We did it!

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GonzoF1

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
RO Number
31468
Messages
266
We took delivery on our first boat on Friday (Saturday really) and spent our first night on it. It's a 1986 Senator 35 that was previously owned by a master cabinet maker at Hatteras Yacht who got laid off (not the reason he sold the boat) who kept it in pristine condition and made LOTS of upgrades.

That said, we completely ignored our budget we planned for when we first set out and we hope that the condition she is currently in will keep the major work she will need in check. We are only middle-class buyers and any surprise major work will mean she'll be back on the market again and we'll be taking a hit. A point that gave us a severe anxiety attack last night. Perhaps best described as a biological buyer's remorse. We feel better today, but it was pretty bad last night. Regardless, we are going to give it 3-6 months and see how we like it.

We are very excited to join the boating community. Everyone at the marina has been really nice. However, I kinda feel bad because the previous owner was well liked by everybody and we feel like we kicked out everyone's best friend. Still, I hope they like us too.

I'm new to such a large vessel. The previous owner stopped by on our second day and we talked him into a 2-hour sea trial lesson. She's a single-screw with a stern thruster and it seems more like an art to get in and out of the slip than anything. But I seem to have picked it up, and with his help was able to get it on the first try. We'll see if I can do it again without him there. (gulp)

Looking forward to using this forum as a prime resource for information. What other one's are there? Any and all advice will be appreciated and absorbed. However, try not to scare me. I really don't want to go through the anxiety I had last night. :o) I'll try and post an image:

Still working on a new name though...
bigshot1.jpg
 
Congratulations and welcome to the forum. Great looking boat!!

Cary, NC? Where do you keep your boat? I have some family in Cary.

Bob
 
Congratulations on the new boat.

You wasted no time with 2 footits - jumping in with your first boat a 35', and a single screw to boot.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

Congratulations and welcome to the forum. Great looking boat!!

Cary, NC? Where do you keep your boat? I have some family in Cary.

Bob

Click to expand...


New Bern, NC is where she's moored.
 
Been through there. Very nice area. I think you're going to love it. Just take your time and get used to the boat.

You might want to consider getting either a Captain or a very experienced boater to work with you as you get used to handling her and to teach you some of the "tricks". That may save you a few dings. :)

Bob

quote:
Originally posted by GonzoF1

quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

Congratulations and welcome to the forum. Great looking boat!!

Cary, NC? Where do you keep your boat? I have some family in Cary.

Bob

Click to expand...


New Bern, NC is where she's moored.

Click to expand...
 
Never understood the point of a stern thruster on a single screw boat. Bow thruster I get it. But a stern thruster!?

Anyway, looks like a nice boat. What kind of engines?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

Never understood the point of a stern thruster on a single screw boat. Bow thruster I get it. But a stern thruster!?

Anyway, looks like a nice boat. What kind of engines?

Click to expand...


The stern thruster is pretty neat. The way he described it is that you already have to steer with the stern (it's a SINGLE screw), this just give you a way to do it with 90-degree thrust. You steer it as you normally would, but without the helm/rudder control. You can "walk" the boat port or starboard and turn it within it's own length. It took me about five minutes to get used to. With the only limitation being that you can't use it over 1000 rpm's, that just insures you keep it slow and steady.

Engine (singular) is a Perkins 6.354 135 H.P. She'll only make about 8 knots. Perfect not to get me in trouble by hitting something at 45 knots in the express boats we originally were shopping for.
 
Congratulations and best of luck. You'll find this site will be one of your best "investments" in boating knowledge. The help you get here from others will definitely benefit you on the minor work as well as the "surprise major work." Hate to tell you this, but you need to hear it now....it's a boat (a beauty, at that) and eventually there will be surprise work...this forum will be here for you when it does and hopefully help you maitain it to keep those surprises as infrequent as possible!

Calm seas and fair winds....and welcome to BE!
 
Nice boat, enjoy her!! Welcome to the group and since nobody's said it yet, I guess I'll be the first. It is strongly suggested that you take a Safe Boating course - either from the local Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary.
 
Nice boat I am in awe. I love trawlers but don't ask why I don't have one.
Bill
 
Gonzo,

I'm in the same boat as you (well, not literally, but you get the drift). I bought a 34 Californian with twin Perkins diesels a couple of years ago on a tight budget. I went a little over budget on the initial purchase price, but it was a turnkey boat that needed little maintenance upon purchase. Like any boat, though, it did require routine work to keep it in great shape. I also continue to find items that need improvement. I keep a list ot boat priorities that is constantly updated as sork gets completed and new ideas/needs arise.

I set up a budget and stuck to it to cover operating expenses, routine maintenance, repairs and improvements. I learned to do a lot of the routine maintenance and repairs myself with the help of my frends. At first, it was very tight financially. As time went on, I was able to build a reserve into the boat account to cover unexpected costs, like when I hit a submerged object last January.

It sounds like the previous owner is interested in helping you learn the ropes with his former 'baby.' If he'll walk you through the maintenance items like fuel filters, oil change/filters, raw water impeller, etc, you'll save lots of money and worry.

