To say 2020 was difficult would be a massive understatement. It presented many challenges to endure where it felt like one crisis after another. Though so much was lost, every cloud has a silver lining, and lessons have shown through.
“Everything that happened in 2020 and 2021,” JFA Captain Michael Zornes reflects, “it made us all realize life is short and nothing is guaranteed.” The pandemic forced us to take inventory of our lives. “If you have a dream” Michael says, “don’t wait – go for it.”
James Fachtmann, CEO & Founder Captain of JFA Yacht & Ship, recalls he used to see the same people each year at the boat shows, even 5 years in a row, until they were “ready” to pull the trigger. They’d say, “Finally, I’ve got all my ducks in a row so now it’s time to buy a boat. And I’ve seen more than once, within 6 months of buying their boat, something health wise would happen to them or their family. That dream of theirs, of cruising or whatever it was they wanted to do, was shortchanged because they waited for “the right time.”
No there’s never a perfect time to buy a boat, just like there isn’t a perfect time to tackle a bad habit or change careers. James encourages, “even if you’ve got to start small, get on the water and start learning. If you don’t have a lot of time but you have the money, buy a boat, and stick it in charter so that you can utilize some of those tax benefits until you’re close to retirement and you could turn that charter boat into a forever boat.”
With a fresh reminder that life is fragile, and that our time is limited, the pandemic reminded us of our most precious asset – the gift of today – and that is why the best time to buy a yacht is right now.
