Right before July 4th, I came across what I consider a wonderful little boat for a steal. Sure it needs a little work, but it will be well worth it, right?

Let me start from the beginning. I grew up on the Chesapeake. St Mary's County, MD. I started sailing by myself in the bay at almost 8 with a little Sea Snark. After that, I moved up to a Hobie 16 and from there a 1979 Catalina22. I spent many wonderful years with her...my grand navigational skills consist of me getting from the house there to Solomons Island and the Patuxent River. Did I forget to mention that was over 20 years ago? That's right, I haven't sailed in over twenty years. I live in the mountains now, what do I need a sailboat for?? Easy, ever since my last trip on the Catalina, I've wanted another and dreamed of being back on the water. Maybe even living aboard one day.

So, anyway I found this boat. She needs paint, the motor mount needs to be re-done and some other minor work. No problems with cracks, blisters etc. All her rigging is tip top. There's alot of brass to polish and cosmetics to be done. None of this can't be done by me, it will just take time.

Wonderful boat, it's a twin keel. Sits right on it's own two little legs. It was designed that way for easy trailering. Doesn't need hull supports or anything. Just a real long trailer and 3 1/2' to float her off. Did I forget to mention that she didnt' have a trailer??

We went to pick her up right after the holiday. I was told by other Tylercraft owners that the easiest way to get her would be a flatbed tandom axle trailer. I couldn't find one and was in an absolute panic. Then came the U-Haul suggestion. So I called them and rented a flatbed car trailer. I was assured that it was a flatbed, not the kind with tracks. The day came and I drove 3 1/2 hours to the uhaul place near the boatyard.

First they couldn't find the reservation or proof in the computer that I had prepaid. I had a reciept and confirmation number. My sister thought I was going to launch over the counter and strangle the poor kid. Her husband quietly reminded me that they didn't have to rent to me if they didn't want to.... So they found the information eventually. Then they didn't want to rent to me because I didn't want to tell him what I wanted to put on it. For almost 2 weeks before, as soon as I mentioned to any company that I wanted to haul a boat they said they couldn't help. We convinced the kid to let us have it, and went out back to look at the trailer. Sure enough, not a flatbed. Tracks!!! I freaked. Hubby said not to worry, the keels would fit in the tracks. By this point, my nerves were shot. I just knew it wouldn't fit. We took the trailer to the yard.

There was my cute boat, sitting on a square wood base. 4 hours of jacking up the base, pulling while backing the trailer under, repeat. Finally, sure enough after lots of cursing on hubby's part it was on the trailer.

You have to picture this.... a 24' sailboat sitting on a little car trailer, on 2 keels with no support, just tied down. I don't know if it was legal or not, but it was the Monday after the 4th of July and there were cops everywhere. You should have seen the looks...."oh, look at the boat kids...what the heck???" Cops were laughing as we went by. All I could think was the cop saying to his partner "Do we pull em over?" "Don't bother, I don't know how I'd write it up" At one point we stopped at a McD's for coffee and the state troopers came off the main road and circled the boat in the parking lot a couple of times, stopped, laughed and went on.
I will post the pictures of the adventure.

We arrived home where we already an area set up for her. 4 hours fighting to get it on the trailer and guess what my hubby did??

He tied the base the boat was on to a tree. I kid you not, a tree. Then drove the trailer out a bit, stuck a beam under it, drove a bit more, another beam etc till the boat was off the trailer. 15 minutes. Seriously, only 15 minutes.

Over the last 3 weeks, I've painted inside, scrubbed, oiled, polished, rewired and I can't think of what else at the moment. I started this blog to share this new adventure from purchase to our first cruise. The plan is that by the time my youngest graduates next year, hubby and I will "retire" to our cruiser and do just that. Give up our land lives and live aboard while cruising the coast. Eventually cruising open ocean... I wanted to chronicle the whole thing.

I know how to sail, I just haven't done it in a while. It could be ammusing watching me remember it all. I know how to plot and shape a course....have I ever ever had to?? NO!! So that is something else to remember. Navigation...math...argh.

Enjoy the weekend, I'll be posting pictures and more information Saturday evening