Saturday, June 26, 2010
Lessons Learned
Nice relaxing time last weekend. Betty and I spent some quality time with Jeff's 424 Pearson Gypsy. We found out that Betty can indeed live on board, at least for a few days as long as the water is smooth. She would probably get used to it completely if we had enough time. So we learned some lessons about maintenance, cooking, watching tide charts, anchoring and handling the sheets.
Friday, June 11, 2010
More Sailing!
More thanks and kudos go to Captain Jeff! He invited us to a complete weekend of sailing! As I mentioned previously he has a Pearson 424 stashed away and he has kindly invited Betty and I aboard for the weekend with a few of his friends and son. Betty is tickled pink and frankly so am I. Not sure where we are headed to, Capt. Jeff indicated some island Betty couldn't remember but even if we really go nowhere we will still be introduced to a couple more new things. Anchoring, docking, navigation, what it is like to live aboard, things like that. Woohoo even!
I did some more boat searching last night and found a couple of pretty nice sub 100K boats. All these boat names are click-able links and I have visited each of them. An interesting looking Gulfstar, a 424 Morgan, except it is in Panama, not a real great location for me. A Downeast Ketch, a pretty nice Mayflower 48.
Anyway I could keep posting links till I run out of space on my page. But then there was this girl. She is a Pearson 424, 1981 down in New Orleans currently. So yeah she was in the water when Katrina came ashore. They say she rode it out and ended the storm still floating. I am leery of this sort of thing I have to tell you. It is 2010 after all, if she was in such great shape why is she still for sale 5 years later? Nothing above deck works, the through hulls would all need to be replaced. And of course all the cushions and what not would need to be replaced. I am way more concerned with standing rigging and masts as well as hull integrity. Wonder what has landed in the tanks. The survey says she has some issues with her electrical. So basically I am thinking this would be buying a hull and everything would need to be replaced. That can run to a bunch I know that! And frankly for the cash they are asking I could buy this Morgan Classic. And it would require a great deal less work! So what offer 10K for the wreck?
Anyway it just goes to show that yes you can spend till you can't spend anymore on a boat, and of course the more you spend the more you get. But there are a ton of boats out there and the worse the economy gets the more become available. Is the economy improving? Not for me it isn't. Has it improved for you? There are some pretty nice boats available in the San Diego area as well, but really I can't see spending an additional 5K or more on shipping. That 5K could really buy some nice stainless steel rigging, or a new toy for the nav. station.
And on a side note, if you are going to include pictures of your boat on the sales page, and you should, the more the merrier, make sure they are in focus ok? If you are listing the giant aft owners cabin as a high level selling point, then maybe you should include a few pictures of it don't you think? Yes thank you for the pictures of the heads, it is always nice to see they are not swimming in filth, but if you are only going to post 10 pictures, I could totally skip the 2 heads and show the other more interesting parts of the boat.
See you on the other side!
I did some more boat searching last night and found a couple of pretty nice sub 100K boats. All these boat names are click-able links and I have visited each of them. An interesting looking Gulfstar, a 424 Morgan, except it is in Panama, not a real great location for me. A Downeast Ketch, a pretty nice Mayflower 48.
Anyway I could keep posting links till I run out of space on my page. But then there was this girl. She is a Pearson 424, 1981 down in New Orleans currently. So yeah she was in the water when Katrina came ashore. They say she rode it out and ended the storm still floating. I am leery of this sort of thing I have to tell you. It is 2010 after all, if she was in such great shape why is she still for sale 5 years later? Nothing above deck works, the through hulls would all need to be replaced. And of course all the cushions and what not would need to be replaced. I am way more concerned with standing rigging and masts as well as hull integrity. Wonder what has landed in the tanks. The survey says she has some issues with her electrical. So basically I am thinking this would be buying a hull and everything would need to be replaced. That can run to a bunch I know that! And frankly for the cash they are asking I could buy this Morgan Classic. And it would require a great deal less work! So what offer 10K for the wreck?
