Heaven's Dew (A "Free" Hunter 25.5)

[hamburking]

Nice work.

We don't pick the boat...the boat picks us!

Your work and sweat paid for the boat.

[biker6977]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Take some of the pictures to the old man who gave it to you, I bet at one time she was his pride and joy, he'd most likely appreciate that you have fixed her up, be a way of sort of paying him back for the free boat.

Nice idea! I plan to keep over40pirate and James in the loop while I work on Baby. Hopefully it will make them happy to see her coming back to life and not sad.

[NitroRoo]

Thanks for all the comments everyone!

Originally Posted by twistedline

I have almost the exact same story, mine was donated to charity and picked up cheap. Great boat.

That's awesome! Your boat looks great!

Originally Posted by crazyoldboatguy

Attachment 101454

I hope this pic comes out when I post this. Full keel boats CAN be trailered. The picture is of a 28' Pearson Triton. Full keel. Draws 4', displaces 8,500 lbs. I have towed this boat from NE Wisconsin all the way to Marathon Key, FL. I launch and recover the boat from the trailer and step/unstep the deck stepped mast.

It can be done.

Great story, BTW. I'm glad you are getting out there!

Hmmm... Now you've got me thinking! See we LOVE having the boat in the water and ready to go - but I also LOVE the idea of taking it down to FL for a vacation. Might have to put a trailer on the wish list...

Originally Posted by send1here

Inspiring...I have a 1972 Irwin 23 (swing keel) in my back yard slowly getting the same type of treatment. Except I paid $1500 for boat/motor/trailer with 6 sails plus spinnaker. I want to do some updates like shore power, storage, electronics and paint.

Nice! Sounds like you got a great deal - especially with 6 sails! Good luck with the project!

Originally Posted by seasick

Whenever I call my wife and tell her I got another free boat she always goes, "Ahhhggg! Free is the most expensive kind."

That's pretty funny - and true...

Originally Posted by VinnyVincent

Cleaned up real nice! How did you get the sails so clean?

I cleaned off my concrete driveway really well before I got started. I hosed them down, added some laundry detergent, and started scrubbing with a nylon bristle brush. That took care of most of it - but you could still see some of the (rust?) stains on them. So I used some oxi-clean on those areas and that lightened them up even more. You can still kind of see them if you look close, but it's 1000x better than they were.

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Take some of the pictures to the old man who gave it to you, I bet at one time she was his pride and joy, he'd most likely appreciate that you have fixed her up, be a way of sort of paying him back for the free boat.

That's actually a great idea! I'm sure he'd like to see her restored to her former glory.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Take some of the pictures to the old man who gave it to you, I bet at one time she was his pride and joy, he'd most likely appreciate that you have fixed her up, be a way of sort of paying him back for the free boat.

That is one great idea.

[Rainh2o2]

This is a great story! Bravo to your wife for being understanding! Sounds like mine, the stuff she has put up with from my hair brained ideas is beyond me! Good luck and welcome to the site! Keep us informed!

[Trolliet]

It's a great name; why does a boat name have to be macho? See you drive a Disco. I've had three of them and got rid of the last one last year. Whilst LR do make the best 4WD, their maintenance is ferociously expensive, at least here in Aus. I live within walking distance of the largest LR graveyard in the southern hemisphere and even so it cost an arm and a leg for parts. If I ever need something to pull a boat again I'll probably go for Nissan. Great story.

[Trolliet]

BTW don't forget to appease the gods with a name changing ceremony.

[NitroRoo]

Hah that's funny, I got rid of my disco after sinking lots of time into keeping it going. Loved that truck but when the head gasket went I got rid of it. I now drive a Nissan Frontier (Navarra in Oz). It's been a great truck.

[rbeytagh]

I have just bought a Hunter 25.5 through a charity auction as well. She's in the water and has been for the last 10 years and looks a lot like Heaven's Dew before you rescued her. Major project ahead but looking forward to it.

[Dirk Williams]

Great story. I have a free Hallberg RASSY 33 Mistral now. Only got 6k in it. Little upgrading, motor gone then, and it's a world,class boat.

Hunter 25.5 I've also got a lake cruiser a hunter 25 didn't know a 25.5 existed. If you,get a change could you,share interior pics, wondering what the differences between the 25, and the 25.5 are.

Congratulations on the boat,,she's cleaned,up nicely.

Dirk

[Jim Cate]

Hey Nitro,

Nice story, good job on her, and happy sailing.

But, beyond giving some pix to the gifter, why not offer to take him sailing w hen you get her going to your satisfaction? He might like that as well, and perhaps could give you some specific pointers about the boat. He deserves excellent treatment!

Jim