That was 20 years ago, 40' was a big boat then, and it was a very well equipped Southern Cross 39. Charlie Wing wrote onboard as well as had a good time. He's still writing today.
He'd had enough after a long while, and moved back onshore. For a while, he didn't care much about boats or sailing. I fact, I don't think he wanted to even look at a sailboat for a while.
Finally after another 10 years, he has the bug again. He's older now and of course wiser. He also has a new partner that's spent little time on the ocean, but she's excited to try anything.
First, he doesn't intend to liveaboard again, so a smaller boat was in order. Next, having made nearly as many trips on the ICW as Jon Eisberg, a motorsailer made sense. This is a Cape Dory 30MS. Small enough to leave down south or somewhere in between here and there.
It's pretty nice for two that will spend a few weeks, perhaps a few months in a place like the Bahamas. The weather there makes boats bigger.
It has an inside steering station, a real good idea for going up and down the ICW in the spring and fall. I can see him behind the wheel, the canvas zipped up, drinking coffee, in his underwear, headed down the ditch with snowflakes in the air. (He winters in Houlton!)
He's a master at solar/wind for boats and the CD has a good spot for solar panels.
Knowing what it's like having to move a sailboat up and down the coast, the first thing he did is put a new engine in it.
I met him on the coast last week to see the boat for the first time.
And he's a native Mainer, that's why he doesn't even see that pot buoy he's about to run over.