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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hi all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> I would like to weigh in on this
free boat conversation if I may. Few if any of you know me, but a couple of
years ago I picked up on a Free Boat, and have been doing the extensive and
complete restoration off and on since. I make no claims to expertise. The reason
for this posting is not to encourage or discouraging anyone from taking on a
project like mine, but to offer whatever I have learned to anyone who might
benefit from the knowledge gained from my work on this boat. I got this boat for
the learning, knowing full well that I might come up to the impossible and then
I would have to junk the whole project and chalk it all up to experience. I can
truly say that I am still enthusiastic about rebuilding my S22. (including a lot
of work on the trailer.) I am currently about 85 to 90% completed. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> To detail all I have done is way
more than could be posted here. What I would be willing to offer anyone
contemplating such a journey as making the commitment to take on the free boat,
is to be willing to share any of the things I have learned along the way. I have
many photos taken during the course of this project, and I can relate what I
came up against and how I dealt with the issues. I must also say I am not
primarily interested in racing my boat. It is intended to be a safe little day
sailor cruiser for my enjoyment. That enjoyment has already included doing a lot
of work on the boat. It is a good feeling to stand back after a day of sanding
and wet sloppy epoxy and know you succeeded and have done a good job. I will
have a very nice boat to show for it when I'm done. I know I will never get back
the money I have spent, does anyone? but I will have a very nice boat of proven
design that I will enjoy for a long time and in the end it will probably cost
far less than buying a new boat. This of course does not consider the hours
spent, but I like what I see every time I look at my boat. What one gets out is
what one puts in. If I can be of assistance to anyone with a decision to make or
a problem to solve, send me an Email and we can talk. Again, I am not an expert
by any means, but I now know far more than I ever thought possible and I would
enjoy sharing the story. The Free Boat is definitely not for everyone, but maybe
you are the right person to do it and if you are I can be here to help. Its been
a great trip and I am winning the battle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sincerely</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Ted Macklin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A
href="mailto:ctm47@cox.net">ctm47@cox.net</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>