh, will he know the feeling or freedom i received from her,,

Our boats are vessels for our souls that give us boundless freedom, one day i will continue my journey that i once set out for, one day.. but for now i will have to settle as a deck hand on Americas pride a 136 foot 3 masted tall ship. But i will not be her captain.. when i buy another boat she will be bigger, i hope that fear does not hold me back from joining in the union of the boat and my true potential, love your vessel people and dream big, but set your goals higher,

Single handing taugh me about life, and getting things done for yourself with out training and help taught me to be a man,

Go cheap Go now Go far and don't ever look back fair winds and
Love peace and kindness
Ex boat owner
Ted
Teach peace where ever you go, and honer and respect these free flying parts of our souls know as boats!!!

[AdriftAtSea]

Sorry to hear you sold the boat... but don't go too big when you're looking at your next one... or it'll just delay you getting back on the water as your own captain again. :) Keep John Vigor's 20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere handy. 

[CapnK]

Ted - Wow, that's a big change! :) Have fun, you'll learn a lot, and best - you get paid to be on a boat, instead of vice versa!  ;D

[Antioch]

I can't seem to "give" my Newport 20 away.. but years ago in Hawaii, when I wanted to sell my Cal 2-24, I walked around Waikiki and asked everybody, even strangers, if they wanted to buy my boat.. sold it the next day.