2013: A Busy Year!

2013:   We were very busy this year!  A number of commitments seemed to take up our time and energy!

We seemed to be away from home more than usual:

Five driving trips trips to Edmonton for family visits, commitments and one funeral

Two flying trips to Toronto and Halifax for wedding stuff and family visits

One trip to Mexico for our daughter's wedding

Three driving trips to the Vancouver Island for visiting and walking some docks

One driving trip across Canada from Coast to Coast for a total of 3 months away and approx. 14,000kms of driving!

Anacortes and LaConner were calling again for us to walk the docks and get on a few boats that appealed to us.  Then on Sunday the 6th October, we took the Anacortes - Sidney Ferry!  It was my  big "60" Birthday and Jan was gracious giving me my present: 30 days of boat shopping!

                                             

                                                       Kid in a Candy Store

We are now in Victoria for a month; spending time playing "tourist", visiting old friends, some family and looking for a boat!  

                                             

                                               Mount Baker from Sidney Waterfront

We have looked at the American Tug (AT) Trawlers and had a tour of their factory in LaConner.   The AT-34 is a nice sized "couples" boat and meets a lot of our requirements with the exception of a flybridge!

                                   

                                                                American Tug 34

I still like the Pacific Trawler 40, which we have looked at before but unfortunately the timing was wrong for us to put in an offer on that nice boat!  The plan is to look at this one in Seattle in mid-November.

                                    

                                                             Pacific Trawler 40

And just to add confusion how about this one....

                                  

                                                             North Pacific 42

Good thing we have an entire 30 days to do some of this shopping!  Big decisions take time :)

Two Years and Beyond!

Time flies as it has been two years and eight months since we sold our Willard 30 "Kozad". 

Craig constantly searches Yacht World; keeping up on what is for sale, what has sold, and what is affordable.  We are now considering different options which would allow us to get back out on the water.   

A little frustrating!  Our good friends and boating compainions Glenn & Janice and Don & Judy keep reminding us that boating is "compromise and trade offs".  

While our Willard Boating Buddies Richard & Gwen keep us updated on new listings, Craiglist Ads and for sale by owners!  They also remind us to keep on budget and do not spend too much!

We are also told to consider smaller than bigger.....  But as you all know we do want a boat which can accommodate our needs for cruising 4 to 5 months at a time.  Something that can take us from South Sound (Tacoma) to Alaska and all points in between.  Although smaller does usually mean less money we still like a boat in the 40 foot range.

Therefore, the quest continues.....

Although, our most recent big news is the wedding of daughter Kim to a wonderful man Chris!  Great times were had by all 65 of us who attended their destination wedding in Mexico on July 3rd, 2013!

Kim & Chris First Dance

 

Chris's Dad Ovi & Jan

Craig & Beautiful Bride Kim

Our new family: Andrew, Jan, Chris, Kim, Jim & Craig

Jan, Chris, Kim & Craig

Now that the wedding is done, Craig can maybe focus on finding that right boat for us!  

Our other big news is that Jan has retired as of July 1st, 2013; leaving behind her career as an Obstetrics Nurse.  And a great nurse she was; working in Campbell River, Prince Rupert, & Kelowna, BC, Frobisher Bay/Iqaluit, NWT/Nunavit, back to Campbell River then Halifax, NS and finally retiring back in Kelowna!  

Congratulations on a great career!

Jan 1977

Jan 2012

Jan has now joined Craig in retirement and we may now have more time for enjoying what we love to do together!  Jan can return to her pawning career!

We just need to find that right boat!

What to do, oh what to do!

Boating Options!

As our boating requirements and budget have changed, so have our boat choices!

We are extending our quest beyond a full displacement trawler and one of the options we are considering is a power catamaran.  One of those catamarans which holds interest is the PDQ 34 Power Catamaran.

http://www.pdqyachts.com/power/pdq34.htm

PDQ34 Cruising PNW

Craig has always been interested in this catamaran style even long before we purchased "MV Kozad". As a matter of fact as long ago as April 2006, he joined the PDQ Owners Forum http://www.pdqforum.com/ researching the benefits and attributes of the PDQ 34 Power Catamaran.

This is a very popular cruising boat and can be found in low numbers in the PNW and in large numbers on the east coast.  This "cat" is an excellent choice for cruising the Great Loop, ICW and Bahamas.

The PDQ 34 only burns about 1.5gph at 7knts with a top end of 20knts burning approx. 4gph. At 34' LOA, a beam of 16'11" and a mere 2'4" draft this is a perfect boat to explore and gunk-hole with!

Just another thought to add confusion to an already confusing situation!