[quote=davefarmer]My addiction began with a humble Macgregor 15 in my early twenties, when I first moved to Montana. Eventually graduated to a real cat, my first H16. Sailed the hell outta that, and later began collecting them, rescuing them from weeds and lake cabins across three states. Every two or three retrievals would result in a complete boat I could sell for a few bucks to further support the habit. At one point there were six 16s in the yard in various states of completion. A Reynolds 21 then joined the fleet, and served me well for seven or eight years, exploring Lake Roosevelt(behind Grand Coulee Dam), Lake Slocan in the Canadian Rockies, and eventually Flathead Lake when we bought a cabin there. Kept the Reynolds over there for the weekends, and discovered I needed a boat or two closer to home for those week days when it would blow locally. Still had a 16 for Lake Spokane, and acquired a Supercat 20 for Lake Couer d' Alene in Idaho. Which made the Reynolds seem a bit sluggish. So it was replaced with Flight Risk, a gorgeous 24' x14' custom built cat that provided many thrills, and a fair amount of composite construction needed to keep the lightweight machine on the water. Eventually parted with the 20 because I didn't think I was sailing it enough, regret it to this day. But a Boyer A cat showed u,p which helped ease the pain. And then an F18HT showed up one day, and filled the 20's spot on CdA Beach. Somewhere (probably here!) I saw a great deal on an F16 Stealth, maybe the only one in the US, and its acquistion began a lovely great friendship with the legendary Hobiegary, the seller. So it joined the fleet as well. I now had two boats on Flathead, allowing quick access to the best wind bays, a two man boat on the big lake in north Idaho, a boat here at home in Tum Tum, and the A in MN for my annual summer visit to friends and family.
One day on Flathead I zipped into Skeeko Bay, and offered a sailor anchored there, a ride aboard Flight Risk. A powered up day that ended with Brad asking if I knew of any similar boats, that he NEEDED one. Being fully abreast of the market, I suggested an ARC22 that was for sale in Florida. Three weeks later we're partners in a very fine piece of machinery.
Then five years ago I bought a pair of SC20 out of northern CA, spruced up one and sold it to Michigan, and the other's still in the yard awaiting sufficient motivation.
My advancing age and impending retirement has prompted a measured culling of the herd, knowing that I was going to have a bit less cash to throw at boats. Flight Risk found a new home on the Chesapeake, the A acquired a happy new owner in MN who lends her back to me whenever I show up. And I get to play with Fleet 444 on Lake Pepin as a bonus! The 16s are all gone, I'm down to the ARC, the Stealth, and the unfinished 20. Just fired up Lunatic Fringe this last weekend, as the water finally came up enough to use the lift. Another season under way........<!-- editby --><em>Edited by davefarmer on Jun 06, 2016 - 11:35 PM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
