What FREE Boat's slipped through your hands??

[Muddybottomblues]

My first boat was a 19 Whaler that had a 150 Merc. on it. I asked the old lady what she was going to do with it, and she nothing, why you want it? I said HELL YA! She said it's yours just get it out of the yard. FREE! The boat had a hole in it's hull from flying debri of Hurricane Andrew. The Merc. had 20 hours on it but sat for years, this must of been "94" Andrew was in"92". Her husband put the motor on and then died, probably cause of the MERC . She comes back out an hour later and tells me she offered it to the service manager at her Cadillac dealership A YEAR AGO and he never came by and picked it up. So she called him and guess what happened .
The other was a 25 Bertram with an enclosed cabin and a flying bridge with a top, OL'E DIXIE. They yanked the inboard out and put twin Evinrude 2 thirsty 5's on. I was a maintenance man at the condo making extra money while going to school back in "97". One day the boat was gone, I asked the owner, who I have done plenty of work for, what happened to the boat?? HE GAVE IT TO HIS MECHANIC!!! Why were you intrested, he ask's?? YEAH! Ohh you should of said something, I woulda given it to you! And we were both X-Coasties??
Just my freaking luck, those boats would of been my BE ALL END ALL!

Muddybottomblues

[shoefish]

Man, that's some tough luck dude. I've never had that happen once....maybe I need to start asking everyone with a boat if they're planning on doing anything with it....I'll start with A dock....

[Offshore24]

I am with you shoe I am heading to the boatyard now

[cdail28590]

You would be surprised if you stopped and asked people that had old boats sitting in the yard if you could have them. A lot of people just want them gone but don't have the time or energy to deal with them. I have gotten 2 boats by doing that and missed on another because the guy had promised it to someone else. Both boats needed some work but I didn't put a lot into them and use them for river and duck boats so they don't have to look pretty.

[Muddybottomblues]

DEAD ON cdail28590! I worked at homes, drove by homes, and just asked. Sometimes not fast enough, obviously. Here in Miami, the boats people have sitting in there backyards would amaze you. I currently do work for two old lady's, that live together and yes, they are (gay). She sold her house in the keys and she has to get rid of the 2 boats in the garage?? Her family has owned the house for almost 75 years. Geeee, what kinda boats could it be, a classic or A PIECE OF CRAP??? I will let ya know.

Muddybottomblues

[reefhunter]

Nothing gets by me. They locally call me the junkman, cuz I collect whatever people leave outside. I once picked up a real old 16ft jon boat on account of the owner dying and the wife not wanting it cluttering up the garage. Seeing that garage - brought back memories of days gone by and missed opportunities. I kept that boat and fished it for many years on the rivers hereabouts, even took it to Alaska. A guy up there offered me $200 bucks for it and I took it. No regrets - it brought me great use as I'm sure it did for its previous owner. Got a nice deal on a tugboat last month -$20k - turned around and sold it for $28k as scrap.