Change in plans?

I once read a boaters plans are best described as something etched in sand at low tide - they will likely change. This has been and continues to be a valid description of our lifes journey related to boating and there appears to be another incoming tide related to our current plans. While one could view this tide as erosion to a well thought out plan, we prefer to accept it as an opportunity to set another course. A course that still involves boating and a another boat.

Anyone interested in following what appears will turn out to be another boaters journey of researching that prefect boat for a specific mission may enjoy checking in on us from time to time. We will soon be starting a new thread under Helmsman/Camino section. Not sure what the title will be yet but you will recognize it once its posted.

OK, now back to the boat. It's 85 degrees today in San Diego and we drove down to the boat for the afternoon and dinner at a nearby restaurant. We decided best to sit inside with the A/C turned up and make a cold margarita. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

John T.
Helmsman38E - Maria Elena

Based on your posts on Nordhavn Dreamers and on here, how many boats have you flipped on the last seven or eight years?

menzies said:

Based on your posts on Nordhavn Dreamers and on here, how many boats have you flipped on the last seven or eight years?

Click to expand...

And they're just getting warmed up....lol

He does truly love the process, almost as much as the boating I think.

# of boats

menzies said:

Based on your posts on Nordhavn Dreamers and on here, how many boats have you flipped on the last seven or eight years?

Click to expand...

I would not describe our use of boats as "flipping" since that real-estate term normally suggests "making a profit" or "a business". We have over the past 13 years only bought four trawlers and sold three. We will be selling our current boat and building another so it looks like it will be five new boats. Do the math and it appears we change course about every three years. Doesn't seem that often but those are the numbers (so far).

John

N4061 said:

I would not describe our use of boats as "flipping" since that real-estate term normally suggests "making a profit" or "a business". We have over the past 13 years only bought four trawlers and sold three. We will be selling our current boat and building another so it looks like it will be five new boats. Do the math and it appears we change course about every three years. Doesn't seem that often but those are the numbers (so far).

John

Click to expand...

As someone always looking to the next boat, I am not about to criticize. In fact, I like it. With build time and commissioning and all it would appear about a year after one is completely commissioned including dinghy and all you start planning the next one. I'm sure though that you're always thinking of more and future.

We've only sold one boat since getting into coastal boating. It was our Sunseeker Manhattan 65 and we started thinking ahead the day they introduced the Manhattan 66 as we liked it better. Now we had no plans to do anything and intended on keeping the 65 until we got an "offer we couldn't refuse" without ever offering the boat for sale. Now, still don't know what we'll replace it with, but if we had to today it would be the 66.

Can't help it. We love boats. We never stop looking or thinking. We're always thinking "what would we replace this with."

Now, as to flipping. On tv, most do it for a profit. In reality, many think they will and find out otherwise. A lot of flippers make money from television and from selling books and courses and conducting seminars. Now there are those who profit from just turning houses. Menzies, for instance. lol

"5 foot itis" strikes again!

Donsan said:

"5 foot itis" strikes again!

Click to expand...

Don't think you can call it that as sometimes he's gone bigger and sometimes smaller. He needs a fleet of boats.

BandB said:

Don't think you can call it that as sometimes he's gone bigger and sometimes smaller. He needs a fleet of boats.

Click to expand...

Then why this: "We will soon be starting a new thread under Helmsman/Camino section"?

Seems to me an admission they will be building a Helmsman 43....perhaps a 43E.

BandB said:

He does truly love the process, almost as much as the boating I think.

Click to expand...

I think you are right. I also can certainly understand it. I LOVE reading the threads about new boat builds. It must be really fun and exciting to go through the process of selecting, building, and commissioning a new boat. If only my checkbook could handle it.

So it sounds as if another Helmsman? You were really happy with the process with your 38E and have been very happy with them. Can’t wait to follow along.

Donsan said:

Then why this: "We will soon be starting a new thread under Helmsman/Camino section"?

Seems to me an admission they will be building a Helmsman 43....perhaps a 43E.

Click to expand...

So going up five this time perhaps. Last time went in opposite direction. Who knows next time.

Gee, the idea of "mature" boaters, having worked from dinghies to trawlers, need to frequently move from trawler to trawler. Makes me believe that some boaters are never satisfied with their boats.

