Trouble buying my dreams

J

JGrider

New member
About a two years ago I found this web site and I have not been quite the same ever since. I have been addicted and overwhelmed with the Brats attitudes and zest for life. I decided almost immediately I had to be a part of this.
My plan was simple. I would wait until I retired and find a nice C-dory and join the adventure.
I sold my small fishing boat and started looking. I suddenly found that C-dory prices have started to climb dramatically so I better hurry.

First thing I found was that my credit rating was not as good as I thought it was. I thought that not having debt was a good thing. I only owe on my home.
After that I found that if I take the cash out of the retirement account I will pay taxes on it just as if it was any other income. After age 65 this should be usable in what ever way you want. Also that money is not good for security at banks or lending institutions.
Next my income after retirement was not what banks consider adequate to repay a large loan. Even with a 50% down payment boat loan places did not want to loan on a boat that was four or five years old and somewhere several state away from Louisiana.
Taking twenty-five thousand out was not too unreasonable but the six thousand in taxes I thought was a deal breaker.
This has been the hardest thing I have ever tried to buy.
I guess after all this you must all think I am some kinda weirdo who can’t make up his mind. But what I want is someone talk me out of giving up on the idea of being a real Brat.
 
Tell me what you are looking for and Ill do my best to help . I am almost always available by phone or e mail .
One needs to enjoy your dreams . Don't give up easily !
Marc
 
JGrider,

I'm not going to try and talk you out of giving up on your dream. From the time I was a 6 year old kid, rowing a flat bottom, plywood dingy up and down the rows in the marina's around Sidney BC, I always wanted a "Power" boat. Sure, I paddled, rowed, even sailed, all my life, but the dream was still there. Then, through a series of twists and turns, it happened and we found our boat. Dream come true. In some ways it has cost a lot, and in most every way it is worth all that and more.

The C-Dorys are not so common, and they are special. They hold their value more, and there is a segment of the population that sees the value. Occasionally one will pop up, somewhere, and be a special deal. That is the one you have to be ready for. I venture a guess that most owners, (unless they bought new boats), missed out on more than one before they took their prize home. Some have gotten project boats, some have found special circumstance boats, and some have been luck enough to find the "just right boat, in the Just right place" and have been able to put the deal together.

Best I can offer, is to pick a number $$$ that you can live with, and arrange to have that readily available. Most sellers are comfortable with a reasonable "earnest money" down that gives you a few days to pull the trigger on the grand total. Understand that the right boat for you may not be in LA, it might just be in the other LA, (Cal) or in any of the other 48 or farther.

Here's wishing you the best, Don't give up on the dream.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
JGrider,

Did you see that 2005 22' Cruiser for sale in Florida? We have the same year and model and our boat is still in very good condition. At that price of $27,500, it's a steal. You should seriously consider buying that boat. It sounds pretty close to the price point you're looking at.

Here's the link: 2005 22' Cruiser $27,500

The best of luck in your search and don't give up. With persistence, something will surely pop up for you.
 
JGrider,

I am towing a 2005 CD Cruiser to Alaska for a man that found it in Olympia, Wash. It is his dream boat I am sure. He purchased it sight unseen, pretty gutsy in my opinion.
All week while driving north I was thinking about his boat and how he sees it. As I have never met him I do not know. But tomorrow night he will see it for the 1st time and I hope he is as excited as you are looking for one and I was when getting my 1st CD 28 years ago.
Don't give up on your dream, you only come this way one time and then you turn into a dustball. Make every effort to get your boat. Maybe you need to lower your goal ie; an older model (lower price). Keep on looking. There are a bunch of guys on this site that will be looking for you now. Good luck and keep us all informed.

Jack (back in Alaska)
 
I guess I got the response that I wanted and I really appreciate your curtesy and your time.
Marc, you were the first person I came to. I was turned down by Weifings
after about two weeks of negotiations. Maybe my sight were too high. Thanks for the encouragement everyone.
 
Unfortunately we cant sell at a loss and stay in business .The word "negotiate" and "turned down" in the same sentence does not sound like negotiation to me it just sounds like an unacceptable offer or an impasse . Anyone that knows me should be able to tell you I take my customers and my business seriously ,and treat people with respect.
Ill keep looking for a boat that fits your needs .
Marc
 
jgrider, My first stab at a c-dory was not much different from your's. I ended up buying a 21' Ranger tug new but it did not meet a significant need I had for a boat. I decided that it had to be a c-dory but I did not want to put the money in a newer boat. Marc at Wefings had an '85 classic on consignment so I bought it and he sold my tug on consignment for me. I could not be happier now with a boat and would not trade it for a newer c-dory. They are almost bullet proof outside of water intrusion through screw holes and such. Sounds like you have enough money to get into an older boat without wrecking yourself and will have a good boat to enjoy your boating. In fact my boat came out of Louisiana. Keep an eye open, I am talking less than 20k.
 
JGrider":3j2syxj2 said:
I suddenly found that C-dory prices have started to climb dramatically so I better hurry.
Click to expand...
As much as the owners on this site would welcome hearing that their boats are appreciating in value, I don't think anyone would believe that to be true.

There is a huge seasonal component to boat pricing, and C-Dory is no exception. When the fishing and cruising season is over, the nights longer and colder, sellers have to discount to get a sale or wait until spring. Storage, insurance, additional maintenance...these are all things they'd prefer to forego - but the new buyer has to deal with that for the (6 months?) until they can use the boat again (yes, this varies tremendously by geographical lattitude).

April pricing is probably the highest for the year. Anyone buying a boat has a full season ahead of them. If your funds are truly limited, you would be much better off waiting until November - there will be fewer to choose from but the sellers may be more highly motivated.
 
FWIW, if you are 5'10" or less, you might want to look for a "classic" boat with the smaller cabin and completely flat hull bottom (if those features work for you). There have been several of these "classics" with modern 4-stroke repowers that have had asking prices under $20K - like the minty 1981 22 Classic Angler with a 2003 Honda BF90 at EQ Marine:
http://www.eqmarine.com/Used_Boats.html
 
The boat in Florida was sold in less than 15 hours. The 1979 might be the best buy out there but I have owned older boats before and never been happy with them.
I have made one decision. I have set my limit to 35K and I will start looking and waiting for the best deal I can find. I am just going to bite the bullet and take it out of my savings. I hope I find one that it is not to far from Louisiana. Thanks for everones support.

Marc I did not mean to show you any disrespect. All I have ever heard about you are great things. I am sure I will get to meet you one of these days. Like I said I guess I set my goals to high and did not like the truth when I got bad news back.
 
Seems to me that the 35k range should work based on recent sales that i've seen. Maybe another 5k would help, but I think you'll find something.

Don't lose the dream for 5k...

Good luck.
 
JGrider, I bought the C Dory 22 that was in Florida. I had been looking for a boat since November. I had basically given up on finding a C Dory in my price range and almost settled for another boat. I checked this site and several others everyday. When I saw this boat listed, I almost jumped out of my chair seeing my dream boat in my price range and only 150 miles away.
Good luck with your search, save your money, be ready to move and I hope you can get your dream boat too.

Paul
 
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