After almost two years of research, boat shows, and inspecting new and used boats, Jen and I found the perfect platform for our cruising home. We found it in the form of a Lagoon 420. Our primary criteria were 1) A safe blue-water sailboat, 2) A comfortable home, and 3) Decent sailing performance. We spent a lot of time looking at used catamarans and found that we needed to stick with fairly recent models to meet the comfortable home requirement. When we got on the 420, it was love at first sight. It feels like it was designed just for us, but more on that in later posts. We decided on buying a new 420, partially so that we could get the diesel model rather than the electric for ease of maintenance during cruising. While we thought the the electric version was cool, it was a bit of a concern for a cruising boat. We needed something that was not going to require specialized skills and difficult-to-get replacement parts when repairs were required.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Boat
After almost two years of research, boat shows, and inspecting new and used boats, Jen and I found the perfect platform for our cruising home. We found it in the form of a Lagoon 420. Our primary criteria were 1) A safe blue-water sailboat, 2) A comfortable home, and 3) Decent sailing performance. We spent a lot of time looking at used catamarans and found that we needed to stick with fairly recent models to meet the comfortable home requirement. When we got on the 420, it was love at first sight. It feels like it was designed just for us, but more on that in later posts. We decided on buying a new 420, partially so that we could get the diesel model rather than the electric for ease of maintenance during cruising. While we thought the the electric version was cool, it was a bit of a concern for a cruising boat. We needed something that was not going to require specialized skills and difficult-to-get replacement parts when repairs were required.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?
Now, I know it's still the midwest, and I know it's still March... but COME ON ALREADY!!! It was almost completely gone... then yesterday... 6 or so more inches of fresh snow. 
Fortunately, it doesn't look like it will be around for too long. It does, however, make the waiting even more difficult.
Fortunately, it doesn't look like it will be around for too long. It does, however, make the waiting even more difficult.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Chesapeake Bay
I am so ready to be out on the water again...
As much as I have enjoyed summers in the midwest, I am totally over the winters. Mother Nature must have known that this would be our last Chicago winter and decided to give us quite the send off. This has been one of the worst winters I can remember... and I've lived here most of my 39 years.
As much as I have enjoyed summers in the midwest, I am totally over the winters. Mother Nature must have known that this would be our last Chicago winter and decided to give us quite the send off. This has been one of the worst winters I can remember... and I've lived here most of my 39 years.Thursday, March 6, 2008
Google Earth
To those of you who are interested in watching our progress, I highly recommend you install Google Earth (http://earth.google.com/) if you haven't already. It's free and you can enter coordinates for search criteria (which I will be posting here as time and connectivity permit). The app will "fly" you to the location so you can view local info, user posted photos, and of course, satellite imagery. Warning - it's a HUGE time drain.
For starters, the boat factory is somewhere in this area: 46°46'52.69"N, 1°25'49.67"W. When plugging coordinates into Google Earth, you can just leave out the ° symbol (use a space), i.e., 46 46'52.69"N, 1 25'49.67"W, for example. The boat is scheduled to exit the factory on May 5, and from what I understand, we will be able to watch it's progress as it's delivered across the Atlantic from France to Annapolis, MD.
For starters, the boat factory is somewhere in this area: 46°46'52.69"N, 1°25'49.67"W. When plugging coordinates into Google Earth, you can just leave out the ° symbol (use a space), i.e., 46 46'52.69"N, 1 25'49.67"W, for example. The boat is scheduled to exit the factory on May 5, and from what I understand, we will be able to watch it's progress as it's delivered across the Atlantic from France to Annapolis, MD.
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