So Thankful!

[Jmangiameli]

Last weekend. Sunny and lots of wind. Small craft warnings are up as we head to Port Townsend.
My Catalina 30 sailboat is just flying! Waves are breaking and the spray in flying. You kinda get into this rhythm. Bounce, crash, splash, take off glasses and wipe clean, put glasses back on. Repeat.

Even through its on the warm side the whole crew is wearing foulies, but hey, that’s boating up here in the Pacific North West.

I am so thankful that I sold my Catalina 30 to my buddy Mike.

As I pass him in my R-25 I give him a wave with my coffee cup. I don’t think he saw me, he was dodging another wave and his glasses were covered in salt spray.

I think, “Oh well, I'll see him back at the marina” as I walk back to the stove in my stocking feet to pour another cup of coffee.

Money won't buy you happiness, but it will buy a Ranger, and I am thankful for that too.

 

[rick&sue]

AMEN!!

 

[JamesTXSD]

In 2005, we were looking for our "retirement boat." We had owned a series of sailboats, and were considering a change to a powercruiser. We came to Seattle for the 2006 Seattle Boat Show, focused on a C-Dory. The first Ranger Tug 25 had not yet been built. We visited with Jeff Messmer at the C-Dory display. The only thing holding us off from buying was the fact we had never been on the water on one of these boats. Well, that and the fact that I was still thinking about a sailing catamaran (I was a party of one in that consideration). Another C-Dory owner heard us talking about that and offered us a ride on his boat, the next day. We happily accepted.

It was in the mid-40s, solid overcast, and a light drizzle. Having just flown in from south Texas a few days before, it was miserable cold for us. We got into the boat and he fired up the Wallas heater. In a short time, we were comfortable in sweatshirts instead of our winter foul-weather coats. We went from Everett to Whidbey Island for lunch. The drizzle was heavier as we were heading back... we saw two other boats out that day: a 50ish foot Nordhaven and a 40+ foot sailboat. We couldn't see the person at the helm in the Nordhaven, there were 3 people huddled behind the dodger of the sailboat... dressed in foulies. No one was smiling.

My wife (pointing towards the sailboat) said, "That or this?"

It was an easy sale for Jeff the next day.

Everyone should know the joy of sailing on a perfect weather day. And, the comfort of a pilothouse powercruiser for every day.

Jim

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Well-weaved story about your Catalina.

As veteran sailors, I assumed we would continue the path, until my thermally -challenged spouse announced that

"Nothing in life is worth being cold for. And that includes you, dear."

Necessity became the mother of the best decision. For all.

 

[Irish Mist]

Really hits the nail on the head. Not having sailed, but coming from a Cruisers and a Sea Ray with lots of canvas and no heat or air in either, this is heaven for us now... Yes we go slower but we sure enjoy the ride 🙂 And our boating season in the north has been extended in the spring and fall.