DECATUR is for sale....

[Bernadette]

after some procrastination and some hard thinking, i have now decided that no matter what work i can do onboard DECATUR she still remains a challenge for me to sail essentially by myself.

although there are many would be helpers and willing sailors about, rustling up people as such is still not the same as going down to the dock and quietly slipping her lines for a sail all on my own...without any fuss.

i have missed so many opportunities to do just that in the months gone by.

i have wished to sail on moreton bay here and then anchor off any of the quite inviting and pleasant little bays and islands to while away a couple of days mid week when i have not needed to be 'in town' (taking bosun with me of course!).

so DECATUR is up for sale.
she can be viewed at centralyachts.com
if anyone can help with her sale i would appreciate any assistance.

as mentioned previously, i am planning to build to the peterson 28' susan design. a husky little sea boat and quite comfortable and capable of being handled on my own.

in fact dad and i are very excited that i have finally arrived at the decision to sell DECATUR and i am very comfotable with my mind now made up. dad is excited because he gets to build yet another boat. pretty good for a 75 year old man!!!

it will be an exciting time for me too and im almost pinching myself to think that i will be able to spend the time with my father building a beaut little boat all for me!!!

bernadette

[Thad]

Cheers! Best to you all, and Decatur.

[rufustr]

I'm glad that you have made the decision Bernadette, and can understand how hard a decision it was.

The description in the broker's ad is appropriate, she is just beautiful.

I hope you keep us all up to date with your progress.

Best wishes for a speedy sale.

[JimJ]

Bernadette

Sorry to hear Decatur is up for sale. I hope she goes to an owner who will look after her as you do. But life goes on and I look forward to reading about the new Susan.

All the best and thanks for the wonderful day on Decatur.

JimJ

[PeterSibley]

Good luck Bernadette , a 28 footer is going to make life easier !:)

[Larks]

Hi Bernadette,
I'm probably a little biased but I agree that 28' is the perfect size to be able to slip out for a bit of a solo romp whenever the mood takes you, though having now seen some pics of "Decatur" on the brokers site I can imagine the difficulty you must have had to make the decision to sell her. I had better get my finger out and come up for a look before you do sell her.
all the best, when do you expect to start the "Susan"?
cheers
Greg

[Bernadette]

thanks for the well wishes.
i hope to start building the new yacht as soon as i have sold DECATUR. i am still completing my studies here in brisbane so i have that to consider as well.
however until she is sold, i will be taking her out on the bay so there is still opportunities for me to take out anyone should they want to sail onboard.
bernadette

[Lew Barrett]

I checked the listing yesterday, and took the tour. She's a beauty indeed.
Someone will get a very fine yacht in Decatur. Here's to a fast and uncomplicated sale sale.

[Ian McColgin]

Hard choises are often most meaningful. Especially good to be working with your Dad. G'luck

[John B]

Aussies are spoilt for choice on that website aren't they.
A Malabar I, a Malabar II and Taitoa ,the gaff rigged Neriea circumnavigated by the Swans.

[py]

Yeah and just watch, in 5 years time you'll be married to a guy with a couple of kids and looking for a bigger boat! We make plans, and then life comes along. Best of luck with the sale, and with the life to follow!

[Bernadette]

py...is that so?
man you are really an encouraging one arent you!?

[Pericles]

Hello Bernadette,

Having taken the time to read all your threads on this site. I am full of admiration for your personality. Do you know about the Cruisers forum? You may be able to rustle up temporary crew for the crossing to NZ and sell Decatur there. See this link for an example. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f30/seeking-crew-30ft-steel-sloop-happy-adventure-10420.html#post104269

There are other examples here. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f30/

This may have been asked before, but how does your schooner handle with the main dropped? Is Decatur completely unbalanced?

