The Search

Could this be the one? We will find out on December 19th if this 40 foot Nordhavn will be ours! We have made an offer but now we need to inspect the boat, complete a boat survey on the vessel, and conduct a sea trial. So if all that is successful this will be our new home. Counting the days until we are able to go to Sydney, British Columbia.

"Done Dreamin" has the record for the longest nonstop voyage for a 40' Nordhaven - 2750 nautical miles. The current owner is the original owner and in the five years he has owned it has gone all over the world. That ought to work for us -- we just want to go to Alaska!!

December 17. Arrived in Anacortes, verrrrry cold. We really need to get some cold weather gear, but first we are on the quest to find the boat. We looked at a 36 foot Selene, too small. We looked at a 42 foot Nordic Tug "Showboat" and also another 42 foot Nordic called "Cruisin' Time". (Pictures to follow) Of the three probably "Showboat" is the one in the running. We have another one to look at tomorrow. Hopefully it will be a little bit warmer.

December 18. We saw another boat today, a 40' Pacific Trawler. Several things we liked about the boat, the price and flybridge. But many things we didn't like, no walk around deck and little storage. So this boat is probably out of the running. What we did find today is that it is really very cold here (did I already say that?) I don't think this part of the country has heard of global warming! We really really need to go shopping for some winter clothes. There is a microbrewery here in Anacortes that is superb. We took a tour of the small brewery and then, just to be nice and show our appreciation of the tour, we decided to sample some of their wares and also have dinner there. The beer is very tasty and have you every had beer flavored ice cream? These are two of Jerry's very favorite things and as good as they both sound, they are probably better left enjoyed separately rather than combined. But the true treasure was the porter beer sauteed onions. They were exceptional. You should try that sometime -- a real taste treat.

December 19. Had a great ferry ride to Sydney, B.C. The Washington State Ferry system is a great way to see the San Juan Islands. They stop at several different islands, you can get off and stay awhile, and then continue on the next day. Would make a great vacation, but better in the summer when the sun is shining and warm! We arrived in Sydney around 11 and went straight to see the boat "Done Dreamin". Now we are really confused. There were some really great things about that boat, the wood work is beautiful, the storage is abundant, the pilot house is fantastic. But the boat has lots of hours on it and has been well used, and the visibility wasn't as good as I thought it would be. So we are thinking about it for the night and weighing the pluses and minuses. We are starting to lean back toward the Nordic Tug. One thing is for sure, it is so much easier to buy a house than it is to buy a boat -- at least for us.

December 21. We are back in Sydney again today to take one last look at "Done Dreamin". We really like this boat and want to make it work but as I said there are some issues we are having. For one, the windows are arranged in such a way that with my height (or lack of it) I have a hard time seeing out the windows. This could be solved with a stool and cushions on the seats but... Then there is the dingy setup. Jerry is not too fond of the way you lower the dingy into the water (the davit system). So after much agonizing we are passing on this beautiful vessel.

December 22. Leaving Anacortes. Almost didn’t get on the ferry, one of the last cars on. Next time we need to make reservations – who knew it would be so crowded. Victoria is a nice city, quite expensive and sales tax is 13% so shopping is not a very good activity. The Christmas lights surrounding the Government Building was a sight to behold, look like the outline of a castle in a fairy tale. After arriving in Port Angeles we checked our voice messages (roaming charges in Canada are too costly to use the cell phone). Had messages from Jeff Cress and his dad. So after talking with them we made an offer on Showboat!!! Surprisingly enough the offer was accepted. So now we will have the survey on Jan 3, and if nothing major is wrong we will soon own a boat!

If we do get this boat we are going to have to rename it. Any suggestions?

December 29. Well in the last couple of days we have gone from "Done Dreamin" to "Showboat" and back again, and on again and off again so many times. This decision has been an agonizing one. But I do believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For so many reasons that have been discusses and rediscussed and hashed over and over and over, I think that we have finally come to a decision. We have decided to purchase . . . . . "Done Dreamin" that is IF everything comes out okay on the marine survey. That will be on Jan 3rd. So we should know soon.

"Done Dreamin" Salon

"Done Dreamin" Helm

"Done Dreamin" Galley

Jan. 2 2008. Tomorrow is the big day. The survey and sea trial on "Done Dreamin". After all the effort we have put into coming to this stage in "the search" I would really be sad if the survey reveals something bad on the boat. But that probably won't happen. We happened to be on the docks when the seller came in on "Done Dreamin". It was fun to watch him manuever the boat into the slip and watch how he docked it. Looks like a beautiful and very graceful vessel. Maybe, just maybe, very soon it will be us docking that very boat! Time will tell.

Jan 3, 2008. Today was the big day. The survey went pretty well. Of course the surveyor will always find something but nothing that was found was horrible. But tomorrow we will do some negotiating to get some of the things fixed. The sea trial went very well. It was very cold today and by mid afternoon the winds were blowing at 25 mph. "Done Dreamin" handled very well in the rough water and the ride was very comfortable. If we can just come to terms with the seller regarding some of the items to be repaired we will have a boat very soon.

Jan 4. Today we investigated what it would cost to do the necessary repairs that were found to be needed by the surveyor. Everything on and for a boat is about four times as much as would be for a house or a vehicle. So the total was staggering to us. So some additional negotiates must be done before we can agree to purchase the boat. We went to sleep tonight a little discouraged and thinking we would probably have to continue searching for the right boat.

Jan 5. THE SEARCH IS OVER!!!! We have come to an acceptable agreement to both seller and buyer so it is time to celebrate!!! The scheduled date of closing is the 10th. So in five more days we will be the proud owners of "Done Dreamin" and then the journey will begin.

Jan 10. We signed the final papers today, documented the name change (which will be published when we christen her - bad luck to tell before that) and moved all our stuff aboard. A long and very satisfying day. We get to spend our first night on board our "new home". Tomorrow we take her first thing in the morning for haul out to do the repairs we want completed before we begin our travels. So this first night on board is just a tease because it will be up to two weeks before the adventures begin. But nevertheless, the search is really over and next we will begin the journey.