Quidam1947
03-10-2009, 02:07 PM
Hi all,
My name is Michele. I was born and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. My family had waterfront property right across from Manalapan Island (Palm Beach). Consequently, I had the luxury of spending my first 21 years sailing/rowing/waterskiing nearly every day after school. I especially loved summer vacations with my dad sailing on his Venture 24 all around the Florida peninsula & the Keys up the ICW to the Carolina's & back, plus numerous trips to the Bahamas.
I moved to Cincinnati in the early 1980's. Had a great career at Procter & Gamble. Met and married my late husband, Jamie (an engineer). He got seasick, so I gave up boating for many years. Helped him raise his two kids (now in their mid-to-late 20's and now have 2 great grandkids). When my husband passed away from Kidney cancer I built a water garden in his memory and hired a local beverage catering company (barsonwheels.com) to serve my guests at my dedication party. That's where I met Bruce, the owner & now my significant other). Bruce lost his brother to the same cancer. He was fun and full of adventure, and passionate about boating, etc. -- we just clicked. I joke that I found him in the yellow pages.
I come from a long-line of seafaring ancestry (some famous) and so cruising must be in my genes somewhere. My grandfather was a US Navy captain and even designed President Harding's personal launch. I love old boats and especially the woods! I learned most of what I know from my dad and Bruce -- which I don't claim to be much.
Bruce was raised on a farm (got his first runabout boat at age 18, I think) but personally... I think he's a reincarnated sea captain/master shipwright, as he never ceases to amaze me (and others) with his abilities. He reads everything he can get his hands on and absorbs it like a sponge. Bruce has a good bit of time at sea under his belt; cruising our own boats and boat deliveries. I'm pushing him to get his Captain's license as he's got the hours needed, and the knowledge to pass the test.
**********
When I met Bruce, he already had several other wooden "project" boats in various stages of repair/restoration when we met. Some were transients; restoration projects he sold, and some he kept and we cruised. We bought our first sailboat together – S/V "Rachel S." a 1935 33' Charles Mower (Gosling) design. I hadn't been sailing for 15 years and it was interesting relearning the skill set necessary to handle her. We had a blast sailing around Lake Michigan for a few years.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Rachel%20S/1.jpg
Sold her in 2001 because Bruce's kids were getting too big (couldn’t all fit anymore). We participated in a couple of Wooden Boat Shows at South Haven, too. The last time we saw her, we were passing through Saugatuck, MI and she was in the shipyard, sorely neglected. So sad.
**********
M/V "Karizma" a custom trawler yacht built in 1933 that was basically a shell with an engine when Bruce first started work on her. We cruised her on the Ohio River and other nearby rivers for several years (overlapping with our Lake Michigan jaunts). It was great fun motoring up to a landing and having people come from all around to check her out.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Karizma/1.jpg
We sold her 2001 to focus more on our next venture. Regrettably, the new owner(s) sorely neglected her, sunk twice at the dock, and after being hauled out and allowed to sit out in the elements for years, and her keel broke in two so she wound-up being scrapped.
**********
S/V “Amphora” was a 44’ motor-sailor designed by Gordon Monroe and built in 1923 by George Lawley & Son shipyard. She hadn’t seen water for 17 years when Bruce began working on her and launched in 2001.
We took off to Up the Hudson River to the Erie Canal brought us to the Oswego Canal and then across Lake Ontario to Kingston, Canada. We then followed the Trent-Severn Waterway to the Georgian Bay. We went around the top of Lake Huron, and then came back across through the Mackinaw Straits into Michigan. As we made our way down the MI coastline, we were invited to stop at a wooden boat show in Frankfurt, MI one year.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Amphora/1.jpg
Here she is anchored in the Benjamin Islands. Bruce's son, Kyle playing guitar. We like that 'workboat' finish.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Amphora/7.jpg
Raising the mast on the Mississippi River.
After a short winter's layover in White Lake, Michigan, we headed back up to better explore the Georgian Bay / North Channel area and back down again to Lake Michigan.
Bruce traveled (solo) to Chicago, and onto the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, stopping at a marina on the Tennessee River for wintering closer to home. The following spring we both headed back to Lake Michigan, stopping long enough to participate in the 2003 Wooden Boat show at South Haven -- Amphora was a year older than the local tug being hailed that same year for turning 80.
We headed back to Georgian Bay/North Channel and down the other side of Michigan into Lake Huron and into the Saint Claire River where we wintered on the Canadian side.
We again traveled back up to Georgian Bay (can you tell we love that place?) and back to Lake Michigan and later onto the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers and the Tennessee Tombigbee waterway in route to Mobile.
From Mobile it was back across the Panhandle of Florida and down to Ft. Myers. From Ft. Myers, we cruised to the Florida Keys supposedly a delivery to her new buyer but the sale fell through (later sold to a retired couple who now keep "Amphora" off the Ohio River near Aurora, IN and frequently call upon Bruce to help with moving her from here to there).
The decision to sell Amphora was a tough one (we love that boat!) but decided it was necessary in order for Bruce to focus on getting ready for his (our) dream of live-aboard cruising life. "Amphora" is currently enjoying a leisurely life on Laugherty Creek, near Aurora, IN.
Bruce found M/V "Quidam" (formerly called “Sea Hawk II”) in Sewaren, NJ - she was originally gaff-rigged, but Bruce is converting to a shorter rig (as shown in avatar), she’s very round in the mid section, and 44' on deck (47’ if you include the bowsprit Bruce added), 12' beam, and draws 4.5 ft. of water. Carvel construction with mahogany planks, steam-bent oak frames, and bronze fastenings. For power, she still has her original caterpillar single D318 diesel engine (weighs 3800 Lbs but is only 80 HP. Bruce measured fuel consumption of 1.5 gal/hr @ 7.5 Knots, closer to 1 gal/hr @ 6 Knots).
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Quidam/23.jpg
Bruce had to replace the rotted decks and wheelhouse. So he moved the new wheelhouse forward, and added a saloon and stateroom aft.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Quidam/30.jpg
Dutch doors on either side of the wheelhouse and window frames going in.
We’ve got a lot of work left to go to get her ready for launching (est. 2010), and even more for casting off for good. I'm just a stow-away on his "life of a cruiser's dream" but I look forward to when this dream becomes a reality and adds to our lives’ experiences.
We have another boat, called the M/V "Laura May" that we're hoping to restore soon (needs a couple of sister frames and a few planks for sure). Not certain if we'll sell or keep her but she's got alot of potential.
*********************
Well, that's my (our) story. I look forward to networking with each of you and reading about your projects of love.
Michele
My name is Michele. I was born and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. My family had waterfront property right across from Manalapan Island (Palm Beach). Consequently, I had the luxury of spending my first 21 years sailing/rowing/waterskiing nearly every day after school. I especially loved summer vacations with my dad sailing on his Venture 24 all around the Florida peninsula & the Keys up the ICW to the Carolina's & back, plus numerous trips to the Bahamas.
I moved to Cincinnati in the early 1980's. Had a great career at Procter & Gamble. Met and married my late husband, Jamie (an engineer). He got seasick, so I gave up boating for many years. Helped him raise his two kids (now in their mid-to-late 20's and now have 2 great grandkids). When my husband passed away from Kidney cancer I built a water garden in his memory and hired a local beverage catering company (barsonwheels.com) to serve my guests at my dedication party. That's where I met Bruce, the owner & now my significant other). Bruce lost his brother to the same cancer. He was fun and full of adventure, and passionate about boating, etc. -- we just clicked. I joke that I found him in the yellow pages.
I come from a long-line of seafaring ancestry (some famous) and so cruising must be in my genes somewhere. My grandfather was a US Navy captain and even designed President Harding's personal launch. I love old boats and especially the woods! I learned most of what I know from my dad and Bruce -- which I don't claim to be much.
Bruce was raised on a farm (got his first runabout boat at age 18, I think) but personally... I think he's a reincarnated sea captain/master shipwright, as he never ceases to amaze me (and others) with his abilities. He reads everything he can get his hands on and absorbs it like a sponge. Bruce has a good bit of time at sea under his belt; cruising our own boats and boat deliveries. I'm pushing him to get his Captain's license as he's got the hours needed, and the knowledge to pass the test.
**********
When I met Bruce, he already had several other wooden "project" boats in various stages of repair/restoration when we met. Some were transients; restoration projects he sold, and some he kept and we cruised. We bought our first sailboat together – S/V "Rachel S." a 1935 33' Charles Mower (Gosling) design. I hadn't been sailing for 15 years and it was interesting relearning the skill set necessary to handle her. We had a blast sailing around Lake Michigan for a few years.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Rachel%20S/1.jpg
Sold her in 2001 because Bruce's kids were getting too big (couldn’t all fit anymore). We participated in a couple of Wooden Boat Shows at South Haven, too. The last time we saw her, we were passing through Saugatuck, MI and she was in the shipyard, sorely neglected. So sad.
