20/05/2010 1:43 pm
All,
Got to thinking last evening about the Julia Belle and her current situation. Is it because it cost money to advertise the boat for sale that we haven't seen any ads to that affect? I mean if you don't advertise the boat it's not very likely that the boat will sell via sternline telegraph. I'm wondering if the owners true intentions are to sell the boat versus letting her fall further into dis-repair. Why not at least get this information out through the Waterways Journal, Reflector, ASA newsletter, online here, etc. Would it be too much to ask for Captain Bates to do a story on the boat for the old boat column just to get the information out there. I guess worse case scenario I could write a letter to the editor and hope that someone reads it who might be insterested. The owner has to want to sell the boat though and we'd need a solid asking price. Does anyone know if that's truly his intentions?
Your comments are welcomed here.
Aaron
20/05/2010 5:59 pm
JBS
For several years Bob Kalhagen has said he'd sell her for the right offer. But I don't think he had her openly for sale. Then a year ago a couple from the Twin Cities was in serious negotiations which fell apart, thus cancelling the 2009 season. I assume he has no further, at least immediate, plans to run the JBS again, but as to the lack of open selling, perhaps its the same reason that repairs weren't made: it costs money to advertise. Can't see that it would hurt anything for you to publicize her idling and need for an owner to run her....
25/05/2010 4:06 pm
An easy no cost way to get the word out would be to put her up for auction on Ebay. Of course I suppose that would also make her available to scrap dealers. Well, maybe a "no bids from scrappers" condition could be put in the terms of sale.