The last month has been a complete emotional roller coaster. I’ve given up many chances to socialize with friends and get outside to climb and ski so I could learn as much as I could about sailboat ownership and how to prepare for the day I am responsible for it and beyond. I’ve been concerned that all of this work and sacrifice will end up wasted. I know that even if I don’t get Satori there will be another boat in the future to own and sail. Who knows when that would ever happen though. I’m 37, single, no kids and nothing tying me to land except a stable income to feed my obsessions. I’ve decided not to wait this out any longer. It’s too risky and I need to start doing hard budget planning and to figure out what to prioritize. In order to really dig in I need to put myself at ease and go ahead and take the big plunge. So this Saturday I’m heading to Satori and will pay for the boat in advance.
For those new to buying a sailboat, there are Washington State requirements. First you need a bill of sale. Next you need to pay use taxes on the boat which currently runs between 8.5 and 9 percent of the sale price. Then a new title is needed. Finally a vessel registration will make the boat legal. If I want to put her in mooring in Seattle I will also need to pay vessel liability insurance which is not cheap. Then if I want to qualify her for living aboard I will likely need to pay more for that. Sailing vessels are not cheap!
While I’m hanging out at the boat I will also plan on inspecting the standing and running rigging. I want to put up the sails while she’s docked to see how they look. The boat hasn’t been sailed in over 10 years and I’m not sure how long a tanbark sail lasts under rotting sail covers. From the photos I have of Satori underway I can see only a single reef on the mainsail so regardless I will need to buy a new mainsail and likely other front sails. I’m also going to have a look at the masthead and inspect everything up top while I’m there. This way if I notice any issues with either the standing rigging or sails I have 4 months to get it all worked out so Satori can sail without failure.