Boat Closing - We Own a Boat!

This all started because it was supposed to rain in Keyport...

During our closing, I was talking to Brian (our dealer at G. Winter's Sailing Center).  For those of you who have never been through one, a boat closing is a lot like a house closing, but much more relaxed (you're getting a boat, after all).  There's lots of signing paperwork, but also lots of chatting as things get notarized, secretaries double check paperwork, and the like.  So after dialing Vicky in via WeChat for any final questions, we had time to talk.

I'm pretty sure this all happened because it was supposed to rain.

Our original plans for the weekend was to sail with my cousin's family to NYC and then sail back with my colleague who was visiting from Germany.  We had previously backed out on my cousin due to the extreme heat, and so remembering Captain Andy's Sailing Shardana charter service, we went where there wasn't supposed to be rain.

That's where Vicky fell in love with the 425, and that's where I fell in love with my beloved's ability to quickly know what she wants and how to get it.

So we closed on the boat today... Vicky did her part in China and the magic of FedEx got the documents to me 30 hours later.

I did have time to check her out.  She is part way through the commissioning process which will take a couple more weeks.  Then we have a day of orientation, a delivery trip to Rock Hall, MD and a small celebration once Vicky returns to the US in early October.

Here are the photos... I was told I focused too much on engines and generators and the like last time, so these will show the wonderful spaces on the Catalina 425.  You'll notice that the 425 has an incredible amount of light that floods all the cabins.

Starboard Side

Port side

View from the bow... Vicky's lounge cushion will sit here

View of the cockpit from the companionway

The galley

The main salon (table retracted) port side

Main salon starboard side

Aft head

All the control lockers

Owner's cabin

Makeup table in owner's cabin

Forward (owner's) head

Main guest cabin (starboard, aft)

Combination port guest cabin/storage area

(This space will be mostly configured for storage and opens to the cockpit)

Cockpit looking forward from the stern

That's pretty much it... there's a custom Bimini being manufactured for us.  It will be grey like the other canvas (hopefully the birds in Rock Hall don't like grey... they don't seem to in Keyport).