| The internet is a great and wonderful thing where | | | | warmth of the Tahiti sun. The smell of mould and |
| you can find out just about anything you want to | | | | dry rot was almost overpowering and after a |
| know and purchase anything you want. | | | | short chat and looking around at his many |
| However, when it comes to investing in your | | | | problems, our crew manage to winkle him ashore |
| dream sailboat, it pays handsomely to be very | | | | to a warm and sunny café for an |
| cautious and thorough before going ahead with a | | | | obligatory Hinano. Here, his glum outlook brightens |
| purchase. And remember, that boats like cars, | | | | somewhat as the amber liquid takes effect. |
| often look much better in a photographic image | | | | A respectable time later, they make their |
| than in reality!! | | | | departures, waving cheerily as he disappears back |
| The following is very much a cautionary tale of a | | | | down the dock toward his boat, no doubt to |
| real life situation I came across in Papeete, French | | | | stare once again at the overwhelming number of |
| Polynesia. | | | | things to be fixed before he sets sail again. |
| ...'It is at this point our crew are joined by an | | | | As at the time our little ship departed Tahiti, his |
| Australian yachtsman slowly working his way | | | | parts had yet to arrive and he was never heard |
| back to New South Wales. They first met him at | | | | of again - he had a vhf radio on board but it was |
| the Balboa Yacht Club in Panama. His is an | | | | ineffectual at best. |
| excruciatingly painful account and worth repeating | | | | From time to time his name came up in |
| here as a cautionary tale. | | | | conversation as to his possible progress and |
| Some eighteen months previously he had | | | | whereabouts, but not having any means of |
| purchased a sloop, by private sale, on the internet. | | | | contact, our crew could only suppose what and |
| It was 'laying up' on Mystic River, Connecticut, in | | | | where. |
| the USA. He arrived there to discover that the | | | | There being no reports of vessels sinking or |
| boat was in far worse condition than he had been | | | | missing during the next six months or so,they |
| led to believe. He spent the whole winter working | | | | could only assume that he finally did make it back |
| and living on board in freezing conditions preparing | | | | to Australia - any prayers that went up to 'the |
| it for the voyage. | | | | one who made us', for the safety of sailors at |
| Imagine waking every morning with ice hanging | | | | sea, would hereafter have his name on the list.' |
| from your mustache and having to crawl out of | | | | The moral of this story is never part with any |
| your bunk, climb down the ladder, trudge through | | | | money on the internet for any vessel before an |
| a foot of snow to the ablution block, re-climb the | | | | inspection by yourself and also preferably by an |
| ladder, and begin the days work with fingers that | | | | authorized marine surveyor. If you are going to |
| will hardly move, and brain numbed into lethargy | | | | go cruising offshore for extended periods you |
| from the cold. For an Australian raised in the | | | | want to know that she meets your criteria and is |
| warmth of NSW it must have been soul | | | | going to be able to stand up to the sometimes |
| destroying. | | | | tough conditions you are going to meet along the |
| During that period he spent more on the craft | | | | way. |
| than what he had originally paid for it. This was | | | | Best practice would be to use the internet only as |
| not part of the plan! Finally setting sail, his trip to | | | | a search tool to locate the vessel which fits your |
| date had been one disaster following another - | | | | needs and then put into motion a detailed and |
| too many to repeat here, and too depressing to | | | | strict procedure which you follow rigidly. |
| contemplate. The last news our crew had of him | | | | This will ensure that when you are completely |
| was here in Papeete. He had arrived under sail as | | | | happy and arrive at a point to negotiate a price, |
| his engine had seized up completely several days | | | | you are comfortable with your position. Ideally, |
| out of Tahiti, and he had been told the required | | | | you will agree on a price with the seller, pay a |
| parts would be five weeks in coming. He was fast | | | | deposit, with the balance payable on delivery. |
| running out of funds and still three thousand | | | | By following this procedure stringently you will |
| nautical miles from home. | | | | finish up with a well found vessel that will give you |
| Visiting him aboard his boat the next day, our | | | | many happy years of sailing and that will take you |
| captain and sibling crew could not believe the | | | | to many of the wonderful cruising grounds of this |
| appalling conditions in which he existed. The boat | | | | earth of ours. |
| was dark, damp, and quite chilly, despite the | | | | |