March 2013 the budget is busted.
Hull #26 S/V The` a Falmouth Cutter 22 was built 1n 1985 by the Sam L. Morse boatyard.
March 19th Its been a long cold winter but spring is almost here, time to play catch up, lots of projects but where to start.
A break in the weather.
I worked and played right up till winter hit and it hit hard.
Every day she gets closer and closer.
New ABI Teak blocks, one of the many treasures that came with The`
New stern roller fabricated just for The`
Pad-eyes and traditional blocks installed.
One day at a time she is turning into a finely fitted yacht.
On launch day I was so nervous I thought I would barf.
She is starting to look and feel like a real boat.
Stepping the mast.
This little un-named boat was starting to feel like a home.
Sailing my friends 26′ Hess was a good distraction from the boatyard.
Between projects I drank lots of cheep beer.
It took nearly 6 weeks to get moved off the trailer. With little money in the budget I used what I had. Most of the work was refinishing the fiberglass and wood.
Living in the boatyard still on the trailer.
Arrival at Colony Wharf on April 2nd 2011 after being kidnapped for three days by our redneck shipping company. When she arrived my life savings was 14 cents.
I did a handshake deal with no exchange of funds and drove home.
She was perfect in every way.
The oven died in shipping
When I learned she was for sale I made a full price offer sight unseen and drove 27 hours nonstop from Bellingham to Long beach.
Surveying the boat in Southern California.
Hi mate,
My name is Peter. I hope I will soon (in the next month or so) be the proud owner of an FC 22. I’m from Australia and I will be travelling around the USA for a little while. I think you are the only person with an FC that is my age! I’d love to mett up for a beer or coffee. I love your blog for many reasons.
Cheers,
Pete
Pete, come by and have a beer, you can poke around the boat and I can show you what to look for in your new boat. Ali
Hey, I had a question which I can’t seem to find an answer for: Do you think its possible to fit an enclosed head in on the boat? Not in the V-Berth (which I am thinking of turning into an enclosed head with shower. Cheers
You could do it but you have to be very careful. The FC 22 is already an impossibly small boat and you would loose valuable storage as well as adding quite a bit of weight and complication. Water is another issue. I still use a bucket and salt shower but I’m a bit of a caveman.
Awesome boat. Lovely finish job
I own an ancient Cal 24 (the orginal Cal was a do it yourself kit) that I love. It’s spacious and almost has full standing headroom if I don’t get off my knees and slouch a bit. Yeah, you can stand up in the companionway, I’m exaggerating.
I spent a lot of time refinishing her in a boatyard, but now I just sail the heck out of her and race her alot.
Oh, yeah, I’m in Marina del Rey. I know what you mean about pooring ha ha money into a boat. The slip fee is killing me.
Jerry, I love the Cal 24 I almost got my hands on Hull #1 I liked so much because it reminded me of the Dove.
What motor do you have on the boat?
Mike
None but I will ore than likely add a 4hp outboard. I searched half my life for a FC 22 without an inboard, I’m not a fan of holes below the water line. Alan
Nice job! I used to love sailing with my ex… Good old days, mmm…
Awesome boat. Lovely finish jobI own an anneict Cal 24 (the orginal Cal was a do it yourself kit) that I love. It’s spacious and almost has full standing headroom if I don’t get off my knees and slouch a bit. Yeah, you can stand up in the companionway, I’m exaggerating.I spent a lot of time refinishing her in a boatyard, but now I just sail the heck out of her and race her alot.
Where do you sail out of? We are slowly headed to the Med
Hey Alan,
setting up an escrow account. About to buy my FC22!
(wanted to visit you, but you were a bit out of the way for me! the US is big country!)
Sweet, which one?
From a man in Florida. It needs a lot of TLC, but otherwise very sound. I’d say needs about a months or so worth of work to bring it up to a nice standard. Oh, and it has an outboard! (YES!)
What year? Hull #? Pictures please :0 )
I believe it is hull 23. Not sure how to post pics here
She need a bit of work, I’d say about $10,000 and about a month of my time to get her looking as nice as your boat.
Seriously considering removing the stanchions. I think on a tiny boat like that they just seem a bit dangerous. Prefer a safety line, which I would use off-shore anyway, and thereby making the ugly, dangerous stanchions redundant.
I’m very happy that it has an outboard! So much less hassle and no oil etc. in the bilge, no smell!
I like your balance of varnished and natural teak. I’d copy it but I want to be original. I think I’ll stick with what is on the boat at the moment, everything natural except the hatches and anything above the bulwarks. A nice ‘division’ like that.
I need to rip out all the wiring and electronics and scale down. People are using Ipad 2′s at the moment. I think thats were I am headed. Its perfect as I can play music on it as well as watch film, do email etc. No need for a laptop at all.
It has a big solar panel, but I dont like the look of it. It may have to go, or me changed/upgraded. I really don’t like the look fo a boat swamped with equipment …
I will get a windvane though.
Very excited. I’ll have to set up a blog for it as soon as I officially own it.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Pete
Pete, welcome to the small fraternity of happy Hess sailors. A blog would be awesome as there is so little info on these boats out there. Let me know how the vane goes, I’m working on a sheet to tiller system as I just cant stand the though of ruining The’s`lines with a vane.
Call this a ‘well-found’ vessel, Alan. Beautiful post, honestly: illustrations alternating between close and far, decorative and essential, afloat and ashore, inside and out, serious and joyful, and short captions to carry the reader rapidly thru a great deal of nautical detail, preparations for sea. Keep doing posts like these — I’d like to do nearly as well.
I love it, she is a well “found” vessel, thank you.
Wow! She is beautiful! You really have a lot of heart in her. We’re hoping to buy within the next year if we can sell our real estate!
Sell out and sail, its the only way
Love your blog. Alan
She looks beautiful. Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures.
Hi Alan, really enjoy your musings and images. I have a beautiful 20ft Cape Dory Typhoon, a 58ft Samson Sea Strutter plus a couple of others. my favourite was sailing to desolation in a wooden 22 ft drascombe longboat (yawl). if you get the chance to sail to Bowen Island, just off Vancouver, BC, i’d love to have a beer with you. fair wind, Damien
Hey I’d love to grab a beer and maybe sail on that Typhoon one of my all time favorite yachts. Id also like to reciprocate should you find yourself on this side of the world come have a glass or three of wine with us. Alan
Where did you have that custom stern roller fabricated?- I would like to get one
Mike Anderson made it, http://www.andersonboatworks.com/
He is a true artist.
I’m really enjoying reading through your blog and love the transformation your boat has made! In the middle of doing the same on my Tayana 37. Keep up the good work!
I love the Tayana’s I have been able to sail 2 of them this year whoopee they are fun boats