[eryka]

We had moved from Colorado to Michigan only 3 weeks before we became boat-owners, having fallen seriously in love with sailing after a week's learn-to-sail liveaboard vacation in the USVI. We had gone touristing to Traverse City on northern Lake Michigan and walked through the marina as we were exploring the city. Saw an older Ericson 27 sitting with a "For Sale" sign. Price was so low that we could totally make a mistake, hate the boat, and still survive.

We didn't do any research or comparison shopping, this was the only boat we'd seen and we hadn't even started our search. But somehow, this boat wasn't "calling" our names, it was shrieking, yelling, broadcasting our name IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!!! We HAD to have this boat!!! Went on a sea trial. Ripped off the "for sale" sign on the way back into the marina and handed it back to the owner, along with our check. We didn't hate the boat, we fell deeper and deeper in love. Spent every single summer weekend aboard for the next couple of years, then realized we were totally utterly hooked and started looking for a full-time liveaboard.