Rachel's mystery...

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Rachel's mystery...

Post by bcooke »

You know, for someone that is always harping about pictures, I am wondering why you, Rachel, haven't posted anything recently...

-Britton
Last edited by bcooke on Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by CharlieJ »

She's been very very busy.

First in Dec a delivery trip on a big Hinckley to the BVIs, arriving there Christmas Eve.

Then back up north to pick up her dog in Wisc, then to Duluth to pack for her move to her new job.

Then to Deltaville Va to get a Westsail 32 onto a trailer and all snugged for a trip to Calif, and immediately to Detroit to get another boat on a trailer for a delivery.

So I'm not surprised she hasn't been posting pics. She hasn't had reliable internet connection for quite some time.

By the way- she's in Detroit right now, getting that second boat loaded- and it's cold up there they tell me.
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Post by dasein668 »

Lack of reliable internet is no excuse.

We're waiting Rachel!
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Post by CharlieJ »

lol-Just talked to her a while ago. She had been derigging the mast in 20 deggrees, and cussing whoever bent the cotter keys around in a circle up at the top of the rigging. The lower ends had been properly just slightly spread, but up top was a mess. She was sitting in the car with the engine ( and heater) running, trying to warm up.

Said there were two large flood lights lighting the boat, so she was going to work late on it.
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Post by Rachel »

Wow, my very own mystery thread! And it came with a conscience, too ;-)

Okay, okay, I'll fess up: I bought a boat. I am (ahem.... was) waiting to tell about it because it has to be moved (tomorrow!) to my new place on the Chesapeake, and until it gets there I'm nervous as a hen.

So.... yep, I spent the day freezing in Detroit (of course there were 25 mph winds on un-step day) getting my new baby ready for transport. The boatyard where it's stored can only use their gin pole on boats that are in the water (except of course there isn't any water here in January), but I managed to find a mobile gin pole at a neighboring marina and they came over today.

I promise I'll have photos, details, and about a million questions after we get out to the Chesapeake, which will hopefully be sometime Thursday (fingers crossed!). The moving truck should be here tomorrow morning first thing.

I was out there before 9 a.m. this morning and just finished up tonight at about 8:45 p.m. Long day outside. Also, boat decks are very slippery when they have snow and ice on them, as are ladders.

I'm too beat to type or think anymore; I'll go read the new posts :-)
--- Rachel
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Post by Tim »

Geez, Britton...way to spill the beans on someone else's behalf!

Or maybe it was Charlie who actually did more of the bean spilling.

But then, Rachel, the lesson learned here is that if you want to keep a secret:

1. First of all, don't.
2. Secondly, don't tell anyone else!
3. Did I mention that you shouldn't keep boating secrets from your friends? No good comes from this.

I am, and surely everyone else is, looking forward to more details when you get a chance, though I've been among the lucky few who have already seen some pictures of your new baby. Good luck with the move! We expect lots of pictures of every stage of the process. Now is the time to learn to keep that camera handy!

Now you know who to trust with your next secret...
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Post by dasein668 »

Tim wrote:Now you know who to trust with your next secret...
Definitely not Britton! hehe
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Post by CharlieJ »

Hey- *I* didn't say a thing about WHO'S boat she was packing for a move- I was real vague.

*Grin*

Yeah- we've seen pics too- she done GOOD.
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Post by Jason K »

[quote="Charlie "My lips are sealed" J"]Hey- *I* didn't say a thing about WHO'S boat she was packing for a move- I was real vague.

*Grin*

Yeah- we've seen pics too- she done GOOD.[/quote]

OK, enough! Let's see the photos and hear the details, Rachel. You're only allowed to be cryptic for one day. Time's up!
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Post by Figment »

Oh, I think there is fairly well-established precedent that one has at least a week to compose and present the requisite imagery.

but yeah, make with the pics!!!
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Post by Tim »

Figment wrote:Oh, I think there is fairly well-established precedent that one has at least a week to compose and present the requisite imagery.
Pshaw...just because you take a week or more doesn't mean it's an established or accepted precedent, Mike!

(Though you're still luxuriating in your credits for providing the photo of your truck drivers saluting at the launch of your boat last year!)
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Post by Figment »

That sent me for a loop for a second. My drivers saluted on launch day?
That was my father and his beered-up sidekick. The Brownell guys present themselves much more professionally, I assure you!

