She gonna have a new owner!

A really nice couple came and checked out Ceilydh and they want to make her their own. They are both very excited and are planning on taking off to the San Juans one week after buying her!
I'm glad she went to them, I know she'll be well taken care of, and with a womans touch, will "Shine" in no time.....

So, it looks like my return to Wyoming is imminent!

The adventure continues..........

Jake

Here's some of me and her (Ceilydh) out near Waldron Island and in route to Stuart Island just having a ball on a beautiful day.....

She's up for Sale.....

Well, my beautiful boat "Ceilydh" is up for sale and she's listed on Craigslist.com

Catalina 27'......sacrifice! - $7800

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Reply to: sale-744476673@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-07-06, 10:46AM PDT


1975 Catalina for sale $7800, with over $6000 recently invested in improvements (have receipts). New items: Marine Head & holding tank, SS Keel Bolts, Shore Power, Bronze Sea Cocks & Thru Hulls, Electrical Panel, Instrument Panel, Magma Barbecue, CQR style anchor #18 and bow roller, NavLights, Battery & Power Converter, Power Cord, Fire Extinguisher, Bottom Paint and fresh survey. This boat also comes with 600w Generator, 8' Dinghy with 2 Hp Motor and 7' oars, Kevlar Main Sail & 150% Genoa, 90% Dacron Jib and Spinnaker, Radar Reflector, VHF Radio, Compass, Depth Sounder, 8 HP Yamaha Outboard, etc...
This boat is ready to sail and is moored in Blaine, Washington.


It's time to get off my ass and back to work, as soon as she sales I'll be heading back to Wyoming.
It's been a great adventure and I'm thankful God allowed me to experience it all!

Pictures:
#1 - Me and Ceilydh
#2 - Ceilydh before launch
#3 - Ceilydh on mooring buoy at Sucia Island
#4 - Her cabin

5 days in the islands

I just got back from the islands and thought I'd let you see some of the sites.
I left Blaine and made it to Sucia island (5 hr trip) and spent the rest of the day and that night. A buddy showed up from Bellingham with his 33' Hans Christian and we 'rafted' our boats together that night. We left the next morning for Stuart Island, by way of Waldron island and "Presidents Channel", we were on a beam reach and ole' Ceilydh surpassed the theoretical hull speed of 7.1 knots, as my GPS was reading 7.4 KNOTS ! After rounding Waldron and making leeward towards Flattop Island the wind changed and back winded my 150% Genona and spun us around, not once but twice ! After heading out to deeper water and getting well clear of the island that was really starting to worry me, we made our way between a very small islands and Johns Island on a full flood tide that must of been running 4 + knots in our favor..... whatta' ride! Around the west end of Johns and a 90 degree wind change was enough for a Jibe and a broken main sheet fitting..... after that little problem I followed the Sea Horse (his boat) up a seemingly dead end cove, avoiding hidden rocks only 2 feet below the surface (his superior GPS was able to show them and mine was not) I stayed directly behind him and shadowed his every move until be finally made it out of "Johns Pass"........WHEW, that was a hairy one! We continued on up the northern side of Stuart Island to Prevost Harbor (which have the most hidden number of reefs of any harbor in the islands), upon arriving the first guy I spoke with pointed and said, "That is the most popular reef for running aground in all of the San Juan Islands !!!". We had a great steak dinner and turned in early. The Sea Horse left the next morning early to return to Bellingham and I spent another night just taking it easy and enjoying the company of a couple in the "Harbor Star" and after a Vodka & tonic and interesting conversation we all called it a night. The next morning I headed back up to Sucia where I spent the most peaceful night I've ever had on that island and headed back home to Blaine, after leaving Sucia and running the buoy at "Aldens Bank" (just leaving the shipping channel), I ran into dense fog that required me to steer a compass heading, as visibility was about 10 feet, thankfully after an hour or so the fog bank moved on and I later hear that it "socked in" Sucia for the majority of that day, man, I'm glad I left at 6 AM with the flood tide! .............. all in all....... time well spent........ until next time.