Anyway it just goes to show that yes you can spend till you can't spend anymore on a boat, and of course the more you spend the more you get. But there are a ton of boats out there and the worse the economy gets the more become available. Is the economy improving? Not for me it isn't. Has it improved for you? There are some pretty nice boats available in the San Diego area as well, but really I can't see spending an additional 5K or more on shipping. That 5K could really buy some nice stainless steel rigging, or a new toy for the nav. station.
And on a side note, if you are going to include pictures of your boat on the sales page, and you should, the more the merrier, make sure they are in focus ok? If you are listing the giant aft owners cabin as a high level selling point, then maybe you should include a few pictures of it don't you think? Yes thank you for the pictures of the heads, it is always nice to see they are not swimming in filth, but if you are only going to post 10 pictures, I could totally skip the 2 heads and show the other more interesting parts of the boat.
See you on the other side!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Which way to Tahiti?
Evidently you can get there from here, just takes a while.
Getting out of a large town on a Friday night when you most want to be somewhere else is the same no matter what town you happen to be leaving. Getting out of Baltimore requires a bridge, Denver's requirement is I70. Traffic, cars, plenty of people, and just where did they all come from and can't they get out of my way?
Four some hours later we pulled into our hosts lawn outside Chance MD. Good thing that was where he parked his cars as well. Jeff and Margarette were kind enough to offer us the use of their efficiency while we were in town as the nearest hotel is back at the cross roads I think. A room, a nice steak dinner with salad from the garden and that made for quite a nice evening. We sat around and drank and chatted till it was quite past time to get some sleep.
The next morning we imbibed a bit of coffee and made plans for the day. The wind was still up a bit for us beginners so we wandered around looking at Jeff's boats and getting a bit of a lesson about lines, sheets, and sailing in general. After a while the wind calmed enough that we could embark. After a bit of a fuss getting away from dock we sailed out of Scotts Cove. It was interesting to say the least. Of course we didn't bring our camera, yeah we always forget the camera. But then again there wasn't anything to really take pictures of, well except for my giant grin as I found out that steering a sailboat certainly isn't like steering a car down the highway. Not that I expected it to be mind you, but there are a great number of new things to think about. The 21' Freedom Cat we were in is indeed quite nimble and could I am sure be pretty quick, under the proper hand. But it was still a great time. Betty and I shared helm duties, Jeff did Captain crap. Mainly sitting downwind and regaling us with stories from the day. Occasionally peering about, about his only comment on sailing was "Pointing a bit close to the wind." He has quite a long and storied past. His first sailboat was one he built himself back in the early 70's. A 45' ferro concrete hull they built in his backyard. He currently has a few sailboats, the 21' Cat Boat he took us out in, a smaller 12' (?) and then his baby a 424 Pierson.
So we really didn't go anywhere just out into the bay, dinked around out there till Betty got tired and we turned around and headed back. Total time under sail? I don't know, 5 minutes or 4 hours. It went by pretty darn fast. Turned it around and blew back to dock. Had a great time. Can't wait to go do it again.
Mighty thanks to Betty, a greater woman you will never meet, it is a great joy to have her in my life. Thanks for the years love, here is to many more. Best birthday ever!
It's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Getting out of a large town on a Friday night when you most want to be somewhere else is the same no matter what town you happen to be leaving. Getting out of Baltimore requires a bridge, Denver's requirement is I70. Traffic, cars, plenty of people, and just where did they all come from and can't they get out of my way?
Four some hours later we pulled into our hosts lawn outside Chance MD. Good thing that was where he parked his cars as well. Jeff and Margarette were kind enough to offer us the use of their efficiency while we were in town as the nearest hotel is back at the cross roads I think. A room, a nice steak dinner with salad from the garden and that made for quite a nice evening. We sat around and drank and chatted till it was quite past time to get some sleep.
