Why Beach Boy?

I said in my previous post that the appeal of Buying a boat triggered an existential crisis.

I have owned at least 7 kayaks, a Zodiac inflatable, and had free access to my family's ski boat and my pal's jet ski. I've been on the water a few hundred times in the past 10 years. But these experiences don't necessarily make me a boat lover. 

Beach Boy appealed to me. It's a 32 x 10.5 x 12 foot fantasy space into which one can fall - a black hole of freedom - escaping from other pressing matters:

"Honey, I'll be down at the boat"

"Sorry, I was offshore; didn't get the call"

"Why yes, I did order "a few things for the boat" late last night and no, our credit card wasn't stolen!"

But I digress. 

The Appeal

Beach Boy, a 43-yr-old, diesel-powered, wood-hulled, aquatic tractor. Handsome. Rugged. Dirty fingernails. No hair pomade. Flannel shirt. 

I know it's a bit rough. It looks tough. It's sturdy - meant for hard work. It's much like a black Jeepster Commando I owned for many years. It's a pickup truck on the water. See the cargo bed?

To be truthful, that's a Photoshop fantasy of its cargo area. The reality is more like this:

With a few thousand pounds of stuff needing to be removed, cleaned and sorted.

Imagine the sheer irrationality of owning an old wooden boat that might be useful AND has a pedigree (its creator was marine architect Bill Garden) AND is of reasonable size AND inexpensive (to buy). 

Uncle Gary likes it, saying: "What will you end up with? A classic William Garden-designed character yacht that no one else has. Built by the best boatyard in Canada. Features:  Flying Bridge (everyone wants one)  Dependable Cat diesel.  Twin dry SS exhausts (bet they sound great).  A third control station (very, very cool)  A large cockpit (I would do a full cover like Jason)  Classic lines.  Listed in the BG book with original name.  Chicks will love it!"

Objections?

• It's in Canada. 
• The engine has 3800 hours on it. 
• Top speed is 8-9 knots. 
• It weighs 8-9 tons. 
• Shipping it to San Diego adds 50% to the purchase price. 
• The bunks are cramped. 
• No stove, no microwave, no shower, no hot water, no working electronics, no (you name it)

The Dilemma

To buy or not to buy. 

I can tell my readers are already divided into two camps:

Pro: Go On, you can afford it. You only live once. You're retired, go for it. 

Con: Walk away - no, run away as fast and as far as you can. 

So I got to Seattle, dithered for a day, then called Ian, Beach Boy's owner to arrange for a visit. 

He's 64, 5' 6", from Coventry, England. We had already talked twice, for about an hour, discussing all the details of this boat. This time we talked for 30 minutes. He told me all the reasons I shouldn't buy this boat. He concluded with this zinger:

"I think I already have a buyer. He's got some govt research money. He needs a stout wooden boat to go offshore, shut off the engine, throw out a marine microphone and listen for whales during their southward migration."

Hallelujah! The whales will be researched. Ian will sell the boat. I have narrowly averted (as they say) having to make this decision myself. And the question "Should I buy a boat?" can still be faced another day. 

I like this one ...

This looks like a Lotus Esprit on the water. 

Now this is what I'd really like ...

But realistically, this Bayliner might do: