I arrived at the boat around noon today, only to find the back basin frozen
over. I got a couple of good sized rocks, walked out to the end of the
finger pier and tossed them about 30 feet in the air to the middle of the
channel. They just bounced off the ice, so it's solid.

Nobody I've talked to recommends trying to use a fiberglass boat as an ice
breaker, even in thin ice, so I called both of the involved brokers to give
them a heads up. I explained to the buyer's broker that unless we have a
major heat wave overnight, moving the boat from the slip tomorrow will not
be possible. I told them they are welcome to come up and do a dockside
survey, run the engines, etc., but hauling or a sea trial is very unlikely.
It's their call. (The buyer is flying three people up here.)

Meanwhile, I found out that the closing on the buyer's current boat
originally scheduled for Dec 10th still has not happened. An oil sample
came back with some strange readings on one of the transmissions and is
apparently causing a delay.

I again suggested to the buyer's broker that we all chill out, wait until
spring and see how many issues have resolved themselves. We will hold the
boat for them at the agreed upon price and do a full up survey and sea trial
in the spring.

I know it doesn't serve a broker's interests, but it is what it is and some
things cannot be forced.

Eisboch (learning that buying a boat is a hell of a lot easier than
selling one)