**********
M/V "Karizma" a custom trawler yacht built in 1933 that was basically a shell with an engine when Bruce first started work on her. We cruised her on the Ohio River and other nearby rivers for several years (overlapping with our Lake Michigan jaunts). It was great fun motoring up to a landing and having people come from all around to check her out.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Karizma/1.jpg
We sold her 2001 to focus more on our next venture. Regrettably, the new owner(s) sorely neglected her, sunk twice at the dock, and after being hauled out and allowed to sit out in the elements for years, and her keel broke in two so she wound-up being scrapped.
**********
S/V “Amphora” was a 44’ motor-sailor designed by Gordon Monroe and built in 1923 by George Lawley & Son shipyard. She hadn’t seen water for 17 years when Bruce began working on her and launched in 2001.
We took off to Up the Hudson River to the Erie Canal brought us to the Oswego Canal and then across Lake Ontario to Kingston, Canada. We then followed the Trent-Severn Waterway to the Georgian Bay. We went around the top of Lake Huron, and then came back across through the Mackinaw Straits into Michigan. As we made our way down the MI coastline, we were invited to stop at a wooden boat show in Frankfurt, MI one year.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Amphora/1.jpg
Here she is anchored in the Benjamin Islands. Bruce's son, Kyle playing guitar. We like that 'workboat' finish.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Amphora/7.jpg
Raising the mast on the Mississippi River.
After a short winter's layover in White Lake, Michigan, we headed back up to better explore the Georgian Bay / North Channel area and back down again to Lake Michigan.
Bruce traveled (solo) to Chicago, and onto the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, stopping at a marina on the Tennessee River for wintering closer to home. The following spring we both headed back to Lake Michigan, stopping long enough to participate in the 2003 Wooden Boat show at South Haven -- Amphora was a year older than the local tug being hailed that same year for turning 80.
We headed back to Georgian Bay/North Channel and down the other side of Michigan into Lake Huron and into the Saint Claire River where we wintered on the Canadian side.
We again traveled back up to Georgian Bay (can you tell we love that place?) and back to Lake Michigan and later onto the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers and the Tennessee Tombigbee waterway in route to Mobile.
From Mobile it was back across the Panhandle of Florida and down to Ft. Myers. From Ft. Myers, we cruised to the Florida Keys supposedly a delivery to her new buyer but the sale fell through (later sold to a retired couple who now keep "Amphora" off the Ohio River near Aurora, IN and frequently call upon Bruce to help with moving her from here to there).
The decision to sell Amphora was a tough one (we love that boat!) but decided it was necessary in order for Bruce to focus on getting ready for his (our) dream of live-aboard cruising life. "Amphora" is currently enjoying a leisurely life on Laugherty Creek, near Aurora, IN.
Bruce found M/V "Quidam" (formerly called “Sea Hawk II”) in Sewaren, NJ - she was originally gaff-rigged, but Bruce is converting to a shorter rig (as shown in avatar), she’s very round in the mid section, and 44' on deck (47’ if you include the bowsprit Bruce added), 12' beam, and draws 4.5 ft. of water. Carvel construction with mahogany planks, steam-bent oak frames, and bronze fastenings. For power, she still has her original caterpillar single D318 diesel engine (weighs 3800 Lbs but is only 80 HP. Bruce measured fuel consumption of 1.5 gal/hr @ 7.5 Knots, closer to 1 gal/hr @ 6 Knots).
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Quidam/23.jpg
Bruce had to replace the rotted decks and wheelhouse. So he moved the new wheelhouse forward, and added a saloon and stateroom aft.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/quidam1947/Quidam/30.jpg
Dutch doors on either side of the wheelhouse and window frames going in.
We’ve got a lot of work left to go to get her ready for launching (est. 2010), and even more for casting off for good. I'm just a stow-away on his "life of a cruiser's dream" but I look forward to when this dream becomes a reality and adds to our lives’ experiences.
We have another boat, called the M/V "Laura May" that we're hoping to restore soon (needs a couple of sister frames and a few planks for sure). Not certain if we'll sell or keep her but she's got alot of potential.
*********************
Well, that's my (our) story. I look forward to networking with each of you and reading about your projects of love.
Michele