OUR NEW BOAT

Tractatus

On October 27, 2012 we became the new owners of a restored 1966 Alberg 35 saiboat named Tractatus. We purchased the boat from William Wildman, a gentleman and sailor from Escanaba, MI. We drove 6.5 hours each direction in order to seal the deal.  We sure got more than a few second glances at the 15 ft lovely spruce boom that was tethered to the top of our Expedition on the return trip.

The journey has been long but worth the distance.  Dave can count 20 plus boats that he/we looked at during our search.  In the beginning there was the Cape Dory in Afton, MN, left open to the weather. This former beauty was full of water with a four foot tree growing out of the companionway hatch. And, it was for sale; sad!  Then there was the Ericson 29 with decks so soft that the Marina wouldn't put it back in the water for fear that the mast would fall on a neighboring boat.  Dave looked at every available boat, 28 to 35 feet, that was within reasonable cost and driving distance.  We looked at boats that were beyond our means and we looked at one boat that was FREE!  Most boats would have been too much of a project boat at too high of an expense to make any sense.  Many of the boat owners we encountered had a unrealistic view of the condition and value of their vessel.  The Allied Seabreeze we visited in Bayfield is a good example.  The owner obviously loved his boat.  It was on a cradle at a small boatyard under repair for damage to the keel.  The owner offered to let us sleep on board during our visit.  We were amazed to find a unkempt, home handiman, project boat with so much crap aboard that there was no place to lay our head had we wanted to.  Sailboat people are funny people. Disclaimer:  I can say this because Dave and I are sailboat people too!

Dave took an inventory of all the new items on Tractatus.  The list (in no particular order), includes:

30 hp Nanni diesel

all new tanks and lines

water heater with pressure water

cockpit coamings
toe rail cap

standing rigging

running rigging
roller fuller
all deck fittings had balsa removed and replaced with apoxy and oversized backing plates
mast step rebuilt and strengthened
larger chainplates installed

interior completely removed to allow for new and larger engine compartment

all bulkheads strengthened and tabbed to the hull with epoxy

hull was insulated and covered with teak

new interior sunbrella upholstery
completely rewired with new main panel and batteries
new teak and holly sole
custom bowsprite with dual anchor rollers

windlass

custom bobstay

auto pilot

new tiller

exterior fireproof propane box

new gimballed propane stove and oven

bottom stripped and any voids epoxied with epoxy barrier coat and fresh bottom paint

topside allgripped

non-skid redone and cabin and deck allgripped

spruce boom replaced with aluminum boom and new main sail

new 150% roller furling jib

North Code Zero cruising spinnaker

custom wooden swim ladder

Dave was able to contact the former owner who verified all the work that was done to this Alberg.  He gave Dave more details on the history of the boat and was happy to hear of our plans to put her name back to Mystic.  He asked Dave about the price we paid for her and told him that we got one hell of a boat for the price.  We are so happy that we found Tractatus/Mystic and can call her ours.  Next spring...the fun begins!

Starboard galley with gimballed stove

Cabin Heater

Tractatus at anchor

Boat Names

Boat names are important, at least to us they are.  That said, all boats can be renamed but I've wondered if it's proper to change the name of a boat. While looking for our dream sailboat, Dave and I certainly paid attention to the name on the stern.  One of the first boats that drew our attention was the 30 ft. Columbia named "Yes Dear".  The name made me laugh but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.  

Dave believes that a beautiful boat should have a feminine name.  There are a lot of boats with "Lady" as part of their name.  "Windswept Lady" was the boat we visited in Michigan City, IN.  The St. Croix River has a line of cabin cruisers with names like "Lady Luck".  I don't think there was much luck involved in owning these monstrosities.  One of the Hallberg Rassy's we liked had the name 'Nabulous'.  Did the owner "Nab" a fabulous deal?  We liked the name of the other Hallberg Rassy we visited, "Annabelle" and the name of the beautiful Allied Seabreeze we visited in Noank, CT, "Arabella".  These two boats were older classic models and had grace just like their names.  

