Well, this morning the first mate and I decided it was a nice day for a road trip.
So off we went to L.A. (That's Lower Alabama for you Non-Southerners)
First item of "must see when in L.A." was this one, and I still haven't figured out exactly what model of fine MacGregor trailor sailors she is:
https://mobile.craigslist.org/boa/d/grand-bay-22-sailboat/6985071187.html
That being said, she wasn't nearly as clean as advertised with the falling matter from the old pecan trees she's under, but what the heck, let's take a look. HIN indicates she's a 1973 model. With what appears and feels to be a cast iron swing keel to my knuckles. The hull is actually in incredible shape. The bottom is extremely nice as well, it was painted sometime in the past when it was on another set of bunks because they missed those spots with the paint. The lower edge at least that what I could see of the keel has been painted as well. Fit left and right inside the keel well of the bottom of the hull is nice and uniform.
Topside didn't really find any soft spots. One of the posts for the lifeline on the port side has been broken off taking a chunk of the deck with it, leaving a hole in the deck. No big deal.
Looking inside. Nuts. Water again?! This time only a couple three inches deep. Greeted by a large Grey Tree Frog, tried to rescue him but he leaped aft. One long piece of board that is the front of the port settee to the left of centerline is in the water, but it's not plywood and it appears it hasn't been damaged, yet. Swing keel pivot bolt in place and looks fine. Swing keel winch still has a cable to the keel and I can loosen and tighten the cable with the winch. Rest of the wooden stuff in the boat above the standing water is pretty much junk--good for templates for new stuff. Not a piece of foam with cloth covering to be found anywhere.
Sails.....Took them out of the bags for a look see. Main appears to be fine by me, a bit dirty and the first mate claims she wouldn't be caught dead on the water under that filthy sail. The other sail the first mate deems to be a Genoa and it is in really nice shape.
Trailer.....looks ok, no brakes, probably need new tires and there is one cross member that has broken clean through and has been tack welded back together rather poorly.
Really nice folks selling the boat, they have another power boat and Mama wants the sailboat GONE. Today, for you, 40% off. Take it away for $600......first mate reminds me that SHE wants to go sailing and that I have too many "projects" going on right now yada yada yeah, ok, let's go look at some others.....
To the Marina at Dog River! A bunch of LARGE boats, well, I guess you'd call them yachts, on the hard in the boat yard. A monster sized wood Chris Craft is dwarfed by an even more monster sized boat. I stepped off the length of what appeared to be a Catalina 30, and just standing there opposite it, the gravity of how large that boat really is and how high it is off the ground made me realize that the "budget C&C 30" that's already in the water on my home lake really is a large boat.
And of course, there was this one. Complete with a bilge pump AND a wet (VERY wet)/dry vac in the cockpit. So sad.
A nice dinner at a local favorite in Bayou La Batre then on the road headed home.
Tomorrow, well, it's already tomorrow by now, will be another day. Maybe off to? Stay tuned!