Actually, the precedent I was referring to (must I dredge it up again?) was that of the Mystery of Pixie.
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Post by CharlieJ »

I'm on the phone with Rachel now.

The boat is on the trailer and they are on the road. They are in the Cleveland area, bound for Va. Going to attempt to get through DC today so they don't have to contend with that traffic in the morning.

She's very tired, very nervous- her BOAT is on that trailer!! and very rushed.

Said to say Hi and as soon as the boat is on the hard in Virginia and she can relax a bit, there will be pictures.
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Post by Figment »

Call her back and tell her to calm down slow down and simmah down! We wish her a long, slow, and ENTIRELY UNEVENTFUL transport. Tired, nervous and rushed are three very BAD adjectives.
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Post by CharlieJ »

She's not driving the truck- a pro driver is doing that- She's just following along at the moment. But I did tell her to relax- and yeah, like she's gonna do THAT before that boat is sitting on the hard at the end of the line *grin*
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Post by bcooke »

Tim the Accuser wrote:Geez, Britton...way to spill the beans on someone else's behalf!
Tim wrote:
Now you know who to trust with your next secret...

Nathan the Slanderer wrote:Definitely not Britton! hehe
Hey! Who said anything about a new boat?

Here is my topic starter again for all you nasty peoples:
Britton the Innocent wrote: You know, for someone that is always harping about pictures, I am wondering why you, Rachel, haven't posted anything recently...


-Britton
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Post by Tim »

Figment wrote:That sent me for a loop for a second. My drivers saluted on launch day?
That was my father and his beered-up sidekick.
Oh! I saw boat...truck...and guys I didn't recognize. Assumption=boat truck drivers.
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Post by dasein668 »

Britton the Insolent wrote:Hey! Who said anything about a new boat?
Riiiiiight. My mistake! hehe
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Post by Figment »

A perfectly reasonable assumption!
I'd forgotten about them goofing for the camera.
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a game

Post by FloatingMoneyPit »

Alright, I can't take this anticipation. How about a guessing game? Maybe Tim or Charlie can give a really, really tricky hint as to what Rachel has acquired, something that won't spill the beans too obviously.... pretty please??!!
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Post by CharlieJ »

OK - I talked to her earlier again and she ok'd this. They have stopped for the night just prior to crossing into Maryland. Hoping to get through DC very early this AM ( pre traffic, so leaving at 0430). Since this is being posted at 0325 my time I guess they are about ready to roll with her new ( to her)

Alberg 30.

She'll be living aboard once she gets settled in Virginia.

It's a very clean boat, has been owned by one person since new and fairly well maintained. Needs SOME cosmetic work but by and large is in good condition.

Other than that you'll just have to wait til she can post pictures. She's really too rushed right now, and has very limited internet access, since she's on the road.
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Post by Tim »

Here are a few of the photos that I have.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
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Post by jhenson »

That will be a lovely addition to our Virginia waters. I look forward to seeing her on the bay!

Congratulations,

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Post by Challenger949L »

Great boat! What part of Virginia?
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Post by Figment »

GOOD SCORE!!!

Aside from the upholstery, I don't see much to change.

The engine pic paints a pretty good picture. the PO cared enough to paint the bolt heads, so probably was fairly attentive to detail. I see electronic ignition, so he obviously wasn't afraid to spend a buck when needed. I'm not sure I like the location of that fuel filter, and we all know that Job One will be a seacock on that cooling line, but by and large I really dig what I see.

So now the big question is: Who will pick up the torch?
Who will step up and keep us abreast of every plastic classic for sale east of the rockies? ;)
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Post by MikeD »

I'd just like to point out that at least someone who obviously had pictures to post - posted them...
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Post by CharlieJ »

Mike- a few people had pictures, but had been asked to keep it quiet. In respect for Rachels wishes, we didn't post them until she ok'd it.

She didn't want to say anything until the boat had actually MADE it to it's new home port. Something about "tempting fate"
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Post by Tim »

I liked the way the cast letters on the flywheel cover were painted in a contrasting color. Nice touch. The real beauty in any boat lies beneath. Find a nice engine room, good systems, and clean hidden spaces and you have a winner every time. Fresh water is a real plus also--huge.

