The "Lady" and I

[Squidd]

We're getting closer...

This is the first chance I had to spend a little time getting to know her since I dragged her home from DC...

I emptied her out of all the accumulated nick nacks and collectables from the PO getting to the bottom of all the bins and hidey holes... Pulled all the cushions and PFDs and removed all the hatch and bin covers so I could take stock of what was left..

Then I tried out the electrical...Made up a 30 amp plug so I could hook up the AC power and checked out the outlets.. all good there.. then we went to DC...

I have a "Redi-Amp 8" auto charger that seems to be shorted internaly, keeps popping the circut breaker, I disconnected it from the battery switch and it does put out power but still pops the breaker, so I'm thinking of sending it in for service...in the meantime I removed it from the boat.

Both batterys were dead, so I pulled them and tossed in a temp starter battery to test the DC circuts. Cabin lights work, VHF came on, Bildge pump works, running lights and mast light checked out OK.. What is the "Bow Light" that one didn't go anywhere.. ?

While I was "in" the starboard cockpit locker, I removed a mile or so of extra wires, a combination of phone line (?) speaker wire and a couple power wires that went "nowhere" cleaned it up nice and makes a lot more sense now...

Went in the cabin and pulled a few more "unused" wires and pulled up the floor panels.. keel bolts all clean and accessable but my centerboard seems to be "stuck" in the up position...

I think when I have the crane lift it off the flatbed I brought it home on I'll get underneath and run a long blade down both sides of the keel removeing the crud and hopefully that will allow the CB to drop, then I can reattach the lift rope to the cable and pull 'er back up...

Next warm day(s) I get I'll check out the plumbing, and run a little RV antifreeze thru it for the winter...

Little by little I'm makeing her my own...

Will post updates as they come..

[Charlie B]

This reminds me of myself last year.

It's wonderful isn't it? I hope you have as great a time getting to know your "Lady" as I have mine. She is a Morgan 24/25 with an Atomic 4, called "My Fair Leslie". Today was most likely my last day to sail her this year. It's a short season here in Maine, but she's the last sailboat to be hauled in our harbor and I'm squeezing all the sailing I can get in.

Have you picked out a name for your's yet? What kind of boat is it? What does it have for power? Is this your first?

Have fun!

[Squidd]

Yes, this is my first "dry boat"... I had a Sunfish like boat years ago, and lately have been getting my kicks on a Venture Cat 15', but getting to where I can appreciate the longer and slower cruise in a keelboat or weekender...We (wife and I) have chartered day trips on a captined ship and really loved it so she is on board for our new adventure...I plan on taking the ASA keelboat course before I launch mine.

The lady is a 1978 Alcort Paceship PY26 that I picked up off e-bay...I bought it cheap enough, but site unseen from a charity/auction seller, hence the "get aquainted" time has been sparce...I picked it up in Washington DC, pulled it out of the water and trailered all 26' x 9'6" 6500# back home to Northern Wisconsin. I plan on dry slipping it in Lake Superior in the Apostle Island area next summer.

I'm quite pleased with what I've seen so far the hull and deck are solid with no soft spots, the only one I've found is a small section of "sole" in the cabin. All the rigging was up when I got there so I believe I have a complete boat.

Plan is to do a budget "refresh" this winter to get familiar with her and have a solid "working" boat that I can sail for a season, before I (we) get involved in a full blown rebuild.

Power is a 2004 Mercury 15 hp 4 stroke which runs pretty well (got me 5 miles down the Potomic to the marina to get hauled out)

The boat is USCG documented as the "Lazy Lady" and for now anyway I'm thinking I may stay with that, just changing the home port listing.

[St Anna]

You'll have untold fun on her.

Be warned, it will change you for the better...

Enjoy

[MARC2012]

Hope you enjoy her.marc

[sawingknots]

i'm curious how you make out with the centerboard,the centerboard on my py26 was stuck too,about 4 years ago i worked for 2 days scrapping crud from the sides[with a hacksaw blade]i finally got it to where i could raise and lower it with fifficulty but lots of the resistance seems to be around the swing pin[a 1+" stainless pin/bolt]

[Squidd]

Thanks, I'm becoming more and more comfortable with her as we spend more time together, when I first went out to DC to pick 'er up I thought "Man, what did I get myself into, buying a 'pig in a poke'"?" But I'm finding very little wrong (other than normal wear and tear on a 34 yr old boat) to fret about...

SK: The centerboard moves a fraction of an inch now, but keel is sitting on blocks so not sure how much "extra" play I can get till she's hanging from the sling.. saw the dirt/crud built up in the CB/Keel slot with a mirror, hoping to clear it out with a long saws-all blade when I transfer trailers..

[cb32863]

Thanks for sharing and hopefully we can see some interior pics soon. I am making a road trip myself next weekend and hoping it works out for me too. Not going to hijack your thread of course, will post my own. Nice to see you have her home and getting to know your boat.

[sawingknots]

if you can move it that much i'm sure you won't have a lot of trouble completely freeing it if necessary,i've had my py for about 7 years and even if a little cramped i like it so much i've no thoughts of replacing it,what inherent problems it has [all boats,any design do] i've found it to be a very sturdy well built boat and quite sea worthy.btw didn't yours come with an inboard diesel?

[Squidd]

SK: Came with the outboard (2004 Merc 15hp which is worth more than I paid for the boat) but does have the motor rails under the galley...you say "cramped" but I was looking at 23' to 25' trailer sailers before I went with this and couldn't find one with enough headroom for my 6'2"...this may not be a liveaboard but seems alot bigger (and safer) for big water than most I had looked at previously...

CB: You going for the Catalina..? either way good luck with your hunt..Here's a couple interior shots before I cleaned it out..