The Big Ugly

If you have been reading my blog you will remember some posts from the spring about Matt Snader’s boat and some of the (not so successful) test runs we took on it.

Yesterday morning Andy and I were talking about next year’s fishing season and how it is scary to take our 16 foot Klamath boat out on the ocean because of how small it is. There were a few times last year when we were out on the water and the wind picked up causing us to worry a little before we got back to the harbor.

So we were doing a little boat shopping on our favorite resale website, alaskaslist.com (Craigslist for Alaskans!) and we came to the conclusion that a new boat would have to wait a while. We had thought of spending $5,000, but all you could get in that range were either flat bottomed river boats or boats as small as ours.

And Matt’s. Matt’s boat was there, listed for $3,500. It’s name was The Doesn’t Leak, but it did leak, and Matt has taken to not-so-fondly titling it The Big Ugly in conversations.

After talking about it, Andy and I decided maybe in six weeks or so, if Matt’s boat was still available, we could get that. It could turn out to be a lemon like it was for Matt, or, after he put all the money into getting the engine rebuilt, sterndrive rebuilt, got the trailer fixed, etc, ($12,000 worth of repairs) we could get it and not have much left to fix until we had a decent big boat. Even if we put a new engine in there for $2,500 it would still be right around our $5,000 price range.

Then Andy made the mistake of calling Matt to get some specs on the engine type and let the cat out of the bag that we were interested in his boat.

“Maybe this winter we’ll see if it’s still available and go from there, Andy said. Andy had tried numerous times to take it on a spin, and each time it had caused big problems until it stopped working altogether. He has an intimate working knowledge of the boat and knows pretty much where it’s problems lie. (Mainly in the engine)

Matt acted just like that pushy gun salesman he talks about in his books. You would think he hadn’t had any interest in his boat before, or that it was giving him cancer and his only treatment option was to transfer ownership of it. Andy knew how much money had been poured into it, and how steeply discounted it was from that. He also knows roughly how much it will take to get it running.

“I’ll give you a really good deal!” Matt  begged. “We could have it down at your place within the week!”

“Aw no, we’ll have to wait until after our trip,” said Andy.

Yesterday we took all our perishables (canned goods, house plants, musical instruments, a bucket of honey) up to Matt’s heated garage for while we are gone so they don’t freeze after we winterize the cabin. Matt’s had also agreed to keep our dog Sunny for us, and since she is very pregnant, we took boards up to Matt’s to make a whelping box for her.

While Andy was unloading the boards Matt tried to hide his desperation of getting rid of the big ugly thing by offering it to us for $1200.00! Andy cruelly told him that we would think about it.

We drove off, and discussed the option. We then prayed about it to help us have clarity and figure out what we want to do. After a few more miles of thinking and talking about it as a couple we called him up and said ok, we’ll buy it.

It was a steal of a deal, only $1,200 for a big boat! Besides that, the sound of relief in Matt’s voice made it worth it. In retrospect, I wonder if we will have that same sound of relief in our voices if we sell it in a year or so?

So now, a day before we leave for six weeks, we are the hopeful and expectant owners of The Big Ugly. We are excited about having it and getting it running and working well. If it works out it will be a dream come true. If it doesn’t work out it might be a nightmare come true. You never know until you do it!

Andy has been researching boat engines, and we are both dreaming about next year’s fishing season. We would love to be able to go farther out in open waters and get Halibut and Tanner crabs. The nice thing about the Big Ugly is that it has a cabin below where the children can get out of the wind. There are two beds, a sink, fridge and even a toilet. Matt had gotten a heater installed as well for the cold ocean weather. What a perfect family boat! It is kind of like a camper on the water. If we can get it going we’d love to do some overnighters and anchor up in one of the coves across the inlet. Shucks, maybe we will take it to Kodiak and go deer or bear hunting with it.

In the midst of dreaming we are also getting ready to leave. Yesterday we took our dogs to various church families who have agreed to take care of them, and after a few more last minute things today we will blow out the water lines and winterize the cabin before heading out tomorrow morning around 9 AM. We are all excited about the airplane ride, especially Gabe.