We spent a great final four days in LaConner before hitching up the Airstream, saying goodby to Esmeralde, and heading home. We left the boat in the care of the folks at Tomco, who would go through our punch list, make a few tweaks we requested, and pack her up for her truck ride across the country. Final goodbyes — to the people, the town, and our favorite new hangouts — and off we rolled on a grey, drizzly, quintessential PNW day. Continue reading Homeward Bound
Wow, the end of our shakedown cruise in the PNW was emotional.
We had grown to love LaConner during the three weeks we spent there prior to taking delivery of the boat, while living in our Airstream at the LaConner Marina Campground. So while we did have reason to celebrate our return to the little town, we were very sorry that our excellent cruise on our new boat was drawing to a close. Continue reading Back to LaConner – Cruise Over
Right on schedule: she splashed.
From the very beginning of this project, the folks at American Tug described the completion and launch of the boat as “late March”. And what do you know? On March 30 they dropped her in the water. That pretty much describes our entire experience with American Tug: 100% on everything. More on that later.
Here is a video of the launch, which took place at 8:30 am, and the sea trial, which started at 9:45 and ended successfully at 11:15.
We arrived in LaConner, WA on March 13 to see our new boat for the first time. She is scheduled to be launched at the end of the month. This time frame gives us great opportunity to see the final build process on the boat, and also to explore the the Pacific Northwest, which we have never visited before. Continue reading The Waiting Game
The new ESMERALDE. We met her in person for the first time today at her birthplace in LaConner, WA. A very exciting, long-anticipated day. We probably look totally goofy and giddy in some of these pictures, but the reality is that we felt a little but that way as we explored our new baby.
We also met some of the great folks at American Tug/Tomco Marine who are building her: Kurt Dilworth, who has been our ever-patient and wise counselor throughout the process, Cheryl Stinson, Mike Schoppert, and a bunch of the men and women on the factory’s floor and in the purchasing and supply offices — all great people who have done excellent work as our oat has come together over the last seven months. Continue reading Meet The Tug
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