Ahoy, ye scurvy swamp rats!

We celebrated the onset of March--and, one hopes--spring, by purchasing a boat.

Tim found it on Craig's List, and it was almost eerily exactly what we'd had in mind, after much research and thought:  "2002 Four Winns Horizon 18'6" Volvo Penta V-8 Drive on Trailer. Included with this boat is a Bimini Top, Boarding Ladder, New Boat Cover, Compass, Depth Finder and Stereo. Boat is in excellent condition and would make a great family Ski boat." It was in the nearby town of Oriental.

So on a sunny morning we headed out to Powercraft Marine. We climbed all over the boat, and inspected the engine, the propeller, the snap-in carpet--as if we knew what we were doing. But, we had had guidance from longtime boaters, my sister Kathy and brother-in-law Gerry (former Commodore of the Scioto Boat Club), and advice from Knowledgeable Friends.

We made an offer, it was accepted, and then Jeff, the proprietor (from Long Island, improbably, and savior of an abandoned hound dog named, also improbably, Kona), said that his associate Donald would take it out on the water with us if we'd like. 

Donald is not from Long Island; he was born and raised right there, and he had a wonderful coastal accent and the face of a guy who's been out in the weather all his life. "This is a clean boat," he told us. When he was a kid, his uncle had made him a raft for fishing in the creeks, since they couldn't afford a boat. He'd had jobs on commercial vessels, and had worked at Powercraft for 20 years. He towed the boat to the public boat launch visible in the photo above: the open parking lot area beside the bridge. We cruised up Smith Creek, got a bit of a lesson about using the throttle and trim, then headed down Greens Creek and Tim and I each took a turn at the wheel.  Not another boat in sight, just pelicans floating about, who wisely took off at our approach. "My, she was yar." Discovering that it was more comfortable than expected in Feburary out on the water, Donald called himself a "wuss" for having suited up in extra coveralls and, not eager to get back to work in the shop on this fine day, took us out onto the "big river," the Neuse.  Then we returned to the launch, he single-handedly trailered the boat (!), and back we drove in his pick-up.  When the title comes from Raleigh, they'll deliver it, and we'll register it. We'll need to get our dock and lift inspected since it hasn't been used for some years. Then the adventure begins.

Come on down.  We've got a PFD with your name on it,

but y'all'll have to bring your own skis.