Introductions / How did you find sailFar.net?

[CapnK]

Hi Sarah -

I spoke with some of your countrymen yesterday, transients who pulled in for the night on their not-so-small, just-bought-at-Annapolis-last-year Catalina 47'er. They were bummed out, though not bitter or too overly angry - their boat was stored on the hard in Jacksonville, NC, and had gotten hit by lightning 8 months ago, and *they were never notified*.  :o They'd gotten down to the boat intending to set off for 4 months in the Turks/Caicos and DR, and found that *everything* aboard which had a transistor or resistor was fried. That was 6 weeks ago. They are now 4 days into their trip, headed to Lauderdale for the last of the repairs before an abbreviated winter trip. I hope that, even though it is shorter than they had hoped, their trip is one of the best they've ever had.

Anyway, I'm glad to have such a talented and experienced person as yourself aboard! I hope you'll start a thread down in the SB/LD area, and post some of your stories and experiences for us to read and question you about. I'm sure there will be interest about how you've set your boat up. How many miles have you put under her keel? Sounds like a lot of them already, in the not quite 4 years you've had her.

Last, maybe when you are down in Honduras you'll occasionally think a  warm thought or two about those of us in the more frigid more northern latitudes (like I do for Amorous, lol). :)

Merry Christmas!

[The Edge]

Hi Kurt,

      Thanks for the welcome.  This looks like a great site.  I am enjoying it very much. 

      Do you have room at your marina for a PDQ 36 catamaran?  I have
relatives in Charleston and may just meet you one of these days.

     I thought I might be a good (or bad  ::)) influence here as I am a woman well into her 50's and "weird" enough to go for it, still. :D

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL,

[CapnK]

Sarah -

AFA the PDQ cat: yes, we do. Disclaimer: I don't *own* themarina, I just regard it as mine, since I live here. ;D lol

In fact, IIRC it was a PDQ of about 36' LOA which was tied up on my dock for over a year, and which left the marina just a few short months ago. There are 200+ slips here, mostly stinkpotters, so another sailboat is, to my mind, always welcome. :)

Come on up! ;D

You are Free to be whatever type of influence you want to be, as long as you post some pictures and answer questions about the stories you write... :P ;D

[The Edge]

CaptK,

     I have about a half dozen jpegs of my trip in the Abacos 3 years ago.  I thought I would wait until I return from the Bay Islands of Honduras and post them all at once.  Then I won't have to figure out how to post them twice :-[.  I think Santa is getting me a digital camera after Christmas.   I have a love/hate relationship with computers.  I only learn and use them as much as I HAVE to to get by.

     

     

[starcrest]

just curios...how do you manage the refridgeration problem...and did you ever have a problem obtaining ice during hurricane season?

[billtrumpet]

I live on Cape Cod, and recently purchased an Irwin 30, which I've fallen in love with!  I plan to cruise Rhode Island to Maine this summer.  My long term plans are to sell my house and purchase a GulfStar 50 ft Ketch, and cruise the Caribbean playing music! 

I'm a boomer and we partied in 60's, we're going to have a huge party during our retirement!  Don't get me wrong, I'll be living on a budget.

Yours for a fair tide!

Bill

[starcrest]

EVERY ONE TAKE NOTICE: ALL WILL BE A.O.K.BECAUSE......"ERIC IS HERE"HURRICANE JEAN OF 2004 DESTROYED THE MARINA WHERE I WAS FOR 5 YEARS...OUT OF 60 BOATS ONLY 10 REMAINED AFLOAT...MINE IS ONE OF THEM.THERE IS STILL SOME COSMETIC REPAIRS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ALONG WITH SOME POSSIBLE WELDING ON THE MAST.SINCE I BOUGHT THIS BOAT NEAR CAPE CANAVERAL IN 1999 IH HAVE BEEN MOTORING ALL OVER THIS COAST.NOW I AM IN A SMALL WELL PROTECTED MARINA IN DANIA BEACH FLORIDA.I WILL BE HERE FOR SOME TIME TO COME.THERE IS NO LIVEABOARD HASSLE...ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CAN DO SO WITH NO EXTRA CHARGE.

