DrWatson 381 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 My comfort level is standing headroom, a decent place to take a crap, and a warm dry bed I can sit up in and not crack my forehead on a deck beam... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 000 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 You're right, Doc. Those comforts are nice to have, but then comfort levels are inversely proportional to the desire to go sailing and the money available for such an enterprise. As I said, I wouldn't go ocean voyaging again in a boat a few inches shy of 18 foot but that experience has stood me in good stead. I am totally content in the H28 which is small by today's standards but comfortable, easily handled and cheap - I don't believe you should ever invest more money in a boat than you can afford to lose. Those years in the little 18 footer taught me the joys of small boat cruising and I am particularly blessed to have a wife of the same opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 I single-handed the Atlantic in 18 foot LOA back then. good Chris good you are getting closer to telling us the tale of treading water Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 000 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 There is really no tale to tell. I had come through Panama and was within the Galapagos Island group. The wind was very light, sea oily smooth and in the early hours of the morning I had a collision with a whale. The boat took on water beyond the capacity of the pump. Took my grab bag and fired off a flare that got the attention of a trawler just a few miles away. Was in the water for a short time, not days as was reported in some newspaper. The original 'fake news'. Still, losing that boat after all the adventures we'd been through troubles me even now after all those years and is best not remembered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 any photos of said 18' whale-striker in her prime? hope you were wearing a pdf! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 000 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Well Erice, you got me thinking, and after a long search for barely remembered photos I found a few stuffed into an old suitcase in the Attic. They're digital photos of photos originally taken with as crappy camera,so what you see is what you get. Sorry. The one with me in it is not to show how handsome I once was but to give an idea of space in an 18 foot cruising boat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addem 100 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Cool memories. Boats, like houses, are bigger than they were. And probably need to be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wild violet 38 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Awesome stuff chris the old days were sure simpler Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 000 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I dunno, Sabre. She was derelict when I bought her for $250, and named Calypso but known to all and sundry as Collapso. Someone who claimed to know said she was a Yachting World dayboat from the early 60's. I wouldnt know about that. I re-ribbed, re-gunwaled, re -decked. built a cabin. self draining cockpit and designed a plate steel keel with a bulb and rudder. Actually the keel and rudder was a joint design effort drawn on paper napkins by a load of drunks at the yacht club bar. I was constantly amazed by what a well-mannered little ship she proved to be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Chris, great story! Not much like that happens any more. Well done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 thanks Chris had heard there was a story there so what happened after the south american fishermen responded to your flare + hauled you out? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 $2 reserve met http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/auction-1299729186.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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