Map of World - Click a place Brad's been

October 2025 - 3D Printing, Last Moments in Calgary, Intro to my PDQ 36 Catamaran

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.





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