On the Hard 2015/2016

     Our boat, Puffin, is finally at our new home South Coast of Massachusetts. We scheduled to have Puffin put on the hard (on land) 2 days later not knowing we would have good weather for the month of November. We also had the masts un-stepped and laid on sawhorses next to the boat.  I (Dean), had some work I wanted to do with replacing cables inside the main mast and thought it easier to work on land than  on the boat. I needed to reattach the radio antenna cable, at the top of the mast, and pull new cables for the wind indicator and the masthead light.
     Winter season passed and a cold early spring.  In April we started thinking about doing the cable work so the masts could be put up and our boat launched to a mooring or dock slip. We investigated a mooring in front of our home in New Bedford Harbor area. I went out with the Harbor Master and Mooring person to figure the best place we could drop a mooring.  The estimate from the mooring person was between $2500-$3000 to place the mooring.
     At the same time Suzan was suggesting that: 1) As we are not going to be in the area summer 2017, to wait until returning to drop a mooring and 2) Would like to be on a dock so we can meet other area boaters and it's easier to do some inside and outside work on the boat requiring electric and/or water.

Summer/Fall 2015

     We are safely moored in Salem, Massachusetts Harbor. Unfortunately with our Bed & Breakfast business we were too busy to spend much time with our new boat. I got in only one short day trip with my son in Salem Sound. As our season closed and the Inn was sold, we wanted to venture south coast of Massachusetts so Suzan would feel more comfortable sailing/motoring on coastal waters than direct ocean. We purchased a home on Buzzard's Bay, south coast, in October and proceeded to move our boat, Puffin, to it's new home, a feat in itself. I did not have much experience on Puffin before sailing to our new home and wanted someone onboard. Suzan had other commitments at our new homestead so I recruited Justin, her daughter's husband who is chief engineer on an oil tanker from California to Alaska,

Justin looking out t'ward Boston
 

for part of the trip, stopping in Plymouth, Ma and Dean's daughter's inlaws, Alicia and Paul, who are sailors, for the rest of the trip.
     Justin and I, both lacking much sailing experience, waited to put up sail until just out of Salem Sound at the Channel entrance buoy. Out there, the waters were already rough and Puffin was bouncing so much, neither of us felt comfortable enough with the procedure to unfurl and raise the jib or main sails, so we just motored with the mizzen as a stabilizer to Plymouth completing that part of the trip. Justin is the navigation/technology person and we chatted about the technology onboard Puffin. Total trip time to Plymouth Harbor was about 7 hours for a distance of 41 nautical miles. Justin jumped off and the following morning, Alicia and Paul jumped on for the trip through Cape Cod Canal and on to New Bedford area.

At rest in Plymouth Harbor

Tug and Barge on Cape Cod Canal

             That next morning it was beautiful and
unfortunately for sailors, almost no wind. So we again proceeded under power for Fairhaven/ New Bedford via the Cape Cod Canal. I had planned the trip to give us a good tide through the canal, otherwise the canal authority will force you to take a tow (very expensive) as the currents can be very strong, slowing a sailboat to a crawl. Thus we hit the canal at slack and got a boost into Buzzards Bay on the ebbing tide. Eight hours later we were approaching New Bedford swing bridge at Popes Island. Once through, we tie up at Cozy Cove Marina and are home.

Tied up at Cozy Cove
 

June 2015 Decision made, offer accepted.

Survey is scheduled for June 25, 26. First we will haul the boat from it's protective covering for over 2 years. The protective covering is not a tarp but a large barn on the owner's property in Appleton, Me. The survey will first be done on land and then Puffin is transported by Drinkwater Boat Transport to Rockport harbor, Maine for an on-water survey. Alan Drinkwater was chosen because he is the only driver the former owner trusts to extract the boat through the tight confines of the barn door. The trailer literally drags on the ground as the boat exits.
Once in the water, masts stepped, sails on and covered, a pretty sight. Now for a few preparatory steps for the trip to Massachusetts, roughly 140 nautical miles. Take care of any operational details mentioned in the survey, condition the diesel fuel which sat for 2 plus years in storage and top of the tanks, stock the galley and we're ready to go.

Scott, our broker and a seasoned sailor, graciously volunteered to make the journey with me. So as to arrive in daylight and meet prior commitments for the day, we began our voyage south around 4:30pm. Clearing the Islands of Metinic an Monhegan, we set a course for Nun "2" off Thacher Island, Cape Ann, Massachusetts then steered a more westerly course into Salem Harbor where Puffin would spend the summer. About 22 hours later we were on our mooring, awaiting a pickup by the Hawthorn Cove Marina launch. Unfortunately, no lessons in sailing were to be garnered as the wind was on our nose the whole trip so we motored. 

 

 

Mid May 2015 A Few then ready to choose

We are pretty much at the end of our search, traveling around New England  to find the boat for our venture on the Great Loop.
Locally we visited a Mariner 36' in Easton, Ma. Suzan liked the layout of the sail boat, but then it is a typical sailboat with steering in the back and no pilot house steering. We felt it was on the long side to be maneuvered alone. Pretty boat, though.

