And the deed is done...

DuaneIsing · #1 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

Well, after cruising this forum for a few years now, I can finally start cruising in the briny. We made the transition to Florida this month and a boat popped up on my radar screen that I couldn''t ignore.

She''s only 5 years old and very well found. The surveyor (highly respected as a nit-picker) was very impressed, too. Considering that the price was in the lower third of the final sales prices for her build year and her condition was obviously in the top 20%, I would say I did alright.

Like with most boats, you have to decide what compromises to make given your intended use. Some of the factors in our decision: coastal cruising as a couple, shallow draft, no exterior wood to maintain, decent sailer, easy water/dink access, comfortable cockpit. We kept exploring various possibilities, but finally kept coming back to our initial liking of the Catalina 36 Mk II.

We performed the survey and sea trials last Thursday, closed the deal on Friday, and brought her from Palmetto, FL to Punta Gorda over Sat and Sun. As you can expect when you have a schedule to keep, the winds were mostly adverse, so we only got to sail 20% of the time. The rest was motor sailing and pure motoring, but at least we got to verify that the propulsion system worked great. The seas and weather were great in the gulf.

I had her tied up overnight at our dock, only to awake the next morning with the seawall repair crew arriving. They need to replace the concrete cap, so out come the jack-hammers. There''s no damage to the boat, but she''s covered in dust right now.

Yesterday, I stopped at the local marine store and spent my first wad of dough on boat stuff. And so it begins... 8^)

SailorMitch · #2 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

Duane,

Congrats on your boat, and your move to PGI! Sounds like you found a great boat, too. Best wishes to you two. In a couple of years I''ll want the lat & lon of that dock of yours. My P-33 draws 4''2" with the winged keel, so I hope I can get in there? (Denr will have to dinghy in with that fin keel of his.)

Steve

Denr · #3 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

None of this dingy crap, Duane will have the channel dredged for me right?

CONGRATULATIONS

flicker · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

Here, let me move this message to where it belongs.

Duane,

I had the strangest emotional response when I read your recent post. I don''t know how many of Sailnet''s readers intend to go cruising and how many are interested instead in other aspects of sailing, but I think your post is the first that I''ve read from a contributor to this board who has actually made it to the stage of casting off on the grand journey.

Congratulations! I''m very, very happy for you.

I, myself, have been on a five year plan in earnest for seven (?!) years now. At last it looks like my wife and I will be able to get our cruiser this summer.

Bon voyage! I hope you will be able to keep sending in posts as you travel.

Sincerely,
Chas

mabwjm · #5 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

Duane,
Congratulations!! We had corresponded earlier on a different board--the Cat 36 is a beautiful boat--we were very impressed with the boat, its history, and record, not to mention the enthusiasm of the owners.

Get used to that wallet popping out at Marine stores--my AMEX card has developed a nervous tick! ;-) Best of everything--

Fair winds,

Bill
"Ngemelis"

DuaneIsing · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

Steve, Denr, Chas, and Bill,

Thanks much for your enthusiastic congratulations. You are definitley welcome at my dock. We recently had the dock area dredged to 7+ feet at MLW. The channel into our canal system (Ponce de Leon Inlet) now carries 7 feet at MLW, too.

I will still be justifiably envious of the Sabre, Tartan, Pearson, etc. onwers I cruise with, but we will still enjoy the same comraderie and libations in our favorite anchorages together. Life on the water is what it is all about, right?

BTW, after the crew showed up to replace the deteriorating seawall cap today, I had to clean the boat from stem to stern - that made me glad we limited to 36'' LOA instead of more. I''m sure I''m going through the same painful? learning curve we all do. It''s quite a "disease" we have, isn''t it?

Fair winds to all! I''ll post more of my first boat adventures as time permits. And thanks to all of you who have supplied advice and encouragement along the way.

Cheers!

Duane

SailorMitch · #7 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004

Hey Denr,

Duane really is a stand up guy. He already dredged the channel for you! Now, all we have left to do is get down there in our boats.

Duane, congrats again. Yes, it is a grand disease we all have. Just remember Sailnet and that extra 4 percent you get off the top with Sailperks when outfitting her! (And I am already glad I bought "only" a 33 footer when it comes to cleaning and bottom work. I keep telling myself I''ll adjust to all that extra boat-- so keep repeating that line!)

mabwjm · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004

Duane, forgot to ask--what''s her name or what are you planning to name her?

Fair winds,
Bill
"Ngemelis"

DuaneIsing · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004

Steve, of course I''ll be patronizing SailNet (I am a SailPerks member) for most of the future goodies. I just needed some stuff quickly like soap, biocide, MSD deodorizer, brushes, etc.

I really shouldn''t have to do too much upgrading. She already has all of what I would want (so far) except for an inverter.

Bill,

Her current name is Echo II, but I''ll be renaming her after my dear wife, "Diva Di." Even though I''m not superstitious, I plan to use an appropriate renaming ceremony to keep Neptune happy just the same. I understand good Champagne is called for, and I hope Neptune doesn''t like to drink alone.

Chas,

Thanks again for your post. I hope I didn''t give the impression that we''re casting off the docklines and sailing away immediately. Once we settle in a bit, we will be doing some short term cruising alone and with members of the local cruising clubs. I still need to generate an income stream, so I will be trying to structure that around the desire to get "out there" for several months at a time. I will keep SailNet members posted.

Cheers!

Duane

mabwjm · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004

Duane,

Congrats again. There are plenty of renaming scripts on the web (and probably discussions on this and other sites), but the recurring theme is that you''re essentially convincing Neptune that your boat, as blessed as she''s been til now, was actually misnamed, and now you''re "correcting the ledger." ;-). Important to make sure no hint of her previous name is left aboard--be careful of log books, maint records, etc. Good Champaigne is a must--we renamed our previous boat in this fashion, and had great luck and a lot of fun on her. We also waited a few days between renaming and "Christening" with her new name.

Make a party out of it--my personal belief is the Gods are most pleased when people are enjoying themselves and the ship!

Fair winds,
Bill
"Ngemelis"