Our explorations of things nautical seem to not flow in a single direction. We were first inspired by our friends Geoff & Aimee, who took us around Corfu on their lovely ketch, whetting our appetite for life on the water.
Later, we learned of America’s Great Loop, and resolved to make that our first after-retirement adventure. We put our house on the market and made a down payment on a Great Harbor GH37 that failed an oil test during survey, despite being in otherwise impeccable condition. Not wanting a fixer-upper, we bailed (but were happy to hear the boat sold to some lucky looper after the engines were replaced). With the COVID pandemic taking hold, in lieu of full-time cruising, we decided to find a dirt home to rent on the coast of North Carolina.
Not long after arriving in Washington, NC we fell in love with a boat in the marina a short walk from our townhome. We bought Gypsy Blue early in the summer, and what a lovely boat she was! But by late summer we realized she was not great fit for us. All the woodwork, the engines and other system, were lots of work, and the outdoor area on the boat was smaller than we wanted. Worst of all, our experience with a borderline hurricane was stressful because we could not easily pull her out of the water. Gypsy Blue was unscathed, but many others in our marina sustained significant damage and we did not enjoy the stress at all. So, we put her up for sale, and and soon found a new owner who will enjoy giving her the loving care she deserves.
We took some time looking around at what might work better for us. We saw lots of boats everywhere we went, from tiny outboards to commercial fishing boats.
Finally, we’ve found something that seems to meet most of our current needs. We recently picked up our new boat, a Parker 2120 Sport Cabin. We are calling her “Mud Crab” after an unassuming local crustacean that is overshadowed by the more famous (and delectable!) blue crab and the more distinctive fiddler crab. Mud crabs may not be as well known but they are just as fascinating, and they are common along the shores of local salt marshes.
Mud Crab is a terrific vessel for exploring the rivers and towns of eastern North Carolina and beyond. She is equipped for occasional over-nighting and we’ll be able to trailer the boat, allowing us to drive it from place to place as we explore and, as a bonus, avoid having our boat in the water during hurricanes. And no barnacles! In fact, the boat overall should be easy to maintain, leaving more time for things we enjoy. We are especially looking forward to fishing (and eventually, catching fish!). Weather permitting, we’ll be able to do limited offshore fishing just beyond the Outer Banks. In calm weather, we could even make the crossing from Miami to the Bahamas!
Mud Crab has a planning hull and a Yamaha 200 outboard engine, allowing her to go from place to place at speeds far exceeding Gypsy Blue’s stately progress. We can cruise at 25 mph on plane with a relatively economical burn rate of 3.5 mpg. We can also make other choices, like going 40 mph whilst burning lots of fuel, or slowing down to enjoy the view while getting 5 mpg.
Like everyone, we are looking forward to the end of COVID times. Meanwhile, we count ourselves very lucky indeed to have rich opportunities for boating, exploring, kayaking, fishing and relaxing. Autumn in coastal North Carolina is absolutely gorgeous and easy. Temperatures are mild, fall color is prolonged, everything takes its time. We are loving being here where we landed largely by chance.
