I install the new bow cushions for the new owner, and have a bit of an emotional response to signing off to the ownership of Thirsty Whale. She was a GREAT boat for me, and I hope the same for the stewardship of the next owners. Enjoy!
Great close out video Chad! Thanks for including your honest emotions in there. You’ve invested so much time energy and care into Thirsty Whale. And ended up living aboard for a significant time as well. It’s right to be both sad for having to sell her and excited for the next chapter. Her new owners are extremely fortunate.
Thanks Jeff! I had to keep the unexpected emotions on the video...it was real, and the video would have been cold without keeping that in there. Looking forward to a great and positive 2024!
Hey Chad, lots of changes this year. Sad day but lots of good stuff to look forward to. Hang in there my friend. Time to settle in for the winter and look forward to the next adventure.
2023 will go down as one of the most tumultuous years (tho, not THE most, LOL) I've had, but it turns the page to a new chapter, and I'm looking forward to that! Now...I love winter, and I'm happy that it's hear, but that just means that a new boating season is just around the corner!
Kinda sad to see this episode. Reminded me of the emotions when I sold my Chevelle Wagon. You did a great job taking care and restoring Thirsty Whale!. I'm sure the new owners will appreciate your time and dedication to your boat. I hope they will truly enjoy it as much as you. Take some time looking for your next boat. Hope the New Year will bring you many new positive changes in your life. Stay well!.
Yeah, it hit me a couple times during that video...and a few times since. Thanks tho Doug! I hope the same for the new owners as well. I may have had the next boat fall in my lap...but more on that later. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks. ;o) On to a great 2024!!
Aww, sad ,but a good thing. Now that you're living in SB it'll be great for you to have a boat you can zip around and have fun in. Thirsty Whale's new owners are so lucky to be getting this boat from you! As always, the boat is more beautiful than when you bought it! Good luck shopping!
I think everyone's already said most of it, but I'll add my two cents for what it's worth. When we sold our Sedan Bridge it was also an emotional time, but not because I was sad to see her go, but rather I was frustrated/angry by the fact that for as much as we loved that boat - not to mention all the work I did on it - we just couldn't make it work for us. Similar issue as you, insofar as it was a 'challenge' docking/locking in windy conditions which really took away from the enjoyment. The result was minimal 'boating' for the last two seasons we had her. And again, like yourself, just sitting in our slip at the marina was not our definition of real boating. Fast forward a couple of seasons (after purchasing our down sized 330 and working out the bugs on her) we were back to what we love - cruising!! I think the following video - and particularly docking Boogaboo at the Midland Town Docks on Georgian Bay, shows how easy it was again for me to swing the boat around in windy conditions to get to thew dock without any issues. Most importantly, ZERO yelling back and forth with my lovely First Mate ;-) [[ Video clip: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CF_xqHVc8yM.htmlsi=m7OAShB5TR0N89Xt&t=300 ]] That smooth of a docking in those conditions would have been unthinkable on the big boat and a trip like this really brought us back to the enjoyable, memorable and loving type of boating we wanted to do!! Bottom line from my extended rambling is that I think you'll be able to come back around to a more positive experience with whatever boat finds you next. The Whale has only been an important step in the direction you were meant to follow 🙂
Exactly. Well put Paul. While it was a sad day, there were certainly frustrations with operating Thirsty Whale in windy conditions. While that was hard to accept, the direction I am going now is all about getting back to enjoying being off the dock and real boating. Thanks my friend! Cheers!
@@WiscoBoaterExcellent! We're looking forward to seeing which boat falls into your lap ;-) And again seeing a big smile on your face when you tell us about it!
Really appreciate your videos Chad! We’re close to the same age and I had my version of your 2023 a while ago. I have also given my boat a lot of blood, sweat, and name calling. These last 2 videos made me consider how it would feel selling her. I’d feel the same way as you do…It’d be hard for sure. Congrats on making decisions and taking ground….one foot in front of the other. Your best years are in front of you!
Thanks so much Reiffs!! I know I'm not alone in what I experienced in 2023, and I really appreciate you sharing that. 2024 starts tomorrow...and I'm aiming to make it a great year, and years ahead!
Glad that you had thirsty whale when I had my and I was able watch your repair , upgrade videos. Still think my galley is nicer then yours . Happy boating
Did you sell yours Gordon?? I completely agree...I loved what I did with the galley of Thirsty Whale, but what you did with yours...absolutely perfect!! Happy boating my friend!
Thanks for sharing this - I am sure I will be able to relate when we upgrade in a year or two. Our Cruisers 320 has a ton of blood, sweat and tears in it and is named after our late golden retriever girl Lily. It will be a sad day for sure to turn her over to a new owner. One can only hope the next owner will be as good of a steward as you were to Thirsty Whale. Is it staying local in Sturgeon Bay?
Thirsty Whale is staying in Wisconsin, but not in Sturgeon Bay. I don’t want to say out of respect for her new owners. It is odd how we can get attached to boats! 😁
Congratulations on selling your boat. I am still trying to get around to trying to sell mine, but just hate trying to sell things nowadays. I will probably just tell potential buyers to watch your videos in order to see what projects would be beneficial on my boat. 😂It’s interesting that you are selling to go smaller while I am selling mine in order to go bigger. Good luck with your search and looking forward to seeing what you get next. As stated previously, I am a big fan of the Formula boats. (I am assuming you know to try to avoid boats that have spent their life in saltwater.)
Thanks Thug! I've been climbing the bigger boat ladder long enough...Thirsty Whale will be the pinnacle, and I am very much looking forward to going back to a smaller boat with less systems, possibly less engines, and ease of maintenance...which is a big thing. I love working on my boats, but it becomes much less fun when dealing with boat designer's ideas of making something fit...and not a thought about serviceability. Hopefully I'll have some updates soon on what's next!
