December 2018

2018 was a year to remember!

They say time flies as you get older and 2018 flew by for us. Sadly, we started the year, by saying goodbye to Mac on January 18th – the same day my dad died in 2002. We have been through some tragic times and I have to say that this was one of the most difficult things Scott and I have dealt with. Mac really made an impact on so many people.

This was just the start of the changes we would experience in 2018. Next, we began the hunt for an apartment in the city and purging our belongings. It’s one thing to “talk about your plans”, but it’s another thing when it actually happens! As we were selling our house, we were also hauling out our boat for the first time. What an experience that was!

City Folk

Scott and I have been talking for years about downsizing and living on a boat. Finally, 2018 was a our year to make the move! And what a crazy time this was for us. I was interviewing, we were working on the boat and the house and preparing to move, all at the same time! When it finally all came to fruition, it was a bit surreal, but we were ecstatic. We love our new digs!

With all of our activities living in the city and traveling this summer, Scott and I didn’t get a chance to go on as many boating trips as we would have liked. Living in the city, we took advantage of the sights nearby. Soon after we moved in, we took our annual trip to the Anacortes Boat Show with our good friends Nick and Michelle. This is smaller, intimate boat show and a fun getaway.

2018 Boating Season

Scott and I did start boating season on a trip to Poulsbo in June with our good friends Ben & Maria and what a start it was! We had historical record tides and 22 knot winds. Yet, we made it through Agate Pass and at the marina (yet a bit banged up.)

One of the perks of living in our new apartment, is the view of Lake Union – especially on July 4th! Though we owned a boat, we had no desire to join the mayhem of the lake party. Honestly, I can’t imagine being around that many boats at one time! LOL

Where else did we travel to?

As summer was underway, Scott and I planned a couple more trips. Next was Gig Harbor and this time we stayed at Arabella’s Landing. This is such a nice and easy trip from Seattle and there’s so much to do in Gig Harbor!

We squeezed in another trip to Kingston this summer and traveled with some of our great friends, Randy, Cory, Stacy, Ben and Maria! Kingston offers concerts on the lawn at the marina, so it’s always a great time!

Once we returned from Kingston, we put Kokomo up for sale. We had only planned on owning the boat for one summer, as we prep for moving onto our live-aboard. Over Labor Day Weekend, we went through the locks one more time and enjoyed Lake Washington before we said goodbye to Kokomo.

Going under the Montlake Bridge

Of course, this was right after we broke down in our marina! LOL That’s a funny story in itself. Why? Well, because I had just joined Lake Union Sea Ray and I called them to go diagnose the issue. Find out what happened here.

Good Bye to Kokomo, Friends and Elliott Bay Marina

Within a few weeks of listing Kokomo, we got an offer from a really nice couple. Now was time to say goodbye to not only the boat, but all of our friends at Elliott Bay Marina. It’s funny how close you all can become in just a matter of a year. We know we’ll be back soon, but it was still a pretty emotional day for us.

Olympic Mountains

As the year comes to end, Scott and I are thankful for all of the great memories we had on Kokomo. We are continuing to look for our liveaboard and more importantly, a slip that will hold a 50’+ boat. In the meantime, I am loving my new job at Union Marine and gearing up for the Seattle Boat Show in January. Then we are headed to the Caribbean on a 7 day cruise through the Leeward Islands on the tall ship Star Flyer with our good friends Ben and Maria in March! We can’t wait.

Just this week, we learned that our blog has been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 20 Boat Blogs on the web. How cool is that!

https://blog.feedspot.com/boat_blogs/

Keep following us for new updates in the New Year! Thank you for all of your support this year and we look forward to sharing our journey with you. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cheers, Scott and Ally

Liveaboard for sale with moorage!

With only four months left on our lease, Scott and I are checking out every liveaboard for sale right now. Just last weekend, Scott saw an ad in Craigslist for a 1991 Bayliner 4588 Motoryacht (I know….old!). But for kicks and giggles, we decided to check it out in person.

As you know, I work for Union Marine and I have access to some of the top marine experts in the industry. I asked one of our certified professional yacht brokers about the boat and the asking price. This model typically sells between $88,000 to $145,000. This couple was asking for $250,000! Whoa! Why so much? The owners said that the boat was meticulous and it came with moorage. That’s why we wanted to go view it.

It does come with private moorage and that’s what we are struggling to find. Most marinas in Seattle have a 3-5 year waitlist for boats over 50′. But what bank would ever loan an extra $100k over value?? None. Still, we were curious, so last Sunday we got a tour.

Attention to Detail

The current owners have lived on the boat for over three years. The boat was located in a private marina in Ballard. It offered secured parking, but that was it. No facilities at all. There were six other liveaboard boats on their docks.

The owner has upgraded the boat extensively and paid attention to every detail possible. This included new isinglass throughout, new carpet, new countertops and a very cool sink that was custom ordered from Europe.

Homey “vibe”

The boat definitely had a “homey vibe”. The master head had a tub, they had new carpet throughout, the galley had a large fridge and a large sofa in the salon. They also converted one of the state rooms into a closet.

Did we make an offer?

As nice as the boat was, it certainly wasn’t worth $250,000 by any means and no bank would give a loan for over $150,000 on it. One thing about boats (versus homes), is it is rare that you ever get back what you put into it. Appraisers care mostly about the integrity of the hull, age of the boat and hours on the engines (not fancy sinks or new carpet).

In addition, we are looking for a larger boat – ideally over 50′. Scott and I have discussed the idea of buying a “fixer upper” and mooring it at Elliott Bay, until we can find a liveaboard space. That is, if they have a 50’+ slip available. It’s all really a big game. Hopefully, something comes along in a few months. Luckily for us, my team at Lake Union Sea Ray is keeping an eye out for our next boat!

We did see this beauty on a walk last week though! The captain hit a metal buoy in the dark and amazingly he didn’t take on any water. A boatyard in Seattle is going to fix it up and sell it. Crazy!

Busy times ahead

The next 60 days will be crazy for me. Next week, I’m off to a marine dealer conference in Orlando, Florida, which I’m really excited about. Immersing myself into the marine industry and marketing is a dream come true for me! Then we have the Seattle Boat Show beginning on January 24, 2019 – February 2, 2019. I’ll be working everyday and I’ll also make sure to give a full tour of the show, as I did last year.

Thanks again for following us! Stay tuned for our next update!