Old love... or new?

[Bill35]

Went for a younger woman ( )

We started with a Hunter 170, then an Alberg 30. We loved the Alberg, as we'd put a lot of ourselves into fixing her up, but in the end we wanted more of everything--more modern, more room, etc. We opted for a Tartan 3500 and we're still in the honeymoon period ;-). For our plans, she is "the" boat--small enough for the two of us to handle comfortably, big enough for spending some extended time aboard.Bill"Ngemelis"

 

[Val]

New Love

I have only been with my new sweetheart an '85 H37C, since April. I had been looking for her for a very long time. It was love at first sight for me, but I don't think it was mutual. She tried to throw me overboard on the sea trial bouncing around pretty good in 15kts and a chop. It continued being a little rocky getting to know each other, she gave me several bumps on the head as well as a few cuts and bruises when I packed up her things for the trip to her new home on the left coast. After the move, I guess she was a little cranky from the trip and being stuck in another yard for a month, plus having her strut and prop shaft replaced. I think the final straw was being launched without her mast and stays, so she promptly threw me in the drink. She has her secrets too, I guess they all do, one fairly serious ailment she kept from me as well as the surveyor, which I only recently discovered, but it is not terminal and I will make it right. We have been out on the water a few times now and when she has steady breeze, and all her sails are filled, the sun is sparkling on the water, with just the sound of the wind and the water rushing by, it is simply sublime. Ain't love grand!

 

[steve sassa]

78 venture. fits like a pair of old sneakers

We have been sailing our Venture 25 for 6 seasons now. What a great boat, Its like our second home during the summer. We spend most of our time at Kelley's Island on lake erie. There is a nice spot on the north side to anchor. The boat has plenty of room for two, has plenty of room for supplies. We have sailed in light winds and strong. small waves and large with out any problems. We plan on sailing her for a long time yet.

 

[Steven Corey]

Part of the Family

The Aludra is an Islander 41;one of the 5 Alan Gurney Designed hulls Islander made in 1974.We started sailing on her in 78/79 with the second owner;he sold it to another friend in '80.After 4 years in Alaska she came back to the Puget Sound in '88 when we had the choice:sell her or sail her.Sixteen years later we are still thrashing around on this old boat that still draws attention where ever we go.We may not win any races but we travel in a very civiized manor.After this long of time we know every inch of the boat intemently.She is part of an extended family of the many who have sailed with us over the years;it's always fun when that original owner and others who sailed in the late 70's join us for a blast from the past.

 

[Chelle Nelson]

Extended Family

I'm first mate & owner with Steven Corey on our beautiful Aludra,a 41' Islander. She may be slow, but she's steady and reliable and as Steven says, she's been a part of our family for over 25 years and has been loved and babied since she was built in 1974. We still have strangers walking up to where we dock to admire her beautiful lines and sometimes even think she's a new boat! We may not have all the bells & whistles others have, but she still gets us there in style.It would take quite a boat and a lot of tears to get us to sell her and move on to another.

 

[Jeanne B]

Five years sounds good!

Sounds great! If your in need of a crew or a partner, I might be open! Ha! I have an O'day DaysailerII and I just wrapped up my first season on my new purchase the Hakuna Matata, Edel 665 (22'). It was a fun Summer and I am looking forward to next year which someone told me recently is only 155 days away! Have a good winter! Jeanne

 

[Mike C]

Destiny II 33.5 Hunter

I held off posting for fear of getting a Hot Seat but reading through the posts we seem to be more Old Love than New so... I'm going out on an honest limb. Looking at new Hunters, Catalina's and Beneteau's last weekend at the St. Pete boat show... I'm not at all impressed with the New boats. There's been so many changes since 1993 that I don't like, in my opinion to lower cost. Laminate floors that are spongie and screwed down (the Beneteau looked to have carbon screws in the corners the Hunter looked like brass screws), pressed board w/laminate walls, less storage cabinets, etc. Exterior stripes were crooked on the Hunters. Comparing 34' boats to our 33.5 I didn't like the layouts. We ended up in a 38' boat before it seemed larger. Most of the births are short. I think the rear birth in the 33.5 is 10' long (or wide). Most of the new boat births might be only 6'. I know people that are buying 2005's will love them but it makes me wonder what's going on. So for now after looking at New boats I like our 33.5 better. I'm sure at some point us used buyers will end up with 2005's but I'm hoping mine will be a 40ish Island Packet. MSC

 

[Tony Close]

7 Years of Bliss

Have had our 1990 Beneteau Moorings 38 for 7 seasons, wonderful boat with excellent sea manners and very sturdy in all that Lake Michigan can throw at us (which is quite a bit I might add). Very well laid out and appointed, comfortable, and looks like a lady of the sea - unlike many recent boat designs that look more like oversized Chlorox bottles. The love of our life, yet there comes a time for parting and after these 7 seasons have traded up to a 96 Beneteau 400. Hopefully this will also be a long lasting love affair. And by then maybe boat builders will return to designs that restore beauty as one of the main characteristics of a successful yacht design - not just cost.

