BY MICHAEL ROBERTSON

FREE GOOD OLD BOAT

Interested in a sound Albin Vega 27? She’s on the hard in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and reader James Villa is giving her away to a good home. Of course, there are plenty of old sayings about free boats, but this is the real deal. I’ve been emailing back and forth with James and he seems very candid about what he’s offering. He wrote, “Her USCG documentation is up to date. She’s sound in hull, decks, and standing rigging. She has good halyards and hardware. She has an MD7A Volvo 13-hp diesel inboard which was winterized professionally four or five years ago. She is equipped with a roller furling genoa that’s in good shape.”

Unfortunately, the boat’s main sail and dodger were stolen while she sat in storage. James also notes that she needs cleaning and a new head liner in the V-berth. He says that the interior cushions need re-stitching, but that they are usable. She also needs a new wood cabin sole, including bilge and battery covers. Having been sitting, she’ll require new batteries.

But James adds that, “yard fees all will be paid to date. She is a great and kindly sailor, a Discovery 1978 Series III Vega, last of the breed ever made!”

Still interested? Contact James at jamesvega@gmx.com

 

SEARCHING FOR JEZEBEL

Reader Cathryn Smith isn’t giving a boat away, she’s looking for one, an Allied Seawind Ketch 30 named Jezebel. Her family owned the boat during the time she grew up on the shores of Long Island Sound. That was 45 years ago.

Cathryn believes the boat was purchased new from Yacht Haven in Stamford, Connecticut, in January of 1966. She thinks that’s the same place from which her father (Robert Smith) sold the boat through in 1972. She says her family kept Jezebel at the Rowayton Yacht Club.

“I currently teach English at the local community college where I have worked for 30 years. I sail on Lake Ontario and every time I go out, I look for Jezebel.”

Cathryn’s been pursuing leads for years with no luck. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas concerning the whereabouts of Jezebel, contact Cathryn at csmith2@monroecc.edu

SAILABILITY INFO WANTED

Good Old Boat founders, Karen Larson and Jerry Powlas, are retired and you can guess how they’re spending their wealth of free time. Yep, you guessed it, and they have two sailboats to do it with. What they need now is information, specifically, the couple wants first-hand knowledge about the sailability of two lakes they have their eyes on: Fontana Lake in western North Carolina, and Grand Lake O’the Cherokees in northeast Oklahoma.

They want to know, about either lake:

  • Might a good old couple with a 30-foot trailerable sailboat find happiness sailing on this lake in the spring?
  • Will this lake accommodate a 5-foot draft?
  • Is this lake crowded during the spring season with houseboats, cigarette boats, or bass boats?
  • Does the lake offer launch ramps that can accommodate a large trailerable sailboat?

If you have any insight, please email karen@goodoldboat.com. She welcomes your thoughts. And maybe you know nothing of these lakes, but have your own idea of a warm-weather lake you think they might enjoy sailing during the months of March, April, or May? They’d like to hear from you too.

WE WANT FANCY

We’ve got a fantastic readers’ photo spread coming up in the September issue, and we’re already thinking ahead to the next. If you’ve done any fancy rope work on your boat, send us a great photo of it. Maybe you’ve wrapped your wheel or boat hook handle. Maybe you’ve wrapped your keel-stepped mast or compression post in the cabin. We really want to see it. Get creative and make it pretty, use morning or afternoon light, show us your stuff. Send photos to Michael_r@goodoldboat.com