The Yacht is Ours!

Today, Monday, August 18, 2009 Leslie and I became the proud owners of our dream boat--a Bayliner 3216 Motor Yacht.

After struggling with the details, issues, near disasters and repairs for nearly the entire summer, the former owners turned the keys over to our broker and accepted a check for the agreed on amount. After all that either went wrong or nearly did the actual moment transfer of ownership took place was really quite anticlimactic.

Our boat now sits in the Squalicum boat harbor here in Bellingham, only 10 minutes down the hill from our house. Our broker found a way to get us into one of his slips in this harbor making it unnecessary for us to moor up north at Semiahmoo marina about a half hour from home. This is a really big deal for us as this harbor provides all the necessities, fuel, repair, parts, waste removal, etc., that one would expect from a good marina and did I mention it is only 10 minutes from home? It isn't a permanent berth but will be home for Key of Sea for at least the next year. While there are still lots of things needing doing to the boat this will be a handy location to get them done. Meanwhile, we will place ourselves on the waiting list to get into this harbor permanently.

Key of Sea. Yep, that's her official name. The old name will be removed soon and the new one put on. There is apparently some sort of ceremony which must be performed in order to beat the curse that can follow a boat which has had its name changed. We will have that done and then proceed. No point in pressing our luck.

Curt, our broker has very kindly agreed to spend some time with us on docking and navigation procedures. We have signed up for a 6-week Coast Guard sponsored boating class that begins in September. We have also signed up to have the boat inspected by the Coast Guard Auxiliary in the next couple of weeks so we can find out what safety items need to be on board. So we are already playing it safe.

So, for all our friends and family, we do plan on going out a lot in our boat and inviting you to accompany us on our adventures no matter whether just a jaunt around Bellingham Bay or more distant destinations in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf islands, north through the Inside Passage or perhaps even further on to Alaska. Who knows? The fun is just beginning. Bon Voyage!