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LH44 Anne · 06-10-2011, 23:17

I'm new as a member of the Cruisers & Sailing Forums. I've poked about a bit for a couple of years as a visitor, but I've been boatless for several years and just found and bought my new pretty just a couple of months ago.

S/V Anne is a Little Harbor 44 center cockpit purchased out in Tortola. Some of her equipment is rather dated and in need of updating, her bottom was caked with around 20 coats of old antifouling paint and some things were rather less than perfect. She surveyed very well and over the couple of months since purchase there have been few surprises (NOT none, of course).

I've got her hauled out in a diy yard here in Jacksonville and the bottom has been soda blasted and I'm into fairing and barrier coating the bottom. I'm also replacing the stuffing box with a dripless coupling and having the transmission rebuilt.

There will be a few other things to address before we get away for any period of time but we figure on the Bahamas this winter and maybe Maine next summer.

S/V Anne is a fine looking thing and will be even better looking when we can paint the topsides a proper flag blue. And beneath the looks, she is well built, solid and finest kind. Bringing her home from Tortola showed her to be a good, fast sail that lives up to every bit of the reputation of Mr. Hood.

Unicorn Dreams · 06-10-2011, 23:30

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

James Bell2012 · 06-10-2011, 23:40

I am new to this site, I am in the market for a 35' ocean going live aboard, I have been doing research into this adventure and now am trying the network side. If any one has an idea on what could be a ideal sailboat, the extra info would be great.

Eleven · 07-10-2011, 01:27

James, just keep searching the New Poats, there are many threads on that subject already.
First thing to do is define your ideal, then go and look for it. The balance between comforts, headroom, A/C, water maker, Cocktail deck, heating, sail plan, physical fitness for the duration of ownership, numbers on board, DIY skills. Add planned cruising grounds, time at anchor or in marina and these things rule out many boats for low scores in one area.
The rest is doing a spreadsheet, or score card, that you can rate boats you find on the net as available in your catchment area will help you come to some conclusions and narrow your search considerably.
Always survey before committing, and check out delivery to your wintering site where you can finally start to enjoy scraping it's bottom and generally making a fuss of your new toy.