Just Curious: Who Else Sails?
10-08-17, 02:09 PM
#26
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I have sailed in the past, on the Chesapeake Bay. I started out with a little 15' Rebel, then a Catalina 22, and then an Alberg 30. I also enjoyed sailing a little 8' dinghy that I built to use as a tender on the Alberg.
My original plan was to spend a year to get the Alberg into top shape and then sail around in the Caribbean after I retired. Sadly the Alberg wound up needing more work than I was willing to do before retirement and she didn't want to wait long enough for me to retire. So I found it a new home that was ready and willing to give her the attention she needed.
I miss sailing but have not been tempted to make the big plunge on another cruising sailboat. We are not in the greatest location for sailing now. Still, I have been tempted to build or buy a small craft to sail. It would likely be either car top-able or at least towable with a small car.
I used to take my bike along in the Alberg, but only did day rides and errands with it when cruising.
My original plan was to spend a year to get the Alberg into top shape and then sail around in the Caribbean after I retired. Sadly the Alberg wound up needing more work than I was willing to do before retirement and she didn't want to wait long enough for me to retire. So I found it a new home that was ready and willing to give her the attention she needed.
I miss sailing but have not been tempted to make the big plunge on another cruising sailboat. We are not in the greatest location for sailing now. Still, I have been tempted to build or buy a small craft to sail. It would likely be either car top-able or at least towable with a small car.
I used to take my bike along in the Alberg, but only did day rides and errands with it when cruising.
Have you, by chance been aboard an alberg 37? If I buy another boat again I might choose that model. Not sure what the ceiling height is below decks though. Also heard they are prone to hobby horsing. Did you have issuesvwith the chain plates? That's another thing I didn't like. Needed or not I'd probably opt to relocate the chain plates to the exterior of the hull.
I do admire the Alberg look, though. Very pretty boats IMO.
10-08-17, 02:32 PM
#27
Senior Member
No Sorry can't help there
Yes the main bulkhead was suffering from rot and needed replacement. I am sure that was because of the starboard chain plate leaking despite that I never saw any visible leakage when I owned her. As a temporary measure I put plates on both sides of the bulkhead to reinforce it, but the weakening was wider spread than I realized. I decided that replacing the bulkhead was a bigger project than I was up for while I was working and that it wouldn't wait until retirement. That was the reason I let her go.
She was a beautiful craft though and a joy to sail.
To keep this bike related...
Interestingly enough my regular bike fit in the lockers under the seats as easily as my folding bike as long as I took the front wheel off. The folder when folded was too wide to fit through the hatch unless a wheel was removed.
Yes the main bulkhead was suffering from rot and needed replacement. I am sure that was because of the starboard chain plate leaking despite that I never saw any visible leakage when I owned her. As a temporary measure I put plates on both sides of the bulkhead to reinforce it, but the weakening was wider spread than I realized. I decided that replacing the bulkhead was a bigger project than I was up for while I was working and that it wouldn't wait until retirement. That was the reason I let her go.
She was a beautiful craft though and a joy to sail.
To keep this bike related...
Interestingly enough my regular bike fit in the lockers under the seats as easily as my folding bike as long as I took the front wheel off. The folder when folded was too wide to fit through the hatch unless a wheel was removed.
10-08-17, 02:36 PM
#28
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Yes I couldn't agree more! My boat is bleeding me dry haha. Once it sells I will be thrilled to just charter and blissfully pedal away when my time is up. Repairing stuff is right up there on my list of favourite things to do with eating broken glass. Best avoided
I could probably tour for years for what I paid for the boat.
I do miss those rare sunny days with moderate winds though.
Do you ever think about chartering?
I could probably tour for years for what I paid for the boat.
I do miss those rare sunny days with moderate winds though.
Do you ever think about chartering?
10-08-17, 04:12 PM
#29
Senior Member
I subscribe to"Good Old Boat" and live vicariously through the stories of others. Cheaper.
I narrowly missed pulling the trigger on a liveaboard after nearly 30 years in the Navy...my esteemed Navy spouse did not share that dream, so cutting grass instead of doing boat maintenance. Lol.
I narrowly missed pulling the trigger on a liveaboard after nearly 30 years in the Navy...my esteemed Navy spouse did not share that dream, so cutting grass instead of doing boat maintenance. Lol.
10-08-17, 05:10 PM
#30
Senior Member
After the Rebel came a '67 Islander Bahama 24' that we bought from my dad's cousin who used to race it in the handicapped MORC class racing. Lots of sails. Then a Catalina 30 bought new in '80, and then a Challenger 38 ketch that dad modified into a cutter-rig with a homemade teak bowsprit, double headsails (one roller furling) and a mizzen staysail for ocean cruising.
