Bob,

Cool boat! Sounds like she's going to be fast (I've heard that the Catalinas are good in that respect to start with). If I had the bucks and the tow vehicle, I wouldn't hesitate to buy Alina; she sounds cherry. As it is, I'm attempting to resurrect a Sunflower-yup, one of those styrofoam boats. My daughter and I took it out last week, and I was surprised at how easily it planes, even in its dented, dilapidated condition. Who knows how fast it'd be with a clean hull, foil shaped daggerboard and rudder, not to mention a shaped dacron sail! One thing's for sure: She'll be exceptionally fast at the ramp!

Fair winds,

Steve Tyree, P-15 #2098 "Amy Ann", +unchristened Sunflower

In a message dated 4/18/2003 12:34:24 PM Central Standard Time, racsrv@attbi.com writes:

Steve,

Kerry already won the “Name that Tune” competition, but to answer your question more directly, I bought a Catalina 27 tall/Stockton rig (a tall rig with the boom lowered another foot and a half for increased sail area). So far, I’ve been working on her a lot and sailing her a little, but both are a lot of fun! Just completed a haul-out where her bottom received a sand blasting, fairing, epoxy barrier coat, bottom paint, and new thru-hulls. Currently the mast is down and I’m installing new rigging, spreader bracket, VHF antenna, halyards, sheaves, and Windex. On the deck, I’m retrofitting the chain plates with the newer U-Bolt style for greater strength (I don’t always reef down when I’m supposed to). Other than that (and a dozen other minor projects) the boat’s really in nice condition.

Fair winds,

Bob Campbell

Montgomery 17 #615 “Alina”

Lodi, CA