Harmony - What on Earth did we get ourselves into?

Now that we have begun our blog voyage, it's a good time to introduce the vessel that will be our seaborne home and transport us on our adventures.  Harmony, is a Westsail 42 Ketch that was built in 1976 in Costa Mesa, CA.  The Westsail 42 joins its legendary sister the Westsail 32 as the stuff of dreams and legends when it comes to cruising on a sailboat.


The Westsail 42 was designed by W.I.B. Crealock to be a comfortable world cruising vessel easily handled by 2 people.  There is a bit of Colin Archer in the full keel double ended hull which adds to her nautical beauty and seaworthiness.  The Westsail 42 is a center cockpit vessel offered as either a cutter, cutter ketch, or a cutter yawl.  One of Walter Cronkite's boats was a Westsail 42 yawl.  Harmony is a cutter ketch which offers an easily handled sailplan with an abundance of sail combinations for any cruising situation.  She is a BIG boat weighing in at 31,500 pounds, but she will be stable and strong for us to sail anywhere.

However, our Harmony comes to us through as much coincidence as plan.  In August, 2011, when the opportunity to purchase Harmony appeared we were definitely not considering another boat project.  In fact, the day we looked at Harmony, I had told Beth that I have no idea how I managed our restoration of Poetry, our Pearson Vanguard, and I didn't think I could muster enough energy to do another boat restoration.

Well, someone had other ideas!  Beth met with Fred from Barden's Boatyard in Marion while walking boatswain, Annabelle, and he let her know that Harmony was for sale.  Now, for historical perspective, Beth has loved Harmony since we first saw her in Marion Harbor over 20 years ago.  So it didn't take long for Fred's subtle hook to get set.  Once she told me, I initially said "No Way", but relented and agreed to ONLY a look-see!




Our first look at Harmony

 

Ha! What was I thinking?!  It took all of 5 minutes for Harmony to take me under her spell and I proclaimed, "Yeah, we can do this!".  So, a month later after an extensive survey and valuation, we were the excited owners of Harmony! 

However, we now needed to let go of and sell our beloved Poetry, which is a story for another post.  In the meantime, we developed the restoration plan which we expected to take about 2 years and a several "boat dollars".  The old boat work energy came roaring back.  Fred, ever the friend he has always been to us, counseled me repeatedly to take my time and not get overwhelmed.  He has been so right on that issue, but we'll get to that later.

Water Damage & Dry Rot in the Galley Sole

The survey found that Harmony had a very sound deck and hull with the all important moisture content being very, very, low.  However, the interior of the boat had been significantly damaged by years of rain water intrusion and the galley and salon showed signs of dry rot.  Prior to our entering the scene, the boat had been sold and the buyer had reneged of payments, but not after removing a lot of equipment and furniture:  no engine, radios, or cushions.  However, he did leave the holding tanks!  Again a story for later.

Nav Station looking Forward into Starboard Side Galley

 

Regardless of what we saw, we were glad that the hull and deck were sound, and we considered the rest of the issues to be cosmetic.  Besides, we now owned Harmony, and we knew what she could be!

BUT, as I considered what I had to do, I kept hearing my inner voice saying "What on Earth did we get ourselves into"!

Fair Winds and Following Seas!