Formosa 51 Ketch used in the cult classic "Captain Ron", Kemah Texas Watergate Marina

I went to Houston this past weekend with the Commander to a boat broker open house, and to pick up the Avon roll up that Sean had acquired for me at the marine resale shop several weeks ago. He had been using it as a racing dingy at his boat, powering the 9 1/2 footer with a 15 horse engine, a truly fearsome setup, and an undefeated champion.

It's funny, and I'm sure a part of the overall illness that comes with terminal sailboat disease, I actually relish the idea of a five hour drive in order to attend a boat open house.

The same is not true with a house-open-house. I would not even consider driving across town to look at houses. I find them boring and monotonous, an evil necessity. I am uncomfortable with the idea of being tied down to a mortgage, especially on dry land. Claustrophobia sets in when I consider the idea of living within spitting distance of people I don't know and don't want to know. The house and all of its things start to own you, and soon, the line of time and unencumbered life blurs and becomes indistinct, as "normal" society dictates responsibility and uniformity.

I can always make more money, but I can't make more time.

Arriving in Kemah around 2300 Friday night, it was much colder than down here, making me all the more glad that I live a bit South of latitude 26...and causing me to dream of living even further down....

Driving around for awhile, we circled a Marina called the "Kemah Boardwalk", where there were so many sailboats that I immediately went into a nautical overload coma. I mean, there were so many masts that it looked like a forest in winter. I wondered what would happen in the event of the "H" word? I know I'd be paranoid even trying to tie Olivia up in that harbor.

Saturday morning we met Davids father who lives in the Houston area. He's a major sailing fanatic also. We quaffed down an acceptible taco and some hot coffee before heading out to the docks to look at a boats. They have their eye on two boats in particular; a Dehler 34 hybrid racer/cruiser and a Choy Lee Pedrick 36.

First thing, I contacted Seans friend, Ken who lives in the same marina where Sean keeps his boat in order to pick up our dink which was on the deck of Seans 32 Choy Lee, Sea Pearl. We visited with Ken for a while aboard his Choy Lee of the same vintage and size. It was a comfortable boat, and he had been living aboard for 18 years, together with a series of boat cats for company. A confident and fit man in his mid 60's Ken was full of stories and information. He helped us walk the little dink up the dock (it's only a 9 1/2 footer anyway), deflate it and stow it in the Commanders van.

Davids dad, another role model for this life shook Kens hand upon our departure, and remarked; "You're my new hero.

Both he and Ken have become new heros of mine. Being a relative youngster in comparison to them, I have renewed hope that my energy for living will continue well into the future, and that I do not have to give up either the dream, or the chase after it.

We started and ended the open house day at the Dehler. In between we checked out several Beneteaus. The 38 didn't particularly utilize its cabin space too well, but the 46 was a different story, and at only $209,000, what a bargain.... so cheap in fact that I briefly considered buying that and a 40 Pacific Seacraft that was listed at $395,000.......

There was an Islander 37 (pilot house model) that was registered in the US Virgin Islands with a real interesting cabin plan, Pullman-berth style berthing, and a cavernous forepeak head, the Choy Lee Pedrick (my favorite boat of the day), and a late model Hunter 31 (just to reinforce the notion of chlorox bottle construction). The Hunter was of course, the dog of the day, with totally cheesy deck and interior layouts and construction. It reminded me of a one of the Jayco type trailers that the snowbirds haul down here every winter to live so cheaply in. 

I  even saw what I believe was the Formosa 51 used in the movie Captain Ron (it has a new name, but the green ketch is unmistakable).

I took many pictures that day, before we left at around 1700 to head back here. My legs ached from boarding so many boats, descending and ascending a dizzying number of companionways.

The talk on the drive home was of course, boats. It appears that the Commander now has a solid case of bigger boat fever, lusting after the Dehler, and I expect his 28 Ranger to be listed for sale soon. I've seen this look before, he will succomb.

On Sunday I went down to Olivia and delivered a couple of things I bought for her at the West Marine in Kemah. I emptied the gallon or so of water that was in the bilge after the torrential rains that D said happened all day Saturday, and checked everything inside out. All was well. I've already decided that when (not a matter of if) I succomb to bigger boat fever, Olivia will stay. How could I do otherwise?