The upholstery is so dated that it's almost cool again. (Almost.)

I inadvertently left out my favorite photo. The boottop actually looks good under the counter!

She's a nice, clean, and well-maintained boat that only needs personalization and minor updating, at least from what I've seen. Rachel knows she did well!

Image
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Post by Tim »

CharlieJ wrote:In respect for Rachels wishes, we didn't post them until she ok'd it.
Indeed. I figured the earlier post was sufficient permission for a little taste for people.
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Post by MikeD »

Well, congrats to Rachel! Great looking boat.

What's the winch for in the center of the poop deck?
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Post by Tim »

MikeD wrote:What's the winch for in the center of the poop deck?
Mainsheet.
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Post by Figment »

Also handy for hauling pots on the sly.
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Post by windrose »

FINALLY!!!!! Congratulations Rachel, she is a real looker!
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Post by CharlieJ »

Got a call earlier- they have arrived and the boat is safely offloaded, sitting on the hard. She's now working putting a Westsail 32 on to the same trailer for a trip to Calif- the boat, not Rachel
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Post by Figment »

And we breathe a collective sigh of relief. aaaaahhhhhhhh.

Worn out, stressed, and anxious owners transporting their new babies always make me nervous. The buyer of my SuperCat years ago flipped it on an off-ramp on the way home.
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Post by windrose »

Thanks for the update Charlie, it is good to know they both made it safely to their new home port and that the trip was without incident. I can't wait for us to hear from the proud new owner. I think we are all as excited for her as she must be....
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Post by MikeD »

Figment wrote:The buyer of my SuperCat years ago flipped it on an off-ramp on the way home.
Awfully thoughtful of you to save that story until Rachel's boat was safely on the hard... :)
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Post by Mark.Wilme »

Rachel, I am very happy for you
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Post by Figment »

I may not be a particularly religious or superstitious guy, but I very deeply believe in "Jinx".
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Post by Rachel »

Hey all!

Here I am, still shaking out the adrenaline (and no, I wasn't driving the boat truck!) and pinching myself. The boat is here, it's in one piece, and it's beautiful :-) It's definitely had its first taste of salt, too --- although I really wasn't expecting it to be road salt on I-80... Boy does THAT stick.

Thanks so much for all your good wishes :-) I'd called Charlie J from the road and he told me about them. Definitely cheered me up as we plowed our way through a thick batch of "lake effect" snow. Plus, I was just so nervous about the whole thing. Gad. I wish I'd had time or access to read this thread then :-)

Actually, the roads weren't bad, but the snow was in huge flakes, coming down thick and reducing visibility. Luckily the driver was a pro and an all-around nice guy - and he grew up as a Minnesota farm boy - so he knew his way around a snowstorm :-) The truck was a full-sized semi with a low-boy boat moving trailer -- actually overkill for my "little" boat, but I'd arranged the move in concert with a friend of mine's Westsail 32 that was going from my destination yard to San Francisco Bay (they got more interested in my move when they heard about *that* one), so they had to use the big rig.

Now, let me get some pictures out of my camera and either send them to Tim or figure out a photo hosting site myself, and then I can do an *illustrated* thread, which will be more interesting than just me typing on and on.

Thanks again for all your good thoughts and comments. Really neat :-)

And brace yourself for the onslaught of questions, starting with the fact that I'm freezing aboard because there are gas fumes and I don't think I should run a heater. When I first looked at the boat (in Detroit), my clothes still smelled strongly of gasoline when I got to Chicago! First A-4 questions, coming up!

--- Rachel
Happy new owner of Alberg 30 #221

PS to Britton: Harping? I merely thought I encouraged photo posting (of course if you dig in the archives - and take something totally out of context - I'm sure you can post something "proving" that I harped. Hmmph.
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Post by Jason K »

Rachel,

CONGRATULATIONS!

I'm thrilled to hear about your new boat and the safe journey.

I'm looking forward to what I assume will be a ridiculous amount of photos in the very near future.
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Post by Robert The Gray »

Congrats rachel,

May she be the belle of the ball.
May she fly with grace, sails white and tall.
Into the future of wind, out into liquid space,
this craft shall hold your fate.
A vessel for joy, a vessel for fear.
May she contain both your wildest hopes and your deepest knowledge.

