How I began

 

How I began

 Last summer I relaxed on Matunuck  beach with my family. From our chairs you could see Block Island. I thought it would be cool to offer rides to vacationers from southern Rhode Island to block island. I just needed a sailboat. 

So I began my search. From July to November I looked at a lot of boats  I had some sailing experience but I needed a lot more  

First I set a a target amount that I could invest  I had some money in savings, just a little over $20k  I visited sailboatlistings.com    Lots of boats for sale  what I didn’t know was that newer listings were at the top of the list so boats listed for a year or more were either already sold or not worth looking at  and lots of folks price their boat like it was a hidden treasure  there’s an NADA boat value site that you can use like buying a car.

The real value I found about sailboatlistings was the opportunity to learn. Just read the description in the ads. I learned about rigging, sails, spinnakers, Diesel engines, masts, and cockpits. And marine surveys.

I was getting disappointed with Rhode Island boats so I ventured south. All down the eastern seaboard. I found what I thought was the ideal boat in a fabulous marina in my target budget. I communicated with the owner for months. But when it came down to setting the survey date and contract terms the owner balked. Then I got the call. It was from RI and for a boat I had sailed in the summer which was a little out of my budget. They were offering me this spectacular boat for a price I could afford. I was wild. I said yes. 

In Hawaii they say Aloha for hello and goodbye.