I have no problem with it, sounds fun actually! As long as it doesn't ADD stress to your life , then why not? There are no mulligans in life....

markpierce said:

Gee, the idea of "mature" boaters, having worked from dinghies to trawlers, need to frequently move from trawler to trawler. Makes me believe that some boaters are never satisfied with their boats.

Click to expand...

You don't grasp it at all. That doesn't mean they're dissatisfied. But they generally enjoy boats and changing them. It's like people with cars who trade every few years. Doesn't mean they disliked the old one. We're very satisfied with our boats, but always thinking of new boats too. We love boats. We'd love to have one of each of a few dozen, but then we select carefully "for now." And that's the key, not "forever", just "for now."

I get the whole idea of building new boats every few years as your desires change (glad I don't suffer from that affliction). Not sure I understand the need for starting a thread to tell people there will be another thread on their next build.

Ted

It’s not a situation I understand. Our biggest fear when looking for boats was buying a boat that we ultimately did not like, or was not up to our requirements. We simply were not in a financial situation where we could “trade up”. It took us 2 years to discover our boat should be a KK42. 5 years into that ownership, we are not disappointed.

Jim

comments

As with our previous thread which generated some great discussion and view points, it appears this one will do the same. This is one of the reasons for tho new thread but the real reason for sharing our love of building boats is to inspire and possibly educate others who may be thinking about building a boat. Despite building a few boats we are really novices at this and have alot to learn. We will likely will never figure everything out in this life time so hopefully we can continue this journey in our after years if only in spirit. Life is too short not to dream, enjoy your hobbies and build boats. Wow, that's getting a little deep?

So what are we up to? All I can say is at this point is that we are in talks with Scott on a new design but as of today we have not officially listed Maria Elena for sale. She was built for us to take to the east coast and enjoy the ICW and would be the perfect boat but those plans are on hold. Once we are sure the design will support the new near term (1-5 yrs) mission we will proceed with listing her for sale. More to follow........

O C Diver said:

I get the whole idea of building new boats every few years as your desires change (glad I don't suffer from that affliction). ...

Ted

Click to expand...

Ditto. ... There is satisfaction having one's last boat, and having gotten it "right."

markpierce said:

Ditto. ... There is satisfaction having one's last boat, and having gotten it "right."

Click to expand...

Mark, I still don’t think you really ‘get’ it. It really isn’t about not “getting it right” but about the desire to explore other options and pursue a new adventure.

Sure, serial boat building is not something most of us would do, but then again most of us don’t have the financial freedom to do it.

I love machines. I will lay in my nursing home bed, hopefully many years from now, knowing I enjoyed lots of adventures. Cars, camper vans, many motorcycles, a hovercraft, an ATV, a snowmobile, an airplane, and of course boats. They were all fun and we continue to have fun.

I think John likes to manage the build process, and he probably appreciates all the attention to detail as a result. I am glad John shares his adventures with us here. I won't have the experience of building a boat in the near term. John will have some good stories at the nursing home.

It's also great for the industry to have guys like John bringing these boats to life, and moving them into the market place. I have never bought a new boat, and without those like John I wouldn't have much to pick from on the brokerage market, or a strong support industry.

Thanks John.

Change is good!

Every boater that stops in my marina for the evening, weekend, whatever, walks the docks. Ya know, kinda like boat porn?

With that said, I love boats. I love my boat. I love different boats for different reasons.

I’m always on the lookout with a “must have” list.

Donna said:

Change is good!

Every boater that stops in my marina for the evening, weekend, whatever, walks the docks. Ya know, kinda like boat porn?

With that said, I love boats. I love my boat. I love different boats for different reasons.

I’m always on the lookout with a “must have” list.

Click to expand...

Wifey B: Cars are not exciting. Not even my Porsche. Well, maybe it is a little bit but i have no desire to look at the next car or anything like that.

Boats though are a love affair, well many love affairs. When it comes to boats, I'm very polyamorous. We're always like "what boat would we want if we decided to replace this one." Doesn't mean we're ready to or will ever, but means we'll always be looking at what's coming into the boat market. We see new models and think about what we like and don't like about them. We pout because they don't make one or more of our boats any more and that makes us wonder if we replaced it what. Could we get this one and would it be faster or is this one more spacious or this one have better bow seating or this one have lower air draft for the loop. Every boat out there from an 8' RIB to a 170' boat interests us. Larger than that we don't understand as they're too much like cruise ships or hotels or something but don't make us tingle with excitement.

