In October I tidied up a few lose ends before setting sail, kinda...3D printing a key holder, last meal with the boys, house tidy, flew off to Tampa, FL to get to know my new boat and all its quirks...
So yes, second half of the month I began the new big adventure and transition in to boat life completing the purchase of a 1991 PDQ 36 named "Dame" (stay turn for the changes!). There were about 200 PDQs made and a lot of them came with outboard motors which is what I wanted so I now I have one...
 |
| How did this happened Mom? |
 |
| Shocked and happy |
 |
Lucky to play with a outstanding golfer, Landen
at High River's Highwood |
 |
| It was a great day and I shot fantastic |
Last supper with the boys before flying off to Tampa, Florida in a few days to start boat life.
 |
| Love all you can eat Korean BBQ |
 |
| It really is like this in Korea |
 |
| Good times Nate and Chris |
A few final preparations before the trip. Had to get house in order and any last minute stuff.
 |
Finally we figured out a 7 year
long, tub draining issue |
 |
Better get this here for the boat
as it may be tricky in USA |
 |
| She's cleaning up! |
 |
| Good night gents |
 |
| Tidied |
 |
| The lose Sailing Plan |
Early morning to the airport in the middle of the month with the plan to get to Tampa, uber to Hudson, check out my PDQ 36 catamaran, get a bottom paint done and sail for Bahamas...Perfect plan until you get punched you in the nose! (Mike Tyson)
 |
| Goodbye Alberta sky |
 |
| Hope you make it |
 |
| Using up a Visa Lounge Pass |
Boat tour. Definitely in the happy phase of buying the boat before you dig in to what you have invested in. The good and the bad is there is lots on the boat and lots to learn about, but I wish I knew this before buying this boat.
 |
The "happy" moment they talk
about when buying a boat |
 |
| Nice mermaids, I'll keep those |
 |
Dave was a little different than
the guy I met in June |
 |
| not sure it should be this messy |
 |
| Lots going on here, I wonder what works |
 |
| Waiting for its new captain |
 |
Boats don't have convenient
anything |
 |
| How the composting works |
 |
| Lots here, but maybe its a little old? |
 |
| Steering cable finding its way |
 |
| wrecked cover on steering cable |
 |
| neat system to lift motors |
 |
Just a signal of how Dave does
things, a little twisted, haha |
Game plan; sail to Tarpon Springs to haul boat out, survey and do bottom paint at Pitman Yacht Services. Great plan, Nose punch one; Starboard engine failure and Port engine having issues. Turn around. Although tricky to re-schedule it did give me time to check out the boat more.
 |
| Here we...(don't) go |
 |
| I think the boat is scared to leave home |
 |
| Nice little find |
 |
| Code zero sail |
Going through the spinnaker rig set up.
 |
| What fear of heights?? |
 |
| Going up, Hi Mel |
 |
| Hi Dave |
 |
| Hi Brad |
The quiet Hudson cannels.
 |
| Dale's schematic of the Electrical |
 |
| Who needs glasses |
 |
| Good Mexican "El Mezcal" |
 |
| hmmm, what's going on here? |
 |
| A visit from Igor with Russian food! |
 |
| Volley ball buddy from Mexico |
 |
Great idea Igor, but a little
too old |
 |
| America F yeah! |
Let's take this boat to the yard for a bottom job and maybe more. Had a survey at that point too which picked up a bunch of issues. Would have been good to find that out before hand purchase, but Dave made sure there was pressure to buy.
 |
All smiles to head out, lost instruments halfway
to Tarpon and another engine issue. |
 |
| parked and ready to lift Monday morning |
 |
| Nervous more than excited |
 |
| Tight fit, slammed in good, haha |
 |
| Definitely need a bottom job |
 |
| Bill the surveyor getting in there |
 |
That's more than a bottom paint
Gonna cost you Dave! $8k |
 |
| That's missing some rubber |
 |
| Something else not working? |
 |
Tech did half of steering cable
job in 8 hrs, Pittman the other
3 hrs. $3400! |
 |
Final touches on the contract
|
 |
| Up and down with tons of equipment |
 |
| Bottom done |
Other Stuff
 |
| Yep needed brakes |
 |
| So easy |
 |
| Great little roadside BBQ spot |
 |
| Ollie's bar near by Hudson |
Some side entertainment as one of the very big ex-cons jumped in to the water on a Friday afternoon for $250! Good to see the not so personable PJ lose his money.
