We pulled the trigger! Yes!!!

[CptCrunchie]

After 28 years of planning, 4 previous boats, learning vast details about literally hundreds of boats to understand what will work for us, and overcoming some serious health issues, we just purchased the boat that will complete those plans! I just flew back from Long Beach, CA after 5 days of boat search. What is strange to me is, when I walked up and touched the bowsprit of this one with my chest, it welcomed me like a horse rubbing up on you.



Belle Haven is an Irwin 46, slightly older, but in VERY good condition. While she needs some TLC, 90% is cosmetic. The other 10% is to change things so it suits our lifestyle. I'll be posting lots of threads through this process. But first, I head back on the 30th for surveys and sea trial ....which I'm sure will go exactly as I expect.

Her decks are HUGE, .....but are crazed and in serious need of painting. We are looking at a color scheme of navy blue, sand and gel coat white. (There's a thread.)





I'll be adding solar, a Purasan, watermaker, dive compressor, and eventually, a larger arch on the stern.



I plan to move the chartplotter that is currently beside the companionway onto the binnacle, then replace the Raymarine autopilot with a CPT.

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Her interior is in very nice condition,



...with just 2 windows with some water intrusions.

It has 3 SR's. The v-berth is a very good size with its own head and separate shower.



Then there is a double pilot berth to port.



The galley is intimate, but well laid out, with an excellent Force 10, huge fridge, and tons of storage!



The master, again, a very nice size. I will, however, be changing the berth to centerline, which is easy for someone who builds exotic hardwood furniture. (Wifey has no desire to crawl over me when her nightly comes calling.)



We are currently gathering needed parts and pieces to take back down, then sail - or should I say motor - her up the Wet Coast to get her home. I'm thankful she has 170g of fuel aboard, and hope to get some assistance from the wind.

[sailorboy1]

congrats

hope you go do some sailing and cruising before going into this massive refit/change the boat mode

[chowdan]

Congrats on the purchase! Focus on the things that are considered primary - leaks and any rot due to leaks before changing things for lifestyle improvements. Most of all, go have fun!

[er9]

beautiful boat! god i love those captains chairs. I wish i could fit them in mine.

[letsgetsailing3]

Congratulations on your new adventure!

[CptCrunchie]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by CptCrunchie

After 28 years of planning, 4 previous boats, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

We are currently gathering needed parts and pieces to take back down, then sail - or should I say motor - her up the Wet Coast to get her home. I'm thankful she has 170g of fuel aboard, and hope to get some assistance from the wind.

Congratulations. With your experience, don't know if you've done the "go north" trip. Here's mine:


I've posted our log (with charts & photos) here:

Travels with Aquavite: San Francsico Bay to British Columbia 2016

Photos are under the October tab

[DenverSailors]

Beautiful! If you post a blog or videos of your progress please provide a link.

[redhead]

Have a ball on your beautiful new boat!

As someone else said, and I can confirm from personal experience don't let project creep keep you at the dock. Get the boat dry and safe and then take off and have adventures. I hope to see you out there.

[Tayana42]

Congrats Crunchie, I’m glad that Irwin has found a good new owner.

[bensolomon]

Congratulations!! Very exciting!!

[Oceansailor]

Congratulations. The two happiest days are the day you buy and the day you sell;-)

[CptCrunchie]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Congratulations. With your experience, don't know if you've done the "go north" trip. Here's mine:


I've posted our log (with charts & photos) here:

Travels with Aquavite: San Francsico Bay to British Columbia 2016

Photos are under the October tab

Good read. Thank you.

I have gone south from Vancouver to San Diego, 200 miles out, but not north. Personally, for you and your boat, I believe you did that passage very well and smart. I'm also impressed that you found so many places to refuel your 23g tank.

But with our 37' LWL, radar and 170G of fuel, we plan to slog 24/7 a little farther out. Depending on the sea and wind state, in having a 1000nm range on a 1200nm trek, we will likely pull into Crescent City to top up, then head back out, ...weather permitting.

I am also aware of the southerly current that starts around 40 miles out, and believe the wind will pretty much stay on the nose. This is going to make for an interesting trip, as I believe the 62hp engine pushing 33,000lbs through the water may be a tad underpowered for this trip, .....but there is really only one way to find out. As long as we make headway, an extra day or two is all part of the adventure.

Some told me that there is a slight northwesterly current that runs closer in. I found the north section of it on my trip south, as it took over a day and a half on an Endurance 37 to get out of it before we could head south. I hope it runs farther south than just the northern WA coastline.

[hanamaui]

Congratulations!!! I closed on the purchase of a Pearson 424 ketch a couple days ago. Although it has dinghy davits, I intend to install a Monitor windvane with their autopilot. Total cost, not including installation, about $6,000. They offer a stubby vane for such situations. However, imho for passages it's best to put the dinghy upside down on the foredeck.

[CptCrunchie]

Originally Posted by DenverSailors

Beautiful! If you post a blog or videos of your progress please provide a link.

I most surely will. Much to do too, and I have all summer to do it, and still have time to take her out for some overnighting. One will be shortly after we get here here, as it will be halibut season. Our plan is to anchor her on the grounds the night before, and put out our scent bags. Then, in the morning, drop our lines over and have fresh halibut for dinner ...on anchor! With 400' of HT chain on a 65lb Delta, it's a boat made for our lifestyle!

Redhead, this will be our 5th and biggest, so I'm well aware of the need for playtime amid the maintenance.

Tayana42, having owned a few boats, Wifey and I firmly believe that boats choose their next owner, not the other way around.

Thanks, bensolomon.

OceanSailor, true. My next project as I work on this one is to sell our Trophy 2459 Offshore. While it was built for the 1989 Seattle Boat Show (they did lots of extras, like lining the inside of all the storage spaces in the cabin), it is still a 1989 boat, so it could take a little time.

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Originally Posted by hanamaui

Congratulations!!! I closed on the purchase of a Pearson 424 ketch a couple days ago. Although it has dinghy davits, I intend to install a Monitor windvane with their autopilot. Total cost, not including installation, about $6,000. They offer a stubby vane for such situations. However, imho for passages it's best to put the dinghy upside down on the foredeck.

I'm with you on the tender issue. No desire to have it swinging in the wind, getting filled with rain, nor adding drag. But this tender didn't come with the boat, so for the trip north, we will only have an offshore life raft.



Interestingly, I have sailed with 2 boats with wind vangs, and personally, I don't care much for them. I know many sailors like them, and they save a lot of power, I've just never had one work the way I see them in videos. And since Wifey has very little experience at the helm, simple is our goal, at least, until she - and I - get a lot more experience on this boat.

Three things I really like about the CPT Autopilot is that it is simple to use, a great and reasonably priced unit for this size boat, and it tracks very well in all weather states.

And clear skies, warm winds and calm seas to you too.