Introductions / How did you find sailFar.net?

[Tim]

Welcome aboard Blaine, take a look around you will see you are not the only fool to take up such an endeavor. ;D

Lookin' good!

[CharlieJ]

Welcome Blaine.

Say hello from Charlie and Laura aboard Tehani to all our friends there at Cypremort.

Jeff and Janice, Shane and Renee, Mark and Tammy (and girls) and also Bill.

[Old Shoe]

Hi,

Fairly recent owner of a '69 Coronado 25. New to sailing but not to the sea. I've been on the seas privately and professionally for 25 years.

So far, I've sailed my own boat as frequently as possible, I've crewed for one race on an Antrim 27, then I crewed a Tartan 30 for someone even more inexperienced than myself to help him get his feet wet. This weekend, I'll crew a 40 footer. I'll be crew for a C&C 30 racing this summer. I'm putting myself on as many boats as possible for as much experience as possible as often as possible. I usually sail my own boat for 3-4 hours a day after work.

I love my Coronado and I'm not really looking to upgrade. I enjoy the ease of handling a smaller boat alone, and the lower upkeep costs. Probably the biggest I'd ever go is 30'. I'm glad I found a forum of what seems to be like-minded individuals.

[s/v Faith]

......I'm glad I found a forum of what seems to be like-minded individuals.

Glad to have you aboard Old Shoe,

  I believe there is a lot to be learned from other Sailors, and really like to crew aboard other boats.  Much like this place lets us do (in a way)....  :)

  You mention plans to spend some time aboard a 40' boat, it is funny I like to do this just to remind me why I like small boats so very much!  I look forward to hearing more from you.  Do you have a picture of your boat you could post?

  Welcome!

[Old Shoe]

I have photos of the entire boat but I can't access them at work and they're not really representative of the boat because it's in much better shape now than when I took the pictures. I'll post them tonight.  :)

[Old Shoe]

For anyone interested, here are pictures- They're out of date. New main and new sailcover are on the boat among other improvements.

[bladedancer]

Hello everyone. My name is Maikel. I'm the new owner, with my friend Madeline, of a 1963 Pearson Ariel [hull #44] and a firm believer in the KISS approach to cruising and life in general. For the last thirty years I've lived in a variety of  homemade motor homes, old trailers or boats, either on the road or out west. Madeline is part of the Freegan network.
I have enjoyed  reading all your posts. Lots of good ideas, tips on gear and ways to do things.  Wish I had found you years ago when I first got into to boating  while living in Port Townsend, WA.
    I had three boats before the Ariel. The first was a  scavenged 14' runabout, which we called Ping after one of my son's  favorite stories.  Inspired by  Phil Bolger's books, and not knowing any better, I converted it to a sailboat - leeboards, blue tarp spritsail, oars.  Needless to say it didn't sail very well but I learned the basics of sailing and tides and even crossed Admiralty inlet and went around Marrowstone island. Lots of the thirty five footers in the marina never got that far.
   The next boat was a converted US Navy Whaleboat, built in 1947, with a cabin [sitting headroom only] and an old palmer 4 gas engine, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.  When I bought her she was sloop rigged with a gaff main. Of course I had to add a topsail and a jib set  flying on a reeving bowsprit.  She was a sweet boat, would sail for hours on a close reach with just a bungee cord on the tiller.
   'Anarres' got me out of Port Townsend bay  and across the Straits of Juan de Fuca to the san juan islands.  The second year I spent three months exploring Georgia Strait.  I sailed this boat for five years, two of them engineless - learned so much that way - then passed her on.  By now I was completely smitten and went sailing every chance I got, winter or summer...I had a shop in the boatyard where I made knives and grew a garden.
    My third boat was another old wooden boat - I did look at fiberglass boats  but this was Port Townsend after all.  'Molly' had been around for a while, had even been to South East Alaska, and was perfect for my needs.  She was modeled on a Skipjack, but with higher freeboard and a tall, boxy cabin. This meant standing headroom, big enough to live aboard, yet only 26' and shoal draft. The rig was traditional skipjack - 8' bowsprit and a boom as long as the mast.  Docking was exciting, gybeing  a nightmare, so after two seasons  I  converted  to a yawl rig. Not exactly a KISS move, but  she  handled  better - and looked really cool!  Gave the crew something to do too.  
    I spent summers wandering around the Georgia Strait with my son, sharpening  knives and selling them from port to port. Winters I spent in the mountains in an old Dodge van with a woodstove, camping at ski areas and visiting with hippie back-to-the-landers.
Three years ago  Madeline and I circumnavigated Vancouver Island.  We took our time and had a wonderful six weeks. I had been to Barkley Sound on my own, but never all the way round.  
     When I came to Brooklyn to live with Madeline I knew I had to have a boat. New York isn't the best place to find a used boat. After three wooden boats I was ready for fiberglass, especially since I want to go south.  After looking at several larger Pearsons and just missing a   Grampian 26, I found the Ariel at a funky marina tucked behind a shopping mall, a bike ride from the apartment.  She needed TLC but seemed basically sound.  Best of all, no squishy decks!  I had bought my other boats for $2,000 so $4,000 seemed a lot, but this was 'classic plastic' and, finally, a 'real' sailboat, designed by a master.
 
