| Off The Grid |
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This Site is devoted to my 1967 Chris Craft
Cherokee sailboat, Off The Grid. I purchased
her April 15, 2008. She is Hull # JPA 32
0011D. As I understand it she is the eleventh
Cherokee built of only 40 or so.
THE STORY
I Moved to Florida for a 8 to 10 week job in
February of 2007. For two solid months I said
two things. I don't plan on leaving Florida,
and, I am going to buy a sailboat. The job has
turned into a year and a half, with no end in
sight, and I am now the proud owner of the
sailboat you see here.
In May of 2007, I bought my first Kayak and
started paddling around the canals by my
house. I spent many hours admiring all the
beautiful boats docked at the homes and
marinas of Apollo Beach. One day I paddled by
a boat that captured my heart and
imagination. As I floated around her I said,
either to myself or out loud, "what a beautiful
boat, if she was mine I would stain that wood
and polish that chrome maybe put some brass
on her." At this time she wasn't for sale.
Cherokee sailboat, Off The Grid. I purchased
her April 15, 2008. She is Hull # JPA 32
0011D. As I understand it she is the eleventh
Cherokee built of only 40 or so.
THE STORY
I Moved to Florida for a 8 to 10 week job in
February of 2007. For two solid months I said
two things. I don't plan on leaving Florida,
and, I am going to buy a sailboat. The job has
turned into a year and a half, with no end in
sight, and I am now the proud owner of the
sailboat you see here.
In May of 2007, I bought my first Kayak and
started paddling around the canals by my
house. I spent many hours admiring all the
beautiful boats docked at the homes and
marinas of Apollo Beach. One day I paddled by
a boat that captured my heart and
imagination. As I floated around her I said,
either to myself or out loud, "what a beautiful
boat, if she was mine I would stain that wood
and polish that chrome maybe put some brass
on her." At this time she wasn't for sale.
A Couple of months passed and every time I would go paddling, I would stop by and sit and dream of what
she could become. Then one day I passed by and she had a for sale sign. I made a mental note of the
phone number, but didn't call. I didn't call because I was sure she was out of my price range. I was
thinking of paying between 4 and 6 grand for a boat around 25 feet. Besides, at the time I didn't have the
savings and what money I did have was slated for other responsibilities. Keep in mind here that I have
been on a sailboat twice. Never sailed by myself, and know nothing about sailing. I have owned one
pontoon boat, a deep V, and a tri hull. I love the water, always have, but to call me a knowledgeable sailor
is to stretch the bounds of reality.
So winter came and the for sale sign came down. (I didn't know it at the time, but it fell down) I still
passed her every time I paddled out and would stop and drool. Then one day in late January of 2008 I
passed by and there was a new for sale sign. Same phone number, which I had some how memorized. This
time there was a price, 2,000. What!, I thought 2,000 for such a nice boat. I called. Paul, the owner said
she was a 32 Chris Craft, with a 30 HP diesel (Engine) that ran but needed a starter, she had new bottom
and side paint, and that the inside was rough. The next day I paddled over and boarded her. Oh my
goodness, was she rough on the inside. (Interior Page 1)(Interior Page 2). I started searching the Internet
for Chris Craft Sailboats. I found that they are rare boats designed by Sparkman and Stephens. I also
found most of the Chris Craft Sailboats for sale were being offered for between $15,000 and $30,000.
Damn, I must have missed a zero, he wants 20,000 not 2,000. Although I knew 20,000 would be way too
much for a boat this rough. I paddled back over, sure enough the sign read 2,000.
I still had major reservations. She draws 5' 1" and at low tide, I might have 2' of water at my dock. I
didn't want her sitting in the sand, and thought it was harmful. Also, I don't know a dang thing about
sailboats, how could I ever fix her up and treat her in a manner I thought she deserved? I told the owner
I wasn't interested for these reasons.
Close to two months passed and almost every day I would think of her. I thought I would move to a house
with a deeper dock. I would wake up thinking about ways to fix her up. She filled my dreams and my
waking hours. I think she heard me all the times I would paddle by and think of how gorgeous she could
be. I think she called to me, and longed for me to rescue her.
As April of 2008 moved on the thoughts and dreams persisted and magnified. I talked to my neighbor a
life long sailor and boat builder. I was hoping he would throw water on my desire, instead he said there
was no worry about her sitting on bottom, and to offer the guy 1,000. He said, "the owner wants to get rid
of it, He wants you to have it come hurricane season", with a chuckle.
I arraigned a meeting with the owner and he promised lots of sails, extra electronics, and heck even a
20HP Yanmar that needs rebuilding. How could I go wrong? I made him an offer of 1,500, which he
accepted even before I was finished talking. I knew my neighbor was right 1,000 would have bought her.
So the deal was made and the delivery date set. I started working nights so I would have to run home to
see her delivered. Luckily she was only 1/4 mile from my house via water. The previous owner and his dad
towed her over via a jet ski. Imagine pulling a 6 ton boat with a jet ski. I got home just in time to see
them run her aground in front of my dock. After some maneuvering we got her docked. The port side to
my dock. Paul told me a little story. He said, "If she leans starboard, she will take on water through the
bilge lines. I had that happen to me one day and spent all night bailing her out". His dad said, "I thought
you put those sea cocks in". Paul said, "I just never got around to it". Now pardon me here, but if I had
to bail all night because I didn't have sea cocks on my bilge lines, THE FIRST thing I would do is put in
the sea cocks. So guess what happened. I know you saw this coming. The first night she laid just fine.
