Thank you...thank you....how could I ever thank you.....

[Giulietta]

So after a while I wanted to thank you all that helped me realize my dream...

Here is the story....for those that don't know me...

I moved in from mainland Europe, at age of 50, with a dream in my mind and $50.00 in my pocket...(roughly 100 euros now)...to Portugal, where they have sea, beaches and wind...

I had never sailed before after moving from Central Europe to Portugal, in fact I had never seen the sea before..and knew nothing about sailing..in fact I had never seen a sailboat before, except in magazines and in a TV commercial about battery starters and solar panels...

So one day, I stop at an internet caffe...I come to sailnet, posted a really stupid question like what boat to buy with $45 US dolars, that was blue water and capable of liveaboard and go to Somalia and back with an electric motor.....my dream was to come thru in 15 years....the time frame for dream fullfillment was 15 years, a short time to plan, off course...

I then got lot of good answers on what boat to buy...I was recommended a Valiant built in 1325, with roller furler, mast winches, closed cockpit (no sugar scoops), and 10 anchors, all on chain...ahh the hull is 45 inches thick...a good thing....and off course, complete wiuth canoe stern and the all practical sailing quality improving wood decoration both inside and outside...bow sprit in wood optional...off course a full enclosed pilot house too...once I get hit by a storm, instead of sailing I can close myself inside and float around during the storm..the COCOON theory...

So...with no expereince what so ever, I bought a few books, all recommended too, who needs sailing school, and set sail, all while reading the Engine 101 and sailing dictionaries, written by the "great" names of the sailing industry...

Thank you all...

edita later...here is my boat...the now named S/Y Sailnet

[bestfriend]

What kind of TV did you get? Did you get the 52" plasma?

[Idiens]

Congratulations Giu,

So good to see someone fulfil their dream.

Sigh!

[Giulietta]

Ohhh yes..I did...and 300sq feet of solar panels, that are quite handy in a storm...and a ridgid dinghy hanging in the stern....

did I mention I also have a full keel??? my keel is so long it measures 45 feet and the boat is only 40 feet....handy when I get hit by a storm and have to bob around....

I also have a fixed pitch prop...he other ones fail a lot..you know....

ahh NO GIB FURLER for me...no sir...I go the hard way...

[Joel73]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

.........did I mention I also have a full keel??? my keel is so long it measures 45 feet and the boat is only 40 feet....handy when I get hit by a storm and have to bob around....

that was hillarious.

[sailaway21]

Lordy!
I hope you didn't buy those new high-tech lines made out of dyneema or diamonds or whatever, for your sheets and halyards. Surely someone advised you on using manila, didn't they?

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Lordy!
I hope you didn't buy those new high-tech lines made out of dyneema or diamonds or whatever, for your sheets and halyards. Surely someone advised you on using manila, didn't they?

Off course, and also hemp ropes......and I also have oversized winches..everyone knows a boat with small winches is a bad design...I mean..bigger and heavier is better....right??

Dyneema is bad...it has hardly no stretch...my halyards are wire....

[Joel73]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Off course, and also hemp ropes......and I also have oversized winches..everyone knows a boat with small winches is a bad design...I mean..bigger and heavier is better....right??

Dyneema is bad...it has hardly no stretch...my halyards are wire....

I can see why you are "Off course"... I think it has something to do with the "hemp ropes" ...

[max-on]

Giu you want as much stretch in halyards as you can afford to buy, the more stretch the better, it lets the sail be self-adjusting, advances in technology have allowed this, as the wind speed increases the halyards stretch in direct proportion so the sails are self-adjusting. You must have this going offshore!

Also, do not forget the four grills, one on each side, one on the stern, and one backup, you need full grill access from anywhere in the cockpit.

[teshannon]

You're welcome Giu. I hope you enjoy the Catalina.