Sherri and I were there today when the True Love arrived at CSR to begin the first stages of restoration.   After several days removing the life line stanchions and hauling off two pick up loads of junk she was ready for transport.   Anderson Trucking handled the transport with professionalism and care staying true to the original verbal quote they provided weeks earlier.  Dave Anderson is a man of his word and delivers as promised. 

Gold Star Marine of Port Townsend however was a totally different story.  When the trucking company arrived they called because they were unable to find the mast.  After a few phone calls I found that it was in the shop of Gold Star Marine and that upon payment they would take it back over to the boat.   At the same time I contacted Anderson Trucking for a quote I also got quotes for the mast removal.   I chose Gold Star based on their quote and then reconfirmed that quote before authorizing them to do the work.   Now with my mast held hostage in their shop and the boat loaded on the truck waiting for the mast the quote more than doubled in cost, YES MORE THAN DOUBLE!  When I pointed it out the response was "I don't see anything here that supports that" After trying to discuss with the owner his answer was "As soon as you provide a Visa number I'll have the mast taken over to the boat".  If you need a rigger in Port Townsend call the other rigger in town Port Townsend Rigging at (360) 385-6330.   True Love is due for a pressure wash in the next few days and then will be moved inside for the bottom work.  

The True Love is a 44' Spencer 1330, she was commissioned in 1986.  We are the fifth owner the second being my wife's parents from 1988 through 1994. Dad named the boat after the True Love in the movie "High Society" which held special memories for them in the early years of their relationship. They sailed her from Seattle as far north as Juneau, AK as well as spending countless months on board in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.  She was also sailed throughout the South Pacific, Tahiti and Hawaii by a subsequent owner.  She holds a special place in our hearts filled with  memories of a time when our family was young our children having been born in 1988 and 1989 and when my wife's parents were able to enjoy the rigors of cruising.

It was by accident that I discovered she was on the market one night in the winter of 2014.  After viewing the boat and the state of disrepair we sadly decided against purchasing her.  But after several weeks of coming to grips with the scope of the restoration project we decided to move ahead with bringing the boat home. As circumstances would be our current boat is moored at home on Lake Washington and because of the SR520 bridge construction we are forced to vacate our dock as there will not be access under the bridge for the next two years.  Having to move our Catalina 38 leaves our dock open and with the mast pulled from the True Love I will be able to work on the boat at home as well as travel to and from the boat yard during the restoration.

How big of a project is this? She is unable to make the trip from Port Townsend to Seattle via water and will need to be trucked.  EVERY sub system needs to be replaced, virtually anything and everything on the boat will be touched during this project.  But when done not only will she be a very sound and capable yacht but for our family a very special boat.