End of an era

Aerie, the boat I built in Ohio eight years ago, is no longer mine. A series of unfortunate events forced me to sell her for a fraction of her cost (including the trailer). After dragging her over the Rockies to California I had to put her in storage, not having a garage of my own. It was inconvenient and expensive. Eventually I moved her to the back yard, first under a tarp, then under a tent "portable garage." I built a gate in the back fence, which opens up to the grounds of a school. For a few enjoyable outings I pushed her on her trailer over a short stretch of grass to the school parking lot, hitched the trailer and took her to the water. Then the school district decided to rebuild the school and cut off access through that gate. I got Aerie out with only five days to spare before construction started, blocking the gate. 

So I advertised. Got lots of nice comments and vague interest, and a few people who were convinced they wanted to buy her. Several backed out due to advanced age and/or injuries, leaving me with $300 in forfeited deposits. I finally found a good home for her in Santa Cruz, California, just as the coronavirus lockdown was starting to take effect. The photo is from when I rigged the boat fully and tested everything. Apart from some scratches on the paint she was good as new. It broke my heart but she had to go.

At least I have built the other boat in Greece, which I have named "Sophia-Andreas" after the Greek versions of my grandchildren's names. She has her papers in order and is waiting for me when I get there. With all the travel restrictions nothing is certain, but we hope to get there in early June.

So what next on this U.S. side of the pond? I can't be water craft-less, so I am mulling over building a canoe. I was leaning towards a Hawaiian-style outrigger sailing canoe designed by Gary Dierking. But maybe I am too much of a tinkerer to fully stick to someone else's design. So I might build to a Dierking design but re-purpose one of Aerie's original lugsails (which would become a gaff sail). Or build a 15-foot American-style canoe that I have tentatively designed in two bolt-together sections (like the Dierking Wa'apa) with the option of adding an outrigger and sail(s) later. I don't know, and that keeps life interesting.