Joan!!!
Hull number 1452
by David Roseman
Hull number 1452
by David Roseman
I bought this boat from Jack Patterson in 2000. As I recall, we were the 3rd boat in the fledgling Fleet 70. The boat was in pretty sad repair, and Joan, my late wife, said that this made jack the world's best salesman. We all later agreed that that title should go to the person who convinced the terrorist to put explosives in his underwear, and Jack was demoted to world's second best salesman.
I spent hundreds of happy hours restoring the boat at Patterson Marine. It was Winter, and the only heat was a woodstove which I fired up each morning, and which eventually warmed the shop enough to remove my winter coat. The boat's bottom had substantial blisters, and I had it sandblasted. If I were doing it again, I would treat each blister separately, since refairing the bottom meant a lot of time with WEST epoxy and a longboard sander. Eventually, the boat was much better than new. Highlights included:
- Sunfast Red Awlgrip for the topsides, Awlgrip white for the deck
- Interlux Interprotect 2000 Epoxy Barrier Coat
- Removed old bulkhead and fabricated and installed new version.
- Dissasembled seats, sanded, varnished, replaced them.
- Composite cabin sole, with mahogany and maple surface (a variation on the classic teak and holly)
- New boom
- All new styrofoam flotation
- All new deck hardware
- Electronic boat speed and wind instruments
- All new running rigging
- Etc
Before
When I was done, I had the boat surveyed. The surveyor asked why I did this, and I told him I wanted to insure it for the cost of a new boat. Befored he started, he said that would be impossible. When he was done, he agreed.
After
My main crew included Joan, Joan Cuchna and Duncan Erley. We were the first boat in the fleet with an all-Medicare crew, and we had a great time. Joan and I had spent many months cruising our C&C 30, but had never raced. The learning experience contiued for many years.
As I got older, I wanted to have the boat remain active in the Fleet. Happily, in 2019, Paul Slotsema agreed to become a partner. His crew has included John and Michael Grant, Pat Hooyman, and Rich Johnson. I think they are having fun, and assume they are working their way up the learning curve.