In October, 2012 we took a day trip to Escanaba, MI to see a boat that had no name, or so we thought.  This 1966 Alberg 35 was a surprise for us.  We'd seen so many boats that were described as beautifully maintained, mindfully restored and worth top dollar.  This boat was listed at $37,000, some $7,000 over our budget and $17,000 over the original budget we set for ourselves two years ago.  We found the "marina" that this boat was stored at.  It was an interesting place, not really a marina at all, rather more like a boatyard.  We met the owner, Billy Wildman in Escanaba and followed him to the North Shore Boat Launch and Vinette Boatworks.  He led us into a large building, chatting lightly about the improvements made to this almost 50 year old vessel.  Right away, I liked Bill.  He had a kind, warm face and a gentle handshake.  He looked into our eyes when he spoke and he had a passion for sailing and his vessel.  We have met so many people who we felt we couldn't trust.  Finally, we'd found a kindred spirit.  Bill had spent his life sailing.  In addition, he was in a blues band, the harmonica player.  He spoke, fondly, of his days aboard the Alberg 35 and was proud of the simplicity and beauty of her.  We had a lot in common.  

The Alberg 35 was on a cradle so we walked around and looked at the hull.  Bill pointed out a spot that had been repaired after the boat bumped a rock.  The hull was smooth and you could not tell there was a repair.  This boat had a beautiful paint job.  This was the prettiest boat we'd seen so far.  Both Dave and I noticed that this Alberg DID have a name, after all.  We each made a mental note that the name started with a T and had a lot of consonants but, later, we both commented that the word was strange and difficult to pronounce.  Bill led us up a set of open stairs to a landing so we could see the boat from above.  There were 3 boats in a row, the Alberg was in the middle.  Bill boarded the boat closest to us and we walked from that boat to the Alberg.  Bill asked me, "Beth, so you like to sail?"  I responded, "Yes, I do, but I don't like heights!"  Once I had made my way across the first deck and had boarded the Alberg I was OK.  I think Bill liked my answer, "Yes, I do like to sail."

Bill went over the entire boat with Dave and showed him improvements and modifications.  There was a spotless new motor, nice cushions, a bowsprits had been added to keep the anchors away from the the boat and it reduces weather helm, the tendency of a boat to round up into the wind while.  It has a cabin heater and two booms, the original spruce boom and an aluminum spare.  The spruce boom is equipped with the one of the first roller reefing systems ever made.  The former owner who was preparing the boat for an around the world cruise thought that the spruce boom was difficult to reef single handed so he replaced it with the aluminum and a simpler reefing system.  The boat was immaculate.  Dave commented that this was the cleanest boat we'd looked at.  We were intrigued.  

Bill left us to allow us to look around for a bit.  When he returned he brought paperwork on the boat. This is a USCG certified boat which means it is certified with the Federal Government.  Bill told us about the former owner and the history of the boat as a racing vessel.  He had a photo of the boat racing in Lake MI just last year.  Bill looked at me and said, "I want you to have this."  I wasn't sure about taking it but I felt like he really wanted us to have it.  It seemed like he liked us and maybe, just maybe he thought we would make good owners of this lovely Good Old Boat. 

Back to boat names; after leaving the boat launch we realized that we hadn't written down the name we saw on the stern.  We both had an idea of what it was but it was a word that neither of us recognized.  When we got home, Dave started doing searches on what he thought the name was.  It took a while but he finally found it.  TRACTATUS, yep Tractatus is the name of this beauty.  Now, I mentioned that names do matter, especially to us.  We had to know what this meant.  Dave found the word in an old spanish/english dictionary.  It is a math term that means to work things out by talking them through.  We were not sure what this had to do with sailing and we have no idea who named her.  It also is Latin for Treatise.  At this point, we were pretty sure we would change the name if we bought the boat.

Later, while looking up the USCG certification online, we we were both delighted and surprised to learn that the boat was originally named "Mystic".  Mystic is a beautiful, soft word that conjures up fantasy and mystery and adventure.  In addition, it is the name of a beautiful town in CT, near where I grew up.  This news made us both smile.  It seemed to be a sign or karma.  This was OUR boat and it was meant to be.  Although this may truly be the boat of our dreams, now Dave has to make it happen during the negotiation phase.  Dave likes the name Mystic but is also tossing in the option, "Madeline", which is very sweet since it is my legal name.  I was named Madeline Elizabeth Dailey at birth but was always called Beth.  Madeline is a beautiful name worthy of being on the stern of a beautiful boat.  We have time to decide and we have time to learn more about the name Tractatus.  Maybe the owner has a great story to tell about how the boat got this name.  Time will tell...

