Thread: The Grey Seal Huon Seal

Hang in there Rob.

You have given the boat a good go, and done the right thing by her with the new engine.

Keep us up to date with progress.

I'm sure I'm not the only follower of your adventures, and I wish you well whatever you decide to do.

Rufus , yes , HS has been a revelation to me .
She is a beautiful boat , and yes , I've contributed to that , with her new engine , and engine box etc.
Last Sunday , we sailed all the way down to the "holeinthewall' .
On the way back , I was sitting on the opposite side of her to the sun , and I couldn't stop looking at her , as she slipped along easily at 5- 5 1/2 knots , with the sun shining through her sails , and bouncing off the cabin , and deck.
She is a beautiful thing .
But my hands don't work for me , and because of the medication I'm on I bruise easily , my legs are covered in bruises , from sailing contacts that normally would not have left any mark.
I even have trouble getting up to her from the tender.
I may have to look at something else.
How about I start a thread on "available motorsailers" , and everyone offers an opinion on these boats.
Regards Rob J.

You havn't posted for a while Rob.

How are things going?

How are things going Rufus ?.
OK , I guess.
I haven't been out sailing on HS for a while now , although I took her out a week or so ago fishing , motoring.
I was hoping to take her out over easter , but couldn't find a sailing partner , everyone had gone away , for the break.
I worked the mornings on Coastguard radio duty on Saturday , and today , and when I was going home , of course , I cast an eye on her , and noticed that the ladder , which is normally rolled up on her port stern quarter was hanging down a bit .
Enough of an excuse to come home , get the tender and outboard , and go back out and do a little housework on her.
Unfortunately , the dickheads were still around in their "sea lice" , screaming around the moored boats , spraying us with their rooster tails , I was just wishing for a way to smack them off their craft , and leave them floundering in the water.
Saw my old sailing mate coming back in to the harbour , so I sat back and waited for him to get back on his mooring . I knew from the weather forecasts I had been giving out that the wind was going to come up , and while I was waiting , it sure did ! , so I was glad I didn't attempt to go out single handed.
Anyway , as I rowed back to my mates boat , I looked at HS , that beautiful plump stern , and thought "gee , she has got a nice bum !" .
She does , here it is !.
The shed is up , now just waiting for the electrician , and the plumber.
Apart from that , I'm exploring the idea of getting a motor sailer.
HS is something very special , but if I can't sail her , she is being wasted.
Regards Rufus , and thanks for asking.
Rob J.

Thanks for the update Rob.

Glad to hear that you are out and about in the boating community.

Best wishes, have fun.

Rob, it's OK that the boat isn't used all the time. Very few of us can access our toys at will, and this is an outdoor operation, subject to weather...and crew isn't always available. Your body will have it's better moments (just as the seasons will offer more or less opportunities to sail), and I'm sure you'll cultivate enough co-operative contacts who, as crew will enable you to have many more magic moments. Maybe there are some that need some help maintaining their boats that might enjoy an assistant...

Maybe Huon Seal can become a sometime floating intimate restaurant for a few of you occasionally- without needing to go anywhere at all. That might get your better half involved.

What works for me is photography. It enables me to relive special times, so when it's all happening, I'm making pics and movies for later, tucked up safe and dry in the house...

Hope this doesn't sound like interfering, (don't mean to). I just hate to see you feeling so down about your boat and your sailing.

Well Rufus , I am in the boating community , just not as much as I'd like.
But , I'm not moping over that , just spending more time in our garden , and planning landscaping our new garden , around the shed.
And helping an old , old friend.
I have 8 old horse friends , one a Hackney gelding , that used to belong to an old mate of mine .
We used to enjoy driving him around Mansfied , when he was a younger , tireless , magnificent driving horse .
He was left to me , when my old driving mate died.
Now he is about 36 , very old , no teeth , and needing more than green grass.
Now that the shed is finished , he has his own paddock , shelter , and I've got him on a special diet , and personal attention.
He is always talking to me , thanking me I guess . He was always a special horse , and he will remain that way , till the end.
It reminds me of that beautiful piece by Banjo Patterson "In the droving days".
Yachting , yes , I'd love to do it , one way or the other , but their are still vestiges of my "former life".
Yesterday I dragged out my old bullock yokes , that I trained my team with , and what they grew to work in.
And heaps and heaps of old horse harness.
"In the droving days" , indeed !.
Rob , I doubt my wife will ever get on HS , she has enough trouble with a floating pier !.
But she encourages me to go down to HS , even if its just to sit about , and fish.
Just getting out of the tender , and back in , is a bit tricky though .
I'll try to get as much sailing as I can in , in the next 3 months , then bring her home , shed her , spend some time getting her "spot on" , and maybe sell her.
We will see.
Regards Rob J.

Hi Rob, Have you posted HS specs and history anywhere on the Forum. Was the trailer built for HS.
What size was the trailer sailer that you did the delivery on?
Ian L

Rob, re partners on boat, my Admiral had to be dragged onto the 26ft steely but since we got WD back she gets pretty anoyed if she misses out, especaily if it is a club weekend. We got a private mooring at McCarrs Creek Pitwater last year which was liking winning lotto, easerly the most protected parking spot for miles, also with plenty of car parking and a deep water public pontoon which is rarely used. All this makes a night on the boat more attractive for the outlaws as well !!!!!
Ian L
"Wavedancer "

Ian , Huon Seal is a straight Iain Oughtred Grey Seal , except it is fitted with a bowsprit .
The trailer is custom made for HS , and is a very good one.
The boat we delivered is a 26 , maybe 28 ft Cayzer.
Apparently it is a shortened 30 footer , hence she is so beamy.
She is gaff rigged , and does pretty well under sail , except when the wind is on the nose , as it was on Fri/Sat.
You are indeed very fortunate with your mooring.
My swing mooring is on the outer edge of the moorings , my tender is only 6ft 6 long , sometimes its a bit disconcerting , just getting out to HS !.
But the hardest part is getting up on HS.
I'd love a mooring like yours , where you can step straight on to your boat , but they are as scarce as hens teeth around here.
Regards Rob J.

I've conceded defeat , I'm going to have to sell HS , afterall.
She was a good boat to start with , and whatever needed attention I've had it done , she is "spot on" now , but my hands have let me down.
I'm going out this afternoon on her with a mate , and maybe Sunday too , if I can get in her , from the tender.
A sad , sad day.
Rob J.

I've followed your adventure with Huon Seal all the way through Rob.

You have certainly done the right thing by the boat, and it's a sad decision to have to make.

Good luck with the sale, please keep us posted.

Thanks Rufus.
We went out sailing tonight , not much wind , but over 4 metre swells , which don't worry her at all.
Hopefully we will get out all day on Sunday.
Regards Rob J.

Hi Rob, I have only know you for a sparrow's fart but the news you have posted is not good. I can't imagine how you feel about the decision to put HS on the market. All I can think to say at the moment is "fair winds".
regards
Ian L