Anchors aweigh...

“Well, I'm going for it with the wife's full support...buying a sailboat. Talked about it so long, she finally was persuaded it would be a fun thing to do ... she says it's my 50th birthday present. So now I just have to learn to sail the dang thing. It's a 1989 Catalina Capri 14.2 daysailer, with trailer and all original equipment in very good condition. Pick it up Monday evening in Wausau.

Now, who wants to buy a 17' Grumman Eagle aluminum canoe -- with paddles, portage yoke, life jacket, and drop-in passenger seat? Or a Ocean Kayak Yahoo! whitewater sit-on-top kayak with two paddles and the deluxe seat? Both need to go to make room for (and help pay for) my new baby.

Hopefully I can reach the point where I can go up to Bayfield and sail across to one of the nearby Apostle Islands where you can camp on the beach, and hike the island. That's part of the dream, anyway. I'll be happy if I can learn to zip around some of our bigger lakes nearby without tipping over too often.

Any other sailors out there in Trail Talk Land?”

“Sounds really cool Pekka! Good for you. I've always been fascinated with sailing, cool you're getting a boat!”

“Man, I'm jealous as hell! Congrats on both reaching the 1/2 century mark and the new toy!”

“Ahoy!

I have sailed my share of Lightnings and Rebels.

May the wind blow steadily across your poop deck.”

“You'll hear this alot I'm sure.

The two happiest days in a man's life, the day he bought the boat, and the day he sold it.”

“A boat creates a hole in the water ,in which you throw masses of money.”

“Watch out. Buying boating gear is as bad as backpacking gear. If the part says "marine" anywhere on it expect to pay about 3 times what one without "marine" on it costs.

I currently own six boats.”

“Ahoy There, Pekka!

How cold is the water up that way? <G> Yep! you're gonna get wet.

I've sailed bunches of strange little boats over the years: Flippers, Sunfish, Lasers, Force 5s, Hobie Cats, Lightnings, Catalinas (22, 25, 28) and a Hunter 34. Fun stuff! Just be sure your 'hiking' straps are well-secured.

Uncliff is right about the hole and the money, LOL”

“E-mail me with the prices on your canoe and kayak.
Congratulations on beating me to 50. Hope you have many days of bliss on your sailboat.”

“Yeah, I had to do something. I had everything I needed for backpacking and canoeing. Only choice was a new sport. Even if I get rid of the tandem canoe and the sit-on-top, Reino and I still have two solo canoes and two recreational kayaks (and an inflatable kayak). Then there are the 5 bikes, lol.

I understand the money hole thing too. But getting a used day sailer at least keeps it somewhat reasonable (about 1/4 of current new price). Heck, if I bought new sails they would be about half of what I'm getting the whole deal for. Let's hope I don't break anything major right away. I don't want to have to go to the chandlery (sp?) and try to get something I don't even know the name for. Can you say "boom vang" kiddies? I didn't think so.

Reino likes the idea that Capri 14.2's are a One Design racing class as well as a "family boat." She has this penchant for going fast. So I suspect she'll be the more daring on the waters.

Dunadan, I hadn't taken the time to figure that out, but as soon as I do, I'll drop you a line.”

“BTW, the cockpit will easily hold four, so should any of you want to crew...”

“Hey, good deal, Pekka! Hmmmm, I wonder if I can talk my husband into a cross country road trip to see a man about a canoe. We've (I've) been wanting to get a canoe. Our local lake recently started allowing people to canoe on it. But I'm sure that I would need to buy one from someone closer to me. Oh well. Have a great time sailing. I've never sailed a boat, as I moved away from the Chesapeake when I was ten. Maybe when I am fifty.....”

“A 'voom bang' is usually associated with an unintentional jibe.”

