New Blog

I'm moving on and probably won't post much here anymore, but will leave the content up for those that are interested in plastic classic restoration.  I've started a new blog with new adventures about fixing up beat up boats, this time on a smaller scale.  I'm building a new shop that will be better suited for new projects, especially in the winter.  Visit www.fernhollow.net for more.

My first project fell in my lap before I finished the shop. It's a 1977 Force 5 that followed me home from the interwebs (free boat on craigslist).  I sailed one as a kid at camp and have many fond memories.  I'm close to getting it back in the water, and then I will finish the shop.

After that, I am looking at a number of small boat designs that embrace beach cruising and camping.  The Maine Island Trail is something I've wanted to do for some time and I want to build a boat that would suit that type of sailing.  I've been looking at building a Caledonia Yawl, Ness Yawl, Goat Island Skiff, Core Sound 17 or 20, and a few designs of my own.

Magic has sold!

I'm both happy and sad to report that Magic has been sold.  The good Karma Gods must have been smiling down on her, because one of the new owners is the daughter of a former owner and sailed on Magic when she was young.  I can't help but think that I've passed Magic into good hands, and will enjoy and take care of her.  Fair winds.

The End!
(or the beginning)

My last sail as owner of Magic.

Magic For Sale!

It's with mixed emotions I've decided to put Magic up for sale.  If you've been following this blog then it may come as a surprise, but as much as I've enjoyed the fruits of 4 years of labor this summer, I decided that it's time to take on a new challenge.  I'm realistic and know that I will never get the labor and time that I put into her and am selling her for $22,000.  Overall she is in excellent condition and I've detailed her extensive restoration on this blog.  There is lots of information here as well as more images and links to videos of Magic sailing.

Her storage is paid up until summer and she is shrink wrapped and winterized.  Listing details are here: Listing Details. Feel free to contact me at matt@bowser.com if you want more information.

During the first years after I bought Magic in 2001, the circumstances of my life were significantly different.  My kids were just toddlers and could be packed away in the car for the 2.5 hour trip without much of a fuss. Additionally, my parents lived down on the Cape so we were traveling down from New Hampshire regularly anyway.

Times have changed though; my kids both like sailing but now that they are 15 and 13 respectively, they are beginning to have lives of their own and it has become difficult to plan family getaways. With that said, we had a great week sailing down on the Cape and Martha's Vineyard this summer and a few weekends that I wouldn't trade for the world.  I was able to sail quite a bit this summer, but much of that time was spent solo and I started to come to terms with the fact that it didn't make sense to spend so much time and money (mooring and hauling costs) on a big boat that I was for the most part day sailing.

I still love sailing and I have a number of friends with big boats that I'll crew on going forward, and back in late July I spent a day sailing a few boats in the Small Reach Regatta up in Brooklin Maine and fell in love with one in particular. The Caledonia Yawl designed by Iain Oughtred.  It sails great, is trailerable (read: no mooring or hauling fees), and will satisfy my desire to sail the Maine Island Trail in a small boat.  The proceeds from the sale of Magic will go toward the cost of building a Caledonia Yawl or something similar.

Magic's last morning in the water this year.  Note the frost on the dock!