I was recently fortunate to visit a beautiful log cabin on the Olympic peninsula. The 100 year old structure was a great place to hide out in a nasty winter storm, and I can only imagine how much more safe it would have seemed before cars and cell phones. While talking with the owners I was reminded of how owners of old stuff are both masters of and servants to their passion. Masters in the sense that their name is on the title, servants in the sense that they are entrusted to preserve it for the next generation.
So I asked them how often guests offer to buy the place and I was not surprised to learn that there has not been a single offer in over a decade. I was not surprised because I have experienced the same thing with the Maris Pearl. People come on board and marvel at the 68 year old machinery, and the extent to which we as its caretakers go to preserve it for the next generation. Not a single person has ever suggested that they would like to be next in line for the responsibility.
When I tell people that old tugs are not hard to find or buy, no one ever takes the bait. Here is a sistership of the Maris Pearl that is currently for sale in San Francisco.