WE arrived in Rock Hall early on Friday morning - well 0930, but that means we had to leave home at 06. Anyway, called the broker, Ed Rosenthal of Reynolds Yachts, and he said he'd be down to the boat as soon as he finished with a walkin. We boarded Vibrant, opened the hatch and I had Ron, my newfound sailing friend and crew, break out the dink and inflate it to check for leaks while Eva and I started poking around in the storage bins. The previous owner had done a great job of orgainzing. Every locker was filled with plastic bins so there were NO stray items just thrown in the bottoms. And there were spare parts galore.
The weather was unseasonably cool for July 2nd but as the morning wore on it began to heat up. Ed showed up and we began another fore to aft exploration and explanation of all the systems. Here's the seacocks for the head, here's how the head works, another exploration of all the lockers, full explanation of the electrical panel and engine compartment. Then out on deck. Because of the problems we had setting the jenny on the survey I decided to set the sail while in the slip. Thus began a two hour struggle with the sail that almost culminated with me walking away from the deal.
The roller furling jenny bound immediately when we hauled on the sheet. We had binoculars and it appeared the sail wasn't two blocked but the luff was properly set so we thought it might be the swivel. We decided to lower the sail to inspect the head swivels, but that entailed unwrapping the sail from the headstay. Head swivel appeared to be serviceable, raise the sail, reset the outhaul, try to unfurl the jenny, failure. Three more times... If Ron hadn't been there, there is no way Eva and I could have done this.
Ed sat in the cockpit and observed. Finally I joined him there and we quietly discussed the problem. I told him I was frustrated and disappointed to the point of walking away. He quietly explained that I hadn't mentioned making the sail right in my final demands for the sale and that I'd be walking away from the deposit. He suggested Eva and I go to lunch and talk things over.
We did. Decided to go back and give it one more try. Back on board we decided to find some way to extend the tack of the sail four or five inches to get the head higher. Searched the bins and lockers until we found a suitable extender, raised the sail one last time, hauled on the sheet and...whala!...success, the sail set almost like magic. OK, but can we do it again, and again, and again. Looks like we solved the problem.
Ed and Eva and I signed the papers and VIBRANT was ours. Eva asked if I can turn the A/C on. We have to replace a strainer that the, now previous owner, had supplied. Ed pitches right in and an hour later and a trip to the chandler later we have the strainer in place, prime the system, flick the switch and the A/C kicks in.
Now it's almost four o'clock and Ed asks if I want to go for a short sail. Sure, but we check the tide and with the wind out of the north there isn't enough water under the keel. Crap!
So the day ends with a glad handshake with Ed and my thanks to him for his patience and especially his help in getting the A/C up and running. Remember, that was after the sale had closed and he could have taken his bill of sale and walked away, but he stayed to make sure we were as satisfied as he could make us given all that had transpired.
If you have a boat to sell in Rock Hall, Ed's your man. Thanks Ed.
2010/07/11
2010/07/01
The Run up to the Sail Down
Survey complete, decision made, papers tomorrow at Rock Hall, MD and VIBRANT will be ours.
Sound so simple...
But what about all the professional details that press everyday and now have to be juggled with sailing? What about the two proposals due in the next two weeks? What about trying to scrounge up a crew to help sail VIBRANT from Rock Hall to her new homeport in Colonial Beach on the Potomac? What about learning all the systems? What about planning the trip? What about financing? What about a new slip? Insurance? What about...what about...what about!!!!
Yikes!
OK, crew layed on - brother of a guy I sing in choir with. Someone to look after the dogs and ride up with us to Rock Hall and drive the car back over the weekend, check. Charts, check. Dig out old nav tools from Academy days...wow I have drug those all over the world with me and still have them! Download VHF channels, study the Atomic 4 webpage religiously. Finish up the required VA boaters course (what a pain in the patoot that was - the focus is on how much time you spend on each page - there's a timer on each page for crying out loud - as much as on subject mastery.) Insurance - check. Financing - check. Colonial Beach slip - check. Someone to look after dogs so Eva can come - BIG check. She's coming along. How great is that!