Congrats on your new vessel! She looks like a beaut! How about posting some more pics of the interior and exterior.
 
Practice, practice, practice. Just take a deep breath and go out and do it: dock in slip; side tie at the dock; stern tie at the dock; anchoring; The more you use the boat and practice these kind of maneuvers, the faster you will get the hang of it. Oh, and the Admiral should also be schooled [hands on] in doing these things too!

Make sure the boat has all the CG required equipment on board and then some! You can contact you closest CG Auxiliary Flotilla and request a vessel inspection. They are free; citations are never issues; and you will learn alot more about your boats safety equipment!

Something else to consider is the Power Squadron's Skipper Saver weekend. Check with your area's Power Squadron for details.

Good luck and have fun!!!!
 
Congrats on your boat! We have an 43' express, yet, owing to fuel costs and budget (I'm not working right now), we tend to travel at trawler speeds anyway, yet we're running two big block gassers. I love your boat and bet you got a great deal.

I know what you mean about the buyers remorse. I didn't get that until many months later. There have been times when I wish I could just snap my fingers and have it be gone. That said, we love the boat and don't regret buying it. I just go through periods every once in a while. Of course, not having a job for 7 months certainly has a lot to do with that feeling.

The best thing you have going for you is a nice boat with a SINGLE DIESEL! Yes!

It looks like a great boat and I hope you all are able to have peace about owning it-- and are able to enjoy it fully.

Congrats!

PaulS
 
quote:
Originally posted by GonzoF1

quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

Never understood the point of a stern thruster on a single screw boat. Bow thruster I get it. But a stern thruster!?

Anyway, looks like a nice boat. What kind of engines?

Click to expand...


The stern thruster is pretty neat. The way he described it is that you already have to steer with the stern (it's a SINGLE screw), this just give you a way to do it with 90-degree thrust. You steer it as you normally would, but without the helm/rudder control. You can "walk" the boat port or starboard and turn it within it's own length. It took me about five minutes to get used to. With the only limitation being that you can't use it over 1000 rpm's, that just insures you keep it slow and steady.

Engine (singular) is a Perkins 6.354 135 H.P. She'll only make about 8 knots. Perfect not to get me in trouble by hitting something at 45 knots in the express boats we originally were shopping for.

Click to expand...


Good engine. Now learn to dock it and how to use spring lines without the thruster so when it (the thruster) breaks you'll be ready.
 
I almost bought that boat. She's down on F-Dock at NW creek Marina. Next time your there, walk over to C- dock and look for a 36 Ispand Packet named Ermelind. DOug and Marty are the owners and really good people. THey can help with some local knowledge if you are unfamiliar with the area.
 
Have someone teach you a maneuver called "Back and Fill". You can just about turn a single screw boat on its axis. Very easy to do once you get the hang of it.

Bob

quote:
Originally posted by GonzoF1

quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

Never understood the point of a stern thruster on a single screw boat. Bow thruster I get it. But a stern thruster!?

Anyway, looks like a nice boat. What kind of engines?

Click to expand...


The stern thruster is pretty neat. The way he described it is that you already have to steer with the stern (it's a SINGLE screw), this just give you a way to do it with 90-degree thrust. You steer it as you normally would, but without the helm/rudder control. You can "walk" the boat port or starboard and turn it within it's own length. It took me about five minutes to get used to. With the only limitation being that you can't use it over 1000 rpm's, that just insures you keep it slow and steady.

Engine (singular) is a Perkins 6.354 135 H.P. She'll only make about 8 knots. Perfect not to get me in trouble by hitting something at 45 knots in the express boats we originally were shopping for.

Click to expand...
 
Welcome and good luck. She is a very pretty boat. That engine sips fuel.
 
Thanks everyone.

Yes Shadowcruzr, that's her.

As for the anxiety attack we had, we're over it for now. It's just that I tend to look down the road too far and got all worked up about the "What-If's" and thought we had made a gargantuan financial mistake. Well, the jury is still out on that, but at this point, we can't change it. So we are going to give it 3-6 months to settle into the new lifestyle. That will give us a good idea as to the long-term benefits or pitfalls based on our own situation.

In trying to use springlines to get out of a slip, I suppose every situation is different. But how would y'all suggest we do it? In the picture above, she is sitting in her slip. There are pylons off the stern quarters and we have to put her bow-in because the finger piers are a little short to allow for safe boarding if she was stern-in. The currently empty slip you see to her port side is the first one. So just off to the right of the picture it the primary pier that all the other branch off of. So when I back out and swing the stern to port. It's not far to an immovable object.
 
Hey Tom and Bess - what a fantastic ride! Great lines to her. Have fun and welcome to BoaterEd!
Cheers -
Riverbed
 
Tie a line on the Port quarter piling with the looped end at the length you need on the breast cleat. As you back out, hook the bitter end onto the piling. Same on Starboard side. Then as you come in, you grab that line, get it on the cleat then get your stern lines...
 
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