For Sale: Catamaran: Cautionary Tale for Wannabe Cruisers

[In Training]

I think it was great of you guys to give it a try -- but I expect most people who try the cruising life like to fish, snorkel and dive, can swim and at least one of them likes to cook, possibly even unusual or new dishes. A lot of them are also handy repairmen. So, it is a different life for them.

Keep up the attitude of trying different things and good luck with your land future. We're still 3 years away from venturing out.

[GalaxyGirl]

I was sent here to check out your story as a deterrent. I'm planning on taking my kids cruising. Looking for a boat now.
I actually found it inspiring. I have a lot of respect for folks who aren't afraid to break the mold and try something new. Even if, you then decide that it wasn't for you. Life is a series of experiences. Now you can say that you have done that, and move on to the next.
I can't wait to get out there with my kids and give it a go. Good Luck in your next chapter.

[Jane.Joy]

Originally Posted by GalaxyGirl

I was sent here to check out your story as a deterrent.

HA! As I noted above, we haven't actually, to our knowledge, successfully ANTI-INSPIRED anyone, so I'm not surprised that we were unsuccessful this time. We just want to be the "counterpoint" to the people I call "Happy Bloggers" - you know who I'm talking about - the ones who encourage you to throw off the bowlines and sail away from the safe harbor, blah, blah, blah.

Honestly - all joking aside - I would not discourage anyone from making this leap... from living a risky life... from being less ordinary. You go, Girl! But just remember:

[boatingisbetter]

I bought a used 46 monohull in 1995. I had sailed with a friend on a much smaller boat a few times. So this was my first boat. I had no idea what I was going to do with it. I still own it and do not know what I am going to do with it. It is both a tool and a toy. We have crossed the ocean, stayed in downtown marinas in more cities than I can remember. Anchored in creeks and bays, day sailed and all the rest. I don't know if I care to go around the world or not. But I could if I chose. Every couple of years I think I should sell the boat. I hope I never do. Once you own it and know it well. It is such a nice thing to have. Extravagant absolutely, but so are second homes. If that Venezia ends up cruising the US East Coast and the Bahamas the next few years with the current owners aboard. I would not be surprised. Fooling around in civilization is a much different experience than attempting to circumnavigate. My suggestion is to not give up on the boat. Just because the trip planned was not in your current liking.

[dave777]

I'm not fooled. You are very clever, indeed.

You are being honest, funny, and getting more press because of it. You'll also appeal to a certain segment, and anyone whose bought a few boats knows about hard sells, and how some salepeople seem to think poetic license applies to their trade.

This economy is a new reality. The old days of the bubbles are gone, so the buyers out there are going to be people who really want a boat - and likely understand them.

I don't think your approach will turn off any genuine potential buyer in today's market. If anything, it's an invitation to a discussion where the parties are not likely to waste anyones time.

And when I get more time I'll read more of your entertaining blog. Have seen all the pictures already. Best of luck.

[Jane.Joy]

You can't buy happiness, but YOU CAN BUY JOY!

Finally got some more pictures online: they are linked to our BABSAM post or you can go directly to deck pictures.

The boat's been "for sale" for a month. We've had, I think, ten inquiries, including one low-ball offer (at least WE considered it a low-ball offer, but he was polite, and we didn't take offense). We don't know if any of these are real cash-on-hand buyers, and potential visits have been discussed but not confirmed.

A couple of comments, for anyone who might learn from our experiences.

We haven't yet ruled out an official and "serious" listing with our favorite broker. We're not ready to make that decision yet. He has, though, offered to handle escrow and paperwork for us, for 2.5% - that seems worth it to us, and will probably be reassuring to potential buyers.

We have learned that since 2010, 17 Venezias (1993-1999) have been sold, for an average price of $204K (mean price is $203K, lowest price was $138K in Fr. Polynesia, highest price was $276K in Australia). Based on this data, we suspect that we might be able to get our asking price - $210K - in Annapolis or FLL, but in Panama?? If we can find a buyer who will come here to Panama, we are now thinking that we will drop our ask to $200K.

