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1987 E-32 "Midwatch" in Seattle

GregB

Member II
Update for your entertainment - wanted E-29

In an effort to keep the peanut gallery on the edge of their seats between Seahawks games I give you this update:

The commodore (quit promoting her to Admiral would you!) and I decided that we are going to go for the biggest Ericson that we can squeeze under a local bridge without bringing along sand bags, protractors, Pythagorean calculations etc.

This looks to be an E-29 standard rig with an "air draft" in the low-mid 40 foot range. (still verifying this...) If anyone has contradictory advice, chime right in!

Though this seems somewhat arbitrary, I think that we were settling in on a 29 for other reasons as well. It seems like a nice (tight) summer couples cruiser for Puget sound, and still nice for a day-sail on our resident lakes Washington / Union. And for those of you who believe you can't be logical about this - it also just "feels about right."

The debate and advice has been very helpful. Your collective wisdom far exceeds mine.

Now that we have settled on a model, we are expanding our search to most of north america.

There is one extraordinarily overpriced brokerage boat in Seattle (Unless I am missing something it seems WAY overpriced - $19K+ mediocre condition, original A-4).

Loren has located a boat for us to consider as soon as we can get down to Portland that looks promising.

Anyone else have or know of an E-29 or similar that they are looking to sell? Due to increasing self awareness regarding skill limitations we are not really looking for a low budget/ project...:0
 

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
I really, really suggest restricting the search to boats you can sail home. Smart and experienced people here have shipped boats and will correct my analysis, but here it is:

Expensive

Hard to visit boat five times during the worry process

Hard to reconcile post-sale issues

Brain seizure from trying to decide between boat in Alabama and boat in Newfoundland when you live in Tahiti

Emotional danger of falling in love with photographs ("Mail- Order Bride Syndrome")

Distant solutions to Near Problems

Outsmart Everybody fallacy, in which thinking outside box leads to the hard way instead of the easy way

Expensive

Just opinion, of course, but I think the right way to buy a boat is to be open to various specimens of makes and models in the region, spend a long time on the search and try to enjoy it, really understand the semi-local market, and involve numerous brokers. I asked the brokers last time I did this if it was ethical to use a bunch of them, or whether I was supposed to choose somebody I liked and form a "relationship". He just shrugged and said something like , "that was before the Internet."

I also think that if you find, say, an E29 you like locally, there is no way the owner won't sell it to you. More negotiation, more getting used to reality on both sides, but any individual boat has a money value that is pretty specific and not all that hard to compute.

Added: brokerage "listed" prices are frequently 30 percent above reality. It's a convention to show what a good inventory the broker has and it gives the listing owner a warm glow. But the broker knows the probable actual sale price going in, and is actually motivated to sell it for any price--so he's on your side. The primary broker also probably knows the boat, its history, and something about the owner's level of motivation or hallucination.
 
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toddster

Curator of Broken Parts
Blogs Author
I usually call the air-draft at 42 feet (including the antennae and a bit of fudge factor.) I think that the last couple of 29's I've noticed for sale were up in the Salish Sea somewhere. After I started looking, (though I wasn't locked in to a particular make/model) it took about a year for the right boat to come along. The more specific your target, the more patient you may need to be.

BTW: One advantage to the E29 is that it is probably about the biggest boat that is (somewhat) easily trailerable. I don't think I'd want to drag it all the way across the country, but a few hundred miles wouldn't be too bad. (OK, 100 miles including passing through metro traffic, was fairly sphincter-tightening.)
 

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
I didn't realize that. And certainly if you could somehow tow an E29 yourself it would open up lots of interesting possibilities way beyond just getting the boat home.

I bought a Soling (27' keel boat) in Chicago and towed it to Annapolis with a Chevy Suburban. I guess that's too much to ask of a 29' cruising boat, though.
 

e38sailorman

Member II
Couple of thoughts, I am pretty sure that that boat was here in Gig Harbor, we used to have a South Sound Ericson group, I can't remember the guys name who owned it, but I remember that the boat was nice. Stan and Lorraine ran the SSEricson group the owner of that boat was their friend, white hair, nice guy...........maybe some day I'll remember his name.
Should not be a problem to single hand if necessary, I do so in my 38 with out much difficulty.
Lake Union to Shilshole maybe 10 minutes? Much better sailing and places to go on the Sound.
$29,000 seem like a pretty reasonable price.
All the above is worth exactly what you paid for it.........nothing but hope it helps.

