Summary:
Approximately 15-20 years in boating in Lake Travis (Austin, TX) and some in Lake Lewisville (near Dallas, TX). Experience is mostly in ownership of 22-30' sailboats of 80's vintage, and now is extending into power boats. Experience covers not only handling the boats in various lake conditions, but also repairs, maint, and small boat building.
Current Boats:
2010 Home Built 14' plywood outboard runabout.
Built from scratch from plans for "Playboy" by William Jackson found (reprinted) on the internet. Pine/Fir frames, plywood/epoxy construction. Bottom covered with Xynol (polyester cloth instead of fiberglass), mahogany dash and trim, marine mahogany plywood decking.
Power: Originally 30hp Nissan Outboard, later repowered with Torqeedo 4.0, 10hp rated electric outboard.
Trailered, garage kept, run on Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Inks Lake.
Previous Boats:
1999 Regal 402 Commodore - Purchased 7/11/17
Twin Horizon 454 HO MPI engines (400HP each), GM, Mercruiser, with V-drives.
Sold 5/1/21.
1980 Chris Craft 410 Commander, purchased 3/11/20.
Twin Marine Power 454 carbureted engines.
Lots of work attempting to get engines running (ultimately, the engines need to be replaced, which led to selling the boat). Lots of projects restoring the boat interior including plumbing, wiring, flooring, beadboard on the walls.
Sold Aug. 2021
2015 Regal 28' Express: Purchased new in Jan. 2016.
Power: Volvo V300 (gasoline)
Bow Thruster
Generator, AC, anchor windlass, fridge, GPS, depthfinder, vacuflush toilet, shower, etc.
Home: Emerald Point Marina, Lake Travis. Frequent Friday-Sunday weekends on the lake, daytime cruising with nights spent at the dock.
Sold 8/2017
1995 Bayliner Ciera 2355 (24') (owned 2015)
Power: Single V8 Mercruiser (gasoline), 205hp 5LX
Repairs to bring into full running condition: New batteries, new throttle box, new forward hatch and radio, replaced alternator, resolved ground issue that was causing engine flakiness, false engine alarms, charging problems. Replaced stereo and refrigerator.
1984 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer (owned 2014-2015)
Power: Twin V6 OMC engines with Stringer outdrives.
Made new bimini canvas, recovered interior cushions, made new main cabin hatch, refinished wood work, rebuild carb on port engine, repaired leak on port outdrive, replaced all lights with LED's.
Learned to back a mid-sized 10' beam power boat into a 12' wide slip using twin screws.
1989 Catalina 30 Sailboat (owned 2012-2014)
Sails: 150 genoa, rolling furler, 100% main
Power: Atomic 4, 30hp gas engine, added electric outboard backup
Projects: Immediately replaced rotted starboard bulkhead, caulked starboard chainplate, replaced all running rigging. Engine: Replaced exhaust riser. New alternator, carb rebuilt by Whammo, returned fuel pump wiring to original, replaced ignition switch, replaced engine to ignition panel wiring harness. Replaced all lights with LED's, made new seat covers, new bimini, new main cabin cover.
Sailing - day and evening sails on Lake Travis, spent night on boat couple of times.
1983 Catalina 22 Swing keel (owned 2013-2015)
Sails: 150 Genoa, 100% main, drifter.
Power: Torqeedo 4.0R electric outboard, 48V
Projects: Immediately replaced starboard bulkhead (rotted through), replaced batteries, replaced all lights with LED's, recovered interior seats, added bimini, replaced main hatch boards, added downhaul for hank on jib, replaced all running rigging.
Other boats:
1962 13' Thompson - Wooden lapstrake runabout. 40HP gas outboard.
Partial (1/3) ownership in 1985 Catalina 22 swing keel.
80's vintage Catalina 27 - fixed keel, 9.9HP in motor well.
80's vintage Catalina 22 - fixed keel.
14' Homebuilt skiff
Laser sailboat
Variety of home built and production kayaks
80's vintage San Juan 21
60's vintage Lonestar fiberglass runabout with gas outboard
Other Adventures:
12/7/19-12/17/19 - Cruise in the Virgin Islands aboard "Abundance" - 44' Fountain Pajot Helia. Provisioned Friday night in home port (CYOA - [Carribean Yacht Owners Association], Charlotte Amalie) of St. Thomas. Cruised US and Virgin Islands, including nights Honeymoon Beach, Megan's Bay, Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, Cooper Island, Trellis Bay, Caneel Bay (next to Honeymoon Cove). Captain: Blaine, Crew: myself, Mary Ann, Andrea.