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Rachel's mystery

Post by Shark »

Congratulations Rachel

Wow, an Alberg 30 ... the boat of my dreams!

I'm glad the trip went OK.

Way to go Rachel!
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Post by Rachel »

Okay, let's have some photos, shall we? I debated whether to start a new thread in "boat photos," but since this one is going so well, decided to post here. I kind of like the title, anyway :-) I'll split this up into a few sections - and hope I don't cause anyone to run screaming at so many photos, none of which are all that well composed. I missed whole sections, too, like the mast unstepping, when I was busy working and couldn't get to my camera.

So... here are some photos of the exterior from when I first looked at the boat. As a bit of background, I'd been looking at boats like crazy for a week (well, make that five years...) and they were mostly all very disappointing. I did fall deeply in love with a Tripp-Lentsch 29, but it was too much of a project for the way my life is right now, so I had to pass it up. I was about to give up - had, in fact started driving back to Minnesota to get my things and move - when I got a call about this boat. I was just going around Boston on the freeway, and it was about 6 p.m. The boat sounded good! I drove all night to get to Detroit in the morning ahead of a potential snowstorm and then went to look at it. Basically, the first moment I saw it I knew that if it wasn't filled with nuclear waste, I wanted it.

Image
First look. Hey, it's shrink-wrapped! The A-30 I had looked at the day before had been sitting outside for about ten years in Massachusetts and was green with moss. Things were looking up!

As a funny aside about the Massachusetts boat, Britton had been telling me about this derelict A-30 he'd looked at years ago, but I could tell it would be a genuine project, so I knew it wouldn't be for me. So, I'd driven from Massachusetts (and the Tripp-Lentsch) down to Connecticut looking at another boat (not the one for me either), and was sitting in a Panera looking desperately online for something else to check out, when I saw a "reasonably" priced A-30 and called on it. Well it sounded pretty good, even if it was four hours away in northern Mass, where I'd just come from.

I hot-footed it up there to find a mossy boat sitting uncovered with a rusty old Greymarine engine in it. Just as I was leaving, the penny dropped. Yep, it was the same one Britton had looked at years ago. I was hitting myself in the head over that one. I went from there over to visit Britton as he worked on his boat at a nearby yard and we had a good laugh over it :-)

Image
There are a few small pimples on the rudder, but the hull looks nice. Too bad I'll have to strip off this nice VC-17 paint job. Should I quickly move back to fresh water? <laugh>


Image
Not that I was going to complain about the hatchboards, but the day I packed the boat up to move I found out that those are just the winter hatchboards, and there is an identical set in really nice shape that was stored indoors. There were heaps of things waiting at the broker's office for me when I went back - everything from every receipt for anything ever done to the boat, to a dodger, screens, sails, an autopilot, etc.

Image
Belowdecks, the boat has a very strong gasoline odor. The red tank was a prime suspect, and I removed it as soon as I got back to Detroit (on the first trip, the boat wasn't mine yet). It turned out not to be plumbed in to the boat's fuel system, but was just there as spare. The vent in the cap was closed, and the black hose led to a "T" in the vent system that vents overboard. More on that in a separate "gasoline smell" thread...

Image
Nothing too scary in the icebox (I think there might have been a decomposing body in the icebox of an A-30 I looked at in Boston...) I know this isn't an efficient set-up, but the cockpit-drinks-retrieval option looks like it might have some charm.

Image
Although the hatches and locker lids are in really nice shape (they've been replaced), the coamings and toe-rails are a bit grey and grooved. I kind of like bare teak, but this is probably a bit too weathered.

Image
Forward end of the port-side coaming.

Image

Image

Image
Here's the starboard side of the step between the low and high parts of the coach-roof. I wondered what had happened to the gelcoat (all of the deck gelcoat is roughish and porous), but when I met the previous owner's son, he told me how he regularly scrubbed the decks - for years - with Comet, and said "We had no idea back then what we were doing to it."

Image
All week when I was back in Minnesota packing, I was looking at this photo thinking "Geez, I'll have to take care of that crack by the stanchion base before the core gets wet." Then when I was preparing the boat for the move I discovered it was just a line of dirt and wiped right off. One project down, a bunch to go... I wouldn't mind if those cracks in the stem-fitting wood backing weren't there.

