Introductions / How did you find sailFar.net?

[brucedart]

I came across a link in a thread on the Cape Dory Board re Rocna anchors.  I've been sailing off and on most of my life here in Southern California.  My wife and I used to have a Cape Dory 25, and are now looking for a Cape Dory 30 while we crew on our friend's Formosa 47.  We're planning an extended cruise on the ICW, followed by the Bahamas and Caribbean, maybe next year.

Cheers,

Bruce Dart

[Captain Smollett]

Welcome aboard, Bruce.

When you find a CD 30, you plan to truck to the East Coast, or sail here around?  Or, looking to buy one already here?

[Jim_ME]

Welcome Bruce. Good luck with your plans.

Have you seen this CD30 ketch for $16k in NY?

or this CD30 cutter in Atlanta, Georgia for $12k?

[gtj]

I saw the ad for this site in "Good Old Boat"
I live in the Phoenix AZ area, I have only been sailing a few times at lake pleasant. I don't own a boat at this time, intend to learn what i can and see where it takes me.

[s/v Faith]

I saw the ad for this site in "Good Old Boat"
I live in the Phoenix AZ area, I have only been sailing a few times at lake pleasant. I don't own a boat at this time, intend to learn what i can and see where it takes me.

Cool!

  Glad someone saw it.   ;D

Hope you enjoy your time here.  Sailing small is really a great way to spend time...
surfing small is not nearly as good, but this is (IMHO) about as good as that gets. :)

[Kemm]

I read about sailFar.net on the ComPac Owners website.  Someone mentioned it in their correspondence.

[Chattcatdaddy]

Welcome aboard!

[johnfra58]

John & Peggy Frayne

Barnegate Bay, Brick, New Jersey

Own a 1983 Hunter 20", we call  Pure Folly.  We are stinkpot folks for years, but joined a yacht club,then decided to dive in and get a Sailboat. Cost $1,100 bucks. I redid the inside wood work, Peggy, my wife, redid the cushions. That was three years ago, Then the fun started!!! bought new sails, a roller furler and a new Honda 5hp. OK. So now we can sail and feel comfortable.  Its a great little boat and we have had in out in 20 to 25 mile winds, Tilt Meter way over! ! ! We are hooked.  Usually sail 3 to 4 hours per run.

Next year we want to start overnight trips. . .  Plan to keep it at least 2-3 more years, then move up to a 22-25". I want the wider beam.

Hope to learn, explore and met new sailors!

John/Peggy.

[dannyjoh]

Hello all
Just joined SAILFAR.NET. I have been reading the forum for years.  Great community...  I have been sailing in the SF bay occasional weekends since 2007.  I bought a 1978 Bristol 24 with inboard YSB8 (would prefer a simple outboard) about a year ago.  I am still trying to get used to her while trying to repair/maintain/modify her gradually. 
dj 

[CharlieJ]

Welcome aboard Danny

[Frank]

Nice lil boat Danny. Pics???

[skylark]

Welcome!

[Boatwayupnorth]

Hello all,
have been reading this forum for some time now, but didn't sign up before now. Have just bought my dream; a 38 ft steel one off. I know, she is a little big to be part of the sailFar community, but I hope for a welcome here anyway  ;D
If it helps, she is neither flashy nor wide beamed and will be used in the no-nonsense spirit of smallboatlife that I  enjoy so much on this forum.
One of these days I will try to figure out how to make an album and post some pictures.
Walter

[j d]

Hey Walter, Your boat size doesn't bother me. Hope you sail far with it.

Danny, I think you have a great boat for the bay. Don't underestimate your 8 horse yanmar. I have the same in mine. It's a bit small for me but right for your 24. I think you will find it quite simple.

Welcome to you both.

[CharlieJ]

Small?? What are you pushing??

I cruise Tehani's loaded 7500 pounds with an 8 HP Yamaha set below the start setting - barely 1/4 throttle. Can't use more throttle- just squats the stern.

Wish I could get a 5 hp two cylinder but they aren't made.

[s/v necessity]

Charlie,
   Is that one of the High Thrust (HT) Yamaha motors?

[CharlieJ]

nope- standard prop, short shaft. Lives in a well on Tehani. Don't have pics on this laptop though.

LOVE that  Yamaha by the way. Some 8000 miles overall cruising since we bought that engine- zero problems except once when the carb idle jet clogged- a wash-out with carb cleaner fixed that. Otherwise purrs like a kitten.

[skipmac]

Hello,

Just found sailfar, was mentioned on another forum (is it Kosher to say which one?) for the interested webmaster.   Looked interesting so thought I would sign up.