Keep in mind I am working 12 hour night shifts. The next morning I come home and she is laying
STARBOARD, and yep, she is FULL of water. I pumped as much as I could using the 2 bilge pumps
onbard before I had to get some sleep. (Both bilge pumps burned out and the batteries were under water)
I put a line on the mast to pull her to port so that she would not take on any more water until I could get
back to her. When I got home the next morning she was laying port. Great! No, not great. She laid so far
to port that one of the rails had gone under the dock, and tide was coming in FAST. My buddy and I
struggled to remove the port rail and get her righted.
The next day I bought a new battery, charger, bilge pump, hose, and got her pumped out. Then I fixed the
dock so she could not get caught again. I re-plumbed the bilge lines, and installed sea cocks in the lines.
Lesson Learned!
she could become. Then one day I passed by and she had a for sale sign. I made a mental note of the
phone number, but didn't call. I didn't call because I was sure she was out of my price range. I was
thinking of paying between 4 and 6 grand for a boat around 25 feet. Besides, at the time I didn't have the
savings and what money I did have was slated for other responsibilities. Keep in mind here that I have
been on a sailboat twice. Never sailed by myself, and know nothing about sailing. I have owned one
pontoon boat, a deep V, and a tri hull. I love the water, always have, but to call me a knowledgeable sailor
is to stretch the bounds of reality.
So winter came and the for sale sign came down. (I didn't know it at the time, but it fell down) I still
passed her every time I paddled out and would stop and drool. Then one day in late January of 2008 I
passed by and there was a new for sale sign. Same phone number, which I had some how memorized. This
time there was a price, 2,000. What!, I thought 2,000 for such a nice boat. I called. Paul, the owner said
she was a 32 Chris Craft, with a 30 HP diesel (Engine) that ran but needed a starter, she had new bottom
and side paint, and that the inside was rough. The next day I paddled over and boarded her. Oh my
goodness, was she rough on the inside. (Interior Page 1)(Interior Page 2). I started searching the Internet
for Chris Craft Sailboats. I found that they are rare boats designed by Sparkman and Stephens. I also
found most of the Chris Craft Sailboats for sale were being offered for between $15,000 and $30,000.
Damn, I must have missed a zero, he wants 20,000 not 2,000. Although I knew 20,000 would be way too
much for a boat this rough. I paddled back over, sure enough the sign read 2,000.
I still had major reservations. She draws 5' 1" and at low tide, I might have 2' of water at my dock. I
didn't want her sitting in the sand, and thought it was harmful. Also, I don't know a dang thing about
sailboats, how could I ever fix her up and treat her in a manner I thought she deserved? I told the owner
I wasn't interested for these reasons.
Close to two months passed and almost every day I would think of her. I thought I would move to a house
with a deeper dock. I would wake up thinking about ways to fix her up. She filled my dreams and my
waking hours. I think she heard me all the times I would paddle by and think of how gorgeous she could
be. I think she called to me, and longed for me to rescue her.
As April of 2008 moved on the thoughts and dreams persisted and magnified. I talked to my neighbor a
life long sailor and boat builder. I was hoping he would throw water on my desire, instead he said there
was no worry about her sitting on bottom, and to offer the guy 1,000. He said, "the owner wants to get rid
of it, He wants you to have it come hurricane season", with a chuckle.
I arraigned a meeting with the owner and he promised lots of sails, extra electronics, and heck even a
20HP Yanmar that needs rebuilding. How could I go wrong? I made him an offer of 1,500, which he
accepted even before I was finished talking. I knew my neighbor was right 1,000 would have bought her.
So the deal was made and the delivery date set. I started working nights so I would have to run home to
see her delivered. Luckily she was only 1/4 mile from my house via water. The previous owner and his dad
towed her over via a jet ski. Imagine pulling a 6 ton boat with a jet ski. I got home just in time to see
them run her aground in front of my dock. After some maneuvering we got her docked. The port side to
my dock. Paul told me a little story. He said, "If she leans starboard, she will take on water through the
bilge lines. I had that happen to me one day and spent all night bailing her out". His dad said, "I thought
you put those sea cocks in". Paul said, "I just never got around to it". Now pardon me here, but if I had
to bail all night because I didn't have sea cocks on my bilge lines, THE FIRST thing I would do is put in
the sea cocks. So guess what happened. I know you saw this coming. The first night she laid just fine.
Keep in mind I am working 12 hour night shifts. The next morning I come home and she is laying
STARBOARD, and yep, she is FULL of water. I pumped as much as I could using the 2 bilge pumps
onbard before I had to get some sleep. (Both bilge pumps burned out and the batteries were under water)
I put a line on the mast to pull her to port so that she would not take on any more water until I could get
back to her. When I got home the next morning she was laying port. Great! No, not great. She laid so far
to port that one of the rails had gone under the dock, and tide was coming in FAST. My buddy and I
struggled to remove the port rail and get her righted.
The next day I bought a new battery, charger, bilge pump, hose, and got her pumped out. Then I fixed the
dock so she could not get caught again. I re-plumbed the bilge lines, and installed sea cocks in the lines.
Lesson Learned!
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