4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

x-no-archive:yes

"Skip Gundlach"
wrote:
snip This boat had received major upgrades to make
suitable for singlehanding, all of which were appropriate expenditures,
though I would not have made them. There's too many to list here; suffice
it to say one's not likely to fall overboard, and everything can be done
from the cockpit other than handing the lines to the dock - but the boat can
be put, stationary, at any position, for long enough to go do the lines,
singlehanded.

We want to be able to do everything from the cockpit even though there
are 2 of us. I can't tell you how many times I've blessed the fact
that no one has to go out on the deck in rough weather.

And the once that Bob had to go out there before we had jacklines was
scary for me even though we were only in the Chesapeake and he had an
autoinflat PFD on. I didn't think I could possibly get back to pick
him up if he fell off.

snip
It's been a long trip, and I'm blessed to have been able to do the research
and travel I've done. Short of having a boat already in mind that you know
will work for you, and is everything you want it to be (accepting that my
height added inconceivably to the challenge), I can't imagine how anyone
who's employed could do this in less than half a lifetime.

We were lucky in that we chartered a boat that Bob promptly fell in
love with. We looked at other boats, but it only confirmed that we
wanted this particular make, although Bob and I had a disagreement
about the model we should get.

grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

Damn it takes you a lot of lookin... I bought a new "used" boat last year
and it took only one boat to look at. Maybe I already knew what I wanted
and didn't want to spend thousands on trips etc.

Hope that you like the Morgan. Hope that it is a bit better than the OI41
that normally has to run the engine while tacking.

Capn Bill

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

Damn it takes you a lot of lookin... I bought a new "used" boat last year
and it took only one boat to look at. Maybe I already knew what I wanted
and didn't want to spend thousands on trips etc.

Hope that you like the Morgan. Hope that it is a bit better than the OI41
that normally has to run the engine while tacking.

Capn Bill

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

Greetings...

"Capn Willy" wrote in message
. com...
Damn it takes you a lot of lookin... I bought a new "used" boat last year
and it took only one boat to look at. Maybe I already knew what I wanted
and didn't want to spend thousands on trips etc.

Now that we know what we want, we won't be spending much time looking,
either. I gather you've not read the preceding stuff, or you'd know that
this was hardly idle windowshopping, nor thousands to spend to get there.
In fact, since my college rowing buddy had a full house, my most expensive
room nights were on this trip, both at $50 - for the Marriott in WPB and the
Doubletree in FTL on the beach... The other night was aboard a Morgan 46.

Hope that you like the Morgan. Hope that it is a bit better than the OI41
that normally has to run the engine while tacking.

I can't speak to those. This one (well, technically, its sistership) tacked
in 5 knots of wind and was at between 6-7 knots over ground in both
directions at about 8-10 apparent at about 35* off the wind, and has a
fin/skeg underbody with a long forefoot to keep it tracking. The ability of
this type to sail was one of my first concerns, since allayed. Sisterships
report successful way at 30* in higher air and a totally stable freight
train at up to and including 50 knots.

I hope we like it too. Thanks for your interest :{))

L8R

Skip (and Lydia, by proxy)

--
"And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a clear
night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize that you are
quite alone on a wide, wide sea, it is apt to occur to you that in the
general scheme of things you are merely an insignificant speck on the
surface of the ocean; and are not nearly so important or as self-sufficient
as you thought you were. Which is an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one
that may effect a permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly
appreciated by your friends."- James S. Pitkin

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

Greetings...

"Capn Willy" wrote in message
. com...
Damn it takes you a lot of lookin... I bought a new "used" boat last year
and it took only one boat to look at. Maybe I already knew what I wanted
and didn't want to spend thousands on trips etc.

Now that we know what we want, we won't be spending much time looking,
either. I gather you've not read the preceding stuff, or you'd know that
this was hardly idle windowshopping, nor thousands to spend to get there.
In fact, since my college rowing buddy had a full house, my most expensive
room nights were on this trip, both at $50 - for the Marriott in WPB and the
Doubletree in FTL on the beach... The other night was aboard a Morgan 46.

Hope that you like the Morgan. Hope that it is a bit better than the OI41
that normally has to run the engine while tacking.

