old man sailor

jmczzz

.
Mar 31, 2013
517
O'Day 26 CB New Orleans
My resume is long on life (83yrs), short on current sail log entries. But I want to try to relive some of the joys of sailing. I have sold out and finalized the divorce. I gave up most all to get unhooked. I am living in a shared men's house in my own room. Went to sea 63 years ago with a "Z card" as an ordinary seaman on a leftover WWII Liberty ship freighter. Over the years have lived on and sailed various sailboats, including a Hunter 30, Catalina 22, and totally rehabbed several, such as a Catalina 25. Along the line, I got a 100-ton CG license. Now, after enduring a shore people's life and work, I have decided I need to have a sailboat again. So I scraped together a few remaining USD and moved to a seaport town, into my new room. I went down to a local marina and found and bought a dock tied 1973 Pearson 26 for $800. This elegant lady of days gone by, was owned and sailed by a sailor for most of her life, but has been tied to the dock for the past couple of years after the sailor died. She has been used as a home by a non sailor guy who tried to make her a small apartment, complete with a refrigerator, oil radiator, cute, silly curtains, and a lot of doily granny stuff. The boat, like me, yearns to be set free and under sail out of the harbor. The boat and I both refusing to finish our time tied to the dock.
This is my first log entry. December 1 2025
My first steps will be to unapartmentize her and get rid of all the shore fluff. I looked her over and am impressed at her condition. She was obviously well fitted out by her former captain as a sailing vessel. I plan to bring her back to that top original condition ASAP. All I know about this particular breed of sailing vessel is what I have learned from saiboatdata.com. My budget, while limited, is moderate from SSA and the VA combined pensions. Obviously, my intent in posting here is to ask for advice and education from fellow sailors who have not, like me, had a lapse in their sea time. Any and all comments and pointers, especially about this model vessel, and or solo voyaging, are appreciated. Even if you consider me on a fool's errand.
If you have read this far, Thank you. Captain Jimmy
 

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Jan 7, 2011
5,828
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Hey James,

Good luck in your new adventure.

My first thoughts would be to:
- Clean out the boat. Since it has been used as a “home” and who knows what else, go through it and pitch all of the junk people have put on the boat. If it looks like a boat part…keep it. But ditch the “doily” stuff.

- Inspect the boat from top to bottom. Identify anything that is broken, doesn’t work, is wet, etc. Try the engine, raise and lower the sails, put the boat in gear and see if she is generating thrust (tied to the dock). Check whatever electrical systems you have. And be sure you have a working bilge pump! A handy person can often fix many small issues on a boat without hiring the yard to do it. Also, going through your boat will help you understand her system, and how to use them.

- Prioritize work that needs to be done, focusing in safety systems first. Make sure the water stays outside! Then figure out what it will take to get the old girl sailing. And get out for some enjoyment. Work on the other stuff (deck leaks, upgrades, etc) as time and money permits.

Greg
 
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dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,736
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
James,

The Pearson line was a decent boat. They tend to sail pretty well. The 27 doesn't have a lot of interior space..I'm guessing you are not very tall. I seem to recall I can't stand up in that boat. I'm 5' 10" tall.

Greg's suggestion to take everything out of the boat is a good one. I try to do that with my boat every couple of years. I find it does a couple things, first I find a lot of things that don't need to still be on the boat and second I remind myself of where things are. I slowly get better organization this way.

Work through all systems on the boat. Find out what works, what doesn't. We'll need to know what the boat has to give better advice.

Where do you think you will be sailing? An idea of where you think you'll go would be helpful. If you are just sailing around where you have the boat or sailing along the coast, it makes some.difference in what is recommended..

Let us know what you have for equipment on the boat. How will you navigate? Paper charts? Chart plotter? Sail by eye? Got a VHF?

Lots more - but first let's hear how you are planning to sail.

dj
 
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jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,758
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Congrats Jimmy.
Raced against the Pearson 26 boats in the Chesapeake back in 69. They were strong MORC competitors. Great boats for coastal cruising. Which of the keels do you have? The fin or the centerboard design?

You have had a few boats so you know the usual spots to check. Make her strong yet easy to manage solo. Have you seen her out of the water? Check the keel joint as they have a history of smiling, sailors sailing to close to the sea bottom. :yikes:

Welcome to the SBO Forums.
 

jmczzz

.
Mar 31, 2013
517
O'Day 26 CB New Orleans
James,

The Pearson line was a decent boat. They tend to sail pretty well. The 27 doesn't have a lot of interior space..I'm guessing you are not very tall. I seem to recall I can't stand up in that boat. I'm 5' 10" tall.

Greg's suggestion to take everything out of the boat is a good one. I try to do that with my boat every couple of years. I find it does a couple things, first I find a lot of things that don't need to still be on the boat and second I remind myself of where things are. I slowly get better organization this way.

Work through all systems on the boat. Find out what works, what doesn't. We'll need to know what the boat has to give better advice.

Where do you think you will be sailing? An idea of where you think you'll go would be helpful. If you are just sailing around where you have the boat or sailing along the coast, it makes some.difference in what is recommended..

Let us know what you have for equipment on the boat. How will you navigate? Paper charts? Chart plotter? Sail by eye? Got a VHF?

Lots more - but first let's hear how you are planning to sail.

dj
First and for the coming summer; The Puget Sound and Vancouver, Canada Islands. I am located in Tacoma, WA on the south side of Seattle, WA, well yes i was 5 10 most of my life, but i guess have shrunk some. i can stand up fine in the main salon. I think it matches these specs and photos.
PEARSON 26 - sailboatdata thanks It does not have a chart plotter, i would guess the last sailor was well versed on the local area. and used charts as that is a lot of we older guys grew up on.
 
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jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,758
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Well that is confusing. Your info suggests you are in the New Orleans area.

Where are you home ported?
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,414
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
James, you have excellent ability to write and describe your mind. Write a book about your experiences.
 

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,736
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
First and for the coming summer; The Puget Sound and Vancouver, Canada Islands. I am located in Tacoma, WA on the south side of Seattle, WA, well yes i was 5 10 most of my life, but i guess have shrunk some. i can stand up fine in the main salon. I think it matches these specs and photos.
PEARSON 26 - sailboatdata thanks It does not have a chart plotter, i would guess the last sailor was well versed on the local area. and used charts as that is a lot of we older guys grew up on.
Being able to stand up inside makes it a lot more comfortable. Glad it works.

Paper charts are great. If you are staying in that area, getting the charts for where you are sailing is fine. I'm kind of a fan of paper charts. It's a great way to become familiar with your area. If I'm sailing locally, I don't use charts, I sail by knowing the area.

My father sailed in your area through his 90's. I sailed there with him a number of years ago. It's a great area to enjoy. There are a number of folks here that sail up there. I'm on the other coast... But I have fond memories of sailing there.

dj
 
Jun 11, 2004
1,851
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
All I know about this particular breed of sailing vessel is what I have learned from saiboatdata.com.
If the above is true you might want to check out this Pearson website (5'9" headroom by the way :)).


From somebody a decade behind you, doing this at your age is an inspiration. I hope the boat is up to your desires and dreams.
 
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