Topic starter
15/10/2009 2:03 am
Theres a large ad in the Oct. 5 Waterways Journal offering the Barbara H. for sale. Asking price: 115,000.00. After reading all the recent threads about the restoration work and painting recently done on her I thought she was headed for a new lease on life. Hopefully she is - but under new ownership? Whats happened here?
Also, my very late Summer S & D Reflector arrived today with a sad photo on the cover of the President's decapitated pilothouse and more photos inside of her dismembered parts. Also inside is an article about the pioneering Diesel towboats Neville and Peace with a heading photo of the Neville on her way to the scrapyard. And on the back cover is a photo of the DQ laid up as a hotel in Chattanooga. As I write this the old Becky Thatcher (ex Mississippi) is on her way to Pittsburgh to an uncertain future (if she makes it at all) and the W.P. Snyder is still at Marietta awaiting a similar trip up river for a new hull. (if she doesn't sink in place first.) All of this is downright depressing. Is there any good river news out there?
15/10/2009 12:09 pm
John,
Yes, I ran one ad in the WJ to see what the market is like. As I suspected, it would be a tough sell, due to the economy.
I'm afraid if it sold I would have a bad case of "seller's remorse". We don't really want to sell, but lately I must pay attention to my software business so much (due to the economic downturn) that I don't have time to enjoy the boat. My CAD/CAM software sells to companies worldwide, but this market has been hit very hard, as it is the manufacturing sector (automotive, aerospace, RVs, etc). Most of my time is now spent marketing the software to new customers.
Sure the boat looks great sitting at the dock, and I still enjoy maintaining it to museum quality, but I'd like to actually *operate it* more. We jumped thru all those hoops to get our COI back in 2008, and now with the economy in the toilet, these rivertown festivals have no funds to pay our small fee to bring us to their events. So the boat has sat at the dock all year.
I would be surprised if it sells, in this economy. The people who like these boats, and are in a position to harbor them, always want something for nothing. They don't care about National Historic Landmark status, or the fact that it would cost $1.1 million to build a new boat like it. Most of those people want a boat they can get for nothing, then "gut" and make into a live-aboard. So I'm going to be real careful about who I sell to, and this is why my price is a bit higher than similar boats have sold for in the recent past.
Anyway, I suspect the Barbara H will remain here for a while. I'm happy to keep going with it as long as my software business improves, and hopefully have more time to actually operate the boat next year.
So considering the fact that the boat will probably not sell and remain here, that is why you all will see our non-profit continue to maintain and promote the boat, through such things as our fundraising Calendar, which I will be announcing shortly.
15/10/2009 2:20 pm
Any good news on the river? Yes
John asked if there was any good news on the river. I know the funk he's in, because this would be the heart of the season of my QUEENS chasing and servicing on their UMR fall foliage trips, and this year - nothing. But the good news is that the NATCHEZ is still going, not 3 trips every day regularly as of old, but she is still steaming along her NOLA harbor route, keeping steamboating alive down south. I'll be heading down there next week, so I'll look for some cheery shots to take and post. The new Navy ship NEW YORK left Avondale Shipyard Tuesday amid crowds lining the river on both sides, but alas, the fog was so bad one could hardly see the ship from shore. Debbie came in early to play a calliope salute as the NEW YORK passed, but she said it was only a shadow to her from the roof of the NATCHEZ. But she played on...
15/10/2009 3:54 pm
Steve, Thank you for your gracious posting, although you really need not feel obligated to publicly disclose your reason for advertising the boat for sale in the WJ. You and Barbara certainly are beloved friends to many of us on the river, as is the BARBARA H., and we wish for you and the boat only the best. As you pointed out, there are a number of miserly, uncaring, freeloaders in our midst and a gem like the BARBARA H. must NOT fall into the hands of any of them who will not appreciate her for the treasure that she is -- to be turned into a giddy gaudy houseboat or worse. You and Barb have literally poured your hearts and souls -- and LOTS of $$$ -- into that grand old sternwheeler -- and we hope she stays right where she belongs -- at Lamb Landing!!!
A whistle salute to you and Barbara -- and with gratitude for ALL that you both have done and continue to do to preserve and promote our river heritage.