Trailer Trash to Trawler Trash – Part 1

We had sold the Stray Cat and were now living in our RV in the trailer park section of the Indiantown Marina. Accordingly, we had become “trailer trash” while we looked for a new boat.

I am going to divide the transition from “trailer trash” to “trawler trash” into three parts”
- What we wanted,
- What we saw and
- What we got!

You will almost certainly notice some discrepancies between the three.

What we wanted:

Bev wanted space and all the comforts of home. I wanted simple and easy to maintain. We both wanted inexpensive.

To meet Bev’s needs, we were looking for a 40 foot sundeck model (classical motor cruiser with a big lounging space over an aft cabin and a roof over top) or a 44 foot classical trawler that had a significant on-deck lounging space with a soft roof over top. She wanted an aft cabin to create some semblance of privacy between ourselves and guests, a lounging area between, a large dining table, a good sized galley and a refrigerator that looks like the one at home. The boat should have a double bed in the aft cabin with access from both sides and lots of cupboard space. A gas stove would be preferable. A shower in its own space was also important as was hot and cold running water.

To keep things simple, I really wanted a boat with a single engine and a bow thruster. I wanted a full keel so that the prop would be protected in case we grounded (recognize that this is not a question of if but just a matter of when). To give us access to shallow bays, I wanted a draft of 4’6” or less. For anchoring out, we would need a generator. For getting to land and for exploring, we would need a substantial dingy and a means of storing it on deck or in davits. The more I read about trawlers, the more I became convinced that we wanted to avoid teak decks (if they don’t leak today, they will tomorrow and you will have to replace the entire deck including its core), iron fuel tanks (when they leak tomorrow, they will be almost impossible to replace) and wooden window frames (when they leak tomorrow, the interior woodwork of your boat WILL rot out).

To keep our operational costs low, a single small engine (or two very small ones) were felt to be important as well as simplicity in equipment. If it is not on-board, it is not likely to break. We wanted a displacement hull suited to slow speed cruising.

So this was a pretty simple list of basic desires. It should have been easy to meet. Right???

Stray Cat moves on to another home!

The end of the Stray Cat

This is the Stray Cat being repositionned in the yard so that it could be worked on in November.

When we came back down to Florida. I thought that we were cleaning up and painting the Stray Cat in preparation for the next winter’s sailing season in the Bahamas. I was motivated to work!!

Bev thought we were cleaning up the boat so that we could sell it. She was motivated to work!!

We sanded and painted the bottom. We cleaned and painted the deck. Bev bought fabric, made and installed new upholstery, curtains and cushions, sometimes sewing in the sunshine on the sewing machine she bought in Elizabeth City last fall on the way South. We even removed a whole pile of gear from the boat so that we would have space to work.

We installed a brand new engine. The process was typical boatwork. First, I had to fabricate and to add a false transom. Because the motor moved back 2 inches, I had to lower the engine controls. Because the controls now interfered with the autopilot actuator, I had to lower it a few inches. Because the cable from the autopilot actuator no longer reached the brain for the autopilot, I had to relocate it. Because the new location interfered with the throttle lever, I had to relocate it again. And then when the new engine tilted, it interfered with the engine hatch. So I had to build a box to raise the engine hatch about 8 inches. And so it goes.

It was hard, often hot and sometimes dirty work. But we were motivated.

In the end, the Stray Cat looked great. She was ready for the run to the Bahamas (Rob). She was ready to sell (Bev).

As it turned out, Bev was right!

Within a couple of weeks, we had 2 serious offers. We negotiated price and conditions on both. When the first fell through because of financing, the second became pre-eminent.

The deal closed on Dec 29, 2008. The Stray Cat now belongs to a wonderful and fascinating man, Thomas, from Key Largo. Thomas must be in his 70s. I hope that when I am his age, I have half of his energy and continuing sense of adventure.

So early January, we came down to Florida where we re-commissioned the Stray Cat for Thomas and began our search for a new boat.

They say that the happiest two days with a boat are the days you buy it and the day you sell it. For me, the purchase was definitely joyous but the sale was very much a bitter-sweet experience. While not perfect, the Stray Cat was like a trusted and loyal friend. She sailed better than we had a right to expect. She was strong and seaworthy. She was simple to operate, simple to maintain and relatively inexpensive to run. She could host a great party. She could be anchored in spots where others would fear to tread.

While I was pleased that the sale of the Stray Cat would enable us to move on with the next stage of our boating adventures, when the Stray Cat glided out of the harbour, her new engine purring ever so softly, I really felt as though I was saying good bye to a good friend – maybe never to see her again.