May 13,14,15 back to Maine for third time to see the motor sailor that has the most to fit our needs..
 While in Maine, we looked at a Grand Banks Trawler in Portland. Nice 2 bedroom apartment on the water. Still too many finances for fuel while traveling.
The Coaster 33-Puffin is a one owner boat and very well maintained. We can't get an outside view as it has been housed in a huge barn for 1 1/2-2 years. Has not been in the water. The engine is newer 2001- very few miles on it
The inside needs some updating and everything is in working order.
The decision is made. Now to put in an offer with a lower price than it is marketed for.
After a few negotiations, we agreed on a price- next step- Survey/ land and water.

May 2015- On Our Way to a new Boat

It is now May and we have a business to attend to. The Bed & Breakfast business. We are Innkeepers on the North Shore coastal Massachusetts and are accepting reservations for our summer season. So--- Boat looking is starting to take a back seat to our revenue making business.
We are narrowing down our search and the two of us visiting some boats I have previously viewed. This included a whirlwind trip to Stoney Point, NY, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Stoney Point is the Mariner Pilothouse 38, I really did like the layout. After seeing sailboat, Suzan still felt it was too long to be maneuvered singlehanded and didn't like certain features such as the reefer being too deep and inaccessible and inside pilot located right beside the galley, additionally too much work to make it "Loop" ready. 
Next, Connecticut, to see a 36' Marine Trader Trawler. We felt we needed to see a few of the most popular style of boat on the Great Loop. A Trawler is literally a 1-2 bedroom apartment on the water, maximizing usable storage and living space. Some are complete with full size refrigeration, laundry, AC, queen size bed etc. After the Great Loop venture, I would consider a Trawler parked in Florida waters for our winter getaway.
The Marine Trader was a nice looking boat, but Suzan did not like the small ladder to the top deck and no railing on the second deck. If we are considering bringing children aboard, this is a safety issue.
On to Rhode Island to see a Morgan Out Island Pilothouse 33 in Portsmouth. 
All were ruled out for several concerns.
As said in the beginning, we had to make some decisions before our busy Inn season started or wait until after the season to purchase our Great Loop boat.
I still have my eye on the Coaster 33 in Maine. It has not much to do to be in the water and a length, draft,  and room to be comfortable for our trip.

Going Forward!!

April 2015- Dean- I look at a few more sailboats and motor sailors for our Great Adventure.  I took a trip with my Broker, Scott, to New Bedford, Ma area and on to Rhode Island and New York. We looked at a Mariner 38 Ketch in New Bedford. Morgan Out Islander 33 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Mariner 38 (see below) in Stoney Point, NY.
The Mariners had  a pilot house with a steering station both inside and out.
  I really liked the appearance of the Mariner 38 Sloop in Stoney Point, thought it would both motor and sail well and thought it had a nice interior overall. So I arranged to take Suzan to see it. Suzan and  I felt a boat of this size might be too much for me to handle if out by myself, and both required more work than we were prepared to do. 
 The Morgan Out Islander, touted as a Motor Sailor, was really a sail assisted motor boat with minimal sailing ability per former owners and sailing forums, and it also needed among other things some deck replacement.
We  are also now considering the Trawlers for live aboard as they are wider, far more roomy than sailboats.  A trawler is a motor boat, therefore using more of your trip finances for fuel. Our goal is to enjoy the Loop, it's scenery and stops along the way, not support the oil industry. Now we are getting into May and need to make some decisions as we will no longer be able to spend time looking as our Busy season begins as Innkeepers at our Bed and Breakfast, The Sally Webster Inn.
Stay tuned for May 2015 and---our decisions!!

End of March 2015

We are getting more excited with our new venture and search for the boat that we can make our journey in comfort ( more or less).
This is the end of March- one year ago- and we are traveling to Maryland to view yet another sailboat and attend an AGLCA ( America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association)www.greatloop.org seminar held 2 times a year in different locals. We spent time with friends and viewed a Nauticat 33 while there. Also purchased tickets to the seminar and with that, became members of the AGLCA.
The seminar was awesome, lots of great speakers and many attendees in different phases of their journey. Some were just thinking, some like us, were looking for a boat, some were making the Great Loop venture shortly, some had finished, some on their second Great Loop trip.
Some of the speakers had finished the Loop and could answer many of the questions from novice Great Loop to be participants. Lots of knowledge to be gained and many introductions including Boat Brokers, Insurance persons, and Boat Loan officers.
We were looking at older boats so there is a learning curve for Boat loans and Insurance. Many companies either do NOT loan and insure boats older than 1990's or there may be a premium to pay for insurance and loans. Much like a home near the water or a below average credit score. All in all, when we decided on a boat, there were originators that would work with us. You have to research to find them.
Next time- April 2015!!!