It was a bitter sweet day. She's a neat little boat and we had a lot of fun on her ...



... but we really preferred sailing to power-boating, and my wife can't really do either, any more, due to her back.

She hadn't been in the water since about this time in 2012. We kept her this long because we thought that, maybe, once I retired we'd take her out again. It just didn't happen.

Driveway looks empty without her there I wasn't taking her out, but, as long as she was still there the possibility existed. Still: It was time to pass her along to somebody who'd get her in the water, so she could be a happy boat again. (Yes: I believe boats have souls. Even little "plastic" stink boats.)

Now a truly nice young couple owns her. And were they ever exited to get her! My wife and I remember what it was like, so we're very happy for them

Sounds like a win for everyone. I like the part about being happy for the new owners the best.

Wish you guys well too.

Congratulations.....they say the happiest day of a boaters life is the day they buy the boat, and the second happiest day of a boaters life is the day they sell the boat!!!! But if you haven't used it in so long, it's good to see it go to a good home and people that will use her.

I know that feeling of loss in selling a boat.



Why ? We don't usually feel that way with a car or other things....

Anyway, my cabin cruiser is now in the hands of someone who will use her more often.

I recall sadness upon selling my only real bass boat. So many happy hours, so many good times through days and nights, year round, fishing with friends, my brother, my father.

I'd moved out my parents' home where the boat was kept, and it was getting used 1 or 2 times a year, falling into disrepair. I actually felt kind of guilty, almost like I'd neglected a faithful dog and essentially given her away when I had no time for her anymore.

Last year I traded in my 2011 Bennington pontoon for a motorcycle. I had a mild feeling of relief to be rid of it, but occasionally think back on the memories and get a little wistful.
There is something to be said for owning your own boat, but man, they sure can be a pain in the rear end sometimes.

quote:

It was a bitter sweet day. She's a neat little boat and we had a lot of fun on her ...

I can relate.
Also, Mariah made a great boat and it looks like you kept it up well.

It was a sad day when they closed.
Mariah Boats closes plant; 300 lose jobs
https://www.bizjournals.com/st...01/06/11/story4.html

My wife and I would both cry if I sold my 25' Bennington pontoon! So many good times tubing with the kiddoes, swimming, cruising, fishing, and just hanging out with friends. We go to one lake or another every week. It's like a vacation every weekend.

quote:

I know that feeling of loss in selling a boat.



Why ? We don't usually feel that way with a car or other things....

Usually you wind up with another car.

Selling the boat is killing the dream.

I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I bought a fixer upper boat back in Sept. Only took it to the lake once last fall, just after I rebuilt the carb. I've dumped about $1,000 in parts into it so far (my labor), and it's almost ready for the water! Hopefully this weekend!

I've very excited to teach my 7 & 8 YO how to wakeboard!

Sold our last boat in 2011, never so happy to see it go. I love boating, grew up boating but, right now I have not really missed having a boat. Once in a great while I wistfully think of the joy a boat brings.....then I remember the last marina bill, and "poof" I'm back to being happy!

My condolences. Its one thing to move on from one boat to another but to not be able to get out on the water anymore due to health reasons is terrible.

We sold ours years ago, I miss boating but not all the work in keeping a boat and taking it down and putting it in and pulling it out, the expense was crazy too.

We owned three different Mariah boats, all 18 footers. They built a nice product. We've slowed down a lot on boating but still have a 16 foot aluminum Starcraft runabout. As we get older, the ease of towing, launching, and retrieving makes aluminum an easy choice. The fuel mileage is also much improved. Boats are a lot of work unless you can hire it done. (We can't) Almost all of us have to make adjustments as we age to things that are too much work or not as much fun as they used to be.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
I'd moved out my parents' home where the boat was kept, and it was getting used 1 or 2 times a year, falling into disrepair. I actually felt kind of guilty, almost like I'd neglected a faithful dog and essentially given her away when I had no time for her anymore.

You nailed the reason I went along with it when SWMBO suggested we should sell the boat this spring.

When we also had the sailboat, kept in a marina an hour away and in an area littered with marinas and boaters, we saw many boats literally rotting away in driveways and outdoor storage areas. I always thought that heart-wrenchingly sad. I vowed I would never let that happen to any boat that was in my care.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Also, Mariah made a great boat and it looks like you kept it up well.

Yes, the original Mariah made great boats. We looked at a lot of boats by the time we found her. We took one look, saw beneath the good cleaning she needed, and said "This is the little powerboat for us!"

That little boat... *sigh*... Stock for her was a 4-banger. But she had a 4.3L 4bbl V6. Even with five adults aboard: 2/3 throttle out of the no wake zone would have her up on plane so fast you'd think Nautilus, himself, had given her a kick in the backside. Handling? The lake we usually had her on often had 2-3' chop. Even being only an 18' boat, she handled it with aplomb.

If that’s a current picture, the cleanest surviving Mariah ever!

Wish I could say the same. I bought a new to me boat back in March thinking I would have no problem selling “the old boat”. I don’t think I am priced too high (and have lowered the asking price considerably already) but I can’t even get a nibble.

quote:

Originally posted by Garret Blaine:
Wish I could say the same. I bought a new to me boat back in March thinking I would have no problem selling “the old boat”. I don’t think I am priced too high (and have lowered the asking price considerably already) but I can’t even get a nibble.

If your weather's been like ours, that may be why. Owner of a marine repair place I was talking with had a used boat in showroom condition for sale. Hasn't had but two calls in as many weeks. "But once the weather turns, the phone'll be ringing off the hook," he said.

BTW: Sold ours on Facebook Marketplace. Our advert had 1600+ views, 42+ "following," 17 inquiries, and 2 that came to see the boat + one pending while she was SPF.

She was listed for 2-1/2 weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
If that’s a current picture, the cleanest surviving Mariah ever!

Thanks! That was from a few years ago, after we'd just detailed her, but she still looks just like that.

I once had a sailboat. It was like standing in a cold shower tearing up $100 dollar bills