We found her in Olympia last year. I drove up in July to take a look. “She sure deserves to be brought back” the broker said, glancing at the floor. I looked her over carefully with all the experience that a three-year owner of a 20 foot day sailor could bring to bear. We could tell she had been neglected, the big port lights were taped over with clear packing tape and there was evidence of water leakage from those areas. The headliner was kind of dingy. It looked like she hadn’t been out in awhile. I told the broker I would think about it and drove back to Portland.
“She sure is going to need a lot of work” said Jean, shaking her head as she thought of the old boat. “But I need a project” I said, “and besides we can get her cheap”.
The surveyor pretty much spent the day on her. He tapped and prodded, poked and pulled. He came with us on the test sail, a short 45 minute motor sail part way out Budd Inlet and back. The motor ran okay or it sure seemed to anyway. The hour meter didn’t work. As we stood in the parking lot after a long day of inspection the surveyor said “Any price reduction you get now will seem very small when considered against the cost of the restoration”. I didn’t know just how right he would be.
“She has bronze port lights, and beautiful teak throughout. That full canvas enclosure sure is nice and how about the single side band, the radar, the life raft and the dingy.” I made them an offer and they took it. The boat was mine.
In August we hold her home, snuggled on the back of a semi truck she made the ride to Portland. The yard manager, Greg, picked her up with a giant lift and set her in her new spot.
it wasn’t long before Walt walked up and welcomed us to the boat yard. He and his wife Marty were nearing the end of their refit of a beautiful Erickson 35. “How long have you been here?” I asked. I remember taking a big gulp when the answer came back “2 years, Welcome to the boat yard!” We found her in Olympia.
For more adventures with Amathea please visit http://www.amatheia.net/
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