That pretty much covers the photos I took of the exterior (some others were posted earlier by Tim in this same thread). Next, belowdecks...
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Post by David VanDenburgh »

Totally cool! Congratulations, Rachel. I wish you years of fun, worry-free sailing. Oh yeah, and the occasional project to spice things up. That is why you bought a classic plastic, isn't it?!

I'm looking forward to more pics and stories.

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Post by Rachel »

Alrighty, let's go belowdecks. I didn't get any very good overall shots - I guess I was taking it all in, but thinking I'd want to see details later on when I got home. There are a couple posted earlier up in the thread too, by Tim.

Image
The white strip going across the middle of the picture is a bundle of mainsail battens.

Image

Image
Nope, nothing scary in there. Unless you count a probabe lack of insulation.

Image
Like on Tritons, the compression beam can be a trouble spot. I noted the tabbing cracks here (forward bulkhead in head), but didn't see evidence of too much sagging or major beam failure. The silver stuff is just some adhesive foam that happens to be foil backed; the previous owner was tall.

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The Great Lakes are a no-discharge zone, so the through-hull valve is capped off (and is a gate valve, I believe) and there is a holding tank installed in the locker behind the head.

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Forward side of the port V-berth bulkhead. Nothing fancy, but the wiring looks tidy, which I took as a good sign.

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V-berth shelf and forward-lower chainplate, starboard side. There's been a bit of leakage around the chainplates, but it doesn't seem too bad. I'd like to overdrill the deck at a minimum; or since I'm in there, perhaps I might as well just make it all fiberglass (see, it starts already). There's also evidence of some leakage around some of the toerail mounting bolts. I smell a project in my future...

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Not being a V-berth sleeper, I've commented in the past that one could have a workshop up there. Look, the pegboard is already installed! ;-) The metal cylinder up by the overhead is the leg-braket on the bottom of the saloon table, which stows above the V-berth.

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Breaker panel under companionway steps.

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Okay, NOW we're in over my head (I'll make a separate thread on this, as I'd love some comments).

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That's all for now, belowdecks. Next, the move...
A30_John
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Post by A30_John »

I guess they are about ready to roll with her new ( to her)

Alberg 30.
I knew Rachel had good taste!

Congratulations Rachel, your boat looks like a real sweetheart!
John
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Rachel
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Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:59 pm

Post by Rachel »

Okay, now for the move. But first I should back up a bit, as I realize I haven't mentioned a few basics. It's a 1967 Alberg 30, hull #221. The previous owner bought it new and it's lived at the same marina in Detroit ever since. When Bart, a worker there, fired up the Travelift, he commented that this was its 80th lift there. I sure hope I can be a good steward for the boat and do it justice.

I bought the boat through a broker (I'd e-mailed the PO's son and he'd said "I just listed it yesterday, you'll have to call the broker"), so I didn't know if I would meet anyone connected with the boat. But then the first day I was there getting it ready, I heard a knock on the hull and it was the previous owner's son, who'd been 13 years old when the boat was new. He told me stories of his dad sailing it faithfully a couple of times a week with three buddies; and how spring and fall his dad would take him out of school every Wednesday to go sailing with him (he had a "dentist's appointment" every week :-)

The morning the truck came, he and his mom came down to see the boat off, just as they'd been there to watch it arrive, 40 years before. She gave me a lovely ship's clock and barometer mounted on a varnished board (I think maybe she'd been planning to keep it for sentimental value, but then decided it should stay with the boat), and a card with wishes for "Smooth Sailing." That was really neat.

The marina was not equipped to un-step the masts of boats not in the water, but luckily a neighboring marina had a boom truck, and was able to come over to get the mast down. Of course the weather was cold and windy, but considering it was January in Detroit, it could have been worse.

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Just to set the scene. Nearby at the same time I heard some shouting and a bit of laugher: It was the coast guard practicing winter survival skills. They had big insulated suits on and were jumping into an opening in the ice and then attempting to get themselves back out again (sometimes they made it). The next day they got out a new rescue machine - a windsled that was like a pumped up version of the Gentle Ben everglades boat - and took it for a spin. They couldn't get it back out of the water, as it turned out, but I spent the afternoon listening to them make runs for it (loud!).

