No Bites

Spent the first week of listing my boats so excited and hoping they would sell before the weekend got here and we went out of town.  Well, as is usually the case for me and my wonderful luck, the boat had over 100 views and no one contacted me.  I relisted today at 100 dollars less for the "ready to sail" boat and 50 dollars less for the "needs work" boat.

So there update here is that the boats are now listed for $1800 and $650.  Should be interesting.

My First Time

Well, I did it.  I listed my two G-Cat Catamarans.  I wasn't as sad as I was angry.  I didn't see or think this one through.  I just wanted a big, fast cat that I could whip around the coast line, splashing through the waves.  Didn't happen.

I'll tell you about my first sailboat ride . . .

I was bit by the need to sail long before I was ever in a sailboat.  I was in a Marine Science class in high school.  One of the details that I didn't know about right away was the end of the semester ride in the teacher's sailboat Mystic.  I remember the name because it was painted on the top of the deck like inner city graffiti.  It was a large enough boat the entire class--those that wanted to get out of class and brought permission slips in by the deadline--could fit.  We took a school bus to where the boat was in the water.  I was immediately in love and the sails had not even been hoisted.  The boat bobbed silently next to the dock.  We all made our way on the boat.  I wore what I thought was appropriate sailing attire--complete with a pair of cheap vinyl boat shoes.

So we spread out on the boat and the crew prepared to get it underway.  One girl, an overdeveloped senior quickly stripped out of her clothes and down to a very stringy bikini.  It was difficult for anyone to look away.  I was a very late bloomer.  So, even in the 10th grade, I found this display of flesh shocking and appalling while at the same time, I was consumed with a bitter sadness.

The boat motored out of the channel and into more open water.  The teacher excitedly announced the sails would be hoisted soon.  I remember the sound of the engines cutting and the sails lifting into the sky.  It seemed like the mast touched heaven and the sail would follow.  Finally, the boat and mast were in sync and the sail filled with air, the boat lurched forward ever so slightly and we were sailing.  For a briefest of moments, everyone stopped talking.  No one was looking at the girl in the bikini.  The class was watching that giant sail move the boat through the water.  I was hooked.

Selling the Cat

Well after three plus years, and only one time in the water, I am selling my G-Cat Catamaran(s).  I have one that is ready for the water and one that needs some TLC.  I will post some pictures of the boats.  I paid $1650 for the boat that is ready for the water the one that needs some TLC was free except for the heartache of discovering it leaks.

Any suggestions?

Could Be The Best--Or Worst--Idea Ever

I ordered some 303 Protectant from Defender this week.  I tried some "non greasy" auto protectant over the weekend.  That was a job squirting and wiping the two tramps.  I read some different ideas and opinions on using protectant on the trampolines.  Some said they wouldn't use it, some say they'd never use it again and others swear by it.

I decided to go with the "I'll try anything once" angle and spent two afternoon painstakingly squirting ICE on the two tramps.  It was not slippery at all, but that doesn't mean it won't get slippery when it gets wet.  I know it had to have been dry.  It soaked in quickly.  Thus the reason for ordering 303 that came recommended on one of the websites I visited.  Wish I could remember so I could credit them.

Also decided to replace the rest of the line on the mast and elsewhere on the boat.  It's going to be a it of an investment, but it will be redone and fresh when we go to get out there we should have any trouble.

The Tramp is Laced: A Few Tips It Would Have Been Nice to Know

We did end up lacing the boat on Saturday.  I don't know about all boats, but after some thought we really didn't think it mattered whether we went side then center or vice versa.  Turns out, it makes a little difference.  For this boat--a G-Cat--I suggest lacing the center first and getting it as tight as possible.  This would have shifted the grommets back a little and would have eliminated the ever so slight pooch that occurred at the end of the second tramp.  I'm thinking when it gets wet and everything has a chance to shift around that maybe the pooch will go away.  I hope to return to this post and add some pictures of the lacing.  Right now, the best deal on line is clearly a website called Defender

Lacing

Hopefully, today is the day we will be lacing the boat.  I am excited.  I tried to do a little online research and just got bogged down looking at unrelated catamaran sailing websites.  I really hate it when that happens because I ended up being up way to late looking at rants and reviews of other people's experiences.  Aaargh.  My husband is out this morning and will return ready to go to work, so I will need to do that research now in order to be ready.  I'll attach anything I find concerning lacing when I return.

New Line Has Arrived

The line got here the end of last week.  It is beautiful!  I guess that's not the point. Being a girl I just had to uncoil it and feel it and look at it.  It's really stiff.  I suppose that's the dyneema in it?  The purple is bright with red and orange/yellow flecks.  Now I will spend a little time looking for the perfect knot.  Just for information, I bought 100 feet of 3.8 mm.  That's supposed to be enough, we shall see.  I'll post pictures of the line later today.