Splash. 40 years in the making.

[resilientg]

Well i am a happy puppy.

Its taken lots of love, time, cuts scratches and near financial exhaustion.

But i passed the finish line and it was all worth it.

My little boat, now named "Defiant" was found sitting under a coconut tree in Far North Queensland.

She was already over the 40 year mark and never been launched, her old builder had passed on and she was sitting forgotten. New motor, sails, drive train etc, all new just 40 years old.

Considering that i was looking to buy a boat that didn't need work and could just float and sail straight away, what was i thinking,...hahaha.

Anyway the short long story is that shes done, shes been revitalized to an as new condition according to my survey. Gas complied and insured. 2 pack painted inside and out.

All the while she was getting sprinkled with a little heart and soul from me and dubious amounts of hair of love from my hound.

She's been craned, shipped, slipped and already done her maiden voyage to her new home on idyllic magnetic island in the great barrier reef.

You could almost her the old girl whinny in glee when the first little reef fish started swishing by her bottom sides.

And yes i did ask the gods to keep us all safe in my own sort of fashion once we hit the water.

A couple of weeks now for me to sit idle and relax and finish of the inside silky oak trims and a few other miscellaneous bits.

Then i will start day sailing the island and just finding serenity again against the picturesque background of the paradise that i now live in.

All in all she cost me about 1 year and half of time and patience, and a total cost (including 10 k purchase price) of around 20K, probably a little bit less actually.

Not bad considering that she has 48nm radar, autopilot, vhf and color sounder, great hifi to piss off the stink boats, is totally self sufficient on power, water and refrigeration, and is totally rebuilt, and everything is new, clean and neat.

So for those of you that that want the lifestyle, go for it, dont loose heart halfway, if you do, then ask yourself what made you do it in the first place and use that as motivation to keep going.

For added incentive, i have heath and mental health issues that will be with me for life, i should have been dead a year past, and my only income is a small pension and my wits.

But i managed to do it, so you can too

If your in the area, Nelly bay harbor on magnetic island is an absolutely lovely and affordable place to berth.

Pictures attached...

Be happy people,
Follow your dreams

Matthew & Mah
S.V Defiant

[Paul L]

Congrats on finishing her!

[DeepFrz]

Great looking boat, have fun.

[Starbuck]

Congratulations: she looks very stately, floating on her lines for the first time. Enjoy.

[casual]

As Handsome as the come.Best to you with Her

[mbianka]

After 40 years it is good to see her finally do what she was built to do. Enjoy the journeys and those times when you are just kicking back in the cockpit too.

[Sailndive345]

Congratulations! May she and you enjoy the fairest of winds.

[Reefmagnet]

Great work. Might see you around the islands in your travels.

[SkiprJohn]

Congratulations on a great launch and finish. I wish you and your boat many happy sailing miles.
kind regards,

[Hermanns]

Congrats - looks beautiful!

[Outwest34au]

Looks fantastic. All due credit for producing such fine looks on a realatively small budget.

I intend to include townsville when I am ready to do my bundy up search. Qld coast must have a lot of lost puppies bobbing around.

[Nemo55]

Luvely Boat,,,Congrats and Fair Winds..

[Cruiser2B]

Congrads! Sail and enjoy her! I am happy to see this pretty boat saved!

[IslandHopper]

Well done mate! hope to see you around the islands one day....

[H3LlIoN]

This is awesome, and she's a pretty lady. Congratulations, and fair winds!