Nabulous...Halberg Rassy on Lake Champlain, VT

It's July and we've traveled to Mystic, CT for some R&R with family and friends.  Our trip is packed with plans including a family reunion, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, my birthday, and running a marathon in VT.  All of our family commitments were scheduled in the first week of our trip.  We had a fun filled week enjoying the Chapman Family Reunion and a 4th of July celebration. Independence Day festivities were in honor of my Niece Alexa's 18th birthday, my mother Jacklyn's 73 birthday, my 52nd birthday and the 25th anniversary of our wedding day.

At the finish line, Mad Marathon, Waitsfield, VT

We left CT for Waitsfield, VT on Friday, July 6th.  The marathon was on Sunday, the 8th.  We had plans to view a  Halberg Rassy, named Nabulous on Lake Champlain on Saturday after attending the marathon packet pickup.  The boat was essentially identical to Annabelle, the Hallberg Rassy we visited in Traverse City, MI, including the asking price of $35,000.  We drove to Burlington and found the marina we had been directed to.  As we walked along the waterfront I picked Nabulous out, sighting her on her mooring in the harbor.  She was beautiful.  Boats always seem to look better when they are in the water.  We had viewed Annabelle on the hard with a tarp that created bad lighting and a sense of  claustrophobia.  Bill Algiers, the broker, took us the a short boat ride out and rafted up to Nabulous.  Once we boarded her, Bill couldn't find the key but Dave realized that the boat was not locked so we were grateful to be able to go in the cabin and really have a look at her.

Nabulous had a nicely finished teak interior.  It was clean and orderly for a boat that was being sailed all season.  You could tell that the owner took care of the boat and it had a lived in, homey feeling about it.  It had full canvass with a enclosed dodger and awning.  The brightwork had a jell stain which actually looked okay but was not as pretty as true brightwork.  I could tell Dave liked this boat.  Later Dave told  me that he liked Annabelle more because her topsides and jell coat were in pristine condition. He was shocked that a boat of that age could have the original jell coat look that good.

Annabelle

Bill took us for a boat tour of the harbor.  He gave us the local boating lore, describing the different personalities that went with each boat in the harbor.  We had a lovely time with him.  We chatted on our return trip to Waitsfield.  Dave shared his opinion of the two Hallberg Rassy's we'd visited.  He clearly would have purchased Annabelle had the price been more within our agreed upon range.  However, we both agreed that the biggest reason we would not consider either Rassy was the logistics of getting them back to MN.  Soon after our trip we learned that Annabelle had sold.  I think Dave may have grieved a little over that news!

A trip to Traverse City, MI to meet Annabelle

Dave is busy perusing the web to find the boat of his dreams.  It is Mother's Day weekend and we've decided to make the 8+ hour trip to Traverse City, MI to view Annabelle, a 35 ft. Halberg Rassy Rasmus that we've both been intrigued by.  The owner has it listed with a broker but also has a beautiful website devoted to this boat.  It appears that he and his wife sailed for years but started a family and have no time for this boat.  The original posting listed it at $60,000 (far over our budget).  At this time, it is listed at $35,000, closer to our budget but still high.  It's a beautiful boat, ketch rigged with a center cockpit and an aft cabin.  It's very well built with a hard windscreen, beautiful lines and a lot of wood below decks.  We could definitely make a home aboard this boat.

The drive to Traverse City was LONG but pleasant.  We love road trips but prefer to stay a while when we make long ones like this one.  Unfortunately, we had to be back on Sunday.  We got to Traverse City at around 2:00 CST and quickly realized that it was 3:00 EST...had no idea we had passed into EST.  Bill from the brokerage called us and said he'd meet us at the dry storage where the boat was on the hard.  We found him easily and boarded Annabelle in her cradle tucked between two other boats.  The hull looked nice and it was  obvious that this boat had potential.  Dave went over every system on the boat then asked to see the mast.  We drove to the marina and Dave looked at the mast and hardware.  Dave asked Bill how firm the owner was on price.  Bill was very clear that the owner needed to sell, needed the money and was open to offers.  This boat had been on the market for four years and hadn't been on the water in two years.

Dave was very excited about this boat.  We talk price all the time, hypothetically and in regards to actual possible purchases.  Dave felt the boat was worth $30,000 but decided to low-ball the owner.  We spoke with friends and we talked through what we liked about the boat and what troubled us.  Dave was worried that we did not see the mizzen mast.  The boat had been sitting for 4 years and the bright work and wood accent needed attention.  It appeared that the owner had started selling "boating" items off of the boat.  It was definitely not the boat that was put on the market four years ago.  Dave offered $20,000 with the plan to go as high as $25,000.  Bill called us back a few days later and said the owner turned us down, then turned down an offer for $25,000 from another interested party.  It turns out that maybe he was not so motivated to sell.  We backed out of bidding on this boat.

