Someone once said, "a boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into". If you own a boat you understand. If you own a boat and do all of your own work, it doesn't hurt quite as bad, but still...
I've been working away on our Baba 30 for 4 months now. I have: recaulked the teak deck and replaced all of the missing or thin bungs. Relocated the house batteries to the port cockpit locker in a custom fabricated battery box (4-6volt T105s). Rewired the battery system. Rebuilt the hydraulic below-decks autopilot using a new Raymarine EV2 head and ACU. Replaced the exhaust system. Rebuilt the engine raw water pump. Installed a new alternator and rewired the charging system. Removed the fuel tank, sandblasted, epoxy-coated, cleaned the interior, re-installed w/ new hoses. Removed the leaking port water tank, repaired the leaky weld, re-installed w/ all new hoses. Installed tank level gauges for all. Rebuilt the 6 winches aboard. Added a Rocna 35lb anchor (my Christmas present!). Replaced a few seacocks. Replaced a bunch of wiring. Installed a stereo w/ Bluetooth. Painted and varnished. Etc, etc...
My current project(s) are: removing and repairing the leaking starboard water tank, and addressing the waste tank and it's associated plumbing (nasty). I'll probably end-up fabricating a fiberglass waste tank with the fittings on TOP where they belong! I'm also beginning to piece together a better bilge-pump system, I prefer an in-the-bilge style pump - probably 2 of them. These little jobs should get me into January...

Well here we go again. It's been 4 years since our cruising dream was, um, "diverted" shall we say? I've been sailing "Mischief II" for 2 years, having a lot of fun. Unfortunately a Dana 24 is pretty small (for us) for any extended cruising. In December I sold "Mischief II" to a couple from Colorado, they are sailing her on a mountain lake there.
One of the benefits of working at a boatyard is that you get to see (and work on) all kinds of boats. I categorize boats into 2 categories; Tupperware boats and cruising boats. I like well-built cruising sailboats, sailboats that are designed to cross oceans and circle the globe. Why not? Who's to say that we may not head offshore again?? I'd love to.
In July I bought a 1985 Baba 30. She reminds me a lot of big "Mischief", our Union 36 that we took down the coast in 2011. We've named her "Deja Vu". She's currently hauled-out in my boatyard, and I'm renewing and repairing as necessary (and prudent), looking forward to next summer.
Stay tuned.

Well we finally had some summer after a rough start! August and September have been wonderful, but we know the end is near as the leaves on trees are turning loose! I've been able to sail Mischief II a couple of times each week, usually after work. Then Sharon and I try to get out sailing during the weekend. The boat sails very well I must say, especially for an 8000 pound full-keeler! I've brought the main halyard and reef-lines aft to the cockpit through rope clutches, this way I can pretty much sail the boat without leaving the cockpit - a real benefit when the wind gets up!
This is our 4th boat, and we've renamed all four. I know there's alot of traditional superstition about renaming a boat, and that it's sometimes frowned-upon, but here's my take; every one of our boats was neglected and rarely sailed. They were in poor shape. We buy them and give them a new lease on life - replace worn and torn sails, paint and buff the hulls, sand and re-varnish the wood (brightwork), electrical, plumbing, mechanical - it's all made right. Then we give her a new name, sort of a rebirth.

Well it's been 10 months since the unfortunate end of our cruise to Mexico. After much soul-searching (and another Washington winter), we decided to buy a boat, and begin planning another escape! We purchased a Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 in June, and have been working and sailing, more work than sailing unfortunately!
Anyone who has outfitted a boat for extended offshore cruising knows just how much work and money it takes, alot of both. Fortunately it's been very busy at the boatyard where I work, and overtime has been abundant($). Since Mischief II is only 24 feet long I'm finding that there's alot less work to do compared to our first Mischief which was 36 feet.
Our plan is to sail the boat this summer, haul-out at the yard and refit her through the winter months, then perhaps head south again (fall 2013). I bought us a GoPro camera, and will have videos! As soon as I learn how to use it.
Stay posted!

Well we made it back to Washington! Mischief should show-up tomorrow (thursday) and I go back to work friday. Sharon is going to go to Montana to help-out family.
Let me say "Thank-you" to those of you who have followed us these past 2 months.
Our future plans are unclear at this point; we're not sure if we're ready to stop sailing or not, who knows? It's awfully addictive!

So, you ask. "What's the big deal about trucking a boat"? Well, it depends on how big the boat is. Mischief is a big girl; 44ft long, 12ft wide (not fat), 14ft tall with no mast, and 24,000lbs (okay maybe a little fat). This requires a special truck with all of the permits, etc...
Normally it's a 4-5 day job to prep a boat for trucking - we had 2 days! The yard pulled the mast, which we then stripped of all rigging and packed. Everything on deck must come off and be stowed below. Everything below must be boxed and put on the floor (it will all end up on the floor anyway as the boat bumps down the road!).
When the truck showed up friday morning we were ready! And pooped!

The yard lifted Mischief onto the truck. We rented a car to return to WA, we left Redondo Beach about 12:30pm. The truck would leave early the following morning to avoid traffic.