Even boats we'd never want interest us. Don't want a slow boat but still want to know what KK and Nordhavn are up to. Will look and think "freaking cool" or "WTF?" but just enjoy looking and thinking.

Every boat is a compromise so we think of what compromise we made and does this new one out not force that but then what is it's compromise. Like 1604N we like the process of detailing and building a new boat. Find the right builder and it's fun. Wrong builder is horrific but we've avoided that.

None of that ever means we're not happy with the one we have. Most people here drool about other boats sometimes, even labeled it Boat Porn. Then some of us who drool, actually then build. Why not, if that's what we enjoy?

4061 is such a thoughtful builder, I'm anxious to read his next. We can all learn from following his decision process and his building. Even when it's not the boat for us or for those of you who have no desire to build, the way he thinks and compares and stuff can give you ideas. That's like Bruce and Dorsey with their disdain for Microwaves, I still liked seeing what they used the space for. Might make some others who don't use a microwave think.

We'll be thinking of future boats as long as we can. Just last night we were looking at Cigarette's as we talked fast boats with someone. Now we have no desire to own one, might like running one for a weekend. However, we found the Cigarette AMG Electric very interesting with 12 engines for a total of over 2000 hp. We won't get it, but might we one day get an electric boat? Who knows? I sure don't. I've just finished two hours in a fun Children's Museum.

IRENE said:

I love machines. I will lay in my nursing home bed, hopefully many years from now, knowing I enjoyed lots of adventures. Cars, camper vans, many motorcycles, a hovercraft, an ATV, a snowmobile, an airplane, and of course boats. They were all fun and we continue to have fun.



I think John likes to manage the build process, and he probably appreciates all the attention to detail as a result. I am glad John shares his adventures with us here. I won't have the experience of building a boat in the near term. John will have some good stories at the nursing home.



It's also great for the industry to have guys like John bringing these boats to life, and moving them into the market place. I have never bought a new boat, and without those like John I wouldn't have much to pick from on the brokerage market, or a strong support industry.



Thanks John.

Click to expand...

Very well said!

(Nice when another TF’er can articulate what I can’t)

BandB said:

Wifey B: Cars are not exciting. Not even my Porsche. Well, maybe it is a little bit but i have no desire to look at the next car or anything like that.



4061 is such a thoughtful builder, I'm anxious to read his next. We can all learn from following his decision process and his building. Even when it's not the boat for us or for those of you who have no desire to build, the way he thinks and compares and stuff can give you ideas. That's like Bruce and Dorsey with their disdain for Microwaves, I still liked seeing what they used the space for. Might make some others who don't use a microwave think.

Click to expand...

Other than the blasphemy that cars aren’t exciting, WifeyB is another that has articulated what I can’t. Thank you.

If you are not excited driving a Porsche hum well how to say it... Maybe you don't know what's driving mean hum? Sell it and buy a minivan.
No offense but...

L

Lou_tribal said:

If you are not excited driving a Porsche hum well how to say it... Maybe you don't know what's driving mean hum? Sell it and buy a minivan.
No offense but...

L

Click to expand...

So right Lou. Having sold my boat, my trusty car, I'm still lovin' after nearly 28 years is my rock I turn back to. We have also just been through the process of choosing everything - and I mean everything, down to the last light switch, for a new build retirement home, and thoroughly enjoyed the process because we have a great build company to work with, (hence the boat sale). This experience allows me to understand those who just can't help planning their next boat, even before their last one is barely run in.

Peter B said:

So right Lou. Having sold my boat, my trusty car, I'm still lovin' after nearly 28 years is my rock I turn back to. We have also just been through the process of choosing everything - and I mean everything, down to the last light switch, for a new build retirement home, and thoroughly enjoyed the process because we have a great build company to work with, (hence the boat sale). This experience allows me to understand those who just can't help planning their next boat, even before their last one is barely run in.

Click to expand...

Your neighborhood looks very nice!

L

Three Nordhavns and a Helmsman and now something new. I have enjoyed the posts and following the progress. Keep it up John. Must be time for a Margarita. Oh, I waited too long for my first Porsche, but it was a great 70th BD present to myself.

In the very end, I'll want my sofa.