Annabelle still pops up in our conversations as we search.  It saddens us to view so many boats that were once beautiful vessels but are now being neglected and allowed to deteriorate by owners who can't afford to put them in the water or take care of them as they deserve to be cared for.  Yet, they will not let them go to a new owner.  We have learned that the market is saturated with older boats that folks can't maintain but refuse to let go of.  Still, I remind Dave that we are in no hurry and we need to find the right boat for us.  It will happen...

Possibilities in Noank, CT

We were visiting Beth's family in CT and made a trip to Spicer's Marina in the quant village of Noank CT.  Beth is from Groton, CT and we lived in Noank together for a while early in our relationship.  We had our eye on a beautiful little Sea Sprite.  Dave loved this boat, price was good but Beth felt it was a bit narrow.  We are not in a huge hurry to purchase and it just didn't feel right.  This lovely boat sold at a great price, soon after we viewed it.

Seafarer

After the Wind Swept Lady experience, we found another Seafarer being offered out of Spicer's Marina.    It sounded like a possibility.  Price was low so there was some concern about it being a project boat.  Our friends, Sean Kelly, Manager at Pine Island Marina, and Peter Metcalf, Sailing Cowboy Extraordinaire, agreed to take a look at this boat.  Our fears were realized after one exterior look by Peter.  The boat was unwrapped and the mast was down.  The mast opening had not been covered.  There, most definately, would be water damage below.  It appeared it was under repair/renovation.  The price was low, but not low enough for a project boat requiring as much time, energy and money as this boat would require. 

The owner was a younger sailor living in MA.  He was from Noank but had found a job near Boston and realized he did not have the time to finish this project.  We bowed out of our interest in this vessel.

Wind Swept Lady...and the search continues!

It's October and the weather remains beautiful.  Dave subscribes to Good Old Boat magazine and receives email links to their online magazine.  I let him know when they have arrived but, mostly, we delete them.  Dave, however, reads the hard copies cover to cover.

We are training for the Mt. Dessert Island Marathon to be held on October 16th in Bar Harbor, ME. We've been planning this run for over a year after not getting into the 2010 race. We are excited for this beautiful run through Acadia National Park.  I travel to CT to visit family the week before the race. Dave plans to meet me on Friday October 14 for the long drive North.  Dave calls me to say he has received an email from Good Old Boat with an offer of a free boat.  We decide to contact the owner.

At the finish
MDI Marathon  10/16/11

Good Old Boat sent Dave this email message indicating that a boat owner in Michigan City, IN has a Seafarer 34 he is interested in finding a new home for:

Seafarer 34 free to a good home

John Bougearel is offering his 1973 Seafarer 34 for free to a good home. He has been unable to sell Seaquest and would like to see her moved to a new home and stored there before winter sets in. Seaquest is located in Michigan City, Indiana, at the southern tip of Lake Michigan.

He says:
A 2003 survey appraised the boat at $27,000, when it still needed a fix on the rudder and a fix on the starboard deck. Both those repairs have been done, plus a new headsail and roller furling system indicates the boat is every bit of good condition it was in in 2003 if not better.

The boat is now rigged as a sloop, not as a yawl. The headsail is new, the main is not new and is sized for a yawl, so a bit small for a sloop rigging.

The cockpit needs a sanding and repainting and there is a small soft patch on the starboard deck that I repaired, but need to sand a smidge and paint. With the boat on the hard since 2009, the diesel fuel needs to be removed and the tank cleaned/scrubbed. Other than that, she is serviceable, in great shape, and just in need of its regular maintenance. 

For further information and more photos, John can be contacted at: jb2@structurallogic2.com, 312-618-2290.

Here's wishing everyone a beautiful fall season!

Karen, Jerry, and the Good Old Boat crew

I contact JB but my emails are written as though I am Dave.  I ask for more photos and details about the boat.  JB provides everything and tells me that he is considering giving the boat to one of only a few candidates.  He says he will be making a decision within the next two weeks and asks if we wish to be considered.  Dave and I decide to drive to Michigan City to view the boat.  It was a beautiful day for a drive.  We got to Michigan City after lunch and met JB in the marina.  Wind Swept Lady was once a beautiful boat.  JB had let her fall into disrepair and it quickly became apparent that he may not own this boat outright.  It appeared that he, at the very least, owed storage fees.  We spent a few hours with JB, including lunch at a brew pub in town.  We let him know that we would be great new owners of this project boat but as soon as we got in our car we both admitted that we wanted nothing to do with this man, his boat and/or whatever was really going on.  Dave thought I should email JB to let him know we were no longer interested but I decided to wait to see what JB would do.  We never heard from JB again.

