Nordica Nordica Nordica I shall write it on the board one thousand times.

Actually already bought the second boat minus a few minor final payments.
It's a buyers market and for once in my life I'm in a good position to take
advantage of the odd deal here and there. Originally the reason was the
Centaur was too small for two but now there is only one of me. Still the
idea was sound so why stop now? It remains a good plan. Room for scuba
tanks to be sure and the odd seagoing hitchhiker or perhaps an extra 30 gal
of water and 30 gal of fuel to make up the difference.

The boat came with a lot of extras such as the Webasco heater for the colder
latitudes and the aforementioned wheel conversion. Since it was done
properly I shall leave it alone.

Major changes for me are full batten mainsail and probably changing to a
double headsail sloop configuration up forward. I gave the rigging shop the
idea and they are going to turn it into the best workable plan for 60 to 60
degree cruising boat set up for single watch standing if not single handing.
If the wheel system starts to aggravate I can easily remove it, hook up the
original tiller in the original spot and use the old Navico 300. For sure
the wind vane (I'm looking at the sailomat for a number of reasons) and the
exhaust shut off valve along with some other upgrades. I will move the 30"
stanchions from Se Fjern over for one thing. There's a 30HP Volvo installed
with less than 100 hours and a seemingly endless list of goodies. Add a
good solarpanel/wind genny arch a la' the one used on Kay Kotte's boat First
Lady. I have a new dinghy so that just leaves the life raft as a major
component purchase.

Two owners ago the idea was to go cruising but the gentleman ended up in the
Arizonas desert with some affliction. I'm to inherit the legacy. I'll use
Port Townsend Rigging and Port Townsend Sails (Carol Hasse's shop) for the
bulk of the work and the rigging shop is overseeing the rest while I'm doing
what I do best. Second thing I do best actually. Only major interior
changes are extra fuel and water tankage and installing a better navigation
working area with UHF and weather fax.

Should be done by next April just in time for either going full time
cruising or doing a few months and maybe one more frieghter voyage added in.
Remembering the lesson of the last trip when I got in a hurry to please
someone else's schedule the keel bolts will receive full attention although
this later model has those early Westerly problems attended to in it's
design.

To me the big thing is picking the route. I actually want to recreate the
Pau route by going out to Hawaii and down the line islands but I have so
good friends and former neighbors from Washington cruising in Mexico so I'
may try to fit them in. What seems to fit best is do a test cruise in the
San Juan Islands next summer and then South to a good holding spot, go back
out on a freighter for a stint, then head South long after the Baja Ha Ha
crowd for a Mexico visit and then across.

The dreadfall problem there is where to leave the boat in California while
working on the cruising kitty. Theslip I'd originally arranged for won't be
ready for some extra years but I did find one owner who is going to let me
sublease in another spot while he's out cruising. Same problem may exist
over in Hawaii. A friend of mine just went across last December from San
Diego and had a huge problem finding a space to leave the boat ssafely and
securely.

Merchant Marine definitely pays well enough to do this and do it rather
quickly, not quickly enough for some but enough for me. I'll end up debt
free with a turn key boat full of spares and provisions, a goodly cruising
kitty and a monthly income (not to mention the odd delivery job along the
way - I just pre tested for 200 ton and will have that by this fall if not
going for 500 especially since they are doing away with 200 ton fairly soon.
A lot of my AB time is applicable and I would only need a short stint in a
mate's job to get Captain at that level. Having most of STCW-95 out of the
way means and "oceans" license is not out of reach as I had first thought
and that puts me head and shoulders above the Near Coastal I have now, for
insurance reasons if nothing else.

All in all it seems like thats worth a two year wait especially since it's
half over. And I really doubt finding crew will be a serious issue.

I'll do another separate post on Singapore as it looks like we are flying
today (27th here early in the morning, sun isn't up yet) and of course I'll
keep you posted through emails to one of the .asa gang.

Cheers and Fair Winds

Michael

"Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
...
I'm not familiar with the Nicholson 31 and I have a Nordica not a Nautica
but from what you've told me and the reputation of the yard... I'd say
it's
a great boat. I saw a few photos of them and like the lines but I'm more
of
the classic double ended with a bowsprit lines kind of person.... the Hans
Christian or Lord Nelson designs.


Are you looking at a buying another boat? Good Gawd Man... I have trouble
keeping one hole in the water from sucking my finances dry! ;-D

I can't say I'm in favour of wheel steering in a vessel under 35 feet.
That
seems to be the cutoff point where a wheel makes sense and doesn't
obstruct
the cockpit too much. After talking to a friend who completed a Trans
Atlantic on a Bayfield 29... the one piece of gear he said was paramount
was the Wind Vane. He also strongly reccomended an exhaust shut-off valve
for when at sea in storm conditions.

