Checking out Delta Marinas

As Chuck was not going to be available until the following morning, we decided to take a drive down I-5 and check out a few marinas that I'd short-listed for either storage or work space.
The first was Tower Park, where I've stayed several times in the past, but haven't been there for at least 15 years. Tower Park is located on Hwy 12 about 5 miles west of I-5. It's easy to get to and has a full service marina, with launch ramp, dry storage, docks, a restaurant and bar, and all the usual amenities.

We had lunch at Rosa's and I checked rates and availability with Sheila at the office. I tentatively reserved a space in the dry storage yard but told them it may be a month or so before I can get the boat moved down there. I showed her photos so she could see exactly what the boat looked like as I didn't want any misunderstandings later on. She seemed fine and gave me space #211.
  Tower Park at one time used a small stationary sling lift and could only launch small boats. That has since been replaced with a ramp and a launch tractor. Valet service is included in the price of the monthly storage. For me, this system is a real no-brainer as there's no way I could handle the launching myself without a tow vehicle and that's precisely what I'm trying to avoid. They only require a very short notice to get you in the water, so it's a very convenient method indeed.

Norstar Automotive

At Norstar Automotive I introduced myself to Jim,the owner and explained my situation as best as I could. He confirmed that Chuck had brought the boat down to have the fuel system checked out and while Chuck insisted it was "all done", Jim hadn't actually worked on it himself. He checked with a couple of his mechanics and we found that they had indeed looked at but had not actually run the engine, so we couldn't be sure. The batteries needed charging first so we saw to hooking it up to shore power overnight. We agreed to return the following day.

Road trip recap

The road trip was short on time, long on driving. We got away about 10 AM on July 31, so a bit of a late start. In Seattle, the Express Lanes were closed and I've found that when things begin to go downhill during the first hours of a journey, they often continue that decline!

Stupidly I chose to disregard this omen so we drove on to Portland, where we encountered the first of the evening rush hour traffic. After crawling across the various bridges and snaking our way south, we at last got a clear stretch and began to make some time. With very few stops other than the obligatory "P" breaks, we managed to get to Grants Pass, Oregon by about 7:30. I'd checked prices at the Motel 6 but I thought I'd give the Sunset Motel a chance to compete. He didn't want to play this round so we checked in at the 6 and headed off for dinner at the little Chinese Restaurant and Bar next to the Sunset.

A combo platter each and a beer to wash it down was all I needed to put and end to day one.

Wednesday morning; our second day, we made a quick stop at Pat's favorite store; the Walmart Super Store at Grants Pass. I bought a couple of shirts and a 30 pack of Bud. Wilburne had a look around but didn't find anything he needed.

   By about 10 AM we crossed the Siskiyou Pass into California. There was plenty of road work going on through the mountains and on down I-5 so making good time wasn't really going to happen. It looked like we weren't going to make Sacramento in time to get checked in and still make "Happy Hour" so I thought we may as well drive out and get a room in Rancho Cordova, where the boat was in storage. I thought we could at least drive over and assess the situation while there was still daylight.

I'd booked our room at the Red Roof Inn on-line, but when we got there, they had no record of the reservation. It took a few phone calls to get it straightened out but we did eventually get our room and it was nice enough. 

After we settled in, and gulped down a cold one, we headed over to have a look at the boat. The access code I'd been given had remained unchanged and the gate swung open first try, but that relief faded rapidly as the boat was nowhere to be found.
  The main storage office is only a block away so we drove there and after a few frantic calls discovered the boat's whereabouts. Chuck had sent it over to an automotive shop to have the fuel issue re-checked and he assured me it was now fixed!

  

  

Another road trip

I've decided to leave on Tuesday July 31st to go back down to Sacramento. My boat buddy Wilburne is coming along this time to lend a hand with the next stage. I'm hoping that between us we'll be able to get the boat in the water. I've been in touch with Gregg in Stockton, who is on my Bayliner Explorer 2670 Yahoo Group. He has a business with Stockton waterfront and his own dock. He's kindly offered his help and the loan of a tow vehicle so things are shaping up!

