S/V Passage - Refitting a Classic (& Building Our Skills) Before Cutting the Docklines
We are working toward our dream, one step at a time, and are prepared to make mistakes and learn from them so we become better cruisers every day.
| Vessel Name: | Passage |
| Vessel Make/Model: | 1980 Pearson 365 Ketch #324 |
| Hailing Port: | Chicago, IL |
| Crew: | David Cole & Brodi Cole |
| About: | |
| Extra: | |
| Home Page: | https://www.ouroffbeatlife.com |
| Social: |
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14 March 2019
A New Adventure!
It's been a while since we posted anything because kids add an unexpected spice to life and our implementation strategy for leaving the rat race has changed a bit. We still plan to 'cut the docklines' and travel the world, but sadly it won't be with Passage.
30 May 2012 | Chicago, IL
Back on the Lake!
The blog may have been quiet lately but we sure haven’t been slacking! After receiving the spring bridge schedule (we can only put the boat in and take it up river on certain days approved by the city), we had a mad rush in April to cut our [...]
19 March 2012 | Chicago, IL
Big News!
We weren't kidding when we said in the last blog post that March would be full of big news...as you may have guessed from the photo, our crew is officially expanding to three! Baby Cole should be joining us around September 2, 2012...just in time to help us winterize Passage! In case you're wondering, [...]
16 February 2012 | Chicago, IL
Winter Update
We haven't been MIA because we're busy with boat projects...sadly it's been the exact opposite. While winter in Chicago has been a bit more temperate that usual, it still hasn't exactly been ideal for boatwork. So we've been focusing on home projects that were neglected throughout boating season...how [...]
03 January 2012 | Chicago, IL
Too COLD for Cruising
We truly thought more boatwork would get done this winter, but now that the holidays are officially over it's hard to motivate ourselves to willingly spend significant lengths of time outside doing boatwork when it's already skipping the freezing point entirely! It's official, January is NOT a good time [...]
13 December 2011
Cool Website
I just found a cool new website, and wanted to share. Love the pic/quote on his main page, too!
12 December 2011 | Chicago, IL
A Month of Updates
It's been a rather crazy month for us, without really any time to even sit down and log our updates. The weekend after our last (and only) post in November we did head back down to the yacht yard to get some more stuff off the boat, and try to figure out our head/plumbing system. Our biggest challenge [...]
09 November 2011 | Chicago, IL
MOTIVATION
Motivation. That one little word has so much "baggage" associate with it, but in my mind truly defines the doers from the dreamers. Ever since Daylight Saving Time ended over the weekend I've struggled to maintain my level of motivation. Between the [...]
01 November 2011 | Chicago, IL
Not MIA!
We went down to the boatyard to see Passage on her cradle last Sunday, and it was amazing that it took just 20 minutes to get there! When we got to the boat, we packed up a few things to bring home for the winter as well as started to look at the holding tank to determine how we will remove it. We also [...]
Photo Fabulous...Passage Under Sail!!
On Sunday, David let me sleep in so we got a late start. That was unfortunate since we still needed to do some bilge work (the pump rewiring still wasn't done) and try to figure out how to fix the steering system-specifically the accelerator (David will have to tell that story when he blogs about Saturday's adventure...let's just say I'm no longer the only Cole who has broken the boat [heehee]). Dave met up with us, and we wrapped up a little after lunchtime to head out for a sail.
The wind wasn't very strong, so we towed the dinghy behind us so we could hop in and take pictures of Passage under sail. Dave said it was so cool that David and I both ended up taking a turn in the dinghy watching Passage sail in circles around us and in front of Chicago's beautiful skyline. I can't fully describe what an absolutely AMAZING feeling it was to see my boat in her full, 3-sail glory! Let's just say I now know it's possible to love a floating bunch of fiberglass...Passage is such a fabulous work of art that I can't believe our luck in finding her.
In the beginning I wondered if we were doing the right thing jumping into a boat purchase so soon...but every day we spend out on the lake, doing boat work, or reading/researching I know it was a great decision. Some articles/people say that you shouldn't buy a boat too long before you take off because it ends up sucking all your money so you can't save anything with which to actually live your dream. While I can understand that perspective, we are truly focusing on doing this cheaply and affordably so we can learn as much as possible and use all this time to practice yet enjoy our good fortune and good friends in Chicago.
Check out our Facebook Page for some great shots of Passage under sail (and "Like" us for more photos and updates)...what a great day!!!
About & Links
- Brodi's Sailboat Refit Dreams on Pinterest
- "Like" S/V Passage on Facebook!
- Custom Sailing & Passage Logo Gear!
- Bumfuzzle - Original Inspiration to Follow Our Dream
- Wolf's Marine-Our new favorite marine wholesaler
- Bacon Sails-Helpful, Friendly, Affordable Used Sails
- Seamar-Wholesale Marine Supplies-like bulk lifeline netting
- Sail Chicago-Quality Sailing Lessons & Amazing People
- Pier 11 Marina-Bill Hern, Yacht Broker
