Sailing Enthusiasts - Forum

We bought a 1973 Westerly Centaur 26' sailboat this past summer. She is used but was well loved and cared for. She was built for rugged North Sea conditions in England and handles very well but can be slow into the wind because of her twin keels. Our home port is out of South Bay Marina in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

I would love to hear from othe Westerly owners.

I became the proud owner of a 1986 model Catalina 30 in 2007! My first, and likely only boat I have or will own. Not counting the 12' Fanatic sailboard I use to have many years ago. After a couple years maintaining "GinnaP", (note, I didn't say sailing her), I realize that relatively large boats are simply floating campers since I've spent most of my time maintaining the electrical, plumbing, etc... in other words domestic facilities not boating/sailing equipment. Replaced the potable water pump, removed the water heater, removed the cooking stove and placed a dorm room size refrigerator in that spot, removed the natural gas cylinders, removed the VERY large dining table, replaced the worn out Groco head with a Thedford-Wilcox. I was going to go with a Raritan, but the Thedford-Wilcox seemed to be the same quality, possibly better, at half the price.

Although I have done some maintenance on boating stuff, or I should say I paid someone to. I replaced the broke, worn out jib furler with a Harken MkIV, (the best guess is the one I replaced was original and was a Hood.), replaced all the plastic thru hull fittings with bronze, (a peace of mine thing; I really dislike plastic in most places.) replaced the worn/broke Signet depth and speed meters with a Raymarine Triad meter. I couldn't find anything about Signet replacements until I subscribed to Mainsheet magazine and saw an add. Oh well, too late, no problem, I do like my Raymarine. I hope to install a Raymarine autopilot real soon since I sail solo a lot and raising and dousing the main is tricky when alone. I also dream of installing a Hoyt Jib Boom; haven't heard of one being installed on a Catalina 30. I've been told it would need to be mounted behind the anchor locker. I sail in the Pasquotank River, and sometimes out in the Albemarle Sound. A real good sailing location, essentially zero commercial traffic, and being a rural area, not many rec boaters either. I miss the Elizabeth River/Hampton Roads, but I do not miss the military and commercial traffic and relatively tight area, or salt water.

The Admiral and I sail 32' O'Day center cockpit and do "Gilligan tours" with it on the Bay of Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin. Professionally I work a 90' Skipperliner carrying 149 passengers max. also on the Bay of Sturgeon.

Our personal sailing experiences has led us to adventures in the Florida Keys, Sea of Abaco, the Caribbean, as well as our home waters of Lake Michigan.

My off season I teach for US Captain's Training out of Traverse City, MI teaching the Near Coastal/Great Lakes license to 100 ton.

I Sail a Tayana 37. My family and I cruse around New York Harbor and Raritan Bay. I keep my Boat at Liberty Landing Marina.

We have a Catalina 350 at Burnt Store Marina on Charlotte Harbor near Fort Myers, FL. We enjoy sailing all year (best of season just starting in October-May). We sail from Tampa Bay to Key West.

 Dennis McChesney:
We've (Iris and I) a 1979 Tartan 37 sloop Hull # 176. "Veracity" holds true to the "thorobred" moniker that reviewer Jack Horner bestowed on this classic plastic. We cruise generally from Raritan Bay in NJ to points east and north. Last season Veracity visited various harbors on Long Island (we moored her in Huntington which was splendid), Connecticut, and Block Island, RI. A fall trip up the Connecticut River was magnificent, with it's assortment of quaint villages, granite cliffs, New England fall colors, and bald eagles! We've a few projects to tackle this spring including finishing varnishing the interior (originally oiled), maybe reupholstering the cushions below deck (including the never ending debate over appropriate fabric, color, shade... help!), varnishing exterior teak (we actually use "Honey Teak" which as a sleek finish and lasts a few years), and the usual compounding and waxing, bottom painting, and other odd jobs. Give us a hail if you see us this summer!

Hi Dennis, I've sailed a lot on the east coast, but never in your area. I sailed mostly out of Newport, RI and spent lots of time in Cape Cod, Martha's Vinyard, Nantucket area. Got as far south as Block Island and as far north as Maine - - talk about spectacular colors in fall Maine has it. Anyway, what does your Tartan 37 draw and what are the typical depths of the Connecticut River? Also, if you get a chance, upload a photograph of your boat into your Member Profile and a photo of yourself so we don't have to look at that message "Upload Your Photograph Here." Classic plastic is fun - - for ten years I sailed a 1974 Ranger 33 on the west coast. I'm actually looking for a Cal 40 now to keep in San Diego. I know it will be a "project" but that's ok too as working on boats is almost as much fun as sailing them. Cheers, Randy

We've (Iris and I) a 1979 Tartan 37 sloop Hull # 176. "Veracity" holds true to the "thorobred" moniker that reviewer Jack Horner bestowed on this classic plastic. We cruise generally from Raritan Bay in NJ to points east and north. Last season Veracity visited various harbors on Long Island (we moored her in Huntington which was splendid), Connecticut, and Block Island, RI. A fall trip up the Connecticut River was magnificent, with it's assortment of quaint villages, granite cliffs, New England fall colors, and bald eagles! We've a few projects to tackle this spring including finishing varnishing the interior (originally oiled), maybe reupholstering the cushions below deck (including the never ending debate over appropriate fabric, color, shade... help!), varnishing exterior teak (we actually use "Honey Teak" which as a sleek finish and lasts a few years), and the usual compounding and waxing, bottom painting, and other odd jobs. Give us a hail if you see us this summer!

I do not have a boat yet . . . but, I am taking more lessons on sailing this summer. My wife and I picked up the basics on a Holder 13. We learned how to tack and watch where irons was at all times. I even found out the difference between port at starboard. I will put my funny story in the main forum about my first time alone on a boat . . . praying to any God to get me across the bay in one piece.

Thanks for joining the new group! What kind of boat does everyone have?