Keeping the dream alive

Early this June we made a trip down to Sacramento to check on the boat and to visit our friend Elias. The boat has been moved from her original storage location up in Loomis, to a new yard down in Rancho Cordova, which is about 15 miles east of Sac.
  The boat appears to be safe and sound and the yard seems secure. We ordered a new set of tires for the trailer while we were down and left a copy of the invoice with Chuck who kindly agreed to haul the boat and trailer over to the tire shop and get them mounted. Apparently that's all been done as of  July3rd, so the next trip down I'm hoping that we will actually see her afloat. Everything takes longer than what we expect and getting this new venture up and running has certainly been no exception to the rule.
   The other thing I discovered during this recent trip, was that there are not many marinas in or around Sac where one can do a little work on the boat, and it's something that'll definitely be needed, especially in the first few days. As she's been on the hard for a year, at the very least she'll need water, fuel, propane, and some clean-up, not to mention a few days of sea-trials with a safe haven close by. With this in mind I've decided to trailer her to Stockton and launch at Ladd's Marina. I've been there several times in the past with my Catalina 22 "Friday". It's close to I-5, West Marine, and contacts that I have in downtown Stockton, so I feel better about putting her in the water down there.
  So here we are at the 3rd week of July..... still no firm date for launching, but keeping the dream alive!
                                                                                               

Flybridge

From what I've been able to find out so far, not too many Seacampers came with the factory installed flybridge. Fortunately, ( I think! ) mine did!

My first and only time up top was when the boat was sitting on the trailer at Chuck's boatyard up in Loomis, CA. I have to say that it seemed a long way up, and my initial thoughts were that there was no way in Hell that I'd be riding around up there, but after my initial sea trial, and considering the overall stability I've felt so far, I think I could actually see myself up there on some calm, sunny day. Drifting along with an icy cold Budweiser, the view from up top would have to be nothing short of spectacular. Some new fold-down camper style seats would make sun tanning up top, an absolute delight! I'm so looking forward to it!

Dinette/ double berth

This view shows the dinette which drips down to make into a double berth. The area is raised to allow for the refrigerator to be located under the forward seat. The aft dinette seat contains more storage.

Looking aft there's ample cupboard space and plenty of storage under the stove and sink.

There are drawers in the counter as well as overhead storage cupboards along the inner roofline. For a boat of only 24 feet in length with a beam of 8 feet, there's a surprising amount of usable storage, in fact much more than on my 27 foot Bayliner. The fact that the vessel is basically rectangular in shape ( no pointy end! ) allows for the added liveability.

Some interior views

A closer look at the forward settee and entrance hatchway. My plan is to have some upholstery work done throughout the boat.
There isn't a lot of cushioned area, so overall costs shouldn't be prohibitive.

Both of the windshield glasses are a bit weathered and cloudy, but I'm looking into either getting them polished or replacing them entirely. Visibility at this point is still acceptable but would be greatly enhanced with new windows. It would also improve the overall look of the vessel from the exterior. The small windscreen up on the flybridge also has a crack in it, so I would more than likely replace that at the same time.

Looking forward

It's March now and I'm one leg closer to being onboard.

I had my first surgery on Feb 17; that was two weeks ago today. I can walk and even drive a bit now, so I feel more positive about the the future and I'm looking forward to the day when cruising the delta again, will really happen.

For now, I'll put up a few more photos starting with an interior shot looking forward from near the rear entryway. The galley is on the starboard side and the table makes down into a double berth. Just forward of the dinette table is the enclosed head with a mirrored door. The settee on the port side up forward, pulls out into another double bed. This feature was an add-on done by the previous owner, but it's quite handy and seems to function well. I will probably try to keep it as long as it doesn't get in the way of any restoration plans. I'd like to keep the boat as close to original as I can.