A fishing trip deep into the ‘dark web’

wouldn’t get anything for less than 5k.

Blow me down, Facebook Marketplace is amazing! It’s like Briscoes – the sale never ends! What’s everyone so worried about? Yeah, there are a few scammers here and there, but those kinds of people also knock on your door during dinnertime and ask you to change power company.

Facebook Marketplace is bloody brilliant.

I came across a 14ft fibreglass boat – includes outboard, VHF radio, bilge pump, Fish Finder, anchor winch and a trailer with WOF and rego. It was too good to be true. But it was true – a Watson worthy winner.

Two days later and my new old boat, Bung In, was sitting in the driveway – all $2700 of her.

‘‘Oh that sounds too cheap,’’ Dad muttered on the phone. ‘‘Yeah watch out with that ay,’’ my brother warned.

My wife came out to see what I was so excited about: ‘‘Wow. It’s pretty crappy.’’

Pffft. They were just jealous.

I had done it.

I had found the best boat bargain any Watson had ever discovered. I was like Captain Cook discovering New Zealand (to be honest, my boat is probably of the same era).

The guy I bought it off assured me she was trustworthy, he had basically crossed Cook Strait with her – I was a proud Watson boat owner.

Yeah sure, since buying her there have been a few ‘‘fun’’ moments.

Trip one, I discovered some old drill holes in the hull and we kind of almost certainly started sinking. We made it back to the jetty, and I’ve since plugged them up.

All good.

Trip two, the steering snapped, and I had to use a bait board as a rudder to get back across the channel to the boat ramp – all fixed now, though.

Trip three and the trailer rollers fell off while she was being loaded on to the trailer. Honestly unpredictable. No one’s fault.

And trip four she would only go in reverse. ‘‘It’s like a bumper boat!’’ I told the kids.

‘‘Dad I want Mum!’’ they screamed back.

Would I have had this much ‘‘fun’’ had I bought a proper, more expensive boat? No. It would just be boring straightforward, hassle-free fishing. Lame.

Facebook Marketplace – live a little.

Jordan Watson’s boating bargain was a find worthy of his family traditions.