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Old 07-15-2017, 05:17 AM   #1
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87-year-old Boat Heads to UK (the slow way)

After six great summers in BC, my wife and I decided to take Content home. We live in the UK, and we've been spending 4-5 months a year on board. We'd like to use her in there winter too, which means a base in the Med is most likely.

We'd been thinking about this for a couple of years, and it presented us with quite a dilemma: sell up, or take her with us. When we bought her, the hull was in great shape, but all the running gear needed updating. So we've made a big investment in time (and some money), repowering, re-wiring, re-plumbing, replacing shafts, and adding new electronics. And there's the emotional attachment too, not inconsiderable.

General consensus among boaters advised against the trip: the journey will kill her, or the warm water in the tropics will. We shall see.

So, we'd like to document the trip here, as we've had so much help and advice from the forum over the years.

I must say that the inspiration for the trip came squarely from @VicTrawler , whose epic trip was excellently recorded.

We started quietly, and suddenly, 4 days after rounding Cape Flattery, we're tied up in Garibaldi.

So it's real. I'll post as we go along, especially when we need some help!
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Old 07-15-2017, 05:33 AM   #2
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Greetings,
Mr. MV. WOW!!! What an adventure. Fair seas.
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Old 07-15-2017, 05:36 AM   #3
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Great adventure. Waiting for more. Pics of boat please
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Old 07-15-2017, 05:38 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by MV Content View Post
General consensus among boaters advised against the trip: the journey will kill her, or the warm water in the tropics will.
It seems to me that NOT using boats is what kills them. By the time you finish your trip your boat will be healthier and in better shape, because will have been using and stressing and working it, and therefore repairing and fixing and constantly maintaining it.
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Old 07-15-2017, 06:49 AM   #5
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It says a lot for TF that you have chosen to host your journey here! I for one, will be following your journey closely. Here's hoping for a safe, fun trip!
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Old 07-15-2017, 07:41 AM   #6
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Safe travels!

I will be following along to see how the journey goes.

Would love to see some pictures of your boat.

Jim
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Old 07-15-2017, 08:01 AM   #7
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Thanks for keeping us in the loop. I'm looking forward to following your journey.
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Old 07-15-2017, 08:47 AM   #8
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Drool factor 10 for your vessel!

Did you get those bat wing stabilizers installed, and if so, what difference did they make?
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Old 07-15-2017, 08:54 AM   #9
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Thank you all! Murray, no I didn't. Advice from the yard, when it came to decision time, was that we may introduce the hull to a whole new level of stress. So we decided to travel heavy, fuel and water tanks full, and pick our travel days carefully. So far, we've been in a great system, but she handled Juan de Fuca very well, and that was lumpy.
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Old 07-15-2017, 08:59 AM   #10
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Thanks for letting me know.

Was Content always a private vessel, or was there some government service such as forestry or war in her past? Built in BC?
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Old 07-15-2017, 09:02 AM   #11
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Built in the US, Long Beach CA, for Ezra Fitch, to explore rivers of South America. Never really worked, though she had a spell in the USN, and later as a mission boat in BC. Privately owned otherwise. We bought her in 2011.
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Old 07-15-2017, 09:07 AM   #12
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Interesting...same design criteria as the original Great Harbour N37, but worlds apart aesthetically!

I'm sure Content will be a fine ambassador for western North American boat building wherever you may travel. Thanks for the info
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Old 07-15-2017, 12:55 PM   #13
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Awesome. This member of the TF peanut gallery will assist any way I can.

Keep us updated!!!
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Old 07-15-2017, 01:13 PM   #14
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If there is such a thing as "boat porn" Content would be the centerfold!! Enjoy the journey
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Old 07-15-2017, 02:12 PM   #15
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Will like to follow your postings

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Old 07-15-2017, 02:39 PM   #16
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Quote:
. We live in the UK, and we've been spending 4-5 months a year on board. We'd like to use her in there winter too, which means a base in the Med is most likely
Sounds like an epic trip: Wow! I've been planning a move to the Med too, but Brexit has put a stop to Gibraltar as a base because the Spanish could close the border; its hard to decide where to go that's not too expensive and where the language isn't too difficult to Comprehend.

I'll be following your trip with interest
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Old 07-15-2017, 04:06 PM   #17
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What an adventure, Eamonn! Thanks for taking us along. Will you be traveling with a SPOT or similar GPS tracker/satellite link? How long do you expect before arriving home?

What's your expected route? Would love to swing by if you're resting in the SF Bay.

Wishing you flat seas and light winds. Cheers!
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Old 07-15-2017, 04:28 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright View Post
What an adventure, Eamonn! Thanks for taking us along. Will you be traveling with a SPOT or similar GPS tracker/satellite link? How long do you expect before arriving home?

What's your expected route? Would love to swing by if you're resting in the SF Bay.

Wishing you flat seas and light winds. Cheers!


Thanks for this! This is a trip without a schedule, mainly because the old girl will have more say in that matter than I will.
We do have an inreach, and that's sending tracking data to our blog , contentgoeshome.wordpress.com . Come have a look :-)
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Old 07-15-2017, 04:59 PM   #19
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https://contentgoeshome.wordpress.com/
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Old 07-15-2017, 05:39 PM   #20
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I am excited with anticipation to follow this thread and stay up on your posts.

Wishing Super Good Luck... and... fine travel times ahead for you!
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