kokopelliTim
Senior Member
And so I have finally purchased my Prairie Trawler!
She is a 1978, Hull #6 Prairie
She is the vessel formally known as "Sue Marie" from Merritt Island, FL. . Fellow TF member John T owned her and treated her superbly well. He sold her to a guy from Norfolk who got her to Brunswick. GA with a hired captain. Through life circumstances and various problems, he had to sell.
I bought her in GA after much discussion with John back in FL and the new guy.
I had to travel to GA to get her ready to be hauled on a truck up to New Bern, NC (had to haul her as there was doubt if her engine could make it and I had no time to work on her in GA and eventually cruise her up to NC). After 5 hours in GA she was ready to go.
She was just under 15' high and my guy Paul from Triton in Oriental, NC got her up her safely and for about the same price I would have had to pay a captain to bring her up.
So, safely in NC. I had her on the hard for 3 weeks putting her back together, making sure all was safe and sound to splash her well.
Finally on the 27th of June, I had her splashed, very anxious about the potential engine issues. My friend, Buck, and I started her up, put her under load at the dock and she sounded pretty. We ran her for over 30 min, got the temp up, listened, watched her, trying to see, hear anything odd.
Nothing.
So we launched her and cruised the Neuse River for a couple of hours at cruising speed. All the time listening, watching, hoping all was well. As the minutes went by and no problem, we began to relax and enjoy the boat.
WOW. What a spectacular vessel. She responded so well. She felt well. She was fun. I relaxed and had fun, had a good time being at the upper helm and on the water.
We got her into her slip, tied her up and both declared that she was fit and well. A good, solid, trustworthy vessel.
She is my new vessel (after selling my Marine Trader 40 three years ago). She is my vessel to eventually escape to cruise in a few years.
She is a dream come true. I have lusted after a Prairie 29 since 2011!
I shall take the great work John has put into her and make her mine. She needs some cosmetic work (we all do after 40 years!), build some storage, adjust a few things; but really no deep work needed.
I shall add to this thread as I accomplish the work and see what shall happen.
I want to thank the TF people and friends who share their knowledge, errors, learning times and mistakes; encouraging, laughing and sharing their stories.
She is a 1978, Hull #6 Prairie
She is the vessel formally known as "Sue Marie" from Merritt Island, FL. . Fellow TF member John T owned her and treated her superbly well. He sold her to a guy from Norfolk who got her to Brunswick. GA with a hired captain. Through life circumstances and various problems, he had to sell.
I bought her in GA after much discussion with John back in FL and the new guy.
I had to travel to GA to get her ready to be hauled on a truck up to New Bern, NC (had to haul her as there was doubt if her engine could make it and I had no time to work on her in GA and eventually cruise her up to NC). After 5 hours in GA she was ready to go.
She was just under 15' high and my guy Paul from Triton in Oriental, NC got her up her safely and for about the same price I would have had to pay a captain to bring her up.
So, safely in NC. I had her on the hard for 3 weeks putting her back together, making sure all was safe and sound to splash her well.
Finally on the 27th of June, I had her splashed, very anxious about the potential engine issues. My friend, Buck, and I started her up, put her under load at the dock and she sounded pretty. We ran her for over 30 min, got the temp up, listened, watched her, trying to see, hear anything odd.
Nothing.
So we launched her and cruised the Neuse River for a couple of hours at cruising speed. All the time listening, watching, hoping all was well. As the minutes went by and no problem, we began to relax and enjoy the boat.
WOW. What a spectacular vessel. She responded so well. She felt well. She was fun. I relaxed and had fun, had a good time being at the upper helm and on the water.
We got her into her slip, tied her up and both declared that she was fit and well. A good, solid, trustworthy vessel.
She is my new vessel (after selling my Marine Trader 40 three years ago). She is my vessel to eventually escape to cruise in a few years.
She is a dream come true. I have lusted after a Prairie 29 since 2011!
I shall take the great work John has put into her and make her mine. She needs some cosmetic work (we all do after 40 years!), build some storage, adjust a few things; but really no deep work needed.
I shall add to this thread as I accomplish the work and see what shall happen.
I want to thank the TF people and friends who share their knowledge, errors, learning times and mistakes; encouraging, laughing and sharing their stories.