     
Chapter two. Mischief.
 We spent the spring working on our new boat and, naturally, sailing every chance we got: no extensive restoration for us. I did remodel the main cabin - galley and counter/chart table to port, settee berth to starboard, using lumber and other materials scavenged from the sidewalk.  We bought one of those  camp stoves with oven  that others here have liked but sent it back and got a cast iron two burner instead. The gas lines on  the camp stove didn't seem rugged enough and I wondered about the burners. I also replaced the old grey marine with an outboard [6 HP Tohatsu]. Getting old grey out was a bugger as the English would say.
   Jamaica Bay is sheltered water but the wind picks up in the afternoon and we soon discovered how 'exciting' it is to sail an Alberg design. And what a change from previous boats in going to weather- once that is we got used to being heeled over 20 degrees or more all the time! I had never dared push my center-boarder with internal ballast that far.
   Our 'shakedown' cruise  began with a  30 mile run around Coney Island and through the Verrazano Narrows under sail, then up the East River and through the notorious heck Gate under power and on, under sail again, to Manhasset Bay in Long Island sound. After that we took our time, went where the wind blew us and only used the motor when we absolutely had to.  We meandered down the Sound as far as Block Island. On the way back I was alone on the boat. Went up the Connecticut River, a gorgeous side trip marred only by the noise and wakes of  all the  power boats. One of those don't get me started subjects
Coming back through the city I sailed the whole way till the  
rising wind and contrary tide forced me to seek shelter in Coney island creek,  just off the outer harbor. The creek is full of derelict barges, which made anchoring rather sketchy, and was lined with  sweet old black guys fishing for bunkers, and the occasional hobo camp and abandoned warehouse.

Chapter three. Cruising Plans.
  The evil 'slumlord' who owns the funky marina where we have been keeping our boat  wants us gone.  It's ok because the boat is  mostly ready to go.... even if I'm not. Is one ever I wonder? The planning of a voyage is exciting: getting the boat ready involves work and expense, but can still be enjoyable approached with the right attitude. But actually untying the lines and leaving the dock that, to me, has always been the hard part
Anyway, my current plan is to head north again in late June, go up to Buzzards Bay and maybe Cape Cod, joined some of the time by Madeline, then head south in the early Fall and join the procession down the ICW.  Madeline says she will join me for the trip through the Bahamas.  After that I'd like to head west, cruise the south coast of Cuba,  then cross to Belize ending up in the rio Dulce for hurricane season. Meanwhile just have to cast off the ties that bind. Will post some pics so you can look for us. Maikel.

   

[Tim]

Welcome aboard Maikel!  First off you obviously have great taste in boats ;)

Sounds like a classic SailFar story to me, thanks for sharing.

Perhaps a picture or two to round it out  ;D

Tim

[AdriftAtSea]

Welcome aboard... I'd love to see photos of your Ariel.

[Oldrig]

Welcome aboard indeed!

I'd second Dan's call for photos.

