Denison For Sale on eBay

All I can say is "When something seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Some specific things that scare me beyond just it being on ebay are:

I wouldn't touch it without a survey first and that likely isn't possible. But the comments about needing MTU engineer to start the engines. Combine that with the bow and portside damage. I'd sure want to know what happened with this boat. Colorful history?

The talk about selling for scrap. Why was that even mentioned if that's not a real possibility of the best thing to do with it?

Then the line that scared me the most was that the reserve was to cover operational expenses of a recent charter. What? So it was chartered, damaged, and some operational expenses haven't been paid? That makes me concerned that their may be other liens on the boat. What about mechanics and yard liens? So, in addition to survey, I'd sure want a full title search.

Small window of opportunity before donating to a government entity? What in the world does that mean? Perhaps a government entity about to take it to cover fines or penalties or something? What is so bad about it that makes it something to just donate and get nothing for it?

I just see no protection for a buyer in a situation like this yacht on ebay. Can't write a contract subject to survey or no outstanding obligations or title search. Not sure what one would have to go through to get the full and completely honest story on this boat. Sure sounds like a huge gamble and I think to bid on it one must be prepared to lose whatever they put up. Plus have only 5 days to find out about the yacht.

Who even has it up for sale? Doesn't sound like it's the owner. Is it a broker? Shipyard? Charter organization? If you could get it for the reserve and then get it fully repaired and refurbished and get it to wherever you'd like it plus clear title for another million dollars you'd have a great old boat I guess. But something tells me that isn't possible. Plus if one was going to do all that, why not buy a similar boat that one can be more sure of.

Does anyone recall the build-to-sink ratio of Denisons?

Ok, that's before my time of being involved so obviously you recall. Care to fill us novices in on what must have been rather bad odds?

Wow, I googled. "For Your Eyes Only", "Lady Anna", and "Miss Turnburry". "For Your Eyes Only" sued but never made it to court. Sinking sunk sales. Bankruptcy.

I did notice "Lady Anna" was believed by many to be deliberate. Don't know what happened they said but it sank within 5 minutes in 428 feet of water. Oh supposedly had nearest to bulletproof hull possible, but then so did Titanic. I saw "For Your Eyes Only" was actually salvaged and became a charter yacht, "Dynamo".

And now the one on E-Bay has a colorful history? I can only imagine. Can't top "Lady Anna" which supposedly was taken from Denison in the middle of the night and not completed, but owner said paid too much and Denison said money still owed.

Interesting to read Broward and Denison histories and all the sons branching off into their own businesses.

Could be but Denison shows Texas Star II for sale for $1,750,000 and located in Fort Lauderdale. which only makes story more curious if that's it. Formerly known as Thunderball, Enery and Ragazza.

Edit: Oh found article saying they sold it in 2012 and was being shipped to Tahiti.

More information and I believe you're right. It appears it was more recently for sale in Cape Verde by Denison for $995,000.

Lady Anna was off the Jersey coast. Sounds illogical that it might have been intentional, especially with the other sinkings. Just it was so fast the Captain didn't even have time to radio. For those wanting a large SF, this was one.

For Your Eyes Only had left Hillsboro Inlet for the Bahamas. It did take water through the engine vents but the determination was supposedly that wasn't enough to sink it. It was said it hit a sandbar exiting the inlet and cracked the housings for the waterjets causing water to flood the engine room.

Miss Turnburry was off St. Kitts and water was noticed in engine room but cause not determined. Theory was through hull exhaust valve failing. It took about 2 hours to sink, not nearly as fast as Lady Anna.

Supposedly the Captain's story changed sometime after the first Coast Guard interview. The insurer sent down sonar equipment to try to figure out what happened.

Really, doesn't matter how the details vary on the three sinkings to me. Three is just too many to consider coincidence or to blame other situations. Boats hit sandbars, hit rough water, have through hull issues all the time and the vast majority of them don't sink. Was it the waterjets? The intakes? Or just that once they took on water for any reason they went all the way down quickly? After that obviously people weren't willing to buy and take the chance and neither would I have considered it.

Also there were stories of yards closing, hulls built one place then completed elsewhere. Appeared at best Denison had issues before the last sinkings but they made any recovery impossible.

The whole Denison story is a tangled web. Appeared all members of the family wanted to head in different directions. Most stayed in boating but one started Skipper's Oil.

I do have one question of those who know more history. Did Broward experience problems of any magnitude like Denison, but not necessarily sinking? What was Broward quality?

They were 24k gold plated screws, hinges, and fixtures .. They were tied to a lobster trap line in 660' water with 10-12' swells and high wind. Rumor was the owner didn't like to get his feet wet and would block the scuppers . I doubt they were tied to the stern all the articles I have just say tied to Lobster buoy. I have the article from the day after it sunk and a 3 year later follow up w/pictures, I tried to post them here but got message from site that I didn't have permission . I may try another day if I find the time. also they were out there for a tournament and didn't want to spend the night at the marina in Atlantic city were the tournament was being hosted because of the size of his boat and hassle docking it- plus get a little fishing in...dp

Welcome to YF dapower 1. Yes, there's a period (not sure how long) while they won't allow you certain posting privileges. It's mostly so they can make sure you're not a "cam-girl" or such before pictures go up. (Yes it actually happens often with these spammers. (Once just a couple of weeks ago in fact). I hope you do remember to post them when you can. Updates are always good.
Again, welcome.