[s/v Faith]

their boat was stored on the hard in Jacksonville, NC,

  Sadly, there is pretty much one place that could be and is consistent with the kind of goings on there.  Many horror stories coming out of that yard  :o (really probably true anywhere).

  Another advantage (IMHO) of small boats.  Less likely to be tempted to turn over the maintenance to 'experts' in yards who are more likely to screw things up..... while charging you top dollar.  But I digress........    ::)[/color]

[Frank]

hello all...Frank here from Ontario Canada. This is my first post although I think I'm member #2...Xmas and 3 teens = very little time right now. Great to have a dedicated site for small boat voyagers to share thoughts and ideas !! First off...best of the season to all the other small craft nuts out there.Hope we all have lots of great adventures in 06 !! Kurt and I both sail pearson ariels...great lil boats ! Plan to sail to Bahamas (Abacos) in mid jan to mid march this year.Will be 3rd trip to Abacos and 5th adventure in the gulf stream.If time permits ,we hope to sail south to the Exumas for a change.I have JUST retired so finally have extra time...hope to sail west coast .. Vancouver erea next Aug and Sept. looks beautiful !! Thanks again Kurt and merry xmas to all

[PegasusRider]

Hello all....

Jeff here in St Petersburg Florida...(at least until summer of 06...then it is off to Kemah TX)  The boat is a 28' Caliber sloop.  I am looking forward to making the trip across the gulf over to the Houston area.  I am outfitting the boat as we speak.  I am glad to see this site taking off.  It is nice to chat with other owners of smaller vessels.  Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[CapnK]

Hi there!

Found this Forum yesterday and joined up today. Finally - a place for us 'small fry'!  ;D ;)
<snip>

Welcome aboard, Kailyst! Glad to have both of y'all here, I hope you enjoy the site and maybe even larn sumthin to boot. :D

I have a couple friends who *just* sold their "C-7.6 Widebody Supercruiser", they bought it several years ago. They knew a little about sailing when they got her, so I went with them frequently back then until they were comfortable aboard her. We had some good times onboard. :)

Good to hear about you and your SO and y'alls plans, looking forward to hearing some tales about your Chessy adventures. ;D

[CapnK]

Hi all,

Merry Christmas from the Great White North.
I am excited that there is finally a forum developed for the serious small boat cruiser.
This is my 4th year as a full time live aboard. My home port is Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - that's the far west end of Lake Ontario.
I sail a Columbia 8.3 (I'll save you getting out the calculator - that's 27'2").

Each year I cruise the Great Lakes, mostly Lake Ontario. I have cruising plans to take my boat to the Caribbean in 2 years. I admit to flip flopping between sailing my more than capable coastal cruiser or buying something in between 30 and 40 ft.. The downside of course is every dime I spend on a larger boat is taken from the cruising kitty. Would love to hear pros and cons from folks who have done it.

Happy Holidays to all

John

John - Welcome! I'm sure your liveaboard/coldwater cruising skills ;) will suit you well in here. :) The only way I would get a bigger boat would be if I found a first mate/first mate found me (personally, I believe the chances of that happening are similar to those of a snowflake falling on and extinguishing a bonfire on July 4th ;D), and even then it would probably still be only 35' or under.

My advice? What you have is perfect, you have 4 years aboard her shaking out the wrinkles, she's paid for and you obviously like her - stick with it, and Go ASAP. ;D

If you come down the East Coast on your way to the Carib, you'll have to stop in on the way down and we'll have a few beers and some hot wings. :)

[CapnK]

I live on Cape Cod, and recently purchased an Irwin 30, which I've fallen in love with!  I plan to cruise Rhode Island to Maine this summer.  My long term plans are to sell my house and purchase a GulfStar 50 ft Ketch, and cruise the Caribbean playing music! 