Marc
E38 WaverWalker
Gig Harbor Wa.
 

GregB

Member II
uh oh...

We pretty much ruled it out. Went by one more time just to make sure.

(I think you can guess the rest...)

Offer pending!!!:0

I am going to need a lot of direction from y'all if we get it.

I have taken much of what you have all said to heart. We are trying to skip boat number two and go right to boat number three. Your reassurance that we will grow into it and it won't feel like the queen mary was a serious factor.

Wish us luck!!
 

Schoolboyheart

Member II
Still for Sale

Hey Greg,

I was down there yesterday looking at pacific sea craft boat porn. i do love those double enders. The boat was still there and they didn't say anything about offer pending. She is a good looking boat. I thought about an upgrade and then realized, I just bought a new engine…then i thought about an upgrade some more:egrin:.

I wouldn't let the bridge thing factor into your decision. One you are going to have to raise the fremont bridge unless you buy a laser. two in the summer i have to have the university bridge go up. If i could do it all over i would buy bigger than i was comfortable with by a few feet at least.

That 32 looks like a synch to single hand and your wife will like that forced air heating system when you decide Bainbridge would be nice for the weekend in the middle of January!
 

GregB

Member II
Still for sale = Yes/No/Maybe?!

Thanks for keeping an eye on them schoolboy -There are some beauties down there but crikey they are spendy!

We are still wrangling. (The party of the first part forsooth the blah blah.) I fear that I have fallen for that boat so I am still hoping to work it out, but as of last night it was slipping away. Stay tuned, and for crying out loud don't make another offer on it!:esad:

You guys are supposed to go down to the docks and say things like "You want how much for this 'ol tub?, my buddy bought one for half that much just a week ago..." :)

Actually she really is a beauty. Very simple and un-punctured by a lot of weird out of date thingamajigs or "never been re-muddled" as we say when referring to houses. I must admit - I was searching for the owners manual for the heater on line yesterday... I think that is the definition of being "tipped over" that this is the right boat. I suppose I should cool my heals until I get a deal signed around (IF I can swing it which is a big if...)

I know, another one will come along if this one slips away. It just has an awful lot going for it. I think I am over the bridge thing... :rolleyes:

Hey Greg,

I was down there yesterday looking at pacific sea craft boat porn. i do love those double enders. The boat was still there and they didn't say anything about offer pending. She is a good looking boat. I thought about an upgrade and then realized, I just bought a new engine…then i thought about an upgrade some more:egrin:.

I wouldn't let the bridge thing factor into your decision. One you are going to have to raise the fremont bridge unless you buy a laser. two in the summer i have to have the university bridge go up. If i could do it all over i would buy bigger than i was comfortable with by a few feet at least.

That 32 looks like a synch to single hand and your wife will like that forced air heating system when you decide Bainbridge would be nice for the weekend in the middle of January!
 

GregB

Member II
Got a hull #

read your concerns. We've owned our 32-3 for 14 yrs and have thoroughly enjoyed the boat. We have a shoal draft at 4'3". I believe bridge clearance is 46ft. Our hull # is 713. Curious what the hull number is on that boat.

Pretty sure it is ERY32712H687 - haven't seen it myself yet, but it is on some paperwork I saw. That makes it an 87 hull #712 if I read it right. Just before you?!?
 

GregB

Member II
We got it!

We now have 21 days to inspect, survey etc. I will be moving this show over to the maintenance and mechanical forum for some sage advice from you salty dogs.

Look for my '76 E-23 MKII to be for sale here soon. I need to "de-winterize" it (spring it?) and give it a bath to be ready to show - but let me know if you want the "pre-listing" special :egrin:

Ok people...

1987 E32 for sale in Seattle - It is bigger than the commodore's 30' cap, and more expensive than the galley slave's original budget, but it looks pretty sweet.