Pic's:
#1 - Heading to Sucia from Blaine
#2 - Shallow Bay on Sucia
#3 - Sea Horse (33' Hans Christian)
#4 - Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island (the farthest NW island in the San Juans)

One fine trip!

Pic's:
Jacob & Family @ Squim Beach
Kristi and the 'Dragon'
HatchView @ Sucia
3' Following Seas in the Straits of Georgia

It ALL paid off!

Pic's:
Jake @ Sucia Island
Echo Bay (on Sucia)
Kristi @ Smugglers Cave's
'Ceilydh' @ Sucia

We took to many cool picture's in the time TT was here so I will continue this post with next post.
Jake

More Pic's

Continued from last post;
Pic's:
1) New Jabsco head and plumbing
2) Ceilydh is ready to launch
3) Safe Return statue at Squalicum harbor entrance
4) Ships moored in channel to Colony Wharf

I hope you like 'em....
Jake

Lots Done!

Well, since the last time I updated this site I've drilled 17 holes below the waterline (of course, no leaks!), removed and replaced 3 seacocks with new ones, rudder removal and repair, installed 5 keel bolts, repaired the 'Smile' on her keel, installed a 9 gallon holding tank and removed and replaced the head with a new Jabsco model, and of course all the plumbing that goes with it, and of course the bottom paint and numerous little repairs to the gel coat.
TT will be here in three days so I finished her 'none to soon!
Pic's:
1) Coming outta the water (notice 'beard' of zebra mussels on keel)
2) Old crusty valves (scary to look at considering their below the waterline)
3) Jake inside the cabin
4) New seacocks, plumbing and holding tank
I'll continue on next post.......
Jake

Well, yesterday and the previous night was another mile stone! I went gunk-holing for the first time. I spent the day and night at Chuckanut bay (south end of Bellingham bay), I learned a lot and had a great time, although I didn't sleep much..... I must of checked on my position (less any anchor drag without me knowing it) 20 times throughout the night! I even slept in my clothes just to make sure I wasn't up on deck in the dark in my skivvies hauling in 150' of anchor rode before drifting into shallow water......, but I'm MUCH SMARRTER NOW!
#1 Chuckanut bound
#2 Window view on north end of Chuckanut bay
#3 Dinghy on glass in the morning
#4 House on Point

The next pictures will be of Ceilydh when I haul her out in 3 days, if all goes well she'll be floating again 4 days later.

Jake

Eliza & around....

Last saturday my friend and I took Ceilydh out to and around 'Eliza' island, which is at the south-western corner of Bellingham bay..... about a 20 miles trip.
We blew down there in no time due to the northwest wind we had that day, when we got between Lummi and Eliza islands the wind quit.... but it was a beautiful warm sunny day so we motored around to the other side hoping the winds would reach us, but no such luck... we motored all the way home, but had a great day so here's some pics of the trip.

pic #1 is the week prior to our trip... we were out motoring in the snow.
#2 Mark at the tiller with 'er heeled over and running with the wind.
#3 Jake, with Vendovi island in the background.
#4 Eliza island behind us as we were heading back north.

I'll be 'gunk-holing' for the first time this coming Saturday.... gonna be Great!

Single-handing......

I just took Ceilydh out for the first time by myself and I gotta tell ya,,,,,, that was an experience I won't soon forget! Bellingham bay was blowing around 20 mph with 2 foot waves and I was beating windward.... or I should say, was trying my damnest to beat windward! Doing everything myself under those conditions has made me rethink my setup procedures.... like fighting the main'll and jib with no one on the tiller.
The cool thing is that I had her heeled over (leaned on her side) about 20 degree's with water splashing up from the bow and making it all the way to the stern..... she was movin'.... well, she was doing all she can do, which is 5.5 knots (5.5 knot = 6.3 mile/hour (mph)).
I just bought another camera to replace the one I lost so I'll try and post some 'action shots' next time.