I'm a boomer and we partied in 60's, we're going to have a huge party during our retirement!  Don't get me wrong, I'll be living on a budget.

Yours for a fair tide!

Bill

Fair tide to you also Bill, and Welcome! Looking forward to reading about your "downeast" cruising adventures this coming year! :)

Offhand, I can think of no better occasion for a huge party than to celebrate retiring from the rat race. :D Have fun, keep 'er in the channel, and watch out for the Coasties! ;D

[CapnK]

EVERY ONE TAKE NOTICE: ALL WILL BE A.O.K.BECAUSE......"ERIC IS HERE"

LOL, Eric. I feel better already. ;D

Good on ya surviving those hellicanes. Been through a few myself, safe and snug up in my litttle hurricane hole. No Cat 4's while aboard yet, that is one experience I hope *NOT* to ever have! :)

[CapnK]

hello all...Frank here from Ontario Canada.

* CapnK pipes Frank aboard

Welcome Frank! We have a few "Arielista's" ;) among us, I'm sure you know "s/v Faith" as "camos" on the Ariel board, also ebb and c'pete are here. Glad to have you, and looking forward to hearing about your cruises onboard your own "personal favorite boat" of mine. ;D

[CapnK]

Hello all....

Jeff here in St Petersburg Florida...(at least until summer of 06...then it is off to Kemah TX)  The boat is a 28' Caliber sloop.  I am looking forward to making the trip across the gulf over to the Houston area.  I am outfitting the boat as we speak.  I am glad to see this site taking off.  It is nice to chat with other owners of smaller vessels.  Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jeff - Welcome! Tell us more about what your preparations and plans are sometime, sounds like you are going to be having a *fun* summer! :)

[Capt.Ron]

I was surfing through my regular hang out, when I came across  a thread regarding this site, (posted on the Lats & Atts).

This is an interesting and good looking site from what I have read so far.  However,  unfortunately we do not really qualify, or should I say, we fail to meet the criteria of this site, as we had out-grown our 27' Aloha a few years back, and stepped up to a forty foot Pilothouse Cutter for cruising the PNW. So... if you don't mind , I'll just hang out here occassionally, (we won't fit into any of the 30' slips so I'll drop the hook over by the entrance to the bay, once we're settled, we we'll stop by in the dinghy...lol).

Ron

S/V Amor D'oro

[Capt.Ron]

Hello and Merry Christmas to all.

I just recently found this site.. I am enjoying reading the posts so far... I reckognize a few names from another board... looking foward to some good sailing conversations.

I hope that you have room for us, we won't fit into any of the thirty foot slips. We had a 27' Aloha for years, then stepped up to our current forty foot Pilothouse Cutter rigged Sloop.... sorry for barging on in, ... I'll just drop the hook well back from the channel and stop by for a visit in the dinghy.

We cruise the PNW from Victoria BC.  to Ketchikan AK., and all points in between. Looking forward to a circumnavigation in about four years....

"We" consist's of my "First Mate" Jane, and our "Midshipman" Logan, age 13.

I grew up sailing with my parents along this Coast, in a Cal 27'... so I do have an appreciation for the simplicity that is associated with a shorter LOA.

[CapnK]

Welcome aboard, Ron. :)

Don't worry about the big boat - it's not a problem, plus, like you said, you have plenty of time in smaller vessels. I'm sure you'll be able to contribute, hang out, and tell a good yarn now and then like the rest of us. :)

Hope you are having a good holiday!

[salty56]

Cool Site!! I'm looking forward to visting it often. I'm not much of a writer but i love to read posts from all sailors anywhere.  I knew I was going to be a sailor back in "68" when I sailed a Sunfish about 5 mi past the breakwater in Hilo and when I got back the coasties told me I needed a bigger boat!! :)