Help For A Friend

[Freebird]

I know this thread is going to be a bit off course, but maybe it will stay up long enough to help me help a friend in need. He's not a Hatt owner, but I've been working on that. Please mods, give me a chance to do some good here.

When I got back to the marina last night after cruising "The Gorge", I noticed the shorepower cords weren't hooked up on a buddy's boat. I asked another buddy who lives on his houseboat if our buddy had winterized his boat. He said no, the repo guys are going to come and get it! I hadn't seen this ole' boy in about 2 months. He just lost his younger brother (early 50's) to cancer (didn't know about that until last night either), he dang near lost his only son to a previously undiscovered heart defect, and now his business has apparently taken a dive and he closed the doors.

Wow, I was stunned. I had called this guy's office earlier to invite him and his wife to go cruising, and I got a recording that the "call couldn't be completed as dialed". I just figured there were network problems, and I left a message on his home phone that has yet to be returned.

Oh well, life sucks sometimes, but he still has his health, and his friends. I hope he remembers that, especially the second part.

Okay, here's the deal, this ole boy has a very late model Rinker (I know, I know) which I think is about 33 feet long. It's a loaded up mid-cabin express with very low hours. He bought it new and it is immaculate. It has twin GM EFI small-block I/O's (Volvo's I think) along with genny and AC. I've run it a couple of times, and it runs and handles great.


I hope to track him down later today to get details, but in the meantime, you guys give me a yell if you know anyone who may have even a remote interest. I have no idea what he owes or what the boat is worth for that matter, but this will be a fire sale. Hell, maybe I should go throw some gas on it for him or pull its plug! Better yet, I could get somebody to pull it out into the channel tonite and leave the lights off. I'll PT-109 it with my 41 at WOT and not even scratch my paint!

Seriously, call me at 800/251-9992 if you think you can help find a home for this boat.

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

Reggie,

my condolences to your buddy with the Rinker. Sounds like this guy has been through a lot.

I would suggest that (whoever has responsibility over the boat) run an add in the Boat Trader (my experience has been that boats much longer - 40'+ - need to be in Yachtworld) at a competitve price (based on comparables) and with a littel luck he should be able to kiss it good bye (at a fair price).

Capt'n Bill

 

[Freebird]

Hey Bubba, thanks for the input. I would suggest the same thing to someone who was trying to sell a boat.

Unfortunately, I don't think there is enough time for conventional marketing strategies. By the time he got an ad in, the boat would be gone, the hard way. I'm just trying to help him preserve his credit. I just hope he doesn't have himself upside down in any other holdings as I'm sure he is upside down in this boat.

Hey guys, NEVER BUY ANY NEW BOAT THAT YOU HAVE TO FINANCE!!!! Unless, of course, you are VERY sound in your financial situation. Otherwise, you'll be in trouble if the ship hits the fan!!! In today's selfish workplace environments, I'm not sure what "sound" employment is.

I can't get him to return my calls, so I don't know everything that's going on or how much time he has left before this thing gets repo'd.

He's a damn fine fellow, I just hope he can swallow some of his pride and let people help who care about him and his wife. I'm proud to be a Southern gentleman with the associated value system, but sometimes that Southern pride can get a man in trouble.

 

[Freebird]

Hey guys (and gals),

I finally tracked down my buddy with the Rinker and had a little heart to heart. He apologized for not returning my calls, but he said he had a lot on his mind with all that had happened in such a short period of time.

Pat Bustle volunteered his expertise in helping move the boat, but my buddy told me he gave up trying to deal with the finance company and told them to come get it. They actually tried to pick it up already, but they showed up with a trailer that was too small, and the tires blew out when they pulled the boat up the ramp!

Forgive me for laughing, but there is a certain poetic justice about that mental picture! They had to put the boat back in the water and return it to the slip in the marina!

Good news is, he was glad I tracked him down and appreciated the effort. Better news is the boat was tied to his business which was incorporated, so he won't take a personal hit due to circumstances beyond his control.

Thanks to all who peeked in on this thread, and thanks to those who tried to help. We appreciate it.