Interesting note; Dave and I drove to FL in January 2012 to run the Ragnar Florida Keys Relay Race. On our drive home we are 99% sure that we saw Wind Swept Lady on the side of the highway at a MVD weigh station/check point.  It appeared that it was being held there, possibly for being transported without the correct permits.  Seems like a dodged bullet if you ask me...

Finding our cruising boat...a journey in itself!

It's January 2012 and we have been searching for a sailboat for over a year.  Our plan of attack was heavily influenced by cost.  We wanted the best boat for the best deal.  We were considering project boats over turn key boats.  In November 2011 we made our last payment on our home.  It felt like perfect timing to invest in our second home, a bigger sailboat capable of taking us across wide open spaces of big water.

Initially our goal was to get into a bigger boat, 28-30 foot, for under $20,000.  Dave spent countless hours researching boats that fit this criteria.  He looked for full keel or modified full keel boats that had a reputation of being stable and seaworthy.  Features we were attracted to included deisel engine, roller furling, dodger, propane stove, oven and cabin heater.  We live in an old house and like the warmth of wood so we were attracted to boats with wood interiors.

Our search began in Duluth, MN on Lake Superior at the Barker's Island Marina where we looked at a three boats, a Cape Dory 28, an Islander 28 and an Islander 30.  The Cape Dory was a nice boat sitting on a cradle.  It was rigged for solo sailing with a custom full built in cabinet on the starboard side.  This feature made the cabin feel small and crowded.  We knew that Dave could take the cabinet out and reinstall a bunk but the boat was over budget and we had other options to consider.  We shelved the Cape Dory for now.  The Islander has a Saildrive motor.  Dave had read that you can't get parts for it anymore.  This could prove to be a problem.  In addition, the Islander is not a heavy cruising boat and felt very small for a 28-30 foot boat.  We were not impressed with it and have taken this boat off of our list.  

Next we drove North to Knife River Marina to view a 30 foot Columbia named "Yes Dear".  Dave and I both liked this boat immediately, including the name.  It was well taken care of and roomy.  It was cutter rigged with dual head stays (Dave liked that feature) and had a nice dodger.  The cockpit was rigged for fishing, not a huge selling point for us but just another sign that this boat was both used and loved.  Yes Dear has potential but is at the top end of our budget at $20,000. We looked at another Columbia 30 at Knife River but it was a project boat in disrepair.  We began to see the benefit of a turn key purchase.

While up North on this visit, we fell in love with the Knife River Marina.  It is a sheltered harbor with that classic North Woods feel.  It had a rocky beach within walking distance.  When we are lucky enough to find the right boat we hope to keep it at Knife River Marina.  We live about 3 hours from the marina.  Although it's a long drive, it would be just like going "Up North to the Cabin" to have a boat slip there.

Introduction

Cruising Team Rogers was created by Beth Rogers as a means of documenting the journey from dreaming of cruising on a sailboat to the point of making it happen.  We've been dreaming for a very long time.  Finally, we are close enough to actually see the trip in the horizon.  I hope to document this journey so that others can enjoy our experiences with us. 



Beth Dailey & Dave Rogers
Norfolk, VA 1982

Our story began in 1982 when Dave and I met while visiting mutual friends.  He was living on his 23 foot Coronado sailboat, Keewatin, at a free dock in Norfolk, VA.  He was making his way alone; a Minnesota boy far from home, and he made such an impression on me that I left my life in Connecticut and moved to VA.  The plan was for me to crew the next leg of his journey to the Gulf Coast of Florida.  The trip was a wonderful experience and led to our long term relationship, marriage and two beautiful children.  We left life on the water to raise our children in, of all places, Minnesota.

In the 80's we crewed a boat from Bermuda to Mystic, CT with our friends Peter Metcalf and Shelley Wood.  Over the years we sailed Coastal CT, Lake Superior, the St. Croix River and many local lakes.  Through all those years, as we enjoyed the responsibilities and activities of family life, we dreamed of cruising again.  Our time has come...



Beth & Dave Rogers
Watch Hill, RI
July 4, 2010