Yes, you read it right. We sold our C400. We are no longer Catalina owners. Still have the Tayana up here in the sound.
Was it because of the concussion? Well, yes and no. We started boat shopping before the concussion happened as some may know. We really reached the point where we wanted three cabins and more space. However, we were about to take it off the market and were making plans to scoot up the East Coast when I was contacted by someone who knew me from here. We went back and forth on it, and I think the final straw was my concussion. If not for my concussion, I suspect we would have backed away. I think it was a blessing though, knowing how long this recovery is taking. It would have been very difficult to do on a boat.
So, am I getting out of boating? Not a chance. We have settled into our old townhome in Washington State close to the PNW (hope to head up there in the next week or so and do a bit of cruising) and have not even unpacked all the boxes. We have a hard decision to make between boats. The next boat has to be VERY head-friendly and big enough for our family until the kids are gone. I hate to say this, as I said it about the C400, but we want it to be our last boat. We have no interest in doing the whole house thing (although it is nice to flush the toilet without worrying about filling up the holding tank!!!!!).
So we have a lot of soul searching to do and a lot of boats to look at. Problem is that i really would like an ICW friendly boat and that rules out a slew of boats that we like... unless we go trawler. We will base the boat out of the keys again I think (Marathon). I loved that island and really got to know the community and people and they are fantastic (in our opinion). The only other close second is Saint Petersburg which is also fantastic.
So, types of boats? Hylas 54, HR X, we really liked the Leopard 44 (though I have some concerns now about cats), and of course my beloved Nordhavn. Don't worry, even if I go with a Nord, I will stick a sailing dinghy on there!
Anyways, they say that the happiest two days of your life are when you buy your boat and when you sell it. Not for us. The C400 was the best boat we have owned and I think the best in her class at that price. Fantastic boat and I would recommend it to anyone. It just shrank too much for us. So as soon as I can get my concussion in order and take a deep breath, we get to start having fun again and shopping for a new girl.
I will keep everyone in tune on how the search goes.
Take care.
Brian
Was it because of the concussion? Well, yes and no. We started boat shopping before the concussion happened as some may know. We really reached the point where we wanted three cabins and more space. However, we were about to take it off the market and were making plans to scoot up the East Coast when I was contacted by someone who knew me from here. We went back and forth on it, and I think the final straw was my concussion. If not for my concussion, I suspect we would have backed away. I think it was a blessing though, knowing how long this recovery is taking. It would have been very difficult to do on a boat.
So, am I getting out of boating? Not a chance. We have settled into our old townhome in Washington State close to the PNW (hope to head up there in the next week or so and do a bit of cruising) and have not even unpacked all the boxes. We have a hard decision to make between boats. The next boat has to be VERY head-friendly and big enough for our family until the kids are gone. I hate to say this, as I said it about the C400, but we want it to be our last boat. We have no interest in doing the whole house thing (although it is nice to flush the toilet without worrying about filling up the holding tank!!!!!).
So we have a lot of soul searching to do and a lot of boats to look at. Problem is that i really would like an ICW friendly boat and that rules out a slew of boats that we like... unless we go trawler. We will base the boat out of the keys again I think (Marathon). I loved that island and really got to know the community and people and they are fantastic (in our opinion). The only other close second is Saint Petersburg which is also fantastic.
So, types of boats? Hylas 54, HR X, we really liked the Leopard 44 (though I have some concerns now about cats), and of course my beloved Nordhavn. Don't worry, even if I go with a Nord, I will stick a sailing dinghy on there!
Anyways, they say that the happiest two days of your life are when you buy your boat and when you sell it. Not for us. The C400 was the best boat we have owned and I think the best in her class at that price. Fantastic boat and I would recommend it to anyone. It just shrank too much for us. So as soon as I can get my concussion in order and take a deep breath, we get to start having fun again and shopping for a new girl.
I will keep everyone in tune on how the search goes.
Take care.
Brian