The Ups and Downs of Buying and Selling the Dream
By Robin Stout
Selling Our Coastal Sailboat and Finding Our Dream Blue Water Cruiser
In the middle of the year 2000, we made a pivotal decision that would set the course for a new chapter in our lives: we decided to sell our coastal sailboat and embark on the search for a blue water cruising sailboat. Letting go of the sailboat we already owned wasn’t overly emotional; instead, it felt like a necessary step toward achieving our dream of finding the perfect vessel for long-term cruising.
The Search for the Perfect Boat
The process of finding the “perfect” boat turned out to be a challenge—one that tested both our patience and our ability to compromise. My husband, Mike, and I approached the task methodically. Armed with a legal pad, we each went into separate rooms to make two lists: one for things we absolutely needed on our new boat, and another for features or qualities we couldn’t live with. When we reconvened to compare our lists, we were stunned to find they were mirror images of each other. What I considered a must-have, Mike deemed unacceptable, and vice versa. This discovery only added complexity to the search but also made it more exciting. After all, the challenge of finding a boat we could both agree on was part of the adventure.
The Hunt Begins
With our lists in hand, we began the search for our dream boat. For over a year and a half, our broker, who was amazing and had endless patience, showed us numerous boats. Each viewing brought us closer to understanding what we truly wanted, even if it sometimes felt like we were moving in circles. We had highs with the excitement of what the “perfect” boat would be, fears of what we could afford and lows when we just couldn’t find a boat we both loved. Some boats just didn’t quite fit what we wanted, some I liked and Mike didn’t and vice versa. We actually found one boat that ticked most of the boxes on both our lists and she was beautiful and below our price point. The only problem was the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I went below and something just didn’t feel right. Mike could not understand but I just knew that I couldn’t live on that boat. So, sadly we were back at square one.
When we finally came across Mermaid, it was an unexpected turning point. As we toured the boat for the first time, Mike went below deck with the owner while I walked around the deck. Below, Mike told the owner, “You have a great boat, but it’s not the boat for my wife.” Meanwhile, I had my own moment of clarity. When I finally went below deck, I announced, “I shouldn’t like this boat because it doesn’t match my list… but I’m home.” Mike still doesn’t fully understand what happened that day, but I felt an instant connection to Mermaid. It was a connection that remains strong to this day.
Adventures with Mermaid
Once Mermaid became ours, we started making her ready for our adventures. It was exciting to put new systems in that we required and frustrating finding things that didn’t work and needed replacing. We also had the fears and thrills of upcoming adventures with our kids. Mike felt overwhelmed at first because Mermaid was big and he was worried that we really didn’t know what we were doing. Were we really taking our family across oceans?!
Mermaid opened the door to a world of incredible experiences and unforgettable adventures. Our children, a 12-year-old son, 17-year-old daughter at the time, and little dog joined us on our early journeys. With no strict schedules or timetables, we embraced the freedom of exploring at our own pace.
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