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A (re)Introduction...

toph3r

Member
Hello Morganeers (Morganites?),

I posted a couple months back about a M382 I was going to go look at, and got some input from various members (thank you guys for that).

After a couple rollercoaster moments, as of a couple weeks ago, I am sitting happy and proud as the owner of Alpinisto, a '79 M382 (Hull #097, if I am not mistaken). Just in time for COVID-19 and lockdown so I can't actually go out sailing. Oh well, plenty of things to do on the boat in the Marina, and it is nice to stay on her for a while to get out of the house.

From what I gather, ownership is scarce here up in Puget Sound, but I've read that @mpearson occasionally makes it up this way, so I may not be totally isolated. :)

Anywho, I look forward to getting to know folks and becoming part of the community!

Cheers
-Topher
 
Hi Topher and congrats on becoming an Morganeer!

We northwest Morganeers are few but hardy. Terry Thatcher is based out of Portland too, and has taken his lovely Adavida around Puget Sound and BC a zillion times. I had my only sighting of a M38 “in the wild” when we were up in Nanaimo. I couldn’t remember the name of the boat so I just went and looked it up ... it was Alpinisto! She was out of Bellingham and although we stared at each other as we passed, I wasn’t sure it was a M38 until we were gone so I never got to chat with Garrett - just emails.

We’ve been taking our Zia out for jaunts during this quarantine - just my wife and I. It’s been really nice. Are you prohibited from doing that?

This Pub section gets less notice than the other main forum, so don’t be shocked if the response is lower. I’ve been thinking about re-combining the sections.

Anyway, congrats on Alpinisto. Our Zia is one of the favorite things I’ve done in my life and I hope Alpinisto is satisfying for you!
Cheers,
-Mark
 
Thanks for the welcome Mark!

I am sitting in Bellingham right now as write this. When I was in the research process for this boat, I came across your post about seeing her on one of your trips.

I am not technically prohibited from going out, but without a life partner currently, I don’t have a ton of single-handing experience, and I thought it prudent to get familiar with the new boat with my sailing buddies before taking her out solo. So effectively, it is project season for me.

My two cents on the forum topic, as a newcomer, I think it makes sense to combine the two sections into one. :)
 
Topher
Welcome to the Board and congratulations on your Morgan. When you get comfortable with sailing the boat alone, you'll fine it to be a very easy boat to singlehand. On the 382, with the main traveller in front of the helm, the main sheet and the jib sheets are right in front of you as you steer.

Mark, Terry and I have been discussing the sailing in your neck of the woods. It certainly sounds like a fabulous place to be on the water. Being on the East Coast, we will have to wait until we can charter a boat there to enjoy the Northwest.

My boat is a 382, hull #53, so if I can help you with your questions, just ask.

Jim
 
Topher, that totally makes sense about not soloing. I’d do the same. I can definitely think of worse places to be stuck than Bellingham (!). That’s a wonderful town, marinas, etc.

Jim - until I can figure out how to retire, when we take Zia north to Puget Sound and BC, we leave her up there and come back to Portland for work. Sometimes she just sits up there for a couple of weeks waiting for us. If it works out in the next couple of years, you’d be welcome to take her out for a couple of weeks. I know you’ve taken great care of Dana, so I wouldn’t worry. It would make Zia happier too. She doesn’t like being tied up at a dock.;)

Wash yer hands, everyone, and Mask Up!
-Mark
 
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Mark

That is a wonderful offer. Bonnie and I would love to have the opportunity to sail the Northwest. If in the next couple of years the right situation arises, we may take you up on it.

Speaking of retiring, Having been a practicing retiree for the last almost 11 years, I have to say there is not one negative aspect involved. Bonnie was a registered Nurse and I was a construction Electrician. We both left a little early and neither of us can ever realize how we had time to work. The whole key to it is hobbies. Having a sailboat is just one element of our life that keeps us busy and young. Two weeks after you leave the job force, you'll forget what all that was about.

Jim
 
We have a friend with the person 35 who a number of years ago worked out a boat swap with a fellow he met through the 35 group from the Chesapeake. He did a swap, sailed the Chesapeake in the fall for a few weeks the other guy did some of New England for a few weeks the following spring. Maybe you guys should think about doing something like that
 
Hi Dick
Your boat swap idea is terrific. Unfortunately the logistics of coordinating the time frames is daunting. Daunting but not impossible. We will keep in touch with Mark and Susan with the hope that when life returns back to some sort of normalcy, we can make it happen.

Jim
 
Hi Jim obviously have not been following the board much in the last couple of years due to recurring health problems. Hope all is well with you and Bonnie and the rest of the people down in your part of the world. As you know we are locked in up here as well. Current plans are to launch vixen when we can. Main reason is because Judy wants to go back to Cuttthunk which is currently closed to boaters as well as Hadley harbor, places we love. Will figure out how to get there sometime this summer or fall.
 
Dick
We are glad to hear that you and Judy are doing well. With this lockdown just being healthy is good news. Bonnie and I are fine. We miss seeing and holding the Grandkids. Dana is almost ready to go back in the water. Our summer looks like it will be just local cruises. Our goal for the last two years has been to get back up to Maine. But it doesn't appear that's going to happen. Block Island is closed right now. Lets hope Cutty and Hadleys will reopen soon.

Jim
 
Vixens going in Saturday, 27 June. Think all of our favorite places are open, certainly hope so. On this Father’s Day one of our daughters was in Tashmoo on her power boat, Asked what minimum depth was and she said 4 feet. Guess we won’t try Tashmoo this summer. Didn’t ask tide condition when she went in but regardless in Vineyard sound four foot scares me.
 
Dick
Just checked our log book. Our last time in Lake Tashmoo was August 2017. Went in on a rising tide, followed the marked channel, found the lowest water was 1.5 ft below the keel, so we had at least 7 feet with still more to come as the tide was not yet full high. There were many boats in there who draw as much as us or more. Unless there has been significant shoaling since then it should be passable. Have a great season.

Jim
 
Took vixen out on Saturday with a daughter, son-in-law, three grandchildren and a friend is the oldest grandchild. Had a very pleasant sail across Buzzards Bay and back. The 16-year-old guys and the nine-year-old twins Musta jumped in the water 30 times both before and after the sail. Had to put in two new jib halyards (very expensive). Mice had gotten into the top on the mast while it was on the ground for 19 months. Everything worked on our shakedown cruise, some questions on the sailing instruments. Not bad for spending a year out of the water. I do put a screen cover on the bottom of the mast after it is pulled so the mice must’ve crawled in somewhere else. Probably at the shives at the head of the mast.

Dick
 
Dick

Wonderful to know you are sailing Vixen again. The best is having the Grandkids out there with you. You have to enjoy just watching them jumping and swimming.

Jim
 
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