Talk to Phil, the owner, about turning the grease cup, lub oil, last oil change, speed of advance under sail, and Phil patiently and carefully answers each every question. He even goes to Rock Hall to make sure the head is functioning after the winter lay up and has to disassemble and reassemble the pump. He also makes sure the autopilot is rigged and functioning. How do you thank an owner, especially one getting ready to relinquish command of their pampered pet, who has gone way beyond the extra mile to make this transfer of ownership an enjoyable experience? wow...Phil I promise to take care of VIBRANT like you and if I ever sell her, your example will be my guiding star.
Last night it hit both Eva and I what we were about... and as we lay in bed and talked quietly through our concerns and, yes, fears. Should we postpone, should we get another crew, can we do this? Finally, she said, "Andy I feel the same way I felt before flying out to Turkey and Israel to come visit you. I have no frame of reference for what's about to happen and all I have to hold on to is you. If you're OK, then I'll be fine." Talk about deeply sobering. Eva is literally placing her life in my hands once again. wow...Eva...wow
Worked through the charts again this morning and am more confident than ever that we can do this. Will have to move our departure up to Friday afternoon and make it down to Annapolis or maybe Shady Side. The weather reports are fantastic - cool weather today, tomorrow and Saturday. Heats up on Sunday and Monday so we'll have to keep an eye out for afternoon thunder bumpers.
Still have to pack...
Sound so simple...
But what about all the professional details that press everyday and now have to be juggled with sailing? What about the two proposals due in the next two weeks? What about trying to scrounge up a crew to help sail VIBRANT from Rock Hall to her new homeport in Colonial Beach on the Potomac? What about learning all the systems? What about planning the trip? What about financing? What about a new slip? Insurance? What about...what about...what about!!!!
Yikes!
OK, crew layed on - brother of a guy I sing in choir with. Someone to look after the dogs and ride up with us to Rock Hall and drive the car back over the weekend, check. Charts, check. Dig out old nav tools from Academy days...wow I have drug those all over the world with me and still have them! Download VHF channels, study the Atomic 4 webpage religiously. Finish up the required VA boaters course (what a pain in the patoot that was - the focus is on how much time you spend on each page - there's a timer on each page for crying out loud - as much as on subject mastery.) Insurance - check. Financing - check. Colonial Beach slip - check. Someone to look after dogs so Eva can come - BIG check. She's coming along. How great is that!
Talk to Phil, the owner, about turning the grease cup, lub oil, last oil change, speed of advance under sail, and Phil patiently and carefully answers each every question. He even goes to Rock Hall to make sure the head is functioning after the winter lay up and has to disassemble and reassemble the pump. He also makes sure the autopilot is rigged and functioning. How do you thank an owner, especially one getting ready to relinquish command of their pampered pet, who has gone way beyond the extra mile to make this transfer of ownership an enjoyable experience? wow...Phil I promise to take care of VIBRANT like you and if I ever sell her, your example will be my guiding star.
Last night it hit both Eva and I what we were about... and as we lay in bed and talked quietly through our concerns and, yes, fears. Should we postpone, should we get another crew, can we do this? Finally, she said, "Andy I feel the same way I felt before flying out to Turkey and Israel to come visit you. I have no frame of reference for what's about to happen and all I have to hold on to is you. If you're OK, then I'll be fine." Talk about deeply sobering. Eva is literally placing her life in my hands once again. wow...Eva...wow
Worked through the charts again this morning and am more confident than ever that we can do this. Will have to move our departure up to Friday afternoon and make it down to Annapolis or maybe Shady Side. The weather reports are fantastic - cool weather today, tomorrow and Saturday. Heats up on Sunday and Monday so we'll have to keep an eye out for afternoon thunder bumpers.
Still have to pack...
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