Found the Guy Who Built My Cat-27

[caguy]

While at the ramp last Sunday I had a chance to meet an old timer who used to work for Catalina in Woodland Hills. He worked for them for 37 years primarily as a fiber glass sprayer. He is certainly the fella who built mine. He and his son were taking out a small runabout. I asked him if he ever had the chance to sail on any of the boats he built and he replied no. He and his son will join me the next time I go out, this should be an adventure for all of us.

 

[soldier1964]

after so many years and never having a chance to be on one is really sad. with you giving him that chance, that could be a memory him or his son will never forget. I tip my hat to you...

 

[dscribner]

Sad but not uncommon. I'll never own the skylights that I design. The workers building our high end leisure products can rarely afford the product that they make. Only gonna get worse.

 

[kenkindy1]

Skylights room addition

Sad but not uncommon. I'll never own the skylights that I design. The workers building our high end leisure products can rarely afford the product that they make. Only gonna get worse.

I would have went a foot or two bigger on that first picture and replaced that whole section of roof with glass!

 

[Bad Obsession]

That is cool that you are going to give him the chance to sail on a boat he built. Catalina should make it possible for all of their employees to try the boats so they know how much happiness they are building!

 

[xcyz]

Old Adage?

Your know the old adage regarding shoemakers kids, right? "They don't race horses".
Oh wait, or was it "The Cobblers kids don't ware shoes"

 

[Rick D]

Good for you!

That's terrific. Hope you all enjoy your sail. LA and California treated Butler shabbily. I am surprised he kept the business in LA CA as long as he did. I used to work just around the corner. God forbid you should try to build a product there.

Anyhow, I looked at a Cat 27 that was, I am told, Gerry Douglas' personal boat once. (This was a lot of years ago). Anyhow, it had no top interior liner, had what I am told was a Capri 30 keel, rudder and rig. It had big chainplates well inboard. It was a terrific HP edition of an already good boat. I'm told it was well raced. Wonder where she is now or if the owner even knows what they have.

 

[kloudie1]

Wow, describner.. In Louisiana, that would be called a solar cooker !

CaGuy.. Great to do that.. I know your kindness will be appreciated!

 

[Chris Patterson]

Yeah, that's super cool man..

 

[Joe]

That's a good story, Caguy, and an even better one to come.

 

[Sailm8]

I had a similar experience. I took a bunch of my students sailing. Although they lived on Charlotte Harbor surrounded by water, many had never even been on a boat. Served sub sandwiches and had ice cream in the reefer. I still get emails from then years later about the experience.

 

[LuzSD]

what a great feel good thread. After a completely energy sapping day, what a nice way to end it.....thanks everyone.

dscribner, love those pictures.

 

[sinnettc]

That's cool CaGuy!

The last 2 springs we've done a sailing day with the Big Brother/Big Sister program near Eugene. The same big/little sisters sailed with us this year who sailed with us last year. It was fun and interesting to see how the little girl had changed in a year. This year she hopped right on the boat and was ready to go; the first year there was some hesitation as she'd never been on a boat in her life.

 

[caguy]

I took one of my counselees fishing when he passed all of his classes. He's a great kid but extremely distractible. He loved it and wants to go again. His grades slip so he hasn't been out since but I keep reminding him. I wish I had never made it conditional.

I cut and pasted his face on a picture made up this poster for his class room last halibut season as a reminder to behave.