And speaking of Panama - here's a problem. I don't think there's a place to haul the boat on this side. Hmmm. Does anyone want to buy a $200K boat without an out-of-the-water survey? I doubt a new owner could get her insured without a haul-out. So we don't know what to do about that.

As Dave777 notes: one benefit of our crazy honest/humorous boat-selling strategy is that we have gotten quite a bit of attention for it. A few blogs, besides ours, have directed their readers to our now infamous BABSAM post. We don't do any serious web analytics, because our blog is just for fun.... but from what we can tell with crude tools, our traffic increased by a factor of 20 for several days and even a month later it is still double what it was previously. Our website actually shut down in the last few days of June, because we have a bare-bones hosting package and we exceeded our traffic limit. Nice.

Another benefit, quite unexpected, is that we have opened the door to some unusual offers - swaps and delivery schemes and what-not. It's possible that one of these might work out better than a quick sale in Panama, so we're considering all options right now.

We're having fun, trying to make sure that everyone who wants to buy a cheap-ish catamaran knows about us, and planning our next moves. Stay tuned!

[colemj]

Flamingo Marina can haul you. Balboa YC has a rail and may be able to haul you.

Mark

[Jane.Joy]

Mark, thank you, you're right about Flamenco - good to know if we can get a buyer down here!

[Jane.Joy]

Originally Posted by Jane.Joy

You can't buy happiness, but YOU CAN BUY JOY!

We have learned that since 2010, 17 Venezias (1993-1999) have been sold, for an average price of $204K (mean price is $203K, lowest price was $138K in Fr. Polynesia, highest price was $276K in Australia). Based on this data, we suspect that we might be able to get our asking price - $210K - in Annapolis or FLL, but in Panama?? If we can find a buyer who will come here to Panama, we are now thinking that we will drop our ask to $200K.

OKAY - no new interest in the past couple of weeks, so - deep breath - we are dropping our price to $175,000.

If we can't get someone to come visit us at that price, we will take it to FL and list it. But... BACK through the canal? going E in the Carib? The psychic energy required to backtrack? AAaack. A couple of guys have offered to deliver it, but that's MORE money and more worry. We're still considering a home/boat swap that would be WAY cool - but at the end of it... we'd still be boat owners, and we'd still need to find a buyer. We would rather just GET IT OVER WITH, already.

So there it is. If you are planning on buying a budget-priced cat in the next few months, and you DON'T want a "project boat" - you won't find a better deal on the web.

[David_Old_Jersey]

If you can't take the boat to where the buyers are - you need to take the advert.

For that I reckon Yachtworld has the best reach internationally, and to get on that you need a broker. For one of those I would google up similar sized cats and models to your own and see who comes up on top / well for Google, and if possible a broker who specialises in Catamarans (and sells a few / is an internet destination for buyers and is more than one man and a dog - folks will be sending them lots of cash!).

Me would normally say avoid a broker at all costs!, but sometimes yer need to deal with the devil

Nonetheless I would also add a page to your website that is a mirror of a broker's website (see Yachtworld) that lists everything a buyer will likely ask (and update when someone asks something you forgot to include!). and lots of pics in easy reach (not just a link to a squillion in your blog somewhere!).........also include only a link to that for sale page in your internet links, as well for being an easy way to send extra details out.

No idea if $204k or $175k is a realistic price for your boat, but before dropping radically, given the boat location being a problem, I would consider including something on delivery - whether by yourselves (with owner training for "free"?) or by a pro.........if you can get ballpark costs for elsewhere (including Oz!) then would be of help when factoring in what you can negotiate down to........could even deliver her to Oz yerself!, if the price was right........would also show that you are confident that boat is in sailaway condition.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

If you can't take the boat to where the buyers are - you need to take the advert.

