What to do, advice, support needed

[skylark]

I am at the point that I think it is time to sell my bigger boat, a Tanzer 28, and finish up my 16 foot sharpie cruiser.

The Tanzer is actually in great shape and is pretty much ready to cruise.  There are a few minor things to fix and one major thing has been bugging me, the standing rigging is original 1973 and it looks OK but I am losing faith in it just due to its age.  I have modified the boat to outboard power on the transom, which I think is much smarter but it may have reduced the value a bit.  The boat is set up well for the Great Lakes.  I question whether the iron keel will handle salt water.  Also, the cabin is large, so large, its a little too wide and it would be painful to fall across it.  I am thinking a smaller boat is in order for now.  If I ever want to cross oceans, a Triton style boat is probably a better way to go than the Tanzer fin keel.

The sharpie has been an on again off again project over three or four years now.  It is designed along the lines of the Paradox design, and should be a decent camp aboard boat.  It is trailerable and I hope it will be a good coastal cruiser.

It is pretty tough to decide to sell a boat that you have done a lot of work on.  Also, if the sailboat market is bad, I don't want to let it go for a low price.  I would rather keep it for a while.  But on the other hand if I sell the boat I can also sell the condo slip and maybe make some money on it.

My biggest issue is that I work a lot of hours and have very little time to sail, much less maintain a boat.  I think the smaller boat would be easier to maintain, cheaper to store on a trailer in my backyard and it could be trailered to interesting locations.  My wife doesn't care for sailing so I am on my own anyway, I don't need luxury, just a dry place to lay down, a comfortable place to sit out of the weather and a way to cook some grub.

At this point, one day I decide to sell the Tanzer, the next day I plan on keeping it.  Then I happened to see an ad for a Pearson Triton in decent shape for less than 3k...

As you can tell I am somewhat indecisive on this issue.

I think I'm going to finish up the sharpie and if it proves to be seaworthy, goodbye Tanzer.

What I really need is a way to get free of my job!

[skylark]

Oops sorry it was an Ariel:

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/787583875.html

[Lynx]

This is a personal question. How bad do you want to go and can you handle long term in a 16 footer?

I suggest that you go now for a few months and then work out what you want to do.

[dnice]

Sell the Tanzer!

Like Lynx is suggesting, are you ready to leave right now? if not, the money is better spent in savings for when you are ready.

Put it on ebay with a reserve that feels reasonable for what you've put into it... (or just sell it however, but don't accept any low-ball offers, Tanzer 28's are rare enough to demand a good price).

Take the money you make off it (including the slip) and put in a CD or some other kind of investment.

Its my opinion that if you are not trying to sail away to far off places, then you don't need a boat capable of it. So the question is, what is more important right now, the boat? or the voyage?

just my 2 cents :)

(edit) Not that having a nice boat is a bad thing.. I just think your intentions should be taken into consideration over anything else. Are you planning voyages? or are you just cruising lakes? or maybe are a seasonal coastal cruiser? My personal biggest issue is money, so having a boat that is doing nothing but costing money is a bad thing.

So just decide what exactly your intentions are, and your answer shall be revealed  ;D

[vinegarj]

a couple of thoughts....
about the rigging.  this is a fresh water, short season boat that you've taken good care of.  if you drop the mast each winter, then the rigging has really had very little use relative to its age.  maybe you could just change out the back and head stays for you own peace of mind.  but i always wonder what the risks are in new rigging for a fitting failure or some installation screw up.  right now you have a track record that suggests your rigging, though older, is put together right and doing the job.

about selling the boat, it sounds like you like the boat.  you might not want to sail around the world on it, but you'd love to go up north for the summer and live on it, yes?   but work, wife, life keep conspiring against you, yes?  every fall i end up telling myself that next summer i'm going to do some "serious" sailing and what happens.....work, family, life jump in and steal my time from me (or so i think/rationalize).    speaking just for myself,  this isn't a boat issue, it's a me issue and it's me that has to change.  whether i ever will is the question.  anyway, i feel your pain, paul.  i am learning that life is short and that i'm spending way to much of it in the planning, regret, worrying, frustration, etc. modes.   so next summer i'm going to do some serious sailing :>)