Dear Everyone,
Well what an odd trip. I am just back (landed 1230 GMT 23 jan in London), and sitting here reviewing my time in Florida. Without going into the details of the trip with an old school friend, always a laugh, I can begin by saying that the deal unfortunately failed.
Arriving in Orlando on friday night at 2210, we set about finding a bar. Drank beers in Cocoa 'til 0200 and went to bed in our hire car in the bar car park.
Awoke 0930 'ish to lovely bright sun and warm wind. I had by this time decided not to buy the boat as a phone call from the UK had ratified the RCD problem. I met with the seller at Cape Canaveral Marina. I told hom straight away that I could not buy the boat, apologised and paid him $90 to cover his listing fees. We left amicably.
Some time later in the day I received a phone call from the seller. He made a strange offer; his dad was proposing that he could deliver the boat to me in England, removing the delivery costs and thus freeing up money for the importing costs. I was intrigued. The more so when he told me his dad proposed commencing delivery accross the north Atlantic in 'about 2 weeks'. Swallowing my surprise at the thought of an unprepared boat setting off in February, I thought I could consider a cash on delivery deal. I asked for some time to think and put the phone down. I rang him later and arranged to meet him in the morning.
Upon ringing him the next day, the deal started to turn sour. He opened by telling me that, in order to make sure he was not wasting his time when he could be working (this was sunday), he wanted $1000 non-refundable deposit, just to show me the boat. The balance, I assumed would be paid before my departure home, leaving him with a boat and $6000 and me a promise of delivery to the UK. Unfortunately we failed to aggree to this deal, being, as it was somewhat loose to say the least.
We spent the rest of our stay messing around having fun.
In conclusion, I hold up my hands as the person who dropped out of the deal, hence my meeting him, paying his costs and apologising to him. I am sorry that he was unhappy with his dealings with me. Having rung him prior to bidding, however, and arranging that I would bid on the basis that it may be the case that I could not buy, I feel clear of conscience. The other note which may be of interest to someone here, is that there is a very cheap E35-2 in Cocoa Fl. Corey, the seller, is off to Kentucky soon to weld railways and he is more than keen to sell. I offered to put his nimber out here if anyone cares to ring. I have NOT seen the boat so cannot comment on her. His number is 321-323-0507.
My thanks go to all the members of this forum who carry such a wealth of knowledge and are so willing to share it. I am sorry not to be joining the Ericson family and blame grotty European paper-generating nonsense for this not having worked.
Thanks again to everyone for your help, and I would be very interested to hear if anyone checks out this boat I travelled over 10000 miles to nearly see.
Regards,
Nicki