Chapter 2: A Free Boat Hunt

Try searching for “boat for free” on the Internet. You will probably be amazed. I searched and I am amazed at the number, variety, and large sizes. Seems there are more large boats someone wants rid of than smaller ones. That’s no problem for me. A component assembled boat doesn’t require an entire boat to be a component. A piece of a boat can be connected to a piece of a different boat to make a whole boat. How would that be seaworthy?

If I ever consider seriously, putting out into the open sea for an ocean crossing in a small boat, somebody tackle and restrain me. Yes, people do it and survive. Some don’t survive. It’s difficult to imagine anyone but a masochist would enjoy such an adventure.

The craft I’m contemplating is strictly for sheltered waters. Going somewhere is only a quick relocation to a new nearby haven, to avoid outwearing my welcome in any one spot. My intention is to be a vagabond, but not homeless. Staying under the radar is my goal. Remaining in one spot too long makes you vulnerable to becoming a fixture in the community. A non taxpaying freeloader nobody wants around. If you are a visitor, a cruiser, they welcome your business. Until they discover you spend very little. Best you move on before you are found out.

Avoid government programs like foodstamps. They keep records. Avoid being recorded if possible. Avoid anchorages. Those are patrolled by law enforcement and the vessels using them recorded.

Besides, anchoring out can get very choppy and frequently uncomfortable. Follow the lead of the towboaters. They shove up on the riverbank when they’re waiting their turn for a lock or for relief crews to arrive. It only requires a little forethought and planning to prepare a craft for safely taking the mud. The ability to shift ballast.

Towboats and tugboats have enormously powerful engines and huge stainless steel propellers they can actually dredge the channel deeper with and without harm to their props. My craft won’t but is also light enough, small enough, a few hundred pounds of water in the stern will lift the bow out of the mud where I rammed the bank the evening before. A steel shoe covering the stem and forefoot protects against gouges and force cracks.

Down to particulars.

Two identical year, model, and mark thirty two foot long sailboats are available for the hauling away. Both are older than half a century. That has several advantages, I’ll explain later. Located in different states but not too distant from my planned destination, the trailer set up for one, fits either both boats, being identical. They have a nine and a half foot beam. Beam refers to maximum width of the boat for those who don’t know what the beam of a boat means. Maximum trailer-able width on highways is eight and a half feet wide without a special permit. However, over-wide loads up to ten feet wide can be moved with a state permit, and depending upon the state, at a cost of only fifteen to seventy dollars. Normally, no scout cars are needed with wide loads of ten feet wide or less. Wide load signs and flags are required.

Weight is a bit of a problem, but I found an affordable heavy duty double axle trailer that can handle the weight, if I remove the lead keels and cut down the length of the boats. Maximum width is located about two thirds of the way aft of the bow. About twenty one feet. The eleven feet long cutoff stern sections will be transported together as a third tow.

A used SUV capable of towing nine thousand pounds has been purchased as the tow vehicle. The bottom line, SUV, trailer, permits and fuel cost me five grand getting my free boats moved to Florida.