For that I reckon Yachtworld has the best reach internationally, and to get on that you need a broker. For one of those I would google up similar sized cats and models to your own and see who comes up on top / well for Google, and if possible a broker who specialises in Catamarans (and sells a few / is an internet destination for buyers and is more than one man and a dog - folks will be sending them lots of cash!).

Me would normally say avoid a broker at all costs!, but sometimes yer need to deal with the devil

Nonetheless I would also add a page to your website that is a mirror of a broker's website (see Yachtworld) that lists everything a buyer will likely ask (and update when someone asks something you forgot to include!). and lots of pics in easy reach (not just a link to a squillion in your blog somewhere!).........also include only a link to that for sale page in your internet links, as well for being an easy way to send extra details out.

No idea if $204k or $175k is a realistic price for your boat, but before dropping radically, given the boat location being a problem, I would consider including something on delivery - whether by yourselves (with owner training for "free"?) or by a pro.........if you can get ballpark costs for elsewhere (including Oz!) then would be of help when factoring in what you can negotiate down to........could even deliver her to Oz yerself!, if the price was right........would also show that you are confident that boat is in sailaway condition.

Excellent advice, DOJ!

Ann

[impi]

Originally Posted by Jane.Joy

OKAY - no new interest in the past couple of weeks, so - deep breath - we are dropping our price to $175,000.

If we can't get someone to come visit us at that price, we will take it to FL and list it. But... BACK through the canal? going E in the Carib? The psychic energy required to backtrack? AAaack. A couple of guys have offered to deliver it, but that's MORE money and more worry. We're still considering a home/boat swap that would be WAY cool - but at the end of it... we'd still be boat owners, and we'd still need to find a buyer. We would rather just GET IT OVER WITH, already.

So there it is. If you are planning on buying a budget-priced cat in the next few months, and you DON'T want a "project boat" - you won't find a better deal on the web.

Have you tried Kent at Just Catamarans in Fort Lauderdale? He has moved many cats in different parts of the world and is a very reasonable fella!

[impi]

Originally Posted by Jane.Joy

For Sale: 42' Fountaine Pajot Venezia (1993), $210,000, in Panama now, loaded with stuff that breaks, (almost) ready to cross the Pacific.

Read more about it here: Operation BABSAM. BABSAM is short for Buy a Boat, Save a Marriage.

My husband and I started cruising almost two years ago. We were newbs - sold and quit "everything" and sailed off into the sunset with no experience and no idea if this life would be a good "fit" for us. We cruised from Annapolis to Panama and through the Canal, intending to circumnavigate, and we were about to make the leap into the Pacific... but we decided to use our two-year "escape" clause. We have discovered about ourselves that the kind of travel adventure we're suited for involves more hotel rooms and fewer sanitation hoses.

Lots to learn from our mistakes, and Ean and I have made it our mission to be the "Cautionary Tale" - for example, here is a blog post I wrote after our first year of cruising: The Backside of a Dream

We haven't actually managed to STOP anyone from doing this cruising thing, as far as we know - dreamers are tough to deflect, as we well know! But our mission is to bring balance to the universe - the internet is full of Happy Bloggers, but we might be able to help potential cruisers manage their expectations and imagine an exit strategy. (And a good laugh at the absurdities is ALWAYS helpful.)

I have noticed in the blogging world that people who stop cruising often just fade away with no explanation and no honesty. Of course, people who blog are free to share as much or as little as they want - but why wouldn't you at least tell your readers the bare bones of what's going on? Are they ashamed or - what? They just want to move on, maybe.

Well, that was just a little dribble of consciousness, when I only intended to post a "for sale" sign - but I guess I'm in learning mode and feeling reflective, so there you have it.

