Just about to take the plunge again.

jmayton · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011

Everything looks good for us to purchase a 1986 Northern 37 ketch next week. I've never sailed a ketch before. Anyone sailed a Northern ketch who can give me some pointers?

jmayton · #2 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

We bought the boat!
Marina and I spent the day adjusting the freeboard on our, new to us, sailboat. We drove back and forth between the boat and the storage locker, over and over again. VW bugs are roomy but are not set up to haul anchors, chain, engine parts, cordage, tools, spare parts, kayaks, more spare parts, hoses, bug screens, wind generators, cockpit cushions, paddles, pumps, alternators, more spare parts, etc. The big disappointment was with the dodger; it seems that the stitching on many of the zippers is shot, so when we attempted to put it together, several of the zippers just came apart. Picture us with sad faces. At any rate, they are 20 years old but we think we can salvage them with a little work and a bit of professional help. The weather gods decided that we had it way to good for the sea trials yesterday, so today it was cloudy with plenty of showers. No matter, we kept plugging along, until we ran out of day light around 5:30 PM. We still have a load or two left so we won’t be leaving on Saturday as planned. One more day should get us all moved aboard and most stuff stored for the sail home in a couple of weeks. The boat looks (is) a mess but our hearts are full and we are proud with our progress today.

Passat · #3 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Congratulations! Dreams come true!!!

WanderingStar · #4 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Pretty cool! Where are you sailing to/from?

DRFerron · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Congratulations!

jmayton · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

New Years eve or day we will leave Stuart, FL and head up the ICW until we get to New Bern, NC. I'm not looking forward to the cold weather, but I can't feel comfortable leaving the boat 700 miles away. We spent the last two days loading all the gear that came with the purchase; a whole storage unit full. Spare parts, cordage, wind gen, solar panels, hose, tools, sails, etc.

killarney_sailor · #7 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Congratulations. The Northern 37 was built only a few miles from my yacht club and we have had a couple of them in the club at various times.

CalebD · #8 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Congrats on your new N 37'.
Have fun on your delivery trip. Consider going outside if you could reach in a good weather window. Ketches like most reaching points of sail, right?

Faster · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Congrats..

leogallant · #10 (**permalink**) 12-10-2011

Welcome to boat ownership! Good company :-)