Buying our first sailboat,
Reaching, in 1995 opened a new chapter in our lives. Most Friday evenings we made the two hour
drive from Bakersfield to Oxnard. We had a few favorite dinner stops if Dave
was not eating in the car while I drove. Sunday afternoon on the way home was
ice-cream time. We needed to stretch our legs and it was about half way. In
addition to spending most weekends aboard we also changed our life focus.
As we continued to learn more
about sailing we also learned more about each other. Each new experience built
confidence. Soon we were talking about going cruising, heading south with no
particular schedule or destinations. That was a real change for two planners.
Part of the planning involved evaluating the storage space and volume of various tanks. Both of us were concerned about the volume of fresh water we could carry. One option was to get a water maker. A what? A water maker turns salt water into fresh water through a reverse osmosis system. Of course all this required energy. Works great when the engine is running. That led to the next problem. How much fuel could we take? Solar panels would help with the power for radios and lights but could not run the water maker. Extra jerry cans on deck could also help with water and fuel. Securing them would have to be figured out. We had lots of discussion on all the situations.
That all led to the next debate and it was personal. Which lockers would be used for tools and spare parts and which for food and cooking needs. This is where Dave would say I was the only person that needed 6 kinds of vinegar. Anywhere there were people we could buy food. I would remind him that we did not have to carry another boat in spare parts. We had ongoing discussions, some more animated than others, and tried to think of all the possibilities.
During this time several types of classes added to our knowledge. The Coast Guard series of six classes even lowered the cost of boat insurance. A weekend weather class led to an entirely unplanned adventure.
Neighbors on the dock, Jerry and Briggeta had purchased a new boat. At that time it was possible to avoid paying sales tax by taking off shore delivery and keeping the boat out of the country for 90 days. A marina in Ensanda Mexico was nicknamed the 90 day marina. Jerry and Briggeta had followed the requirements and now it was time for the new JB Bear to come home. Dave had a weather class on the weekend in San Diego so he offered to go a few days early and take them to their boat.
After helping them shove off from Ensanda at daybreak he drove back to San Diego. It was mid-day and he had time to kill. So what should he do? Of course, go to the Island Packet boat dealer. Our boat was built by Island Packet and one of the new models, a 420, had been named boat of the year by a sailing magazine. Dave walks in and asked if they had a 420 he could see. He had read that all the first years production had been pre-sold but just wanted to look. As it happened a silent partner in the dealership had put up the money for pre-sale but would sell the boat if anyone was interested. With that in mind Dave went to look. That was all it took.
I don't know how he waited but he did. He knew I was working on a Cancer Society fund raising, Daffodil Days, so would not be home until evening. After going to the weather school welcome hour he called me. What did he say? Hi honey. I solved all our storage problems. That was followed by details. Water, fuel and holding tanks were about triple what Reaching had and the extra length and width provided lots more interior storage. My first reaction was we cannot afford it. The sailing magazine had printed the price so I knew that. The dealer had said what he would give us on Reaching so Dave wanted me to go to San Diego the next morning because someone else was interested. I said I could not go because I had already committed to daffodil days and he had a full day at the school. However I did promise to go during the next week.
After a restless night I got up about 4:30 and turned on both our laptops. When he had retired we had divided our finances so he now did the long term accounting and I handled the daily accounts. That made it necessary to look at both computers. Sitting in the early morning light with the glow of two computers going I came to the conclusion that we could afford it. My schedule and his did not match up so I had to wait to tell him. (No, I did not have a cell phone.)
All day as we took daffodils out of cold storage to fill the orders to be delivered my mind was racing. The people on the organizing committee knew about our plans so were interested in this new adventure. It was exciting to share but also a bit unreal. Basically it looked like we were buying a boat I had only seen in a magazine and Dave had seen once. I knew that Dave would not go back once he saw a better way. We had been to the factory and knew the designer always used the same keel design. For that matter he always designed some of the same features in the interior. So it was not really a blind choice. Sure nice that I had something to keep me busy all day. Once home now it was my turn to be impatient.
Dave was excited about what he had learned in the class and the potential of a new boat. We talked that evening about everything. Then when he got home Sunday afternoon we really played with numbers. So in early spring of 1999 we wavered between buying the boat and heading south in the fall or giving ourselves a way to delay.
Once again life has a way of getting your attention. Dave received a phone call that one of the men he had worked with had died after only being retired a few months. This was the push we needed to buy the new boat and really commit to going cruising sooner rather than later.
After the Wednesday service we made the 5 hour drive to San Diego. The dealer had a policy when several people are looking at a boat that the first check gets it. To be fair he had called the other people to tell them someone else was interested.
Part of the planning involved evaluating the storage space and volume of various tanks. Both of us were concerned about the volume of fresh water we could carry. One option was to get a water maker. A what? A water maker turns salt water into fresh water through a reverse osmosis system. Of course all this required energy. Works great when the engine is running. That led to the next problem. How much fuel could we take? Solar panels would help with the power for radios and lights but could not run the water maker. Extra jerry cans on deck could also help with water and fuel. Securing them would have to be figured out. We had lots of discussion on all the situations.
