My Third and Last Boat
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:59 pm
A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, I went to the Boat Trader website and did a search for sailboats using the following criteria: 1960-1980, 30'-36', $0-25,000. I found a couple of interesting boats--a couple of Vanguards, a few Alberg 35s, and an Alberg 37. I perused the photographs for several of the listings, including an Alberg 35 located in Florida and listed at $4,000. (It was definitely a fixer-upper!)
Why was I looking? The other day I was on my Triton--sitting down below, looking around--and I thought, "A larger boat would be nice."
But, because I plan to take off in four years to do some extensive cruising, and because I don't have much money (and never will), I knew that the only way to get a boat that would take me where I wanted to go would be to find something old (like an Alberg 35 or something similar) and fix it up. Like I did with my Triton.
As I looked at the photographs of the Alberg 35--of the deck (badly in need of paint and probably a re-core) and of the interior (dark, lacking adequate storage space, cluttered, dirty, and looking very similar in layout to a Triton)--I started to think about my boat.
I thought about all of the work--("blood, sweat, and tears" is NOT poetic license)--that went into restoring her; all of the hours spent cutting and sanding and grinding and painting and cussing and screaming in frustration. I realized that I didn't think I had it in me to do that all over again. And, as I thought about the Triton, I knew I had a boat that could easily take me to all of the places I've dreamed of visiting. I also realized that I really liked my boat, a little small though it is.
I closed the website and knew for sure, really for the first time, that my Triton was the last boat I would ever own.
Unless it sinks, I'm unable to salvage her, and I'm not done yet with my cruise!
Why was I looking? The other day I was on my Triton--sitting down below, looking around--and I thought, "A larger boat would be nice."
But, because I plan to take off in four years to do some extensive cruising, and because I don't have much money (and never will), I knew that the only way to get a boat that would take me where I wanted to go would be to find something old (like an Alberg 35 or something similar) and fix it up. Like I did with my Triton.
As I looked at the photographs of the Alberg 35--of the deck (badly in need of paint and probably a re-core) and of the interior (dark, lacking adequate storage space, cluttered, dirty, and looking very similar in layout to a Triton)--I started to think about my boat.
I thought about all of the work--("blood, sweat, and tears" is NOT poetic license)--that went into restoring her; all of the hours spent cutting and sanding and grinding and painting and cussing and screaming in frustration. I realized that I didn't think I had it in me to do that all over again. And, as I thought about the Triton, I knew I had a boat that could easily take me to all of the places I've dreamed of visiting. I also realized that I really liked my boat, a little small though it is.
I closed the website and knew for sure, really for the first time, that my Triton was the last boat I would ever own.
Unless it sinks, I'm unable to salvage her, and I'm not done yet with my cruise!