Thank God For Friends

Remember that couple that took us sailing and got me hooked again?   You know what they say about paybacks…

Seriously, Phil has been a tremendous help over the past few weekends.  We have been busy working on the boat, specifically the Atomic 4.  I’m upgrading to an electric fuel pump and electronic ignition as well as general maintenance of the motor. All new cooling hoses, Carb rebuild, flame arrestor cleaning, remove and replace the hot section, plugs, wires, … Phil and I spent 2 solid days tearing apart, cleaning and putting back together the motor.  Not quite finished but almost.  While we were at it, we took on the fresh water plumbing fill and vent hoses.

We’re taking this weekend off to go skiing…

I’ll post some “After” pictures after my trip to the boat next weekend.

 

 

 

What, not one but two Tartan 30s? That’s 60 feet of sailboat

So I see an add for another Tartan 30 for sale in the same yard as my newly acquired one.  I stop by and take a look at it and it is in really bad disrepair.  It was more than a project and much more than most people would be willing to tackle.  It had no sails, no traveler, no running rigging, …It was however a great home to many, many mud wasps…

But I made the guy a lowball offer and bought it.  Who in their right mind buys a “parts boat”?  Well, I spent 5 solid days dis-assembling the boat and removing everything of value that I could.

Then we cut her up and hauled her off to the landfill.  A sad ending to a sailboat but she was rotting away from all sides.  Selling the lead in the keel and the sale of the rudder have almost recouped all my costs on the boat.  The Atomic 4 is in workable but very neglected condition, spin pole and fittings, winches, deck hardware, bow and stern rails and tons of teak will be added to my inventory of parts. I’m looking for a buyer for the rig but am doubtful I’ll find anyone willing to buy it as is. It too may end up at the recycler.

Welcome to our journey with a 1973 Tartan 30.

I grew up on the water and had a daysailer from the time I was about 10 years old.  After college  in 1979 I bought a 26ft S2 and sailed it for a couple of years.  I sold it before I met my wife, Phyllis.  Marriage, kids, houses, sports, all kept us from owning another boat…you know the routine.  A sailboat wasn’t part of the picture. Fortunately, a few years after we were married along comes a friend with a Beneteau 42 that he bought as a cruising boat. Little did he know what was in store for that “Cruising” boat…15 years later we had raced that boat up and down the Chesapeake.   Some great times with great friends were had on “Wings”.  I learned that OPB’s (other peoples boats) are a great way to enjoy sailing.  Once Wings (and her successor Dark Horse) were sold we weren’t on a sailboat for probably 15 years.  Then an old college friend and his wife invited Phyllis and me for a weekend on their 1964 Columbia 40 Allegro. What a classic sailboat!  We had a great weekend followed up a few weeks later with a friendly regatta, again on Allegro.  I was hooked.

Somehow I managed to convince my wife that since we were now “empty nesters” this was the time to get back into boating.  She’s a good sport, loves to sail and I guess I caught her in a weak moment.  The rest…Well keep reading and we’ll take you on the journey.