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First view after I'd started to take the shrink wrap off in order to unstep the mast. It was slippery and very windy up on deck, so I cut it off in stages. Here it still has a bit of a fringe - I left that until later.

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I was too busy to take photos of the boom truck, but here the mast is down. Whew!

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Here's a photo of it the next morning, after I'd packaged it for moving (it was after dark when I finished, but the Travelift well obligingly had spotlights that came on. In the foreground is the furler -- that and the lazyjacks are the only rigging I left on the mast. The furler sticks out past the mast, so I used a (frozen) mop that was aboard to shore it up a bit. Part of the mop head is just at the bottom of the photo. The package in the background is the boom, spinnaker pole, and sail battens wrapped together.

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Early the next morning it was time to lift. Eeee, nerves! Lucily Bart was a pro who cared, and understood why I was nervous.

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The truck gets into position. It was larger than necessary because I'd coordinated the move with a friend's (larger) boat that was going from my destination boatyard to California.

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The transport driver, Fuzzy, looks things over. It took he and I about three hours to get everything situated and tied down. He's an experienced truck driver, but somewhat new to boat hauling - so we spent some time figuring out where to put the straps and such (and where not to put them!).

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Ready to roll, just before noon.

I had to go back to the broker's office and jam a mountain of equipment into my vehicle (I had previously picked up the cushions and sails and loaded them into the boat, but other than that didn't want more things in there to try to keep from rattling around), so I was about two hours behind the truck leaving Detroit. I didn't want to bother Fuzzy while he was driving, so we set it up that he would call me whenever he stopped. We ran into a LOT of Lake-Effect snow, so I was calling my boat-moving cohort in California for "live" radar reports from the web. It was nice to at least know how much more snow we had to deal with (it extended to about Breezewood, in central Pennsylvania).

I had caught up to about ten minutes behind the truck when we stopped for the night just after 8 p.m., at a rest area just past Breezewood. We planned to leave at 4:30 a.m. to try to get through Washington D.C. before the worst of rush hour. I went ahead so that he could follow me through DC and not worry too much about routing. As it was, we got there at about 5:30, and it was already bumper-to-bumper and about 25 mph. Fuzzy said he heard a radio traffic report wherein they said all was "normal" with no problems. Wow, if that's normal, I don't want to see 8:30 a.m.

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By about 7 a.m. we were exiting I-95 (phew!) and the rest of the way was fairly rural. I had gotten a bit ahead, so I pulled over to wait for the truck, and got this first daylight view of my boat-on-the-road. Of course my heart went pitty-pat. (My hair had already turned grey the day before in the thick snow. Wow was I nervous!)

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Finally we pulled into the boatyard in Virginia. You can't see it in this photo, but the boat has gained about an inch of beam in the form of road salt and grime. Ish. The good part is -- we made it! Fuzzy was a careful driver, and easy to communicate with.

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The guys here could not quite figure out how to deal with lifting the boat on the cradle. I showed them my photo (albeit small on my camera screen) of the lift in Detroit, but they still thought the boat would tip, so they decided to do it another way....

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I was not at all excited about this method - and the boat creaked and shifted as they moved it to its new spot - but I really wanted to get it on the ground and out of their clutches. Luckily nothing seems to have been damaged. They ran the after strap under just the center of the cradle and then along the hull; adn the forward one under two of the diagonal arms of the cradle. Not elegant at all.

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After a quick bath. The white "marks" on the hull are reflections from the spars, because the boat is still wet. Dealing with that mud puddle should give me extra motivation to get the heck out of the yard.

So there you have it. "How do I....?" threads coming up soon :-)

--- Rachel
Hirilondë
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Boat Name: Hirilondë
Boat Type: 1967 Pearson Renegade
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Post by Hirilondë »

She's a beauty Rachel. Best of times to you sailing her.
Dave Finnegan
builder of Spindrift 9N #521 'Wingë'
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Jason K
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Post by Jason K »

Wow, Rachel - congratulations. That is a beautiful boat and it looks like your exhaustive searching has paid off big time.

I'm thrilled for you. When's the launch date?!
- Jason King (formerly #218)
J/30 Rambunctious
http://www.rambunctiousracing.com
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