Luckily I'l be able to tow Overproof into the yard this season and have
her
next to the shop and shed for some serious renos.

CM


"Michael" wrote in message
...
| Still sittng in the room but ready to go to the spa/jacuzzi/sauna for an
| hour or so, after of course, a round on the pain machines. It's only
9:20AM
| here. May sound good but remember, while you are out on the ships life
goes
| on back wherever and you have no control over it. There is always
drawbacks
| to anything. The payback is the months on end out on the pond. But if
I
| have to make good use of Uncle Sam's Budget I'd rather be here than most
| places. Beats MRE's and a rucksack for sure. Latest rumour is some of
the
| ship's are going back to the US for whatever reason. All the other guys
in
| our travelling group, (going to several different vessels) are hoping
it's
| the one they are assigned to but I kinda hope I can lay back on or near
a
| tropical atoll and just make money. Say, thinking of Nautica's did you
see
| the article on the Nickerson 31 in the May/June Good Old Boat? Keel
looked
| kinda like the Nautica and the rest looked great. Same length as my new
one
| so I got some ideas to incorporate for the interior. Then a good
article
on
| tiller vs. wheel. My new one had the conversion and luckily the
previous
| owner did everything right including leaving the tiller post accessible
in
| the cockpit and allowing plenty of room on each side. For single hand
| tacking you get a choice of pushing the wheel over and handling the
lines
or
| using the auto helm tacking button and stand in front. You can also
stand
in
| front when viewing the radar screen down in the cabin area. Standing
behind
| is even more fun as there is plenty of room for standing or sitting etc.
IF
| I have to use the tiller it's located in an easy to get spot and I have
a
| Navico 300 to pop on. The Navico also connects to a stub which replaces
the
| wind vane paddle so you can have the best of both worlds that way as
well.
| Scanmar/Monitor actually came up with the idea but it will work well
with
| any paddle system. Anyway back to the Nickerson they are a bit hard to
find
| and a bit spendy but seem to incorporate a lot of the best ideas and
| compromises. What do you think?
|
| I don't know how long I'll be on as we get our fly/don't fly
instructions
in
| a few hours but I'll check back in as I can.
|
| Michael
|
| "Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
| ...
|
|

Jeee-e-e-e-e-e-e-e--e-ee-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-z-z-z-z-z--zz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-zz-
| z--zz-z ......... I HATE YOU!
|
| Damn you... Ha Ha Ha Ha ha
|
|
| Goood Going Michael!!!
|
| Keep your Blade Sharp and the Liqour Handy!
| "Michael" wrote in message
| ...
| | Life is certainly improving in the world. After a long 10 hour
flight
| to
| | Tokyo, three hour wait and another 6 hour flight to Singapore I'm
safely
| | tucked away in one of the Amara chain hotels. They certainly do
treat
| us
| | right in this business, meals included! Nice to be in a well paid
| shortage
| | specialty while the rest of the world whines about lack of jobs.
Funny
| .
| .
| | .we are about 2,000 short industy wide. Whoever encouraged me to do
| this
| | gets a big thankyou! First thing I spotted was a T-1 connection
but
| after
| | a few messages decided to catch up on jet lag. Now, somewhat
refreshed
| I
| | thought I'd check in again. Someone asked where the Bombards are
made?
| I
| | don't know actually. Didn't check the box but I wouldn't be
surprised
| if
| it
| | wasn't China. They areowned by Zodiac now and could be made in Oz
or
| almost
| | anywhere else. Check with Boatarama I suppose. We are waiting to
find
| out
| | if we fly today out to the ships or wait another day. If so they
have
a
| | night safari tour through a wild life park and I think I'll take
that
| one.
| | For lunch today it's the mecca of western tourists of course. The
Long
| Bar
| | at Raffles for an original sling. True to nature I've already
spotted
| the
| | nearest marina and yachtie hangout so that will take care of the day
for
| me.
| |
| | I thought if I can't get through on the newsgroups the regular way
from
| the
| | work area I might send reports now and again via Katy or Oz or Doug
or
| Thom
| | or Bart or . . . .. or any one of a number of my other good .ASA
| friends.
| | Hell! I'd even send one through neal if I had an address that
worked.
| I
| | did find another sort of discussion group though that is accessible
| through
| | Internet Explorer so I'll stay in touch that way.
| |
| | Cheers and fair winds as I drift slowly from Schoonertrash to . . .
..
.
| |
| | /s/ Michael Freightertrash
| |
| | (where's that damn phone booth when you need it!)
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|