There are at least two (three, I think) Sailfar members on Buzzards Bay so don't be a stranger!

Fair winds,

--Joe

[bladedancer]

I am working on pics. Don't have many of this boat, none yet of us under sail. Computers aren't very KISS and I'm a techno-peasant so patience please while I figure out how to post  photos.
Tim is obviously prejudiced being an Ariel owner and a westy to boot. Previous choices were, I'm afraid, based on what I could afford, and a port Townsend prejudice against 'tupperware'.
Those early generation fibreglass boats like the ariel, have lines taken off, or at least cannlily similar to, wooden boats so she looked right to me. And thank goodness the interior is mostly wood so I can add shelves and counters, rearrange storage with just a handsaw and screws. See you on the water, maikel.

[Mario G]

Welcome Maikel You found a great group of people here,

don't worry about pictures under sail it would be nice to see the cabin work. I need to redo my galley.

[marujo_sortudo]

I don't remember how I found sailfar, but it was probably while I was googling for some odd subject like composting heads, junk rigs, or the like.  In any case, I've been trying to get on here for some time (some lost emails or some such prevented me) and I've finally made it!  I think you've got a great community forming here and I look forward to being part of it.  I've started a new thread with my story so far:

http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php/topic,2910.0.html

[svaletheia]

Hello everyone,

I'm a solo sailor on an Allied Princess 36' cruising ketch, "Aletheia".  Plans to take her around the world, but for now I'm in the gulf coastal area, involved in refitting her and spending my time racing J/24's and Express 37's.

Looking forward to reading through the wisdom you've collected here and hopeful to contribute something useful myself (if I've got anything useful to contribute!).  I have a background in electrical engineering, and boat power, electrical, and electronic systems are something with which I am quite familiar.

Thanks for having me aboard and fair winds to all!

[nowell]

Hello everyone,

I'm a solo sailor on an Allied Princess 36' cruising ketch, "Aletheia".  Plans to take her around the world, but for now I'm in the gulf coastal area, involved in refitting her and spending my time racing J/24's and Express 37's.

Looking forward to reading through the wisdom you've collected here and hopeful to contribute something useful myself (if I've got anything useful to contribute!).  I have a background in electrical engineering, and boat power, electrical, and electronic systems are something with which I am quite familiar.

Thanks for having me aboard and fair winds to all!

Glad to see you made it mate, as I was saying at work, this is a great group of people, and one of the nicest boards youll find!

[Bristol29]

I found sailfar in the links of "atomsvoyages"
http://atomvoyages.com/atom/aboutatom.htm

Hi all
My name is Jay , I work in property management  >:(
I'm the owner of a 1967 Bristol 29, # 11 since 2008 ;D, previously I sailed a "topper".
I plan to live aboard, make her better than original, and sail far ;D

[nowell]

Welcome aboard! You'll find another B29 owner here as well! This is a great board with a great group of folks. Hope you enjoy your stay!

[Jeremy]

Hi all,

I came across this site shortly after coming across a Craigslist ad for a compact cruiser with seductive lines.  Some Googling brought me to Charlie and Laura's posts on Tehani.  And, now I'm the proud owner of her younger sister (Tehani's not Laura's), a Rhodes Meridian, hull 112 (a few photos here: http://gallery.me.com/jandj#100035).  Windrift is presently on the hard - to be launched Monday. 

I grew up sailing out of Mattapoisett (in Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts) in a Herreshoff 12 1/2.  My mother still owns the 12, which I sail frequently, but since I live and work in Boston, and would like to cruise beyond an open boat's comfortable range, the Meridian seemed a perfect fit.  My initial aims are modest.  Evening sails and overnights, and some longer cruises.

I've learned a heck of a lot lurking here, and thanks to you all for the education.  I've basically sailed all my life, but my experience consists almost entirely of day sailing the same small boat.  There's always lots more to learn, and it's a heck of a nice thing to have found such a community of knowledgeable and down-to-earth salts.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Frank]

Welcome aboard here and congrats on a fine boat. Pretty too

[s/v Faith]

Welcome aboard Jeremy!

  Beautiful boat!  Look forward to hearing all about your future adventures!