Topic: Mast raising party, anyone?
Hello All,
well I did it, I got another boat. After I sold Blue Skies, I decided to just go along for awhile, and wait for the next one- I never thought I would even LOOK at a boat in the $20 K range! but then I came into some money, happens once every million or so years I guess, and I thought You only live once, why not reach for the stars? Turns out, grabbing a star, especially a Shooting Star, by the tail is alot like sailing with too much sail in a very strong wind! REEF DOWN!! ...so here I am, once again a boat owner, (I uploaded a photo of the boat, on the trailer I listed for sale, under General Images, # 93 I think) and already money is flowing out, my credit card is going to be close to maxed before its over, and the TO DO list seems endless! I already miss the simplicity that was Blue Skies- diesel engine, roller furler jib, thats a bout it! If you look under the Contessa Marketplace, this is boat #345 that was for sale back in fall of 2007. I bought it from the guy that bought it from THAT guy- Tony Locsei. I got most of the stuff, except the dingy & outboard. The guy I bought it from never got to sail it, so basically it has been drydocked for 2 1/2 years. But Aaron (the owner's agent that sold it for him) had the engine running (closed system- I have to hook the water pump back up before starting it in the water) for me, since I never got to hear BlueSkies' engine, it was like heaven listening to this one purr!!
I am launching it in early April, if all goes well- the funnest part of that will probably be stepping the mast. I've read thru all the posts I could find on the subject, and there is a diagram with the boat, but it still looks like a job for a ringmaster with 5 or 6 trained gorillas! especially making sure all the internal electrical wiring is good BEFORE the mast goes up! I've never done this, but what the heck, I've never driven in rush hour traffic (the kind where you're in a herd of wildabeests moving fast) in San Diego either before this year, it wasn't such a much! just need reflexes like a hungry cheetah & 6 sets of eyes front & back, all moving at once- nothing to it really! (of course, the experience is much enhanced on gen-uine San Diegan COFFEE- is that what surfers drink?)
I have to replace the halyards & sheets, but the wire rigging is in great condition. The boat needs some cosmetic stuff- clean up, sand the teak, put some non-skid in that area of the cabin just before the forepeak bunk, which is angled and slippery as heck! Once the mast is up, then comes the next biggest job- figuring out how all the systems and electronics work!
Bellingham seems like a good place to launch a boat, anyways- two yacht clubs and lots of sailboats, should be able to find the lines, hardware & help I need. Anyone in that area? Shannon of course!! I'd love to meet some of you Contessa folks! I will be down there most of April, in a motel until the boat is launched, (hopefully early april) then a few weeks getting everything up & running and getting to know the boat.
Take care everyone, hope you all are having a good spring! I hear flowers are even growing in Bellingham- here in Kodiak we have snow, sleet, wind and most days, more wind. sun was out for 1/2 hour today!