Moving time!

[Eddie Offermann]

Our marina Bar Harbor is closing for construction so we're getting ready to move the boat into a new marina by end of the month. This weekend and next week we'll be checking out the others - I've called several to verify that they have slips available for us. Contrary to years past when getting into a marina in Marina Del Rey required being on a waiting list often for years, there's nothing like that now.

We've been surprised to discover that getting liveaboard slips isn't even difficult now: previously simply asking about it would have gotten you blacklisted but over the last few years nearly all of the marinas in MDR have changed their tune. Most have more strict requirements than the law requires. Minimum boat sizes for liveaboard (under marina rules) start at 36 or 40 feet LOA most places now, but that's well within the Newporter's range.

We've been working hard the last few weeks to get her looking tip-top for her new slip. Most of the marinas want to do a visual inspection - they're not doing an overall survey, just making sure the prospective vessel won't be an eyesore. I get where they're coming from!

[Clyde A. Phillips]

Hey, Eddie --

Where you be?  Been missing you around here.  I'm really interested in those promised pictures of your forepeak rebuild.  Sounds like a good idea to me but knowing how garages get (so overloaded with junk there's no room for the car and it even gets impossible to walk through) you best keep a good eye on weight distribution so that your bowsprit won't be in the water.  I must say, you hit the nail on the head in showing the difference between boatbuilders and house builders--90 degree corners and straight lines.  We always said you can make a house builder out of a boatbuilder but you can't make a boatbuilder out of a house builder.

At 6'2" myself (when I worked on the NP's) I actually preferred the forepeak for sleeping--especially in rough going.  First reason: since we did a lot of sailing during cold weather the main cabin was well heated, and I like sleeping in the cold, which was the forepeak's temp with the door kept shut.  Next, in rough weather (typical of cold weather sea condition around here) I'd sleep with my back against the chain locker bulkhead and my legs extended down against the starboard side of the hull.  This put me in an L shape that prevented my rolling out off the berth.  I found that very comfortable and never had anyone who wanted to chase me off my favorite perch.  Preferences are just that.

Well, Eddie, all of this is just to say you are missed on the site and I'd like to hear from you, please.  .  . . ...

Peace,  The Old Man off (sic) the Sea, Clyde