I can't speak to those. This one (well, technically, its sistership) tacked
in 5 knots of wind and was at between 6-7 knots over ground in both
directions at about 8-10 apparent at about 35* off the wind, and has a
fin/skeg underbody with a long forefoot to keep it tracking. The ability of
this type to sail was one of my first concerns, since allayed. Sisterships
report successful way at 30* in higher air and a totally stable freight
train at up to and including 50 knots.

I hope we like it too. Thanks for your interest :{))

L8R

Skip (and Lydia, by proxy)

--
"And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a clear
night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize that you are
quite alone on a wide, wide sea, it is apt to occur to you that in the
general scheme of things you are merely an insignificant speck on the
surface of the ocean; and are not nearly so important or as self-sufficient
as you thought you were. Which is an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one
that may effect a permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly
appreciated by your friends."- James S. Pitkin

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

Skip Gundlach wrote:

Heh. That was a metaphor (what's a metaphor? It's for...) - we'll be
dealing with the broker.

Having the broker in the middle adds a bit of security, but from what you've said this still sounds mighty fishy. I am
very leery of dealing with lawyers in any business deal, too many of them have a nasty habit of considering whatever
the transaction is to be a means of transferring your money into their pocket, period. And they can't be intimidated
except by another meaner lawyer.


It's one of the earlier posts' referenced 'high
priced spread' - but even that's relative. The M46 original-owner-from-new
and my (buyer's) broker agreed that you could take this boat to the flea
market and part it out and get most of your money back. That was being
facetious, of course, but it's a *very* unusual boat, particularly for 1980.

Sounds good. It also sounds like you should budget two or three days for survey and at least a full day for sea trial.
Remember you want to test the operation of absolutely everything, with the assumption that anything which isn't
demonstrated to be in perfect working order is nonfunctional. This turns out to be rational, not pessimistic.

Also if the seller has the owners manuals & *accurate* wiring diagrams for all the upgrades & additions, that's key.

Good luck with it!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

Skip Gundlach wrote:

Heh. That was a metaphor (what's a metaphor? It's for...) - we'll be
dealing with the broker.

Having the broker in the middle adds a bit of security, but from what you've said this still sounds mighty fishy. I am
very leery of dealing with lawyers in any business deal, too many of them have a nasty habit of considering whatever
the transaction is to be a means of transferring your money into their pocket, period. And they can't be intimidated
except by another meaner lawyer.


It's one of the earlier posts' referenced 'high
priced spread' - but even that's relative. The M46 original-owner-from-new
and my (buyer's) broker agreed that you could take this boat to the flea
market and part it out and get most of your money back. That was being
facetious, of course, but it's a *very* unusual boat, particularly for 1980.

Sounds good. It also sounds like you should budget two or three days for survey and at least a full day for sea trial.
Remember you want to test the operation of absolutely everything, with the assumption that anything which isn't
demonstrated to be in perfect working order is nonfunctional. This turns out to be rational, not pessimistic.

Also if the seller has the owners manuals & *accurate* wiring diagrams for all the upgrades & additions, that's key.

Good luck with it!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 23:32:28 GMT, "Skip Gundlach"
wrote:



I can't speak to those. This one (well, technically, its sistership) tacked
in 5 knots of wind and was at between 6-7 knots over ground in both
directions at about 8-10 apparent at about 35* off the wind, and has a
fin/skeg underbody with a long forefoot to keep it tracking. The ability of
this type to sail was one of my first concerns, since allayed. Sisterships
report successful way at 30* in higher air and a totally stable freight
train at up to and including 50 knots.

I hope we like it too. Thanks for your interest :{))

I think the galley looks quite impressive. I would move those sinks to
the centerline if they aren't there already, but you can't tell easily
from the photo. Do the tender and davits come with the boat?

Looks generally good and the price is good, too, probably because she
is well into middle age and cosmetically a little worn and old
fashioned in layout and trim.

Or, as many would say, well-seasoned and seamanlike. I know you don't
require reminding, but I think your trouble spots would include deck
rot/wet spots (are Morgans solid laminate under deck gear? Are there
backing plates?) and areas like the partners, engine mounts, shaft
log, thru-hulls, rudder posts, steering linkages, roller-reefing and
so on, if not regularly upgraded and maintained. The habits of the
P.O. are usually visible (updated flares, wood plugs beside
thru-hulls, good selection of spares, maintenance logs, post-market
upgrades in lighting, beefed-up wiring and so on--if half of that is
present, it's a very good sign). Mast work is probably needed, but a
redo of all the standing rigging would be automatic for me before
extensive cruising, if only to provide a baseline for my time of
salt-water ownership. Probably a few new blocks and lines, too,
although I would use a ratty 10-year old sheet any day over an
original tang at the masthead on a 25 year old salty boat. There's
always another sheet aboard, and racers throw out hundreds of feet of
perfectly good dirty Spectra and Vectran a year at my club G.

