ASA 103 with Black Rock Sailing School

After quickly realizing I needed lessons when I purchased my 18' Precision sailboat, I decided to take the ASA 103 (Coastal Cruising) class to get me ready for the bigger boat. I signed up for a class in Warwick, RI with Black Rock Sailing School. I took my ASA 101 with them in Boston and they're a top notch school. I'm glad to have Paul again as an instructor as he also owns a Hunter 28.5. Three solid days out on the water with some great wind and I'm feeling a lot better about being able to handle my new boat.

It was also convenient to get out sailing on another boat because I can't take my boat out yet until I get it registered. I didn't understand the whole deletion of documentation process through the Coast Guard, but it took me about 2 weeks to get it straightened out and 2 trips to the New Bedford registry for boats, which typically has some scary looking characters. I believe the tear drop tattoos mean you killed someone in prison?

There are a total of three students in the class and it's on their very nice Hunter 35. One of the other students lives 2 towns over from me and is interested in buying his own boat at some point, so we exchange info. I need sailing friends as most of my friends race bikes and would probably find this boring.

Brenton, owner of Black Rock Sailing School, giving some tips

I'm looking way too serious here

The bimini and dodger were nice on Sunday. It was cold and rainy

Surprise!

My kids went with me to look at O'Sea D, but I didn't tell them I purchased her and wanted to surprise them. They thought we were heading down to check on Reel Fun and were excited to see that Reel Fun was gone and replaced with a much larger boat. They had fun checking out all the different storage places and pretending they were at the helm.

Soon enough we'll be under sail. I still have to finish the registration and I want to get my ASA 103 class done.

New hiding spots!

Met some new friends

My kids never take naps, so exploring the new boat REALLY tired them out

It's all a blur, but O'Sea D is now mine

Survey

Purchasing a bigger boat while traveling for work is a horrendous combination. I was travelling for work and had to get the boat surveyed, which I wanted to be a part of, but I had to get this moving as I already put a deposit on her. I found a local surveyor and his initial findings on O'Sea D were:

• Seacocks are frozen up from sitting on land for the past few years. They'll need to be greased and worked.
• Batteries are also dead, so the engine cannot be started. Owner assures me all work has been done at the marina and I can talk to them about the boat's condition.
• Sails look like they're in good shape
• Electrical work looks great
• Hot water exchange tubing looks very dried out and should be replaced

Sea trial

I tried getting the owner to take me out for a sea trial, but she was very hesitant and wanted me to contact my sailing instructor for assistance. Does she not know how to sail? What's the issue? Part of my offer to her was having the boat launched. They put it in the water and brought her over to a slip. Another work trip has me away again and I'm trying to coordinate the trial with my surveyor, but cannot get a date set.

Delivery time

I just couldn't get a sea trial done in the 2 days she has now been in the water. The owner calls me panicking that the marina is threatening to pull the boat back out because it's in someone's slip who will be arriving soon. If that happens, I'm going to have to pay hundreds to get her back in the water just to do the sea trial again, then they'll pull her until I'm ready to take delivery. Somehow I let the owner talk me into purchasing O'Sea D and she gets an agreement set that she'll pay for any engine repairs if they are needed since I have not seen it started or heard her run.

How do you start this thing?

I make plans to meet the surveyor and he's going to help me motor the boat to my slip. He calls me as I arrive at the dock and tells me he is going to be late. At this point, I need to get the boat to my slip. I don't even know how to start her! All I've had was a gas outboard and now I'm dealing with a diesel inboard that hasn't been started in a few years. I don't know which is the throttle or gear shift, but some Google searches later and I think I might know. I go to start her. Dead batteries, shit! The owner told me they were fine and she was going to charge them and I'd be good. They shore power was unplugged, so I figured someone knocked it loose. I plugged it back in and set the batteries to charge overnight. I rig the sails and call it a night.

She's ready to go, but the batteries are dead

Early morning

I get to O'Sea D at 6am. She still won't start. The previous owner won't return my emails or texts at this point. Well, now I own her so it's my problem. 

New batteries

I stop by West Marine and my wallet is now lighter by $700 for 2 new marine batteries. I  know boating is expensive, but I haven't even left the dock yet! I walk the heavy batteries all the way to the end of the slip where my boat is currently residing and get them installed. I press the ignition button expecting nothing to happen. She fires right up! I couldn't get in touch with the surveyor and have to get the boat out of the slip. I have never been on a sailboat this big, so I undo the lines and throw her in reverse. I'm able to back out without drama and head off to my slip.

She's home!

I am able to get her into my slip with no issues. I have had a stress headache all week dealing with this and I'm wondering if I have lost my mind. This boat is SO much more complex than the previous.

Reel Fun has been in the water for 3 weeks and she's already sold!

I'm in Denver, CO for a trade show. I decide to list Reel Fun on Craigslist assuming it might take some time to get her sold. Within two hours of the listing, I have someone who seems legit very interested. I give him the address to Thayer's Landing and he goes down to check the outside to make sure it matches the description from the ad.

He makes an offer for the asking price and tells me he can leave a deposit with a neighbor. I email him a purchase agreement and it's settled. 

My flight is delayed leaving Colorado and I get home at 1am. I'm up at 4:30am to get the boat over to the boat ramp and get it ready for transport. It all goes fine without much drama. I wanted to show the buyer how to use the winch I have made to lower the mast, but he's running late. He arrives and there's been an issue getting a license plate for the trailer. He gives me the cash for the boat and I end up bringing Real Fun back home so he can get the plate for the trailer. I park it in my driveway and he comes back the next day while I'm at the office and she's gone!