BackBeat on the DL

So, I guess I’ll be looking for a new BackBeat for the 2016 Singlehanded Transpac.

I met a guy in Alameda doing the Pacific Cup on a Hobie 33.  We were talking about the cost of these races when he said “You buy these boats for $20,000 and put another $30,000 into prepping them, and then you’re left with an $18,000 boat in the end.”  My numbers are a little smaller, but that’s the truth about ocean racing.

BackBeat suffered some damage on the way to San Francisco from Port Townsend.  Dead autopilots, shredded spinnaker, broken boom, and a broken keel bolt.  It turns out the keel issue is far worse than I’d thought, and it’s looking like my insurance company may total out the boat.  No matter how much you have into the project, they’re not going to pay out more than the boat is worth, and that’s the deal you sign up for when you pay your premium.

I’ll be able to buy her back for a salvage price, so the plan now is to bring her back to Spokane and put her in storage until I have time to do the keel repair myself.  There’s not much in the way of materials–some glass and epoxy, a few expensive drill bits, and some keel bolts–but the time involved will be extensive.  The yard rate is $90 per hour.  My time is an investment into a cool hobby, and when she’s fixed she’ll be a great lake and bay boat.

Here are some (probably too many) pics: