Sep 18 - boat browsing

First things first, I took Abby to the beach ... or what was left of the beach. The tide was so high that where we normally enter the dog beach off the boardwalk, the water was up to the third step ! We walked on ... and got onto the beach at the second entrance. Luckily it wasn't high tide yet, because I could see by the water marks that high tide went right up to the grasses, i.e. no beach -- and that all the way to the breakwater on the NSB side of the inlet. On the Daytona side of the inlet, only the tips of a few of the rocks poked through the waves. Amazing.

We got in our beach walk. Abby was happy to see the water and plowed in but wasn't into jumping waves yet. The water was warm, like bath water. Even I could go swimming in that.

Back home, Sandy set out for her 9:30 acupuncture appointment. She was back from that, and a visit to Jeff at Coronado Carpet (the people who will do our bathrooms) by 11am. It was time to go boat shopping.

I called the guy with the Maxum for sale but he wasn't home; I left him a voicemail. As we were pulling out of the driveway he called -- just got back home -- and we set out for Daytona. His house is south of the Port Orange bridge. We got there and looked over the boat. It's in excellent shape -- he's the second owner -- it's an inboard/outboard fully equipped with a variety of canvas, most of which he has never used. His price is good ... I'm interested, or so I thought at the time, but it was too early to start making offers. With 202 hours on the motor it's been lightly used. I felt comfortable with him as a seller -- an important thing.

Ok, off again, driving northward on US 1 to a boat store that I wanted to look into. It's called Bluewater Boats and is north of Daytona, partly into Holly Hill, I think. They have a variety of boats for sale but it's clear that their main schtick is Hydra Sports. Most of the HS boats are CC -- center console -- but they also have DC -- dual console -- versions at some lengths. Much more ocean-going than boats like the Maxum, due to their construction, shape, cruising range, self-bailing nature (like the Boston Whaler), they are outboard driven. Ok ... I'm starting to get interested. Ok, I'm more than interested. These boats are fully composite -- no plywood -- so much more durable -- you won't find dry, or wet, rot on these boats !

They have a 2006 on the floor, a 20 foot dual console, that has never been in the water. It's discounted from new, but in my opinion not enough. I think that I've found the boat that I'm looking for, but can I get it at the right price ? I want to look at this boat on NADA and see what it's worth used ... because that's what it will be worth the instant that I pull it out of the showroom.

Back home, I did some research and confirmed that I'd be losing a significant chunk of change driving it off the lot. Of course that happens whenever you buy something new -- eg. cars. I did a lot more research into the evening and found some similar vintage boats, or newer but used, that are available at the same price as they are selling the 2006. I'm going to check those out via the telephone and see what is possible, likely going back to this place to see if they will deal. My brain is not locked into this boat, but I'm getting close. Now I have to find one that I can buy.

When talking to the guy with the Maxum, he was mentioning that he used to keep his on a lift and that most of the docks have available slips. It's too expensive to leave there 12 months of the year but might well make sense for the months that we're here. Boy, it would be convenient, to have the boat on a lift and not have to go through the launching process when we want to go for a ride. With the boat on a lift we would use it more often, since it wouldn't be such an involved procedure.

On the way home from Bluewater Boats we stopped at another dealer -- this one a consignment seller -- and found a lightly used 21' Wellcraft with only 33 hours on the motor. Also an outboard style, this might be a better option than the Maxum, although it's pricier. The price is probably more negotiable than the Maxum, which is priced to move.

So ... that was the boat tale from yesterday. Nothing done yet, still more to do. We had a shrimp stir-fry for dinner -- excellent as usual -- along with rice. We watched a couple of SG1 episodes. The day was done.

It's 7:10. I'm already late. I had hoped to be out of the house, on my bike, by 7am but have been busy typing this blog. First things first, right ?

Onward ...