Quote:
Originally Posted by sailaway21
Madame,
I'll keep this on the topic for you. I'm sure that you are quite capable of keeping the bilges clean and dry, along with the other routine housekeeping on board. My concern, and that of those others whom seriously answered your original post, is that you've already ended up with a seriously structurally deficient boat and we see little hope or prospect that you will end up with anything more than that in the future.
Anyone with the modicum of knowledge that it takes to maintain, let alone restore, a boat knows that structural deficiencies, such as a delaminating transom are the best reason to walk away from any boat, free or otherwise. The problem with them is that, while the boat may be free, it will not stay that way and the costs to restore it exorbitant. My concern is that you did not observe the deficiencies in the present boat and that you are neither more knowledgeable about surveying boats than you were then, nor more able to effect repairs.
Your problems do not exist because "someone left out the details". Your problems exist because you got approximately just what you were paying for and now the bill comes due. It is my heartfelt wish that you not go through this again and that you seek lodging on shore so that there can be some light at the end of the economic tunnel in your future. Far wealthier people than you and your family have come a cropper on keeping a boat afloat.
The best of luck to you and your family.
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you guys are total jerks that lack the ability to see this situation for what it is...
the above quote sounds like you think they were ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A BOAT.... they were living in a tent and this option presented itself..... you said they should have walked away because of the transom......THEY WERE LIVING IN A TENT.....
you talk about the exhorbant cost of "restoring" the boat..... they will OBVIOUSLY not be restoring the boat.... they are looking for something that floats and will keep them dry...
and for those that refuse to believe that living aboard can not possibly be cheaper than living on land.... that is nonsense.
the marina we keep our boat at in only $204.00 per month with power and water included.....
If we were looking to live on the cheap, we would not HAVE to clean the bottom.... we are sitting at a dock, it does not have to be clean, as we are not going anywhere... but it we did, a dirty bottom only means we will be going there more slowly....
We would not be replacing sails as we would not be going anywhere....
If the deck needs repainting... so what, it doen not HAVE to be repainted....
if the chain plates and stanchions seep a little water, not a huge deal, it will take YEARS to do significant damage... a tube of sealant will fox most of it for short term...
there will not be any expensive electronics to replace, nor expensive battery banks to buy... because why... that's right.. they are not going anywhere.........
even if you pay for electricity on a boat, it is what $20.00/month max......
those that cannot believe that living on a boat can be cheaper cannot seem to understand that not everyone needs their boat to be in brand new condition..... not everyone needs a perfect boat......
in my example our dockage fees are $204/month, and insurance for the boat is $30.00/month...
so someone could live aboard for $235.00/month.......
if you set a budget of another $300.00/ month for repairs... you are still less than $600.00/month.... and if you only sit at dock, you will never use up that money. A cheap apartment here is $750.00 per month plus utilities. You will be looking at another $120-$150/month for utilities...
I live at the coast, and have grown up on boats. I am new to sailboats, but have had motorboats of various sizes all my life. I have had MANY friends that live aboard their boats. In almost ever instance it was cheaper than living on land.
We have many vagrants that live on floating crap heaps. i'll bet that they do not spend more than a few hundred dollars a year on their boats....they get an old boat for free or pretty cheap, and live on it until it will no longer float then hop to the next thing......
i surely hope that the family who posted found something to live on... i could not read any longer without venting about what terrible human beings people on this board are being.....a lady comes on here to ask for help for her and her family, and the thread becomes a schoolyard shouting match about live aboard costs......have some compassion and empathy for a fellow humab being....
i am new here, and certainly do not want to get the boot for this post, but i had to speak my piece.....
I've gone back 5 pages haven't found the thread yet!!