The next morning we imbibed a bit of coffee and made plans for the day. The wind was still up a bit for us beginners so we wandered around looking at Jeff's boats and getting a bit of a lesson about lines, sheets, and sailing in general. After a while the wind calmed enough that we could embark. After a bit of a fuss getting away from dock we sailed out of Scotts Cove. It was interesting to say the least. Of course we didn't bring our camera, yeah we always forget the camera. But then again there wasn't anything to really take pictures of, well except for my giant grin as I found out that steering a sailboat certainly isn't like steering a car down the highway. Not that I expected it to be mind you, but there are a great number of new things to think about. The 21' Freedom Cat we were in is indeed quite nimble and could I am sure be pretty quick, under the proper hand. But it was still a great time. Betty and I shared helm duties, Jeff did Captain crap. Mainly sitting downwind and regaling us with stories from the day. Occasionally peering about, about his only comment on sailing was "Pointing a bit close to the wind." He has quite a long and storied past. His first sailboat was one he built himself back in the early 70's. A 45' ferro concrete hull they built in his backyard. He currently has a few sailboats, the 21' Cat Boat he took us out in, a smaller 12' (?) and then his baby a 424 Pierson.
So we really didn't go anywhere just out into the bay, dinked around out there till Betty got tired and we turned around and headed back. Total time under sail? I don't know, 5 minutes or 4 hours. It went by pretty darn fast. Turned it around and blew back to dock. Had a great time. Can't wait to go do it again.
Mighty thanks to Betty, a greater woman you will never meet, it is a great joy to have her in my life. Thanks for the years love, here is to many more. Best birthday ever!
It's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Sailing!
Such excellent news! Betty took me out for dinner last night @ Lewnes' Steak House. Absolutely fabulous I have to say, probably one of the finest steaks I have ever had the pleasure to devour. We started with a 1/2 dozen chop tank oysters on the half shell, yummy, continued on with a tomato and onion salad with a lite little vinaigrette and blue cheese crumbles. We then continued on to the main course, Betty had a slab of Prime while I defaulted to my usual Rib Eye. We shared a baked potato the size of Rhode Island and an equally large plate of sautéed asparagus. A fine bottle of red accompanied. The reason for this little excursion? My birthday is coming up this Saturday and Betty could no longer hold onto my birthday present. Betty has always had an issue with keeping secrets and has been alluding to the blast we will be having this upcoming Saturday for a couple weeks now. So between salad and the main course she started handing over envelopes. Ah a nice little card with a shell on it, then a rather fat little packet. I opened that and imagine my surprise when I saw this, reproduced from Betty's hand made card...
"Captain Jeff Wilson, a USCG Captain 100 ton, has 30 years living and working on the water. His love for sailing is apparent through a Craig's List ad and many telephone conversations. He is willing to share his expertise and abundant knowledge of boats, living aboard and seamanship in a private sailing lesson arranged for your edification and pleasure."
So Friday night I am packing up the hotel room grabbing Betty and we are running down to Chance, MD for the weekend, well at least till Saturday afternoon!
As Betty states in her little card, "After our 1/2 day sailing lesson the rest of the day we will spend either planning our life in the live aboard community or cleaning up my puke and revising our plans." I plan on getting her a few Dramamine patches, well maybe more than a few, I think I could just cover her in them and might stand a chance. =)
So we finally get to go out on something a little smaller than a ferry boat. She has indicated that it might be as small as a 21', but freely admits she could be completely incorrect. Whatever. As long as it has a sail I think I will be quite happy.
So in the mean time I have some assignments to do to fulfill my obligations to my academic group. Been going to college online for the last few years off and on. I earned my ASIT from an online school that way and after a hiatus last year decided to return to complete my studies and receive my BSIT. Not terribly sure if I will live long enough to ever repay the loans, but it beats sitting and moldering in either the various extended stay rooms we seem to live in these days or the apartment in Hatboro. I am currently taking a class in Distributed Systems and have a big project paper due Friday evening. Thankfully the guys in my class accepted my pushing and shoving to get things done a little faster than usual so I will be turning in our paper a day early. Thanks guys!
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."
– Antoine de Saint Exupéry
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."
– Antoine de Saint Exupéry
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