Let me start by saying I tried Charles, but Urchin was killing me softly. My back went south the last three times we took her out either from sitting in the cockpit, crawling in and out of the V berth, or crawling around on deck. Regardless this disabled veteran was eating muscle relaxers and visiting my chiropractor way too often. Took a loss, just like every boat I sell, and sold her to a nice young lady in South Carolina who had taken ASA 101 and had the sailing bug. She is about 35 or 40 and will keep sailing alive on her end. She got a great deal, but after Becky's cancer thing in February, we agreed that we needed a bigger boat with more room for my 70 year old bones. Urchin goes to new home.JPG
We put her up for sale a month or so ago, figuring to find another Hunter 23.5 which worked well for us for the 5 years we had, Saint Somewhere. The used boat market had a lot of hidden gems, re: damaged crap advertised with old pristine photos that when I asked for specific photos, and got them, I crossed them off the list. It got so bad I started going back through my shortlist and started talking to a guy with a Hunter 240, same basic hull with a different topsides, that was sitting on a homemade trailer. Ended up calling rather than texting and bing, bam, boom he sounded honest and the trailer was more robust than the original Hunter trailers were (I replaced Saint Somewhere's trailer with a galvanized double axle that was worlds better. Showed up, found out the boat was purchased at an estate auction from the original owner, sailed twice on a lake in Columbia SC, and parked. PO's son wanted an S2 something, 30 foot racing boat, so Dad bought that and this one sat since 2007. Nice boat but the father, non-sailor just a wallet, and son, the racer, knew nothing about the boat. The water ballast was closed tight and the kid thought the air vent next to the open/close was how you filled it. I put a new set of balanced, load range D, trailer tires on and pulled it the 5 hours to my local marina at 65mph and even through Saturday stop and go traffic in downtown Atlanta. I'll get it bottom painted Monday, and Ausie Wax the topsides/Poliglow the hull (after PoliOx/PoliPrep treatments). Planning to launch Friday the 14th and participate in the SWSC Half Yard Race on Saturday. 240 side view.JPG
Ed, While I'm sorry to hear that
Urchin didn't work out for you at this stage of your life, I completely agree with your decisions, on account of: They're the SAME decisions I was forced into!! ;D Sometimes, you just don't know what's going to be a good fit for you, until you try it and live with it for a while. So far, I've been fortunate with my decisions and the boat I built, does everything I expected.
My solution was to go much smaller and simpler and quit killing myself, climbing into and out of a cabin that I was no longer limber enough to manage. My new cabin does not give my back any problems whatsoever, simply because there's no way to get inside it!! :P
PROBLEM SOLVED!! ;D
I think you made the sale of
Urchin to very nearly the perfect demographic for her: Entry-level, first time owner, in reasonably good health.
Further, know that I will always be eternally grateful, that you provided me with the means to finish the
Irish Pennant. :)
Quote from: Ed on Aug 01, 2026, 07:25 PMI'll get it bottom painted Monday, and Ausie Wax the topsides/Poliglow the hull (after PoliOx/PoliPrep treatments).
Ummm . . . . you sure that isn't what keeps taking your back out?!? ???
Finally: What is Ausie Wax? ???
Just curious,
Charles Brennan
I live about an hour west of Columbia and do most of my sailing on Lake Murray. There are a fair number of sailboats in the area. I have been considering selling my 2001 Potter 19 as she doesn't get out on the water much anymore. I like my small boats for the ease of handling and Carol does not seem interested in sailing anymore. It was the first sailboat I've owned and sailed since sailing a wooden boat similar to a laser as a teen. I am fond of the boat, but it hasn't been sailed yet this year.
Good to hear we're still friends Charles, I'll make sure to buy you a beverage on the 2027 FL120. I had to go out and look, it isn't Ausie Wax, it's Woody Wax. Great for non-skid surfaces, easy application with water spray and brush. I will put the painters tape with plastic skirt on to protect the bottom paint, do the topsides with Woody Wax, have a beverage, and put 12 - 15 coats of PoliGlow on the hull after Poli-ox and Poli-prep. I have a ratio of 3 complete passes with PoliGlow on one side of the hull for one beer. I can usually finish both sides before I fall over!
I hope you invited Urchin's new owner to come join us here.
I was going to make a joke about Aussie wax being the exact opposite of a brazilian wax, but somehow Woody Wax is worse. I'm just going to leave that one alone.
8) ;D :o >:( :o ;D
Woody Wax is the EXACT opposite of Brazilian wax....
Wax on Wax off. Not exactly waxing poetic are we.
;D This kind of light hearted ribbing reminds me of the Chief's Mess. No matter how good or bad things were you could always depend on the Mess to kick you a little, in a kind way, just to keep you straight. I do miss those days, thanks for reminding me, ya'll. :D
i've toyed was looking for a 235. The 235, from what I have seen, appears to sit lower on its trailer. Am I seeing that correctly?
if so, that would be attractive to me. I believe it would make it a bit easier to launch and retrieve.
i've also read that the 235 is a bit more tender than the 240, but I don't think that would bother me too much.
This is definitely not the factory trailer, it's something the marina threw together when the PO bought the boat at an estate sale. This one is supposed to sit as low as the 23.5 since they share the same hull with a different cabin top. I replaced the single axle trailer on my 23.5 with a double axle with disc brakes. Wish I hadn't sold that one, that I got from Mike Howell, it had all the bells and whistles. Looking around and double axle trailers are running $3600 now. I'll probably buy a double axle off FB Marketplace and put bunks on it myself. Planning on the FL120 in 2027!
Congrats on the "new" boat Ed! Some shoes don't fit some folks. I always LIKED cowboy boots, but I could NEVER wear them. They made me hurt all over. Fallen arches and all. I hope to at least make an appearance at the 120. Maybe we'll get to lay eyes on each other!