[freddyray]

not all sellers mind you, but in the last two weeks I went and looked at two sailboats that looked nothing like the pictures that were sent to me. My wife and I were powerboaters with friends and relatives with sailboats. A year ago we finally got a day sailer and have learned a lot and have found sailing a lot of fun so we decided to get a swing keel cabin boat. On Craigslist I found a Southcoast 22 that fit the bill and after emailing back and forth with the seller and looking at pictures drove 150 miles after work one evening with cash in hand ready to buy. Got there and the boat had been sitting under a tree for two years. The deck was covered in mold and lichens and the cabin had 4 inches of standing water in it from where he had not gotten the hatch closed. Wouldn't have mattered as the gaskets were shot anyway. This boat was advertised as ready to sail just needing a new home, but the sails when taken out of the bag had mouse holes in them.

Last night I go look at one locally. Again it was pictured in the water and one the hard. Priced about what one in good shape would sell for. Got there and the boat had not been sailed in awhile. The keel would not come down and the boat had been demasted at one time and a poor patch was done on the mast step. I would have been afraid to raise the mast. We are fairly certain it had gone turtle at one time or had been twisted. At least I did not drive 150 miles one way.

Oh well the search continues.