His plan was to sail it to Europe, store the masts and use it as a river barge for several years, cruising the canals of Europe north or south depending on the season. Then sail to the Caribbean for a year, then sail off to the south Pacific... That was the plan anyway... (long story)
10-08-17, 09:19 PM
#31
Senior Member
I sail! I have a boat on a local lake that we weekend sail. Seaward 25 that I can trailer and have made some trips with it down to the keys. Here's a recent video of some September sailing we did:
Doing a sailing/biking combo trip sounds interesting...
Doing a sailing/biking combo trip sounds interesting...
10-08-17, 09:25 PM
#32
Senior Member
Indeed, I could (but won't) buy 2 high end bikes per year for what it cost to keep the boat. I just sort of burned out on it. I used to enjoy most of the maintenance and projects, but all of a sudden that changed. I do like knowing a bit about a lot of things, weather, wind, Diesel engines, sails (I worked thru school as a sailmaker), electronics, plumbing, rigging, navigation, knots, radio, etc. Owning and conning your own boat across open water to isolated destinations, being off the grid for weeks, dealing with whatever comes your way gives you a certain confidence and self-reliance that makes it all worthwhile, at least to me.
10-08-17, 09:34 PM
#33
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I have only sailed in the Chesapeake and Pamlico Sound on the east coast. Very pretty but it can be very busy too. The Chesapeake's problem is all of the shallow water. You need to be very careful to know where you are. There can be vast stretches of water from shore that are only a few feet deep. The good news is it is all mud. 
Some places like harbors and narrows can be very tricky to get into even though marked.
East coast like Maine and such you are dealing with rocks and some pretty significant tides.
Some places like harbors and narrows can be very tricky to get into even though marked. East coast like Maine and such you are dealing with rocks and some pretty significant tides.
10-09-17, 11:54 AM
#34
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In my case not a boat, it was an old gaspipe Columbia bike that I had pilfered for parts that matched other bikes I had, gave away on CL so I didn't have to haul it 40 miles to the nearest co-op, and the guy was trying to get $40 out of.
Only boat I own is a kayak. Not rich enough to have a boat moneypit on top of my bike and brewing moneypits
Only boat I own is a kayak. Not rich enough to have a boat moneypit on top of my bike and brewing moneypits
10-12-17, 10:33 PM
#36
Junior Member
[QUOTE=Stormsedge;19916510]I subscribe to"Good Old Boat" and live vicariously through the stories of others. Cheaper.
GOOD OLD BOAT, the rag cost me a bundle! A saw a Dana 24 on the cover one day and BAM another boat was part of the fleet. Do you know any good reason to own 3 boats at the same time, I couldn't come up with one but it happened anyway (very understanding wife).
GOOD OLD BOAT, the rag cost me a bundle! A saw a Dana 24 on the cover one day and BAM another boat was part of the fleet. Do you know any good reason to own 3 boats at the same time, I couldn't come up with one but it happened anyway (very understanding wife).
10-13-17, 05:51 AM
#37
Senior Member
[QUOTE=mbusky;19926525]
LOL. The Dana's are lovely looking boats...I love the lines of so many of the "old" boats. My bucket list includes cruising the Great Loop. I've come to the realization that my wife of +40 years requires more creature comforts than I initially considered...so, that one is at least five years off as I watch for the right time and boat. In the meantime, there are other items on the bucket list to do...more centuries, a USA four corners tour with the top down (purchased a low mileage 00 Mustang convert 2 days ago, so that one coming together), many national parks left to visit...etc. Enjoy!
I subscribe to"Good Old Boat" and live vicariously through the stories of others. Cheaper.
GOOD OLD BOAT, the rag cost me a bundle! A saw a Dana 24 on the cover one day and BAM another boat was part of the fleet. Do you know any good reason to own 3 boats at the same time, I couldn't come up with one but it happened anyway (very understanding wife).
GOOD OLD BOAT, the rag cost me a bundle! A saw a Dana 24 on the cover one day and BAM another boat was part of the fleet. Do you know any good reason to own 3 boats at the same time, I couldn't come up with one but it happened anyway (very understanding wife).
10-13-17, 09:20 PM
#39
Newbie
It's the wind
Biking and sailing go hand and hand. Sailors long for a steady 10knot wind, bikers dread it. They are the ying and yang of wind appreciation. Plus they physically complement each other. Nothing better then a 4 hour hard bike ride followed by a relaxing sail. And bikes and sailboats can both be very beautiful: my girls are a pacific seacraft 25 double ender and a domane 6.9.
10-13-17, 11:13 PM
#40
Senior Member
Biking and sailing go hand and hand. Sailors long for a steady 10knot wind, bikers dread it. They are the ying and yang of wind appreciation. Plus they physically complement each other. Nothing better then a 4 hour hard bike ride followed by a relaxing sail. And bikes and sailboats can both be very beautiful: my girls are a pacific seacraft 25 double ender and a domane 6.9.
10-17-17, 08:52 PM
#42
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Just about signed on the dotted line for a sailboat this year, but ultimately balked. I think I worry that I will get so into that too that it will leave not time for the biking...oh yeah, and the family:-)
