Woops. Been away. Trying to sell the old boat. Very kind remarks. Thank you.
How did I change my mind? Very impressed with the thought in the design. These guys weren't just putting together a pretty boat and a decent rig. Very well thought out. Liked their choices. Made sense. Price was a problem I had to rationalize my way around.
Then I remembered I could borrow money. So like the guy who says he'll never get married until he's 30... something happened. Decided having the right boat was more important than some of the compromises I was rationalizing. Alerion is a nice boat. Nothing against them. J-boats definitely can put up the numbers. Nothing against them. e33 seemed to combine the best of both with emphasis on keeping it simple... like someone here wrote... a real sailors boat designed for and by sailors. Test sail at the Annapolis Boat Show was a kick. Very light helm, nice movement, J-world folks were whistling approval and showing the thumbs up as we passed them without close to the amount of sail up, and raising and lowering sails was a cinch. Even under power, runs very nicely. Reminded me of a boat we used to see on the Bay that was bought by some Saudi, "Hurrying Angel"... and old wooden design that really, really moved.
Add to this the fact that the wife factor was pretty adamant against J-boats. Tells me she thinks of them as a "guy's locker room that sails". Ouch! I tried to say, "Naaaah... it wouldn't be like that." And it's not that she was saying no, but just that she figured she'd get left out. Okay... we know where that goes: Boat sticks around for a short couple of years and then hits the road. Not what I wanted either. And the budget for a boat that only one person gets to enjoy... is just a lot lower. Budget for a boat where she feels included... a lot higher. So all those photo shots on the website with the cushions, the cockpit awning, the kids and families over-nighting.... priceless in feeding the imagination. J-boats doesn't really pitch this market... maybe it doesn't have to? LOL!!!!
So... the wife said: Smaller boat became a foot longer? Less expensive boat became "new" and expensive? How did that happen? Well... you folks understand part of it, but there's another part: My original idea was a small daysailer like the Sakonnet 23 (which I've always loved - and was almost my first boat some 20 years ago) in front of a house on the water. Dumpy house was fine with me. Ooooh. That latter part wasn't generating much interest with the better half. How do you explain the house is a place to crash and it doesn't have to be the Taj Mahal... just comfortable with AC? My idea was that some dude would want to unload his former dream house and you could find it "el cheapo". Dudes apparently didn't get the memo; my wife didn't want another house and end up with TWO kitchens to maintain, or like my idea about spending three-day summer weekends on the Bay.. or even commuting back and forth during the summer months. Especially trashed was the bit about the quality of the house not mattering or the random places I thought would be fine and I could find "some dude" with a house to dump in my price range. Okay. So it was a one-person dream and it died. Lesson for anybody here is you don't mess with that special person's idea of what constitutes a home... even if it's supposed to be nothing more than a "minimal and occasional life support system for a boating couple while on shore". Ouch.
So at the show, sitting in the cockpit and then in the cabin of the e33 at the Annapolis Boat Show, the brain began a high speed adjustment process. Call it rationalization or realization that dream A was dead and it was time to move on to dream B where we somehow accomplish what I want and she gets what she wants. So we give up the cruiser and adopt an over-nighter. Bigger than a daysailer... but she sails sweet. Speed helps. No more days waiting for 10 knots or more. Just get on her and go. The funds I'd thought to plow into a 2nd home downpayment became "boat money". There will never be a 2nd home I guess... so net net... it's less dough even if it is depreciating dough. Sigh. And sale of the existing boat which was in the process... also became part of the plan.... even if it hasn't happened yet.
So the key beecame to keep the boat simple, but the accomodations comfortable. Wurmfield and Doyle have done that with the e33. Boat can be single handed nicely, but also easy to give everyone a job and it's meant to be competitive in the racing crowd, but comfortable for the others. And when there's another sailor or two on-board, they can help fly the Code Zero or the Asymmetric. Large main, an optional self-tending jib track, two-line trim of the main and jib, no winches, lazy jacks... I mean really... the boat points well, it trims up well, ought to match at least a number of J-boats without the work of holding her down. What's not to like? You can dial up the options you want and now with Lyman Morse as the builder, you can custom finish to your heart's delight.
Friend of mine has pushed me to get them to do a Sealand Vaccuflush head for the Missus. Swears it's the only reason he's allowed to still HAVE a boat.
Well... concessions we make... huh? Trying to keep the electronics budget down. Will do TackTick but thinking technology is moving so fast these days... chartplotters...?? Seem like you'll be out of date before they finish the bulkhead mount. Inclined to do a handheld radio, handheld GPS, and whatever. Have opted NOT to go for the boat stereo either. I tend to like it quiet on the water. Want music? Turn on the iPod. Am I missing something? Dunno. Let me know. We are going for the lifelines, too, even though it may seem unnecessary. Wife's used to them... heck... we all are. And if we get grandchildren in the next couple of years... might come in handy.
Room down below: It's sitting room. I've had the full standing room thing. Actually part of the design purpose here was to keep view of the bow from the helm while sitting unobstructed. Pushing down to get full headroom would mean more displacement, heavier, slower, etc. I was willing to get the living space topside where I'm going to spend it anyway, and keep the speed up and (required) crew down. Planning to have some of my racing buds come out and take the godstick for some Wednesday night racing. I'm not proud. Just fun to be on the water and get back in the game.
If you're interested website link for photos is here:
e sailing yachts
End of January is supposed to be mold release. Finish in 60-days. Plan to make a trip up to Maine to visit in-process. Looking forward to it.
