My Ship has Come in...

The Formosa 51 Center-cockpit is a rare bird indeed. It has been my dream for many years to own a ship just like this one.

Some dreams are more difficult to achieve than others. This was one of the "more difficult" ones. I had many years of experience on the sea, but still had a home and land-based job. It provided security, safety and I knew what to expect. But my soul was not free. My soul has always been restless. Yes, I was an active child that in today’s society probably would have been medicated. But it was my soul that always wanted to wander and see "the other side of the horizon".

First, the home had to go. The market in my area had been soft for many years and it wasn't until Covid hit that the world changed, the housing market changed along with it too. People were fleeing the cities in exchange for the country and a private piece of land. My home and property fit the bill. I had an offer and accepted it. No, nothing went smooth with the sale or the closing. Do they ever? This one was no different. But I kept my eye on the prize and officially became homeless! Yay!! Right???

Next was to find my ship to execute this life-long dream. I knew what I wanted. I always did. Yes, a few other models could fit the bill. The CT-56 was an amazing boat. But none had the perfect fit and build quality that the Formosa did. Finding one was truly a challenge. There are just not that many around. Most of the ones that are, have fell in a state of disrepair due to very high maintenance requirements and most people either don't know how or just move on to other pursuits in life. I found one in Charleston SC, put an offer in on it. Due to some shady antics from an unscrupulous broker, I got "under-bid" and lost the deal. Yes, that's right under-bid. The winning offer came with a "no-survey" bid. In hindsight they probably did me a favor. There was definitely a major bowsprit structural issue, and I probably dodged a bullet on that one.

I searched everywhere and came up with nothing, there were a couple in Europe, But, they were ridiculously overpriced and the condition was suspect. I posted in Formosa groups on Facebook and got a reply from a gentleman in Sint Maarten. It sure was a nice location. So, I began corresponding with him. This continued back and forth for about 6 months until we had felt comfortable enough to proceed and meet.

After flying to Sint Maarten and getting settled in, it was time to meet the owner and see this beauty for the first time in person. Walking through the old industrial boatyard I immediately felt at home. It didn’t take long to spot this beauty. She stood out like a diamond amongst a pile of stones. Wow! She was in phenomenal condition, and she was big. Very very big! Climbing up the boarding ladder and onboard was overwhelming. I had been on some decent size boats before. But this just had a sense of solid bulk. Everything was larger. the fittings, shackles, lines, blocks. This was an ocean-going vessel that had seen most of the world and you could see that this is what she was made to do. Did I mention wow!?!

The current owner and myself hit it off well and got along easily. At first it felt more like an interview or a first date. It actually kind of was. The owner loved this boat and had spent the last 13 years of his life painstakingly and meticulously restoring this boat. Inch by inch, bolt by bolt. Everything below deck and above had been gone over and was either rebuilt or replaced. Including the freshly painted workhorse of an engine the Ford Lehman Diesel, which was shipped to Georgia to be completely professionally rebuilt.

The owner had reached a point in his life where he had finished his career in Sint Maarten and it was time to be with his family in Netherlands. He loved this boat and wasn't going to let it go to just anyone. He wanted to be sure that she would be loved and meticulously cared for as he had. This is why it felt so much like an interview. He did not want to see the last 13 years of blood sweat and tears go to waste by someone unknowledgeable and unprepared taking ownership and her wasting away slowly until she was too far gone like all the other rare gem Formosas.

Over time the "interviews" went well. With my background in antique, architectural and boat restoration, along with my plans to be a full time liveaboard licensed captain operating a charter business, I was the one for her!

We signed a contract!!!