The Old Gaffers Association http://www.oldgaffersassociation.org/_sgg/f10000.htm

exists to promote the gaff rig. They may have a list of experienced crew. See Comus of Wivenhoe. http://www.nhsc.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/749

Happy voyaging,

Pericles

[Bernadette]

pericles
thanks for your assitance but i have DECATUR listed here locally where i live close by, still sail her and care for her 100% until she is sold.
she handles like any other gaffer when the main is dropped...she loses power. she can afford to have either the fore or jib dropped but you cant sail without some main up. in heavy weather the main is just reefed. the main has 3 reefs with the last being quite deep.
bernadette

[Pericles]

Bernadette,

You probably know about these methods to shorten sail, so I hope you won't take them amiss.

The Norfolk Wherry mainly used a loose footed gaff rigged mainsail.

http://www.horning.org.uk/stylegallery.php?page=wherry

http://www.horning.org.uk/source/img.php?imgpath=../boats/0/_74.jpg&ctext=%C2%A9%20G.C.Slawson&maxsize=600&shape=1.345 (http://www.horning.org.uk/boatimage.php?photo=_74&page=wherry&menu=main)

Thames barges crews (a man. a boy and a dog)http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/e/e8/Thames_Barges-Canthusus.jpg
would scandalise the mainsail. The term "scandalise" was used to describe reducing sail in an unusual manner; for instance, instead of lowering throat-halyards and peak-halyards of a gaff sail together, rather to drop the peak and perhaps trice up and tack. On a gaff rig the sail is made loose footed, the clew is brought forward along the boom and the sail cloth is drawn up in folds along the gaff and mast. From this position the sail is instantly available for use. To scandalise a Mainsail, the peak is dropped downs between the topping lifts until square to the mast and the main tack triced up. Sometimes the throat is lowered also. Also, when ship at anchor sets its yards askew as a sign of mourning, it is said to be scandalised.

This page is very informative.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.friend.ly.net/~dadadata/smyth/Plates/Lugger.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.friend.ly.net/~dadadata/smyth/mast_n_sail_06.html&h=395&w=559&sz=31&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=krEnS-JgfrcqLM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dscandalised%2Bspritsail%26svnum%3D10% 26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.friend.ly.net/%7Edadadata/smyth/Plates/Lugger.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.friend.ly.net/%7Edadadata/smyth/mast_n_sail_06.html&h=395&w=559&sz=31&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=krEnS-JgfrcqLM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dscandalised%2Bspritsail%26svnum%3D10% 26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN)

Here are discussions about tricing lines.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=cb&Number=1004535&Searchpage=1&Main=999525&Words=+mrswigglestick&topic=&Search=true

Good luck,

Pericles

[Pericles]

Bernadette,

Wherries used bonnets to enlarge sail area, being extra sail cloth laced to the sail along the foot. They would be removed in winter. Would it be possible to sheer off some of the foot in this manner and lace it on for better weather? Wherry with bonnet.http://www.friend.ly.net/%7Edadadata/smyth/01_06/06_WHERRY_1.gif

[Bernadette]

im already intending for the main on my new yacht to be loose footed!:)

[Pericles]

Dear foot loose and loose footed. :)

Humber Keel? Tall and magnificent and you do not seem to mind climbing the mast.



http://www.humberships.org.uk/assets/images/Keel_zzz153.JPG

http://www.humberships.org.uk/html/humber_keel_comrade.html

Pericles

[py]

Sorry Bernadette, I just have a twisted sense of humour. I think you are making the right decision, a big boat can easily just be too much to handle, even with all manner of systems-which in themselves end up just adding to the complexity. 28' is a good solid seaboat which I'm sure will give you far more satisfaction and far less heartache.
Phil

[Bernadette]

Tony
wow! you obviously met Jill and Peter aboard PEQUOT! how neat!
PEQUOT is actually an Atkin 'Dragon' design being the next one on from the 'Eric' which Robin Knox-Johnston sailed around the world non stop. Anyhow, how was the bareboating? and did you get to chat with Jill and Peter and get onboard PEQUOT?
bernadette