“Congratulations Pekka, I recommend you take a boating class if you haven't already. The Coast Guard and the Power Squadron both have excellent classes - they are usually more taylored toward power boats, but most of the information would also apply to sailboats.
I took the Coast Guard class here in Green Bay a few years ago. In addition to the basics on navigation, chart reading, docking, etc.; they spent alot of time pointing out the hazards in the local waterways - things like sunken ships and pilings just inches below the surface of the water - waiting to shear off your outdrive.
I have been to Bayfield quite a few times and to Madiline Island - it is a very pretty area - but Superior can be brutal.
We really enjoy our boat - it is a really good family time - I just need to get out there more often”

“huh. i would never have imagined that's how you spell "aweigh."

congrats on the poop deck! and the rest of the boat, i guess...but the poop deck has to be the best part by far.”

“Congrats. Isn't it fun being a 50 year-old kid. Beats Hell out of the first childhood. Enjoy!”

“Congrats on the new toy, err, I mean boat and on turning 50! I love ailing but know nothing about it. I've only crewed on mu uncles boat.”

“Enjoy it and forget the other issues. I got to sail only once, on the Delaware River, and the skipper let me have the helm awhile. It was great, and she said I was a natural because I kept a straight course. Loved it, but that was the last time, and that was about six years ago.
The neatest thing was the lack of engine noise. But then I didn't have to figure out how to set sail.”

“I haven’t been sailing since my friend wrecked his Catamaran a few years ago. Seems he got distracted by something off the nude beach at Sandy Hook and drifted sideways into the surf. The force of the waves actually folded the boat in half.

Beware the siren’s call.”

“I have an Oday 23 and love every minute of it. It's definately true about the whole "if it says marine it will cost more" thing, but it's well worth it! Nothing like free power too! Last year I spent less than 20 dollars on gas...”

“I've got a Rhodes 19 daysailer--loads of fun.
If I didn't have this pesky job, family, and a bunch of other time consuming hobbies, I'd probably use it once in a while.”

“Well, back from Father's Day weekend with my daughter and getting ready to go buy a couple items before picking up the boat. I put a 2" ball on my truck's trailer hitch, and of course it turns out the boat trailer takes a 1-7/8" ball.

Lyra, "aweigh" is the term "to heave up" and is when the anchor clears the surface and hangs perpendicularly (weighing on the chain as it were). Called out to signal that the ship/boat is free to move. As a Navy brat, I learned that spelling/use before the "away" term. Whole new language with boats.

Gearjunkie, I've read about and seen pictures of Rhodes boats. Sweet.

Once I get the boat home, I plan to practice rigging in my driveway a few times before going anywhere near the water. Better the neighbors think I'm odd than to do something absolutely stupid at the launch ramp or on the water (well, at least keep that to the minimum, lol).

Knock on wood, by tonight I'll be a sailboat owner, with all the blessings and curses that entails.”

“"There will be a gigantic sucking sound as money crosses the border of pekka's wallet and into the black hole of the boat."

-- with apologies to Ross Perot.”

“Pekka, I don't know you, but my guess is the neighbors think you're odd anyway. You post on this board, right?”

“j/k pekka....hope you enjoy your new toy hobby.”

“Gotta love those nautical terms: Anchors aweigh, Pipe the Admiral overboard, ...”

“I just remembered... a great simulation of sailing I heard about some years ago: stand in a cold shower tearing up 100-dollar bills, <VBG>. Enjoy!”

“Made it home okay after my first 55 miles of trailering a sailboat. Now ensconced in the storage space with about 2" to spare.

First investments: two new tires for the trailer, plus get the hubs serviced. Also, new bulb for trailer's left tail light (if it's the cheap fix) or redo the wiring lead (if not the obvious).

Relaxing now with a Corona w/lime, enjoying thoughts of balmy breezes, white sand beaches and a pretty little boat coasting along. The big task, of course, is finding a good name for the boat. Never really needed a name for my canoe or kayak, but a sailboat needs a name. Fortunately, the two previous owners never named it, so it's up to us to finally christen the vessel. Kicking around a few possibilities, but not ready to commit. Worse than a new baby, lol.”