Hello all,
I am new to the forum and am consummating a
purchase of a
Catalina 27 tomorrow. I learned to sail some 40 years ago on a Sunfish (self taught). Stepped up to a Laser a few years later. Owned a Ghost 13 for a short while, then gave the sport up when I had
kids. They were interested in what they perceived as more "exciting"
water sports so we purchased a Wellcraft and did the ski/tube/kneeboard deal for a decade. When they grew up I fished (bought a Klamath
fishing boat... Hence, the "handle") for another 5 years until I was "sail bitten" again and bought my dream
boat... A Montgomery 17.
That Monty was awesome. I cannot begin to tell you what a
work of art that boat was... And what a looker as well. She was everything one would want except she was a bit snug for weekend cruising. My wife and I enjoyed her very much but, because of the tight quarters and the hour it took to rig her we used her less and less each year and ultimately parted with her.
That was about 4 years ago. Then, about a year ago, the "sail bug" bit again. This time it was time to hit the big leagues. We wanted a boat that was reliable, roomy enough that yoga lessons were not necessary to move about the
cabin and one that wouldn't break the bank. We also wanted one that would be moored at a marina... No more
rigging for us.
Last week we found a
Catalina 27 that was perfect. This baby is a 1978 vintage with a
Honda 9.9 ob with
cockpit controls. She has upgrades such as a
roller furling, a
solar panel, a beefed up
compression post, new
keel bolts,
wheel steering,
dodger,
cockpit BBQ, lazy jacks and more.
We take
ownership tomorrow and the
current captain will be joining us on our maiden voyage to help us acclimate. We have much to learn. This boat will be used mostly in the
SF Bay and I will need to learn about currents, tides, strong winds and much more. Our goal is to spend a bit of time with her during "Indian Summer" and then dry
dock her over the
winter to
paint her
hull and rename her "Already There" because, as you all know, you can get there faster in a motorboat but in a sailboat you're already there.
I look forward to tapping into your knowledge soon as I attempt to become the best sailor I can be. For instance, I know that changing the name of a boat can have major consequences if not done correctly. I will need guidance in this sensitive and potentially lethal procedure. I will listen intently as you all impart your wisdom on this as well as several other topics that I will inquire about.
Thanks for reading...
Jeff
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