Tale of a used diesel motor sale.

For each our last three sailboats, we’d purchased new auxiliary engines. Yup, gluttonous upgrades. Moored on the tumultuous Merrimack River, we’ve accepted the fact that to get to and from the ocean, unless you’re a hard-core purist and or an exceptionally patient sailor, you’re smart to employ a moderately reliable auxiliary engine.

Fayaway’s original Yanmar diesel engine sat unused for fifteen years. We resurrected the noisy, leaking machine back to a functional state, albeit with a few few unresolved and intermittent issues. It remained unreliable by our standards. Though fairly mechanically competent, I lack patience enough to be fussing with a temperamental engine as we drift towards or struggle to windward, away from a lee shore of breaking rocks.

Having already sunk a couple boat bucks into the iron beast and yet still reluctantly purchasing ever more spare parts, we soon decided not to continue beating a dying horse whilst adventuring on far flung journeys. So it was time for another costly motor upgrade.

Hence, we scheduled a complete repower during the upcoming winter layover with a reputable marine installer. If you’ve never replaced an original factory engine, I’ll just say you’re in for a treat of severe invasive destruction, as the motor is intrinsically connected to many other essential bits.

In the meantime we wondered: What would be had with Fayaway’s older yet still basically ok Yanmar? She may be moody, but she’d been running reasonably well after a few more leak repairs and preventative updates.

So, I asked around: “Could we sell the old engine? What is it worth?” Our boatyard installer chided, “We already have three of those take-out engines, the same model, sitting out back now, waiting for bargain-hunting buyers. You’ll never be able to sell it!”

But never one to acquiesce easily to naysayers, I placed a free ad in the area Craigslist, with a purely optimistic, yet completely guesstimated price, loosely based on similar models advertised on eBay. Purely a swag! What have we got to lose?

After three weeks of proverbial crickets, I suddenly received two unrelated inquiries, one seemingly serious. (Craigslist is famous for scammers.) I responded to “Have you still got the motor?” But never heard back again. Another week or two went by, and then I received yet another enthusiastic inquiry:

“If you still have the motor, I really need it! Please get right back to me!”

Me: “Yes, I still have it, but it’s staying in the boat until sometime over the winter, then it will be removed before its replacement.”

“Well that’s ok, but I can pay you now.” He insisted.

Smelling perhaps a Craigslist fishing scheme, I proposed that he should first inspect the engine, while it’s still in the boat, but clearly explained that it can’t be fired up (without paying for it to be re-winterized). He agreed. So, playing along, I then advised the boatyard manager Jonesy that a person is interested in purchasing Fayaway’s old engine and asked if he could assist in my absence. “No problem, I’m happy to help,” was Jonesy’s response.

My mystery Craigslist Man never did show up, but again contacted me, offering to meet up, to pay for the engine. Pay now, see later? Ok, sounds even more fishy. Having received no further purchase inquiries, I decided that playing along couldn’t hurt, and advised that if he should only provide a small deposit. I’d hold it for him until spring, or otherwise sooner at the time of its removal from the boat, and he could pay the remainder during pickup.

We’re now into the first week of November, and driving that afternoon to Barrington, RI, to embark on a delivery passage to Tortola. Coincidentally, Craigslist Man called that morning and wanting to pay my requested deposit – today. Not divulging where we lived, I offered to meet at convenient location, ideally during our drive south. On that chilly rain-storm afternoon, he pulled up next to our car at the predesignated spot. I rolled down the window, we shook hands and chatted. He wanted to keep chatting, as rains were coming down, about his boat having never been sailed, but needed an engine, and… about the plate in his head. Possibly in his late thirties, and a perhaps bit whacked; things began to make sense. He asked if there was an ATM nearby so he could get more cash for me.

Hmmm.

Now if this wasn’t such a public location I’d be a bit concerned with this odd duck, but now seemed less likely an elaborate con. Reaching out the window, I pointed behind at the liquor store, and said that they might have an ATM inside. Off he went.

A few minutes later he came back to the car, and no sooner did I get the window low enough, he tossed a soggy wad of bills into my lap, and asked with a genuine smile, “Is that enough?”

I handed over the wet bills to Kelly for a quick count. $1,200 was way more than the $100 deposit I asked for. Now feeling the tables are turned, I didn’t want to be taking advantage of an honest person, but really needed to get going on our delivery passage. So after his flat refusal to take any of it back, I quickly edited and signed the bill of sale document as his receipt, which he didn’t seem too concerned about. He profusely thanked me, pumping my right hand, and we departed ways.

Springtime had come, fast forward four months, to the end of March. I emailed our friendly Craigslist Dude to provide an update: “Your motor is safely packed into a crate, along with wiring and instruments. I’ve included the Yanmar workshop manuals, parts lists and a bunch of new spare parts. It’s ready to pick up.” He was driving back from Florida and couldn’t be there for a couple weeks. I responded that it’s no problem, but I wanted to give the yard an approximate time, as the palleted engine was inside keeping dry, but taking up valuable shop space. He kindly offered to pay for the boatyard’s trouble! “I don’t think that’s necessary; I’m sure they won’t mind a couple more weeks.”

A month later I hadn’t heard from him, so I sent an email. He replied that he “would be by soon” to pick up the engine. I notified the yard – do not to give him the engine until he paid me.

A week later, the office called: “A man wants to give us a lot of cash, and says it’s for you. I’m not sure what it’s for!”

I said, “for my old Yanmar; how much?”

“$2,000. What should I do with it?”

This was $300 less than what we last agreed was the balance. Before giving her an answer I assessed the circumstances, decided that since this guy was a bit off his rocker, felt lucky to get $3,200 for the old engine, so said “Please apply the cash to my account balance owed, and he can take the engine.”

I feel ok because the engine was sold as-is and in good running condition. I had offered to help him with the installation. Delaying release of this post, I had hoped for an epilogue, but it’s now been nearly four years since I heard from him. Story over? We wish him good luck and happy sailing!

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Special thanks and recognition for Johanson’s Boatworks in Rockland, Maine, for their kindly assistance to carefully crate, store and load our old engine onto the buyer’s truck. Johanson’s talented team has performed quality workmanship for Fayaway during winter storage.