Beginnings

Everything has a beginning.
Yesterday, my wife and I picked up a 1972 Irwin "Classic" 32' to restore and cruise the Maine coast with. "Solstice" will replace our 1969 Morgan 25' "Biscuit" that we have had for four summers. We love the Morgan but Solstice was too good a deal to pass on.
So it begins....Today I started to track down boat haulers to get the boat from South Paris, Maine to South Thomaston, about 100 miles. This is going to cost us about $750-$1000, ouch! We hope to have her in our yard in a week or so but I will have to travel up to S.P. a couple times to pick up gear and get the mast onto the deck for transport.
When she is at her new home the fun will begin! The first thing will be a massive cleaning as the boat hasn't been used in 6 years and after we have removed the mung the real work can begin. I have spent the last 18 years of my life living and breathing boats so in a way it will all be routine but I am used to getting paid for my work! The whole project will have to be done out of pocket and on a tight budget. I am writing this blog to help give other not so wealthy boaters hope that they too can sail on a shoestring.

This will be the story of Solstice.