Chasing the Dream

I have a few avocations that require equipment. I like to patronize local merchants, but sometimes it’s much more advantageous to buy elsewhere.

Last week, I placed an order via email with a little company about a thousand miles away that I buy from, anticipating they might mess it up. Their batting average isn’t good. I was very specific, trying to avert this situation, but today it became apparent they overcame my precautions. We’ll get it straightened out.

They are enthusiasts, not businesspeople. The upside of dealing with them is that they really know the equipment and give excellent advice. They use it themselves. And, they do try to take care of their fellow enthusiasts. But, they still fall prey to their weaknesses. I go into the deals with my eyes open about this.

Years ago, I owned a large cabin cruiser and berthed it on a long dock in a marina, along with other large boats. Most of them had electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, etc. In other words, it’s like maintaining a house.

Except, these boats also had engines. Usually, two for propulsion and one to run the generator. Therefore, it’s like keeping up a house and a few cars.

An integral part of this type of boating is taking an evening or day a week to fix or replace something. There’s always a project. If you love boats, it’s not such a bad thing. This is part of it. Especially, the way it’s done.

You go down to the boat, turn on the stereo, lay out the tools and pop open a beer. Then, you get to work.

I am reminded of finals week in college. We laid out everything and steeled ourselves for all-nighters. At least, until someone broke. That is, felt a need for displacement activity. Someone would take a break and wander into another room to shoot the breeze. Then, another guy would show up. And another. Pretty soon, you had an all-night card game.

You’re working on your boat, as are a number of other guys. One of them ambles down the dock with an extra beer and offers it to you. What the heck. You deserve a break. You start talking boats and other guy things. Pretty soon, there’s three more guys. You break out the deck chairs and some more beers. A good time is had by all. We loved this.

One night, I’m grappling with a defective bilge pump and feel the boat list slightly. Someone has climbed aboard. I go topside and find Ed with a beer extended toward me. I’ve been working at least ten minutes, so I’m due for a rest.

But, Ed has more than the usual maritime gab on his mind. Another marina is for sale and he wants to know if I’m interested in discussing going partners on it. You mean, hang out at a marina full time? What’s to discuss? This is a no-brainer.

What greases the process is that Ed and I both own companies and use the same business lawyer. Ed makes an appointment with Jim and we go to see him.

Ed puts the financials in front of Jim. He says they can be reviewed later, he’ll tell Jim about the business first.

Jim says, “No, I’ll tell you. I gave you the appointment to look you both in the eyes when I tell you that you’re nuts.”

“Jim,” I interrupt, “you haven’t even heard the deal.

“Don’t have to. I’ve been through this a dozen times with clients who think they can have their cake and eat it too. It blinds you when it’s your hobby. This is a high risk, high maintenance business. One month of high water can kill a good part of your gas business. Docks wear out. Pipes and wiring break. Who’s going to do all that work? You guys see yourselves sitting around on some chaise lounges, sipping pina coladas, smoking Macanudos and watching the boat bimbos prance by.”

“That’s not true. I was thinking more like Bass Ale.”

We wrangled for hours, with no side giving any quarter. Finally, Jim just flat out refused to have anything to do with it. “If you guys were doing something that played to your strengths, I’d back you to the hilt. But, this ain’t it.”

It took a few days to come down to earth. Jim was right. If I took the romance out of the equation, it didn’t make any business sense.

Not that everything has to. But, a big mistake can take you down. I have a friend who bought a country club a few years ago and it’s bleeding him white.

Yeah, I do business with these guys with the equipment because they give good prices and even better advice. But, I’m also supporting their dream. They went for it and I hope they make it.