Your Boat Progression - Care to Share ?

[virginia boy]

This boat is my first boat and most likely my last.

[senormechanico]

First boat was an 8 foot wood minimax with a beat up and very stripped down 1947 Mercury KE 7 10 hp outboard. As I lived at Alki Beach, I used to launch it nearby and jump ferryboat wakes in Elliot Bay.
I had to take a spark plug wrench with me because the plugs regularly fouled for no apparent reason.
Everybody I knew thought I was nuts, and they were probably right.
I'd pull a plug in the middle of the bay, slosh it in salt water, blow on it and screw it back in.
Started right up! What's the problem?

Next boats, US Navy Submarines. The old Diesel Electric type.

After the Navy, I bought a 10' fiberglass over wood 3 point hydro.
30 horsepower got tame quickly, so I slapped on a nice running near new 50 hp.
It immediately became a beast I didn't trust with anyone but me. 55mph plus.
Lake Washington in the winter had log booms and they got loose in storms.
I hit a few, almost sunk several times, so I decided to take up boating at slower speeds.

We bought a Lord Nelson 35, got into cruising, went to Mexico for a few years, came back and purchased our Dragonfly which we absolutely LOVE!


We also acquired a Capri 14.2k, but it was not a serious boat for our purposes.
(since donated to the Sea Scouts)

(Inflatable kayaks, Avons etc not included in the list)

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

First boat was an 8 foot wood minimax with a beat up and very stripped down 1947 Mercury KE 7 10 hp outboard. As I lived at Alki Beach, I used to launch it nearby and jump ferryboat wakes in Elliot Bay.
I had to take a spark plug wrench with me because the plugs regularly fouled for no apparent reason.
Everybody I knew thought I was nuts, and they were probably right.
I'd pull a plug in the middle of the bay, slosh it in salt water, blow on it and screw it back in.
Started right up! What's the problem?
)

My Dad used to drive an old Renault Daufin (sp?) in the 60's in Calif.

He had a soup spoon he kept in the glove box. He used to say it was for eating his Kangaroo soup when he crossed the Nullabar plains.

Later in life I asked him and of course! It was the perfect size to lay across the carb throat for choking on cold starts. Too cheap to replace a $2 choke cable. That's my dad! - LOL...

[rubyjean]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

First sail boat was a Folkboat I bought in 1957 kept till 59, had a bunch of Fishing boats, and deliverd boats up till 1964 then ran boats in VN.till 1969. then deliverd big fish boats all over the darn place till 1972 then started bilding a colvin schooner finished in 1980 after a 5 yr delay doing some other work for the Gov. sailed the colvin with connie till 2005 when we came to Louisiana to take care of connies dad! we are now looking for our new vessel! Hope it will be the last!

What kind of boats in VN? I did PBR'S 66-68. Michael..

[gjordan]

As a kid, Dads 12 foot catamaran, and the worst sunburn in my life on a Zepher . Cousins El Toro , and a few others. In high school went over to Art Pivers house and bought plans for a 16 foot trimaran. Never did complete it. At 22 bought a 17 foot keel boat with a little cabin and actually began to learn how to sail. At 24 bought a Contessa 26 and hit the big times. Mexico , Marquesas, Tahiti, Hawaii, plus lots of Calif. At 31 or maybe 32 bought a Vandestat 37 steel boat on the east coast. Terrible boat! not from bad design, but from poor amateur building. Took it to Burmuda, Caribbean, and back. At 35 bought a Peterson 44 ( wonderful boat) and had it for about 8 years in the Caribbean. Worked on a variety of motor yachts. This was all B.C. (before child). Aging parents and a baby changed everything, so I did deliveries for 5 years, just to keep my feet wet. Child is grown, wife is gone, I am almost medicare age and I am looking for a boat to cast off in again. Salt water gets in your vains.____Grant.

[Celestialsailor]

1976; Home built Van Da Stat Seadog 29 sloop (Canada)
1986: Mcgreger 21 (don't tell anyone)
1987: Home built Roberts 34
1990: Olympian 34 sloop
1995: Douglass & McCloud (Tartan) Blackwatch 37 Yawl
2004: Ingrid 38 Ketch
2008: Rawson 30 sloop
2011: Hallberg Rassy 35 sloop

[Capn Morgan]

Optimist
Penguin
Grumete
Whaler ketch
Sonar
Various merchant ships in between
Irwin 65 ketch (charters)
Custom 65 ft fibrocement ketch
Current is only one I've ever owned/intend to own

[svBeBe]

First boat was Beneteau Oceanis 46.
Second and current is Amel Super Marumu 2000.

Also chartered several times per year for 16 years: Beneteau, Morgan, Hylas, Island Packet (decidedly not a boat for us) and Lagoon catamaran (once only and never again).

We have no intentions of buying another boat. The Amel will last our sailing lifetime.

Judy

[Little Otter]

1. Catalina22
2. Ranger22 currently looking to sell
3. Annapolis30
6. Outisland Freeport41
5. S2 30&36
4. Flying tiger30
7. C&C 99
8. 27' tri

[zeehag]

learned on opb--my uncles gaff rigged sloop--from age 7 to 18, then went to nonsailing mode for a few yrs,
my first boat i owned was a 34 ft olympian sloop
sailed opb a lot
finally after many years i obtained my 40 ft boat-- this one...
.owned many non-planned babies of greater than 25 ft size until my ericson35mII, then this one...

[Cheechako]

San Juan 21
Seawind 31 (self completed)
Rawson 30 (self completed)
Contessa 26
Tanton 44
Passport 47
Lagoon 42
Hans Christian 38
Fellippi 32

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by zeehag

learned on opb--my uncles gaff rigged sloop--from age 7 to 18, then went to nonsailing mode for a few yrs,
my first boat i owned was a 34 ft olympian sloop
sailed opb a lot
finally after many years i obtained my 40 ft boat-- this one...
.owned many non-planned babies of greater than 25 ft size until my ericson35mII, then this one...

Please tell me your uncle was considered the black sheep of the family. If so, there is hope for me getting my grand nieces and nephews involved in sailing. When Laura Dekker's book comes out, I'm sending them all a copy.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by svBeBe

First boat was Beneteau Oceanis 46.
Second and current is Amel Super Marumu 2000.

Also chartered several times per year for 16 years: Beneteau, Morgan, Hylas, Island Packet (decidedly not a boat for us) and Lagoon catamaran (once only and never again).

We have no intentions of buying another boat. The Amel will last our sailing lifetime.

Judy

I was hoping someone would jump right in with a passage capable boat as their first boat. Care to elaborate on those early experiences?

[sailorboy1]

Only got into sailing to travel later. So

took lessons on a C&C-36
joined a club and sailed a Cal-33 for 3 months on weekends
bought a Cal-39 and sailed it 2 years
then got my Hunter 410 that I have sailed a year

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Only got into sailing to travel later. So

took lessons on a C&C-36
joined a club and sailed a Cal-33 for 3 months on weekends
bought a Cal-39 and sailed it 2 years
then got my Hunter 410 that I have sailed a year

That makes two. Care to share those first experiences on your own capable boat?