Memorial Day weekend marks our closing on the purchase of Blue Phoenix. We had a very unusual transaction, with Ken and Nancy keeping the boat from September 2024 at Trawlerfest all the way to delivery a few weeks ago in Wilmington NC. Ken wasn't ready to stop cruising (I'm not convinced he's ready still) and they had winter wonderland plans in the Keys and the Bahamas lasting until 2025.
We weren't ready to dash off to the boat, with job, kids, a working farm, employees. Heck, I needed a solution just to receive my mail and we'd done NOTHING to prepare our lives for our dream of living on a boat so we weren't in a hurry.
With such a drawn out purchase, we had occasion to visit Ken and Nancy in the Keys and get some time on the boat and to meet their friends. We also had many, many messages back and forth and have had occasion to become friends.
Much to Ken's dismay, the surveyor did find something to write up. ONE THING! Over a three day survey, plus a one day engine survey. Everyone we met said the boat was one of the cleanest boats they knew, its now official, unless someone out there has a boat with zero things wrong. I've never seen a boat with zero things wrong, ever.
Ken and Nancy moved off the boat last week and we began moving our stuff on. We plan to be full time onboard starting next month. When we showed up on our first moving day, we arrived to find some treats they'd left behind for us. Besides the boat being immaculate, a bottle of champaign awaited us on the dining table. But there was also an Easter egg. My first boat project, complete with blood and multiple trips out for parts was to replace a stainless steel manifold in the starboard lazarette. When I started that project I found everything helpfully labeled for me, as well as a hilarious sign (see attached) and a small bottle of tequila (also see attached) for my post maintenance work needs.
My intention in posting this message, besides publicly transitioning from future owners to current owners, is to publicly thank Ken and Nancy for being the wonderful stewards of Blue Phoenix and making a stressful, scary, major transaction smooth and enjoyable. I hope they are able to work their way into a new boat but in the mean time, don't be surprised if you see them on our boat in the Keys this winter.
Dan and Bethany Moore
Blue Phoenix - 2008 Selene 59