In December 2002 I purchased a 1989 Pearson 31-II that was laying at Austin Yacht Club on Lake Travis, Austin TX. The misadventures of the boat and the people who sail on her will be chronicled on this web-site to give me something to do when I can't go sailing and I don't feel like working.
Smith, who bought the boat new in 1989 and brought it to the yacht club. I had sailed on the boat several times and had coveted it from the time of my first ride. At the time, I was in partnership on a Pearson 26 One Design, and really liked Pearsons. One day, I knew this P31-II would be mine, although, at the time, I was just starting out in the world and my dreams were bigger than my bank account.However, good things do come to those who wait, and when the boat became available, I was offered first right of refusal. I couldn't say no, so after a quick visit to the loan officer, the boat of my dreams (for this stage of my life) became mine.
The boat was in excellent shape, the equivalent of the car on the lot that had only been driven by a little old lady to church on Sunday, but, as with anything that is 13 years old, it needs some scrubbing and a little TLC. The primary concern was the bottom, the boat had been in the water for 11 years and I had visions of thousand of blisters. The first adventure chronicled here is the haul-out and bottom job.
