September 2001 - Finding Pelican

While Jenny P our Hans Christian 33T was up for sale this summer, we spent many hours researching and looking for our next boat.  We had a number of criteria:  first, our price range was around $30K, that the boat be easy to sail, be no longer than 35 feet, have ample water and other storage, and of course one that would be comfortable offshore.  After many months of browsing classifieds, online listings, visiting brokers and walking the docks, it felt to us like we were searching for a needle in a haystack.

The September weekend before we finalized the sale of Jenny P, we drove over to Port Townsend to take a look at a 1965 Alberg 35 that was advertised in 48° North, the Pacific Northwest sailing magazine.  The ad had read:  "Alberg 35 just returned from Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska..." and we were intrigued.  When we arrived, we were greeted by a wonderful couple and their new daughter; it turns out this young family had simply outgrown their beloved boat after sailing her thousands of miles for the past four years. 

In Port Townsend marina, we turned the corner of the linear dock and there she lay, proud and beaming white, Pelican.  We boarded her and were immediately impressed with her bright, yet cozy interior.  She had a wonderful custom layout with a large galley and nav/eating table to port, and long settee and quarterberth to starboard.  Her simple head with curtain door was amidships, and in the bow was her cavernous v-berth and numerous drawers and storage lockers.  On deck, we really liked her wide side decks and small cabin top, giving plenty of room to work the sails.  Her cockpit was large, with ample space for stretching out underneath the stars.

We were equally impressed with how much work had been completed on her in the past few years, including new standing and running rigging, windvane, radar, solar panel, paint, newer sails.  Her compression beam and ports had already been reinforced for offshore work, and her new storm sails neatly packed.  Pelican was ready for voyaging.

We quickly felt at home on board; her simple systems and size were undaunting to us and she was more sprightly than you could imagine a 35-year old boat to be.  She was tugging at her docklines, eager to start sailing again.  We knew we had found our new-old boat.

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