Movin on Up

[DubeJ]

Well, I am happy to say, I have decided to purchase and pursue the live aboard life style permanently. After a long time couch surfing and living on and off my 28ft Spirit, its time to grow up and make a choice...get a live aboard or an apartment. The trick...I have 2 beautiful young kids. I do own a home that they live in with their mother, my ex wife (well I don't own it, the bank does. I always find the term funny "home owner". Stop paying your mortgage for 3 months and you'll find out who owns it).
Kind of living on my 28 had some advantage and disadvantages of course. First off, space. Although a 10ft beam (pretty large for 28ft) she didn't have a good galley, and not even a working ice box! I was working on getting a new compressor but I've been busy and just use an electric cooler. Stays cold but man it is a mold magnet. Have to remove all items every few days and clean it up. The head is also tiny and I only used it for storage space as my plan this summer was to repipe all plumbing. Its old and gross. Haha
Blah blah blah....many things good and bad....
So moving on in my life I decided to buy a larger boat and within hours of the idea, test sailed a few and fell in love with a Hunter 36. Its a 1984, and very well taken care of. I put am offer on her and was accepted, and will therefore take ownership of her next week.
I am excited and petrified. The additional 9ft is great for living space, but maneuvering her in the harbor is scary. Just her momentum into her slip was impressive. I guess I'll take her motoring and practice back forth into guest slips so I don't harm her. I've seen people tie up fenders to the front of slips to protect the bow from crashing. Maybe I'll do that also.
Well, I'm nervous but very excited. I couldn't believe the handling difference on swells. I feel like she barely rocked on what normally is a bumpy ride!! She has a full dodger and bimini and even granite counter tops! I will miss the tiller.
Now I have to sell my 28ft Spirit, which in all reality, I'm sad about. I wish, but I can't pay 2 slip fees. She will sell fast I bet, as summer approaches in SoCal.
Anyway, I'm a firm believer in "pics or it didn't happen" so I'll be following up next week with some....

Cheers!

[boatman61]

Congratulations Dube... Enjoy

[fishin4bogey]

Congratulations!!!

I too am a firm believer in "pics or it didn't happen!" so get to steppin!

The kids will think you're the coolest dad ever!! When they get to visit, they get to go on daddy's sailboat!!!

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[IdoraKeeper]

Funny how things are always the same. Your story sounds just like mine 27 years ago (sans the mother in law). The kids will love it. As they get older you can have some real fun.

[Fog Bank]

Congratulations DubeJ!

[DubeJ]

Fishin, my son is only not even a year, but my daughter is four and every weekend I get her she yells, "Daddy, I love your boat." The response is always, "Baby this is our boat." To her "Daddy this is my boat! I love my boat!"
Not to mention she loves daily kayak rides, and this year stepping into a paddle board as well.

[weavis]

[Jim Cate]

Well done, mate. You just stepped onto the very steep and very slippery slope of serious boat ownership. Good luck with the new o ne, and with selling the old one(s). I can't imagine owning three at once!

Cheers,
Jim

[SaltyMonkey]

congrats !

[klmmicro]

A very nice step indeed! You have bought yourself a beauty.