Well, apparently the plan to continue to spend time and money and make our E27 the best E27 on Lake Erie kinda fell apart.
The plan was going along swimmingly. New sails, new motor (electric re-power), upgrade ac and dc electrical, etc. do as much as we can ourselves, and spend what we need for the rest. After all, this is definitely our last boat, right? So what if we will never be able to recoup most of our investment. We've been lucky enough to be able to afford it. The boat will be just how we like it. We can retire soon, enjoy the boat, die and let the kids deal with sailing her or selling her. That was our thinking. That was our plan.
But, don't laugh. Plans change, and.....
We decided we need a bigger boat!
Some of you may remember that a few months ago, one of our fellow Ericson owners offered his 1985 E32-3 for an especially low price to any members in this group. After getting past the thought of "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is." I decided it might be worth investigating, worth a road trip anyway.
So last fall,along with one of my boat buddies, an engineer who has rebuilt and restored several sailboats here in Cleveland, went to take a look. I am glad we did.
My wife and I bought her!
The boat is in pretty darn good shape: good hull,good deck,good motor. Some would say it was maybe a bit tired: old sails, original cushions, one typically Ericson leaky fixed portlight. But overall, surprisingly good shape, normal wear and tear is there, but better than expected. Good enough that it could be sailed as is. I will probably replace the standing rigging as well to be on the safe side. Bottom line is that by the time I do the work and pay for most of this, I will have spent about as much as a broker told me someone would realistically expect to pay for an average to above average E32-3 in today's market. The beauty of it is that all the "stuff" we replace will be brand new!
BTW, the previous owner and his wife were not only knowingly fair and honest concerning their boat, CELERITY, but they are also genuinely nice friendly people. They put us up in a cottage that they owned and were gracious hosts. They had lots of stories and memories from sailing their boat in the New England area. I can't say enough, just a pleasure to deal with, and to hang out with for a bit. They will miss their boat, to be sure. But, even though they get around pretty well for their age, I think they just can't use it as much as they have in the past. I hope that I can do as well when I am their age.
So, anyway, here we go again. Opening up several different cans of life's little worms.
I am sure I will look to some of you for advice as we go forward with the new project, but for now, I have a favor to ask of any E32-3 owners in the Seattle area, and please forgive my ignorance when it comes to what you folks do with your boats in the winter.
I travel a lot for work, and I will be in Seattle next week. I am hoping that one of you has an E32-3 that is accessible (subject to weather and your schedule) and would be generous enough to take me aboard. Kind of give me a tour with an owners eye. The road trip was pretty quick, and the boat came from Cape Cod to my Cleveland area Marina, so the previous owner cannot realistically show me the ropes, so to speak. I do not know of any E32-3's here in the Cleveland area.
If so, I will be available in the Seattle area from Tuesday Feb 27 thru Thursday evening, march 1.
I should have a car, so I can travel some.
If any of you can accommodate me, it would be great. Depending on the time of day, breakfast, lunch or dinner and a drink are on me!
If so, you can PM here.
Thanks
Bob Greene
The plan was going along swimmingly. New sails, new motor (electric re-power), upgrade ac and dc electrical, etc. do as much as we can ourselves, and spend what we need for the rest. After all, this is definitely our last boat, right? So what if we will never be able to recoup most of our investment. We've been lucky enough to be able to afford it. The boat will be just how we like it. We can retire soon, enjoy the boat, die and let the kids deal with sailing her or selling her. That was our thinking. That was our plan.
But, don't laugh. Plans change, and.....
We decided we need a bigger boat!
Some of you may remember that a few months ago, one of our fellow Ericson owners offered his 1985 E32-3 for an especially low price to any members in this group. After getting past the thought of "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is." I decided it might be worth investigating, worth a road trip anyway.
So last fall,along with one of my boat buddies, an engineer who has rebuilt and restored several sailboats here in Cleveland, went to take a look. I am glad we did.
My wife and I bought her!
The boat is in pretty darn good shape: good hull,good deck,good motor. Some would say it was maybe a bit tired: old sails, original cushions, one typically Ericson leaky fixed portlight. But overall, surprisingly good shape, normal wear and tear is there, but better than expected. Good enough that it could be sailed as is. I will probably replace the standing rigging as well to be on the safe side. Bottom line is that by the time I do the work and pay for most of this, I will have spent about as much as a broker told me someone would realistically expect to pay for an average to above average E32-3 in today's market. The beauty of it is that all the "stuff" we replace will be brand new!
BTW, the previous owner and his wife were not only knowingly fair and honest concerning their boat, CELERITY, but they are also genuinely nice friendly people. They put us up in a cottage that they owned and were gracious hosts. They had lots of stories and memories from sailing their boat in the New England area. I can't say enough, just a pleasure to deal with, and to hang out with for a bit. They will miss their boat, to be sure. But, even though they get around pretty well for their age, I think they just can't use it as much as they have in the past. I hope that I can do as well when I am their age.
So, anyway, here we go again. Opening up several different cans of life's little worms.
I am sure I will look to some of you for advice as we go forward with the new project, but for now, I have a favor to ask of any E32-3 owners in the Seattle area, and please forgive my ignorance when it comes to what you folks do with your boats in the winter.
I travel a lot for work, and I will be in Seattle next week. I am hoping that one of you has an E32-3 that is accessible (subject to weather and your schedule) and would be generous enough to take me aboard. Kind of give me a tour with an owners eye. The road trip was pretty quick, and the boat came from Cape Cod to my Cleveland area Marina, so the previous owner cannot realistically show me the ropes, so to speak. I do not know of any E32-3's here in the Cleveland area.
If so, I will be available in the Seattle area from Tuesday Feb 27 thru Thursday evening, march 1.
I should have a car, so I can travel some.
If any of you can accommodate me, it would be great. Depending on the time of day, breakfast, lunch or dinner and a drink are on me!
If so, you can PM here.
Thanks
Bob Greene
