Receiving your boat after a Cross Country Delivery

Dave Perry & Don talking about Cape Dory & Robinhood boat history

When our Robinhood 36 arrived in Ventura, CA, we had the good fortune of hosting a few day's visit from Dave Perry, the broker who sold her to us in Maine. Dave has worked for Cape Dory - which became Robinhood - for decades, and he has a wealth of knowledge, not just about the details of these boats, but the history of Cape Dory too, which Don and I really enjoy. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit, and the avalanche of details about Florian that he shared with us. Thanks again, Dave!

Dave Perry showing us details of Florian's Furler
 and Mast at Ventura Harbor Marina & Yacht Yard
before she was re-commissioned.

Upon Dave's arrival in Southern California, we went directly from the airport at LAX to the boatyard, and Dave spent some time helping us get acquainted with details less visible when she was on the hard in Maine, as well as some of the work they did on Florian before she shipped West. (And I have to admit that my attention for this was a bit more focused in 65 degree weather, vs the low 40's cold on the day we went to look at her.)

Dave Perry in the starboard cockpit locker, showing us the
Escobar Heating system Robinhood installed for us before sending Florian West.

When cold weather region boats are winterized, antifreeze is added to all the water tanks.
First order of business was to empty the pink stuff, and flush everything with fresh water.

Robinhood 36 Hull #3

I learned a few things about taking receipt of a boat delivered via truck:

1) When a boat travels many miles via truck, it become a bug net. The hull, stanchions, winches and anything vertical enough to catch an insect did just that.  Be prepared to do some scrubbing when your boat arrives.

2) Even after a new bottom job, the friction of carpeted blocks on the hull for a long, bumpy road trip will wear new bottom paint off the hull, so be prepared to touch up with matching paint before she's put back in the water.

3) Know where your boat's fenders and dock lines are stored before she goes back in the water. And know where the companion way and starter keys are stashed.

4) If it can be helped, try not to send a truck carrying your newly purchased sail boat cross country in the middle of record breaking tornado season.

5) In the enthusiasm to learn everything there is to know about a new boat, don't take all the manuals home with you to read on the day she arrives. They contain important details specific to your boat (especially radar & various electronics, etc), and the boat yard may want to reference them in the re-commissioning process.

I sat in the V-berth as soon as she was in the water, just to absorb
her curves & lines: this beautiful boat was ours now.