The find

by Greg Long

Once the search was on we had to get more specific about what we wanted to find.  A couple things stood out as preferences:

- not filled up with electronics that were really great when installed a few years ago, but were essentially obsolete now.  You pay for them.  You’d like to replace them.  But they work so…

- low engine hours.  Swapping out a diesel is not high on our list.  Do-able, but not a desire.

- sound.  We can handle lots of repairs, upgrades, and mods.  But some things can’t be fixed.

In Houston, we found a 422 that had been used mostly as a dockside condo for over a decade.  And then she had been neglected for a couple years due to a family situation. 

The Previous Owner had started to rehab her, replacing the cabin sole, rebedding the portlights to cure some bad leaks, and repairing much of the damaged interior wood work. – BONUS

The POs original plan was to retire and sail her to the islands.  Part of that plan was to wait until the last minute to add electronics – CHECK

Because she had mostly been a condo, the engine (repowered with a Yanmar 55 turbo diesel, was lightly used – CHECK

The PO was a pleasure to deal with.  We spent a few days poking, prodding and then took the plunge!