Extensive cruising creates extensive wear and extensive opportunities
to correct and even improve beyond factory the effects of extensive
wear. My boat is sounder now than when new in 1973, but looks pretty
rough. Looks count for little in my book, and layout and "sensible,
moderate, robust" systems and ease of access count for a lot. Your
special height requirements narrowed the field considerably, and I
would like to see your "dream short list" if money and head clearance
weren't an issue, with an emphasis on stowage, passagemaking ability
and pure sailing pleasure. Like, say, you were six foot tall and you
had $250,000 to spend. What would you have considered in a used but
sound cruiser?

Good luck and I hope the deal goes your way. Frankly, the "lawyer"
getting the dead guy's boat sounds dodgy, and I'd check for liens,
off-the-books refinancing deals or whether the thing is collateral in
a high-stakes poker game involving a drug lord.

If you're lucky, it's legit and the lawyer will just bill you for his
hours spent selling it to you. G

R.

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 23:32:28 GMT, "Skip Gundlach"
wrote:



I can't speak to those. This one (well, technically, its sistership) tacked
in 5 knots of wind and was at between 6-7 knots over ground in both
directions at about 8-10 apparent at about 35* off the wind, and has a
fin/skeg underbody with a long forefoot to keep it tracking. The ability of
this type to sail was one of my first concerns, since allayed. Sisterships
report successful way at 30* in higher air and a totally stable freight
train at up to and including 50 knots.

I hope we like it too. Thanks for your interest :{))

I think the galley looks quite impressive. I would move those sinks to
the centerline if they aren't there already, but you can't tell easily
from the photo. Do the tender and davits come with the boat?

Looks generally good and the price is good, too, probably because she
is well into middle age and cosmetically a little worn and old
fashioned in layout and trim.

Or, as many would say, well-seasoned and seamanlike. I know you don't
require reminding, but I think your trouble spots would include deck
rot/wet spots (are Morgans solid laminate under deck gear? Are there
backing plates?) and areas like the partners, engine mounts, shaft
log, thru-hulls, rudder posts, steering linkages, roller-reefing and
so on, if not regularly upgraded and maintained. The habits of the
P.O. are usually visible (updated flares, wood plugs beside
thru-hulls, good selection of spares, maintenance logs, post-market
upgrades in lighting, beefed-up wiring and so on--if half of that is
present, it's a very good sign). Mast work is probably needed, but a
redo of all the standing rigging would be automatic for me before
extensive cruising, if only to provide a baseline for my time of
salt-water ownership. Probably a few new blocks and lines, too,
although I would use a ratty 10-year old sheet any day over an
original tang at the masthead on a 25 year old salty boat. There's
always another sheet aboard, and racers throw out hundreds of feet of
perfectly good dirty Spectra and Vectran a year at my club G.

Extensive cruising creates extensive wear and extensive opportunities
to correct and even improve beyond factory the effects of extensive
wear. My boat is sounder now than when new in 1973, but looks pretty
rough. Looks count for little in my book, and layout and "sensible,
moderate, robust" systems and ease of access count for a lot. Your
special height requirements narrowed the field considerably, and I
would like to see your "dream short list" if money and head clearance
weren't an issue, with an emphasis on stowage, passagemaking ability
and pure sailing pleasure. Like, say, you were six foot tall and you
had $250,000 to spend. What would you have considered in a used but
sound cruiser?

Good luck and I hope the deal goes your way. Frankly, the "lawyer"
getting the dead guy's boat sounds dodgy, and I'd check for liens,
off-the-books refinancing deals or whether the thing is collateral in
a high-stakes poker game involving a drug lord.

If you're lucky, it's legit and the lawyer will just bill you for his
hours spent selling it to you. G

R.

4th FL trip report, shorter, this time!
 

"Skip Gundlach" wrote:
Well, as those following the saga know, we've settled on a Morgan 46...snip...

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. And, Hey!, give Lydia a big hug
from me! I can't wait to hear about your progress toward sea trials.

Frank and the girls