Good to hear from you again. Yes, I have obtained my GW from Staten Island NY. The first of many adventures that i’ll have. Although, this one begins on land. I had my eye on the CATCH 22 since July. At that time it was a dream to come true. Through some very fortunate circumstances I had the ability to seriously consider my dream. The 228 was not bought on a whim but, through a great deal of research right down to the scuppers of the GW’S. This took 8 mths and only a daily basis having pure enjoyment a long the way.
The opportunity that was available became obtainable. I began the proces, almost as extensive as a real estate purchase. I had the price under book value set with a serious time constraint. The seller wanted to sell now. If I didn’t buy now, I would pay later buying another boat down the road. Catch 22 is a 2016 bought in 2017. She was put on the water April of 2017. Through the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the , then buyer, Catch 22 sat. Fortunately for me, they have seasons up there. The usage was non existent. I found that the total usage time was really one year. She still has all the original stickers and the plastic around the head (never used). The motor, right around 220 hrs. on a Yamaha 300.
I had everything set to buy and travel with one serious problem. No trailers to be found anywhere. I phoned from Tampa to , even NYC. Nothing. My opportunity was slipping through my fingers. One of our GW brothers suggested Tropic Trailers in Fort Meyers, FLA. I found one Port Charlotte and drove down there and bought that one to find out from the GW brotheren that it was to small . Another disappointment and a real concern. I still didn’t have a trailer. Everybody had a 8 week turnaround time! Got to love COVID. I called to Gary in Fort Meyers and...well he said he may have one. I drove down to Port Charlotte to cancel on that trailer to buy the one there. I brought it back unadjusted for the boat. I sweat bullets all the way up there. The marina was a small one with no capabilities to lift the the boat to adjust the trailer and put it on. I had to go to a federal park offsite that had a ramp. Through the grace of the boat master I could utilize one of her employees. She also hooked me up with a marine surveyor. Another problem. They all had backlogs for weeks. Now I had the boat trailer and a boat to buy but, I needed to get this boat surveyed. She hooked me up with a friend, he was a marine surveyor for much larger boats, but agreed to do it the same day. I called the the owner that lives out of state in Connecticut. He agreed to drive down to take him out for a sea trial. I was on the phone with him while he was out with the owner. The synopsis from him and the boat master was I a buying a used new boat. Buy the way, everybody up there knew each other. A good solid Italian neighborhood. Good families.
One final thing, the financing was finalized and the deal the night before I was scheduled to leave on a journey of 2600 miles including the traveling to Tropical Trailers. Which I might add adjusted the trailer with the boat on it, after the trip back.
That was the very same day I did my first sea trial here, alone, with then, a tropical depression to be come hurricane Sally knocking at our door. Sideways rain and a lot of wind. Not much competition at the Blackburn Point boat ramp that day. I figured if I could start to get a feel for her that day, the rest would be even more fun. Those gusts were 20-30 mph. Times I couldn’t see more than a couple of boat lengths ahead of me. I had rain gear on and was soaked. This done mostly on the inter coastal. Yes I did have to hit the Gulf! And did! Just a rather short jaunt.
Now it’s time for the real adventures to begin. I’ll be looking for you now but, not from the north side of the Venice Jetty, on the beach but on the Catch 22.
Take care my friend.