 

[Michelyn]

2 months

We've only had her 2 month and couldn't bear to take her out of the water. There were still some great fall weekend for sailing!Last night we had our first snowfall. Sadly, she's coming out.

 

[Dale Wilkins]

MacGregor 25 - Since July

My first boat, almost 28 years ago was a Sunfish which we kept until our kids started coming along and we couldn't get out much. When my son was in his early teens, I went out and bought a Laser II which we enjoyed. I had always wanted a bigger boat that I could sit back on and simply enjoy a nice quiet sail, so I sold the Laser and started building a 21 foot boat. I got a long way on it, but time and finances have a way of becoming less, and I eventually took it down to a favorite dive site in Southeastern Texas. This past June I was looking online at some larger boats and found a great deal on a MacGregor 25. I researched and then bought the boat. I have sailed her at least weekly since then, the most recent sail being this past Wednesday (no one but me out on the lake, and a nice quiet wind...wonderful!).I expect that I will someday move up, but I am now gaining more confidence in sailing a larger boat (on a sunfish or laser, if you make a mistake, you get wet...on a larger boat you can get hurt and damage the boat!).I love sailing my MacGregor, but I also look longingly at some of the larger boats in the slips around me. There is a wonderful Hunter 28, and a few others. For now, I am content to lash the tiller amidships, stretch out in the cockpit, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon or evening sail!

 

[WAYNE MOORE]

SHORT ON MONEY

I'VE HAD MY MAC 21' FOR FIVE YEARS NOW AND MY FAMILY AND I LEARNED TO SAIL ON IT. HOWEVER AS MY FAMILIES SKILLS GET BETTER OUR BOAT SEEMS TO GET SMALLER. I WOULD LOVE TO GET A LARGER BOAT BUT THIS ONE IS PAID FOR AND MY KIDS SEEM TO NEED ALL MY MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS. SOME DAY I WILL GET A LARGER ONE BUT THAT WILL PROBABLY BE WHEN I'M TEACHING MY GRAND KIDS TO SAIL. IN THE MEAN TIME I'M SAILING ON OTHER PEOPLES BOATS AND POLISHING MY SKILLS ON MINE.

 

[ex-admin]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending November 14, 2004:I've owned my boat for: 41% Two to five years29% Less than two years 16% Six to ten years 14% More than ten years 1,040 owners responding

 

[Jack Metzel]

At Last is a long lasting Catalina

I bought my catralina 25, std rig, swing keel in 1979 (the year ir was built) from a neighbor whose wife could not bend her vertibrae. It has been the joy of my life (wife excepted) for 25 years. No other boat built has duplicated its atributes. I race it, cruise it and after 25 years, repair it (with the help of Catalina Owners)

 

[Jerry]

My final sailboat...H37C.

I started crewing 39 years ago on a class E-scow in Lake Michigan. Over the years there were both power and sailboats. Moving from Hobie cats, to trailer sailors (Clipper Marine 26), to plastic classics (Islander 29), I finally moved to my Hunter 37 cutter 4 years ago. Being retired and on a reduced income, I doubt whether I will be moving onto any sailboat larger or newer. She is perfect for me, espoecially as a live-a-board. I highly recommend the model.

 

[Ken Luke]

1988 Catalina 22 - Since New

My 1988 Catalina 22 is my first - and maybe last - cabin boat. I ordered it new in early 1988 and watched it being built at the Woodland Hills factory. It's always been in the water (except for haulouts for bottom paint), and I've taken it to Catalina Island (several times each season) and down the coast to the Coronado Islands and Ensenada. When I decided to buy a boat, my criterion was the smallest sailboat that would get my wife and me safely to Catalina Island, and accomodate us in reasonable comfort for several days there. "Marisla" did that and does it still; I take care of her, and she does likewise to me. Even though I could afford a bigger/newer boat, and came close to buying one more than once, I've always decided to stay with the boat that has satisfied me for many years.

 

[Uwe]

Joyful

I found this old boat after a year of searchingThe Catalina marketMy 1977 Catalina 22 7200This is not my first sailboat. Prior to this I was sailing what is a 16 foot no nameWith a centerboard and oversize mast that has a main sail volume larger than the 22Understand I found here in what I call the pawn shop of boats .A used boat yard in Burlington VT3 years of neglect at leastI spent this past summer going through “Joyful” my wife Joy named the boatA lot of work Lots of scrubbing and very little time for anything elseThis did not go over well with the misses but Its Early winter Here in Vermont The boat is in side an old barn dry and the keel is out and almost overhauledI’m dying to sail her as soon as the ice melt so this is and old boat with a new love.