I am actually hoping that it will not be "too much boat" to single handle or sail with light assistance from my new-to-sailing-but-pretty-darned-competent commodore. Those of you following my tortured saga will remember that we are moving up from an E-23, love to day sail on the lakes and want something capable of Puget Sound weekending (with the dreams of something a little longer). I want to go bigger but not "overshoot" and end up with a beast that is beyond my capabilities and pocketbook.


Any thoughts from the peanut gallery will be appreciated! You all know a lot more than I do!

Greg
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Greg,
Mark your calendar for the Rendezvous in June!

I was at the boat show yesterday and ran into an E-27 owner we met at the '13 gathering and she's already planning to attend the next one @ Maple Bay.

Cheers,
Loren
 

GregB

Member II
Probably too soon...

This looks tempting indeed but... I'm a little chicken sh*!. I sort of have decided that until my wife and I can each do MOB drills in varying conditions without help from the other we have no business being in the sound for any extended period. I have aspirations of cruising the salish sea, but alas - I must crawl before I run.

Want to come up and co-captain? You could give us an advanced degree in all things Ericson along the way!


Greg,
Mark your calendar for the Rendezvous in June!

I was at the boat show yesterday and ran into an E-27 owner we met at the '13 gathering and she's already planning to attend the next one @ Maple Bay.

Cheers,
Loren
 

Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
Hi Greg,

I agree with Loren's suggestion that you consider attending the 2014 Ericson Rendezvous at Maple Bay, Vancouver island in June, especially if you can convoy with another boat or two. I suggest this for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you have sailed before, so sailing your new boat will be a bit of an adjustment, but I think you'll be surprised how quickly you adapt to it. Secondly, at the rendezvous you will see Ericsons of all sizes and get some good ideas on projects, modifications, etc. Thirdly, Maple Bay is a lovely quaint marina and the route there is a beautiful scenic one. As well, if you give yourself and extra day or two, if the wind pipes up a bit there are lots of marinas along the way where you could stop and wait for the wind to settle a bit. Usually June is lovely weather in the Gulf Islands.

Hope to see you there! :egrin:

Frank
 

GregB

Member II
Thanks for the vote of confidence Frank - Right now we are concentrating on getting the boat. Then we need to see what (if anything) needs to be put right. Simultaneously we will be gaining comfort in our skills. I just think it will be a stretch to be ready by June. As you say - maybe in a convoy of very patient old salts!

I will run it by the commodore and see what she has to say about the idea.


Hi Greg,

I agree with Loren's suggestion that you consider attending the 2014 Ericson Rendezvous at Maple Bay, Vancouver island in June, especially if you can convoy with another boat or two. I suggest this for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you have sailed before, so sailing your new boat will be a bit of an adjustment, but I think you'll be surprised how quickly you adapt to it. Secondly, at the rendezvous you will see Ericsons of all sizes and get some good ideas on projects, modifications, etc. Thirdly, Maple Bay is a lovely quaint marina and the route there is a beautiful scenic one. As well, if you give yourself and extra day or two, if the wind pipes up a bit there are lots of marinas along the way where you could stop and wait for the wind to settle a bit. Usually June is lovely weather in the Gulf Islands.

Hope to see you there! :egrin:

Frank
 

Schoolboyheart

Member II
Congrats! You'll be comfortable on her in no time. You're wise though to not want to rush into it. Good luck on convincing the wife to practice those MOB drills! Haha if love to sit in on that conversation.

just so you know the only difference in my opinion between sailing on lake union/Washington and the sound is on the lakes you tack a lot more. Other than that it's the same. So that being said sailing in the sound is quite a bit more relaxing.
 

GregB

Member II
Mob!

As I sink below the waves for the last time I would at least like to see her pretending to make an effort to come back for me! Last summer I would tell our guests that I used to do MOB drills but I had lost too many fenders. It usually produced a chuckle, then a look around the boat for a PFD. As intended!


Congrats! You'll be comfortable on her in no time. You're wise though to not want to rush into it. Good luck on convincing the wife to practice those MOB drills! Haha if love to sit in on that conversation.

just so you know the only difference in my opinion between sailing on lake union/Washington and the sound is on the lakes you tack a lot more. Other than that it's the same. So that being said sailing in the sound is quite a bit more relaxing.
 
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