Jane, I must say I am quite intrigued by your experiences. We blog for family and a few sailing friends who requested info and others are always welcome to check it out as well ... more a diary for ourselves really and if you read our story you would see many, many incredibly happy experiences with a few negative moments here and there. By far THE BEST thing we did was in the initial set-up and preparation of our boat and it has been quite remarkable to see the very positive comments we have about our boat from anchorage to anchorage and even those hardened monohull sailors.
Before we departed, we were the laughing stock of the marina where we were kitting out our boat and doing all sorts of sea trials over a 2 year period, however, we now know from sharing and chatting to other sailors that this was DEFINITELY the secret to our successful VERY HAPPY sailing around the world experience.

Having sailed from South Africa to Brazil, Caribbean, BVI, Bahamas, USA, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Las Perlas, Galapagos and now in the French Polynesian Islands, I must say that by far the Pacific has been the 'more difficult to adjust' part of our entire cruising trip.

We see so many people out here on boats that are 'half set up' for this life style and wonder how they can be enjoying themselves.

Honestly speaking ... I wonder how people can NOT want to stick with a life style of sailing ... and that from me who has a beautiful farm in a quaint wine making area called Stellenbosch, a successful business and all the things land lovers would find appealing. For me ... it's THE SEA !!!

So, whilst I admire a 'balance in your cautionary tale' for those who are 'Happy bloggers and sailors', I would encourage people to follow the dream but know that the pleasure lies in the choice of boat and the initial 'set-up' of the boat ... and for that, one needs to have sufficient funds available and the correct technical people to carry out the work. (Our brand new purchase catamaran took 2 years of fitting out)

[rebel heart]

Interesting thread.

I was talking to my wife about it a bit and first and foremost we're both happy you're so honest. I think everyone knows people that simply wouldn't enjoy voyaging around. Some of my best friends, people I respect deeply, have zero desire to be on a boat especially cruising and it's absurd to think that reflects negatively on them in anyway.

It's not like everyone sailing is cool and everyone on land is a boring zombie in the rat race.

I think the difference for me is that I always knew sailing was hard and I slowly understood (after I had owned two different boats) that maintenance is real, expensive, and time consuming. Prepping for ocean passages and going to remote places is no joke and puts a lot of demands on the vessel and those aboard.

When we decided to flip the switch into full-time sailors, we had to ask these questions:

- Are we ready to spend a lot of money we'll never get back?
- Are we ready to, probably, adversely impact our current career tracks?
- Are we willing to live in non first world countries, complete with language barriers, cultural differences, and immigration?
- Do we realize that the farther we get from the United States the more cost prohibitive it gets to fly home in the case of emergencies?
- Are we willing to be there for each other, as a family, when things are total ****? It's a long haul commitment and there will be times when we'll want to press the quit button.
- Are we willing to spend 30-60 days a year in pure manual labor mode? That's what it seems to average out for us.

If that last one seems like a lot, it's really only a few days a month (on average) but it tends to arrive in huge chunks, in hot weather, with frustrating working conditions and minute tolerance for error.

[Jane.Joy]

Thanks Eric - I have always appreciated that you and Charlotte "keep it real" on your blogs, and I think anyone considering cruising (especially with young kids!) should be following Rebel Heart's adventures. You make it clear that it is HARD - but also that for your family, it's WORTH IT. That's awesome.

Originally Posted by rebel heart

When we decided to flip the switch into full-time sailors, we had to ask these questions:

- Are we ready to spend a lot of money we'll never get back?
- Are we ready to, probably, adversely impact our current career tracks?
- Are we willing to live in non first world countries, complete with language barriers, cultural differences, and immigration?
- Do we realize that the farther we get from the United States the more cost prohibitive it gets to fly home in the case of emergencies?
- Are we willing to be there for each other, as a family, when things are total ****? It's a long haul commitment and there will be times when we'll want to press the quit button.
- Are we willing to spend 30-60 days a year in pure manual labor mode? That's what it seems to average out for us.

These are great questions that ALL cruisers-to-be should ask themselves. You definitely had an advantage, having already owned and maintained two boats before becoming full-time cruisers - you definitely already knew the answers to the first question and the last, which are the ones that tripped us up.