Welcome Our Odyssey Readers
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 03:35PM I have noticed a spike in visits to this site over the last 24 hours, and I suspect it is readers of a blog published by Sean Welsh and Louise Hornor: http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com. I have entered into a contract to sell Steel Magnolia to Sean and Louise, which they mentioned on their blog yesterday along with a picture showing the name of the boat. If you Google “Steel Magnolia boat”, the second result brings you here.
Welcome to any Ourodyssey readers! Sean and Louise seem the ideal purchasers for Steel Magnolia. Despite all of the work I have put into the boat through the years, there are issues I haven’t kept up with. It is still a project boat. And I can tell by reviewing their website that Sean and Louise do not shy away from projects.
To get an idea what they are purchasing, check out the section called “About the Boat”. To see some of the repairs I dealt with on the boat, check out “What was wrong with Steel Magnolia”. You can also read some of our adventures in the archives.
They say that the day you purchase a boat is the second best day of your life, exceeded only by the day you sell it. I certainly don’t feel that way about Steel Magnolia. She has provided me with many a good time, and I will miss her. Sean and Louise are getting a boat with great bones. There are some rusty areas in the bilges and numerous galvanized steel pipes that they will want to replace. But once they get her in good shape, I have no doubt they will be in for some great adventures which I hope they will keep blogging about.
As for me, we’ll see what the next adventure brings. If I get another boat, it will need to be something smaller and with a shallower draft to use in the tidal river areas of the Georgia coast. On the other hand, I have been spending an inordinate amount of time driving between Birmingham, Alabama and Richmond Hill, Georgia, so it may be time to get back into flying a small plane. At any rate, I’ll find something interesting to keep me occupied and provide something to blog about on occasion. I’ll still keep up the “Ship’s Log”, though the name might change, depending on what I’m up to.
My congratulations to Sean and Louise. With a boat, you can usually anchor almost anywhere for as long as you like, so perhaps their days searching for places to park will be over soon, replaced by searches for good dinghy docks close to peaceful anchorages.
Reader Comments (4)
Just a quick "Hello" and a smidgen about me...8 Years full-timing in an RV around North America 5 times,took it slow each time.Very interested adding to the life style in living on board a boat (enjoy my bow rider for fish'n and fun) Love the outdoors and the serenity of nature. People person but more select over the years!? I just read your blog and felt your trip down the passage way south. Looking forward in crossing paths sometime in like as well in Sean and Louise's path.(almost seen them in Florida when they met up with Technomadia.) Time presents magic of the moments...so relax and be there for your next opportunity that awaits. Safe voyage...Kale
i think Sean and Louise have found the right boat from the right people! by reading your blogs you seem to be very decent people with a wonderful boat. i would hate to have the diesel bill though....2 mpg ouch. we are so happy they found you and will continue to read both yours and their blogs in the future... happy trails.
Actually, the fuel consumption for Steel Magnolia is very low, as is the speed. You have to remember that on a good day of coastal cruising, you might cover 50 miles over seven or eight hours and burn 28 gallons of fuel. In 2008, I put about 2,000 gallons on board and took off for a trip of several months to the Bahamas. The next time I bought fuel was 200 gallons in the summer of 2012. She still has 400 to 500 gallons on board.
My last boat was a 72 foot Fleming which would burn about 20 gallons per hour at 10 knots (2 gallons per mile). She would cruise at 18 knots burning about 180 gallons per hour or 10 gallons per mile.
This boat provides a lot of time on the water for a small investment in fuel. I tend to measure things in days rather than miles when boating.
Great post on your maiden voyage. Full of excitement and only 2 notable mishaps (pilot miscalculations). I'm from Sean and Louise's site and have been enjoying them for years. I know that the boat can provide more entertainment. I had to get a map out and follow your trail homeward bound. First time I've heard of the Tenn-Tam, but my wife has.
I read my wife some of your log and your gracious introduction to us Odyssey folks. She says you sound like your giving your daughter away, but you really like the recipients anyway. LOL. I know she will be in good hands.
Mike