Deja Vu

Some of you may recall that last fall I drove 500 miles (one way) to purchase a new-to-me tow vehicle and came back empty-handed. Well, it's happened again! This time I drove 700 miles (one way) to purchase the Hunter 19 that I've mentioned (see January 17, 2025 post). I came back empty-handed again!

Wednesday I drove out to Independence, MO, what turned into a 12 hour drive. I arrived and the seller had the boat in his driveway.

Let me give you the back-story. We've been working on this deal since last fall. We just never could work out a time that suited us both for me to drive out: weather, schedules, doctors, etc. I had agreed to purchase with no deposit required.

In our discussions, and after he sent me current photos, it was revealed that the boat was not in "excellent" condition as advertised. He commented that someone had included that in his ads without his permission and told him he could sell his boat quickly. I guess he used some kind of service. (I've actually had people contact me recently offering to help me sell my boat.)

The boat was supposedly in a barn for a couple years. To make this long story short, the boat turned out to be in fair condition at best and the motor would not start. Sticker on the boat was dated 2020 and trailer tag was 2019. Sails were limp as rags, halyards dry-rotted, gelcoat chalked very badly and the boat was beyond filthy. He had power washed the exterior which helped the appearance a little, but still... The price was pretty good for Hunter 19's as I'd seen on others, but it still didn't make up for the condition. I made him a low-ball offer, he countered but I declined. Though I had given him my word that I was good for the purchase, I felt he had been less than forthcoming and I do not feel guilty for backing out of the deal.

In the sellers defense, he did tell me the boat wasn't excellent and sent current pics. However, he waited until I was on the way to even try to start the motor (after who knows exactly how long it was sitting). 

Made the return trip yesterday in 13 hours with a couple brief stops.

The highlight of the trip was the bridges and rivers. I crossed the Ohio River on I-24 and at Cairo, IL; crossed the Mississippi on I-64 and at Cape Girardeau (and at Cairo twice just to say I did it); crossed the Missouri River 4 times (twice out and twice back). Lots of construction along the way, especially on bridges.

Oh, well - 1400 miles, 25 hours driving, $200 in gas, 2 days lost at church and no boat. Guess you could say I'm still in the market for a pocket cruiser. Buyer supposed to take delivery of the 18.5 next Saturday. If for some reason that deal falls through, I won't be too disappointed.

Edit: here are a few pics of bridges and rivers, etc.

Cape Girardeau bridge over Mississippi River

headed back into Illinois from Cape Girardeau.

entering KY on I-24

KOA camping in Oak Grove, MO

entering IL on I-24 after crossing Ohio River

entering MO on I-64 at St. Louis - you recognize the landmark

I-24 bridge over Ohio River

and here's the river

I-64 bridge over the Missouri River headed back to St. Louis

and the river looking back westward

Mississippi River just north of Cairo from the scenic overlook

the river from the roadway near overlook

Ft. Defiance and the observation tower at the confluence of the two great rivers

muddy Ohio River from left and Mississippi River from the right

looking back up the Ohio River bridge at Cairo

looking back up the Mississippi River at the bridge at Fort Defiance

crossing the Ohio River at Cairo headed for KY

river bottom

a view of the great Mississippi River just before entering Wicliffe and KY

entering KY from Cairo, IL