My husband is in Palmetto, Florida right now, which is where our catamaran is docked at Regatta Pointe Marina. He is spending the bulk of his time researching and ordering parts for our St Francis 50 catamaran refit.
Meanwhile, I’m in Ottawa packing up our house while our children finish the last couple of weeks of school. My husband and I talk on the phone in the evenings — if we don’t fall asleep first —because that’s when our children are in bed, and the people working on our boat have left for the day.
Catamaran Refit Decisions and a Deadline
Tonight we spoke about plumbing parts, and whether we want an ice maker or under-the-counter lighting.
In truth, I find it a struggle sometimes to talk, late at night, about things like shower taps. The mobility angle of an LED reading lamp was also on tonight’s agenda for discussion.
But, I haven’t lost sight of the big picture. There is a lot of work happening on our boat. Lots of details are being reviewed. And, our boat is going to be amazing when it’s completed.
In mid-August, we have a skipper, Mark Burton, joining us. So, we have a timeframe in mind that the refits need to be completed. To help meet our timelines, my husband plans to spend most of July in Florida. We are looking at accommodation options for me and our four children when our house is rented and we are in between house and boat.
Dad Goes to Florida to See the Refit
This weekend, my dad is going to Florida to check out the boat, and to see the refits in action. He booked his trip yesterday evening, and will be arriving in Florida on Saturday.
My dad loves to travel but it was kind of out of character for him to book a trip on such short notice. We think he has our family and our safety in mind. Let’s hope he’s as excited as we are when he sees our boat for the first time.
Safe Harbor Regatta Pointe Marina: Renamed and a Corner Berth We Would Not Revisit
Regatta Pointe Marina is now called Safe Harbor Regatta Pointe. The marina was a pleasant enough place to stay.
However, if you have a catamaran, I would avoid the concrete corner berth outside the restaurant.
The dock has some funny angles and the concrete is not kind to fiberglass and gelcoat. Plus, you would be on display all the time to the people who stand on the dock and gaze down at the boats.
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Good morning! Where is your lovely catamaran docked here in Florida? Fort Lauderdale? We were down at the Lauderdale Marine Center last weekend experiencing our first boat-shopping trip! We’ve decided on a Lagoon, but won’t be buying until Spring. Hopefully we’ll see you out on the blue :).
Hi – our catamaran is in Bradenton, Florida. We plan to be in Florida a lot over the next 4 or 5 months. We are thinking of parking ourselves somewhere in the Florida Keys until the end of hurricane season. Thanks for your note. It would be fun to meet up.