Me?  First time on a sailboat around 1973-74.   Prior to that my only exposure to the ocean was an occasional vacation at the beach but once was enough.  Lucked into a delivery job to the Bahamas from FL with a couple of friends and was hooked.   Came home, read every book and magazine I could find relating to boats, within 6 months I sold my business and had a job working on a charter sailboat and didn't see the mainland for almost 2 years.   Spent about 10 years as a boat bum, sailing mainly the Bahamas and north Caribbean, lived aboard for a year or two at a time.   Then family life intervened.   Got a "real" job as a yacht broker in Ft Lauderdale for a couple of years, then decided to go back to college finish my engineering degree.

Skip ahead 30 years, daughter is grown up, the house is paid for, I'm not getting any younger, so time to go sailing again.   Bought a rather tired Pearson 422 in NY, brought it back to FL and trucked it out to the woods near my house (I must live in the only place in FL that is at least 2 hours to the nearest salt water or West Marine).   Approaching the 2 year anniversary of boat on the hard and hoping to launch in a couple of months.   Project so far: peal and seal bottom, new standing and running rigging, stripped the block, painted, new hoses, overhaul starter/pumps/alternator, new plumbing, holding tanks, overhaul electrical system, new cutlass bearing.   I'm sure there's more but you get the picture.

Anyway, plans.   Finish the boat, semi retire in a couple of years, cruise the ditch a couple of times, wait for the wife to retire and go see the Med.   From there, who knows?

Didn't mean to write a full autobiography but got a bit carried away..  Anyway, look forward to reading the forum.

Skip

[John Bailey]

Hi All!

I was directed to this site from a post on cruisersforum.com.

I've lurked around a number of sailing forums.  This is my kind of place!

I used to sail an Alberg 30 until 7 years ago.  At that time I remarried and started spending my summers in Greece guiding sea kayak trips.  The Alberg was a great boat and I spent many summers sailing the Great Lakes.  My all-time best summer ever was a month spent single handing on Lake Superior.  However, when you live in Michigan and don't spend summers here, a sailboat, even as good a one as an Alberg 30, isn't much use.  So, I had to sell it.

I've tried to retire a couple of times, but people keep offering me money to do consulting work.  So, I haven't had much time to think about sailing.  But, this Spring will be different.  I've saved up enough money to buy a boat and I'm going cruising.

One year I kept my Alberg 30 on the hard to rebuild/refit.  That summer a friend kept his Alberg 35 at my dock and I had full use of it.  While it was a great boat, I felt it was a bit big to single hand.  I felt the Alberg was a little small for me to cruise long term.  So, I've decided I'm going to buy a Pearson Vanguard.  At 32.5 ft., it's half way between the two Albergs.  I've looked at a couple and I'm very close to making an offer on one.  I know a Pearson Vanguard is in the upper range for size on this forum, but, I think it's going to be just the right size for me.

Future plans (although my plans tend to change by the hour sometimes) -- This winter I'll be building a dinghy for the Vanguard.  I built a 7'9" pram for my Alberg 30.  It worked out fine, but just like the Alberg 30, I thought it was a bit small for me.  (I am a large sort)  It was also too big to have on deck, at least during the storms I sailed through and couldn't tow it.  So, I've ordered the plans for B & B Yacht's Two-Paw 9 nesting dinghy.  It should fit on deck of the Vanguard and at 9 feet should be a good load carrier and a fun sail around anchorages.

The plan is to cruise the Great Lakes this summer.  I've done decades of sea kayaking around the Great Lakes and have always wanted to visit my favourite destinations by sailboat.  At the end of the summer I'll put the boat up in the St. Clair Shores area.  I've done a lot of consulting work in the Detroit area and had an apartment there until recently.  So, I have friends in the area.

During the following summer I hope to sail out the St. Lawrence Seaway, spend time in the Seguaney area, Cape Breton Island, and down the Eastern Coast to end up in the Charleston/Savannah area. 

The following summer will be across to Bermuda, Azores, Portugal, Spain and, eventually, end up in Greece where I have friends and relatives.  The original plan was to just go to Greece, but I've gotten interested in so many other places I want to go in the Med., that it may take more than one summer.

Well that's it.  I've put into motion handing off all my consulting contracts to others.  I like the money, but I've got to start cruising or I'll never do it.  It's time!!

Again, this is my kind of forum.  I'll be posting my boat search and buying experience as I go.  Hope to get lots of comments from you all.

John

[Tim]

Welcome aboard Skip and John, you both sound like you will fit right in here!