Bad news/good news

After a bit of interest from a number of people who wanted to buy Cupcake we’ve decided a sale is not going to happen. Buyers are, understandably, properly, excited about the boat…she is comfortable, extremely well prepared and equipped, and has an excellent resume. But alas, she is also a mid-1980s production fiberglass boat with a balsa-core deck and as such is subject to the bane of all those boats: delamination, moisture, rot.

So after high hopes that she would sell, a survey yesterday revealed a good deal of the deck is wet. It’s my position that none of the moisture impacts her strength or safety, but there’s no denying that lots of moisture is hiding in the deck.

The buyer, very disappointed, bailed on the deal. I would have done the same.

As it happens, Ellen, Moss, and I are not at all upset. We weren’t convinced we were ready to give her up. It’s out intention now to keep sailing Cupcake for the next few years. Then when time comes to move to the next boat (lately it’s been the Nordic Tug 37 that catches our eye, although Moss would love a Lagoon 38) we will sell Cupcake for whatever we can get. By that point all the new systems she has will be older, she will be pushing 40, and will owe us nothing.

In any event, we are now planning our 2021 sailing season. If we can, we would like to make it to Canada. Then we will have sailed the entire US east coast on this boat. Hooray!

Meanwhile, I finally finished pimping out the oars for Moss’ boat Moon Cracker. Feast your eyes.