Lake Monroe 11/28/14

It was a cool windy day with a steady 20 - 25 knot wind.  I just loaded the 150% Genoa on the furler with it furled to about the size of a storm jib and left the main tied to the boom so we would just make 3 knots.  The boys had a great time at the helm practicing holding courses using the built in compass.  Kimberly and Pax wound up taking a nap for a bit over three hours in the V-berth as we just cruised around the lake.  The boys had a great time and it gave them confidence that they could steer the boat and stay in control in the higher gusty winds.  Around 4pm in the afternoon I dropped anchor and pulled the sails and stored them below deck.  

We motored into the marina and the boys helped me land the boat at the dock for the first time without help from my wife.  My 10 year old was at the bow with the dock hook and 25' dock line and my 8 year old was at the rear of the boat with a 25' dock line.  My son at the bow was able to hook the dock cleat and hold us.  I helped my younger son wrap the dock line around a dock cleat at the back and tie the boat off.  I then went to the bow and helped my older son wrap his dock line around a cleat and tie it off.  It was the first day that I have set the boat up, launched, landed, and packed back up to trailer home with just my two older boys.  My wife was able to show up with our toddler before we left the dock and head home after we landed back a the dock.  

Setting the boat up and taking it down is easy and actually relaxing for me.  The boat floats on and off the trailer without the motor, which is nice.  I enjoy mechanical things and the way the mast is perfectly balanced and cranks up and down easily with the wench is great.  

Lake Monroe 09/07/14

We had a perfect day sailing around Lake Monroe.  The wind was a constant 5 - 10 knots.  I had the full main sail and 150% genoa up and we cruised around at 3-5 knots.  It was a nice easy sailing day so the boys took turns on the helm and the sails.  

Scalloping at out Crystal River 07/11/14

We launched at Crystal River, Fl and motored out onto the gulf and went scalloping.  Some friends met us out on the gulf and we had a great time on the water.  The kids were able to find some scallops, but also saw starfish, coral, and some tropical fish.  That night we motored back into Crystal River and spent the night which was great.  Since the river is spring fed the night was very cool for a Florida summer.  The next morning we motored back out to the gulf for some more scalping.  Another boat of friends met up with us and had another great afternoon.  That evening we motored back into the river and pulled the boat out of the water and drove back to Central Florida.  We did not set the mast and just motored the entire trip.  The Tattoo 26 made for a great weekend on the water.

A couple of gallons of scallops were shelled for a small pan of scallops to go on top of a large bowl of pasta.

Sarasota Bay @ Longboat Key Club 05/18/14

I had a conference in Sarasota and we normally stay at the Longboat Key Club resort.  This time we stayed at the Longboat Key Yacht Club since we now have the boat.  I put the boat in the water at City Island with the two older boys as a storm was moving out and we motored through Sarasota Bay to the yacht club.  The bay still had four foot swells that were breaking over the bow.  I had the boys go down below and keep the forward hatch closed.  The swells tossed the boat around a bit, but the high sides kept the water out with out any problems.  After motoring through the bay I was able to land it without any problems at the dock.  My wife and youngest were waiting with the dock master for our arrival.  I had been very nervous navigating through all the expensive boats, but in the end I did not have any problems.

We drew a lot of attention at the Yacht Club since we were the smallest boat with the most people staying onboard.  Over the week a few people came over to check out the new Tattoo 26.  They seemed pretty amazed that so much was in the cabin below.  

By staying at the Yacht Club we had full Longboat Key Club Resort privileges.  So, while I went to my conference during the day my family played on the beach and at the pool.  The Key Club is a gem of a resort where Floridians go for weekend getaways.  

After a few days of conference we motored the boat out onto the Bay and raised the sails.  The wind was very gusty and the bay was packed with boat traffic.  Large motor cabin cruisers kept running up real close to us and cutting us off at times.  After about an hour I lowered the sail and just motored us back to the ramp.  At one point a wind surfer totally cut across my bow and I had to throw the motor in reverse to keep from running him over.  So, if you are going to or through Sarasota Bay I would not do it on a spring weekend.

When we were docking the boat at the ramp there was a bad gusty wind to the rear of the boat.  My wife was able to use the boat hook at the bow.  But then the wind blew the rear of the boat away from the dock and I had to use the engine to pull the boat back against the dock.  It was a little dicey for a minute, but then I was able to get a dock line secured at the rear.  We were able to get the boat on the trailer without any problems and made it home safely.

Pax tanking a nap

Picked Up S/V Sagacity from Tattoo Yacht Factory 02/21/14

After what seemed to be forever we drove down to Stewart, Fl and picked up the boat.  Laura and Paul Sharp took us out on our maiden shakedown voyage at a local bay.  I had a lot of dinghy and NACRA catamaran sailboat experience, but it was great having Laura run me through everything once.  

We ordered the 26 with almost every option; 

     CDI Furler - I had never had a furler before and it is super nice.

     150% Genoa - This is perfect for light wind.

     Spinnaker - I have not used it yet, but plan on it.

     Cockpit seat cushions - These are very comfortable and great to have.

     Stern Ladder - Do not know how you would use the boat without it.

     Self-contianed head - I am glad we did not go with the built-in, since this is easy to clean.

     12v cooler - This is the only thing I would not repeat.  The cooler kills the batteries in a few hours.

     All the covers & bimini - These are great and would not go without.

     Mast raising system - I do not know how you would use the boat without it.  It makes setting up

             the boat a one person job.

     Outboard linkage - I do not know how you would use the 60 hp outboard without it. 

     Shower in cockpit - This is great with kids.

     Compass with light - It is perfect for coastal cruising.

     Delux trailer upgrade - The trailer breaks make the boat towing very smooth.

     Two 12 Gal. tanks - For our coastal trip it made me feel better to have 24 gal. of gas, just incase.

     60hp ETEC - The motor is plenty big enough for getting the boat up on a plane and goes as fast as I want to go.  Most of the time we use it to go 6 knots at 2,000 RPM.  Their has not been any maintenance yet, but there was problems with the fuel line and cap that I will get into in a later post.

We picked up hull #51 from the factory.

The boat was "Christened" with a tap of a bottle of water.

Coming in from the maiden voyage.