That all led to the next debate and it was personal. Which lockers would be used for tools and spare parts and which for food and cooking needs. This is where Dave would say I was the only person that needed 6 kinds of vinegar. Anywhere there were people we could buy food. I would remind him that we did not have to carry another boat in spare parts. We had ongoing discussions, some more animated than others, and tried to think of all the possibilities.
During this time several types of classes added to our knowledge. The Coast Guard series of six classes even lowered the cost of boat insurance. A weekend weather class led to an entirely unplanned adventure.
Neighbors on the dock, Jerry and Briggeta had purchased a new boat. At that time it was possible to avoid paying sales tax by taking off shore delivery and keeping the boat out of the country for 90 days. A marina in Ensanda Mexico was nicknamed the 90 day marina. Jerry and Briggeta had followed the requirements and now it was time for the new JB Bear to come home. Dave had a weather class on the weekend in San Diego so he offered to go a few days early and take them to their boat.
After helping them shove off from Ensanda at daybreak he drove back to San Diego. It was mid-day and he had time to kill. So what should he do? Of course, go to the Island Packet boat dealer. Our boat was built by Island Packet and one of the new models, a 420, had been named boat of the year by a sailing magazine. Dave walks in and asked if they had a 420 he could see. He had read that all the first years production had been pre-sold but just wanted to look. As it happened a silent partner in the dealership had put up the money for pre-sale but would sell the boat if anyone was interested. With that in mind Dave went to look. That was all it took.
I don't know how he waited but he did. He knew I was working on a Cancer Society fund raising, Daffodil Days, so would not be home until evening. After going to the weather school welcome hour he called me. What did he say? Hi honey. I solved all our storage problems. That was followed by details. Water, fuel and holding tanks were about triple what Reaching had and the extra length and width provided lots more interior storage. My first reaction was we cannot afford it. The sailing magazine had printed the price so I knew that. The dealer had said what he would give us on Reaching so Dave wanted me to go to San Diego the next morning because someone else was interested. I said I could not go because I had already committed to daffodil days and he had a full day at the school. However I did promise to go during the next week.
After a restless night I got up about 4:30 and turned on both our laptops. When he had retired we had divided our finances so he now did the long term accounting and I handled the daily accounts. That made it necessary to look at both computers. Sitting in the early morning light with the glow of two computers going I came to the conclusion that we could afford it. My schedule and his did not match up so I had to wait to tell him. (No, I did not have a cell phone.)
All day as we took daffodils out of cold storage to fill the orders to be delivered my mind was racing. The people on the organizing committee knew about our plans so were interested in this new adventure. It was exciting to share but also a bit unreal. Basically it looked like we were buying a boat I had only seen in a magazine and Dave had seen once. I knew that Dave would not go back once he saw a better way. We had been to the factory and knew the designer always used the same keel design. For that matter he always designed some of the same features in the interior. So it was not really a blind choice. Sure nice that I had something to keep me busy all day. Once home now it was my turn to be impatient.
Dave was excited about what he had learned in the class and the potential of a new boat. We talked that evening about everything. Then when he got home Sunday afternoon we really played with numbers. So in early spring of 1999 we wavered between buying the boat and heading south in the fall or giving ourselves a way to delay.
Once again life has a way of getting your attention. Dave received a phone call that one of the men he had worked with had died after only being retired a few months. This was the push we needed to buy the new boat and really commit to going cruising sooner rather than later.
After the Wednesday service we made the 5 hour drive to San Diego. The dealer had a policy when several people are looking at a boat that the first check gets it. To be fair he had called the other people to tell them someone else was interested.
So Thursday with check in hand
and less than a week of thinking we signed papers to sell Reaching and to buy a
new boat. This opened lots of new decisions. But they were the kind Dave loved.
Navigation systems, communication radios refrigeration and more. While he made
all the choices I worked on finishing my obligations so I could be ready to go.
Choosing a boat name is almost like naming a child. We could keep the name Reaching and let the buyer choose a new name. Reaching had a special meaning. It is the most comfortable point of sail and we were reaching in skills, confidence and finances. Somehow that name belonged to that boat. As we pondered different names there was one added wrinkle. On maritime radio the name of the boat is repeated 3 times. We would try various names and often start laughing as it became a tongue twister. Walking up the dock with Jerry and Briggeta one day we said we were close to a name. Briggeta said oh, what is it, Reaching Deep? When she said that we both stopped and looked at each other. That was it.
Choosing a boat name is almost like naming a child. We could keep the name Reaching and let the buyer choose a new name. Reaching had a special meaning. It is the most comfortable point of sail and we were reaching in skills, confidence and finances. Somehow that name belonged to that boat. As we pondered different names there was one added wrinkle. On maritime radio the name of the boat is repeated 3 times. We would try various names and often start laughing as it became a tongue twister. Walking up the dock with Jerry and Briggeta one day we said we were close to a name. Briggeta said oh, what is it, Reaching Deep? When she said that we both stopped and looked at each other. That was it.
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