Jake

Continued........

I have to show you a couple more from the 1st trip out..... so here ya go.
Pictures:
#1 - New Haven off the starboard bow.
#2 - Mark on Tiller
#3 - Jake & Sails
#4 - Mark on Bow

Under Sail....finally!

Yep, I know it's hard to believe, but we took 'er out for a full day of sailing! A friend (Mark) and myself took Ceilydh on her first trip with me as skipper.....and none of us is any worst for wear, believe it or not! I know some of you are wondering where we went the first trip so I can tell you we went to Chuckanut Bay, which is about 7 miles south of Squalicum Harbor. We spent a fun 7 hours cruising around Bellingham bay, Chuckanut Bay & New Haven.
We'll be going out again as soon as I can arrange it..... maybe this week!

Pictures:
#1 - Heading outta the harbor.
#2 - Open Water
#3 - Jake on Tiller
#4 - Jake on Deck

Jake

OOP's...she be gone!

Hey everyone,
Sorry it's taken so long to update this site.... I've been busy drinkin' expensive rum, workin' on 'Ceilydh' and losing my new digital camera.....ahhhhh
OK, all the rum drinking MIGHT have had something to do with it..........................I said might!
So, I'll fill you in on some of the work I've got done on 'er.
I think I told you about installing the 18 lb plow anchor and bow roller for it. I've made and installed a cabinet door, but still need to stain it. She now has running water and a usable sink, which makes life aboard much nicer.... and easier. I replaced the seat cushion in the main cabin since the old one was like sitting on a rock and yesterday I finally got shore power on the boat. What that means is that no longer is there a 110 volt extension cord going to the boat, she now has a 300 volt cord plugged into the side of the boat, full electrical panel and 2 electrical outlets aboard. I will also be buying an outboard engine when I decide on the one I want to buy.
I will take pictures of this stuff plus my first excursion out shortly(after I earn enough money to replace the camera), in fact I hope it's next week because the following week I will be starting work (had to, she's eating me outta house and home).... as a welder again after all this time...... we'll have to see how that goes.... I'll let cha know.
Jake

Under Power, but on the Water.

Here's a couple pic's showing me on the mast, I was changing the Anchor Light Bulb....damn, what an ordeal to change a bulb! Then there's some picture's of me and Vince going out on his 25 Bayliner this afternoon. You'll see a little town (couldn't remember the name) just south of Bellingham on the water and the little town just south of that which is New Haven, and just some of the Bitchin' scenery!
I got a big job done today, I drilled 4 holes in my boat !!! Man, I cringed when I did it..... but I got the 'Bow Roller" installed for the new 18 lb Plow anchor, my 150' of 'Rode', which is the nylon rope which is secured to the 29' of new chain, which is secured to the anchor. Convoluted I know....
I"ll try to show you some of the work next time..... better than hearing about.

Jake

Blaine Baby!

Well, the boat is eating me outta house and home! I need to have her hauled outta the water, replace all the thru-hull fittings, marine head (toilet to everyone else), holding tank, outboard motor and bottom paint.........whew, that's enough! Needless to say, I've been looking for work. My need to get some cash flow lead me up to the Canadian border to a little town called Blaine ; http://images.google.com/images?q=blaine,wa&gbv=2&hl=en&start=20&sa=N&ndsp=20

and MAN, I think I'm in Love with the place! It only has 5000 people living there, is on the border and is located in the upper San Juan Islands http://www.travelsanjuan.com/#
, I applied for a job with a company called 'Nature's Path' (you will find their granola bars, cereal, etc in your local grocery store) and the lady working there was none other than the Mayor of Blaine........... how's that for a contact?

The bad part is I forgot my camera...... so, check it out yourselves and feel the envy!
I'll take some pic's shortly and show you some more of the nice places up here.
Jake

Fairhaven or bust

Here's a couple of pictures of Fairhaven, which is just down the Bellingham bay from my boat slip, this will be my first destination..... you can see Bellingham in the distance.