We figured we would finally start a
refit or
rebuild thread for our old girl. She is a 1962
Columbia 29
hull number 28. We purchased here without visiting her or seeing in person.
So, the wife and I had been looking for a sailboat for some time capable of trailering home to
work on and store from time to time. So, we found the
Columbia 29 in
San Diego and it had a
trailer with it. The owner said he wouldn't part the two so we didn't even bother driving down to view the
boat. Fast forward three or so months and I happen to jump on craigslist while I am overseas and I see the same Columbia. She was up
for sale with or without the
trailer for $10.00.
I immediately emailed the seller and told him I wanted the
boat and in general loved the
classic lines. That I had been looking for something similar to a
Pearson Triton and loved the S&S and
Alberg designs (the Columbia is a S&S design). A few days later I got an
email back from his wife saying they had gotten a few hundred replies back within a couple days on the boat, but they decided to give her to us.
So, my wife mailed over a check for ten bucks, I called the Marina and started the slip transfer. Obtained
insurance from GEICO (they were awesome to
work with), more on that later if anyone cares.
Anyway, got home a few months later from traveling and the wife and I packed up the
kids, hitched up the trailer and drove from Montana to
San Diego. By the way, the trailer was another craigslist score my wife found. A triple axle beast capable of hauling boats up to 13k and we got it for $750.00. The brakes didn't work since a wire had been torn loose and I pretty much had to rewire the whole thing, but its rock solid.
Anyway, back to the boat we got her picked up and spoke at length with the previous owner. He had tons of extra and new
parts for her but just got to old with bad knees to climb into her and needed to let her go. So, we cleaned and washed her down, motored with the Tohatsu 6hp sailpro
motor several miles to the boat yard for the
haul out and pressure wash, etc.
Keep in mind the wife and I have almost no experience
boating lol. We took several online boater courses to navigate the markers, read up on
google how to run the
outboard (don't laugh) and had a hand held
gps to navigate to the right spot lol.
Anyway, we are crazy and honestly, we just figured the few times we have gone sailing out of Monterey or San Diego we loved it and why not just buy one and learn in it than
renting. So, we did.
Photos and stuff, we are doing follows, please feel free to ask any questions and we will respond as soon as able.
Newhaul, here are some photos so now I can prove its real lol. Thanks to everyone along the way here who has been patient and shared the knowledge they have gathered along the years. Don and Newhaul more than many have answered lots of questions but they certainly aren't the only ones.
Wally out of San Diego at Infinity Yacht
Service was super helpful also as well as the entire crew at the boat yard in National City.