Meet Your Fellow
CCCC Members:
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Mike Forrester & Barbara Purrington Seattle, WA
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“My biggest concern was the electrical system. Who knew
which wire went where? We’ve traced and kept a lot of the original
wiring for individual circuits, replacing sections as we go. But the
panel feeds and starter wiring were replaced with the right stuff
and fused. We put in new house batteries and battery switches.”
“We regularly get some ribbing from our wood boat friends about
going ‘plastic’. I tell ‘em our Commander is made from sustainably
harvested fiberglass trees and I’m never going to have to refasten
the hull with 10 or 15 thousand silicone bronzed screws.”
Mike and Barbara are on the committee for the annual Chris Craft
Rendezvous of the Northwest. The Rendezvous is held annually on
the second weekend in July at the Port Orchard Marina in Port
Orchard, Washington. The next Rendezvous will be held July
12th-15th, 2012. Up to 80 boats typically attend.
Though
these are largely wooden boat affairs there are always a few who
show up wearing gelcoat and they are warmly welcomed.
/ Char
Pike, CCCC Archivist
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Mike Forrester and Barbara Purrington
came to boating from opposite sides of the country, she from
Georgia, he from Oregon. Her background included runabouts, her
dad’s skiff (he loved to fish) and sailing with friends on their Cal
29. His parents owned small cruisers and fished the Oregon Coast.
The first boat Mike and Barbara owned was a 27 foot
Chris Craft Sea Skiff. From their home in Seattle they explored
Puget Sound and British Columbia’s Gulf Islands for 10 summers. Mike
explained, “We got to where we wanted more amenities and a boat
where guests had more comfort. The 27 footer was fun but it was like
camping and honestly it slept 2 people”.
Over ten years of
attending the Chris Craft Rendezvous in Washington state they had
befriended several Commander Owners. In the 38’s, they liked what
they saw. Mike said, “We liked the styling of the early Commanders,
the stout hull and we wanted to stay with Chris Craft.”
On
Seattle’s Lake Union they found the sedan that would later become
Alyeska (alley-ESS-kuh). One challenge had to be overcome; they
still owned the Sea Skiff. “While waiting for a buyer for our boat
the sedan sold and I was resigned to the fact that it was gone. We
ended up boatless in Seattle for a little while.” After about two
years the sedan came back on the market. The price was high so they
waited and looked at other boats; the price dropped, they waited,
the price dropped again. “David Nelson of Wolfe Marine Sales was
patient and very helpful. We didn’t want to insult the owner with a
low ball offer but we had to come up with a price we could live
with. Barbara and I talked, she gave Dave the number we settled on,
he called the owner and our offer was accepted.”
The survey
produced no surprises, papers and checks changed hands and Mike and
Barbara took possession of the boat on Easter weekend 2007. Several
things needed immediate attention; the electronics, the electrical
system, the holding tank (there was none) and a vessel name. “The
boat sat in the slip for about 3 months while the systems got
replaced or repaired and we tossed around boat names.” The criteria
for naming were; it would be unique, a personal expression about
them, it could be said and understood over the VHF radio. “Since the
boat was a Commander and 38 feet long one name we thought was
amusing but never seriously considered was 38 C. We’re pretty sure
anyone hearing the name 38 C wouldn’t be thinking about a boat.”
Mike and Barb finally settled on Alyeska, as they had met while both
were living in Anchorage, Alaska. Alyeska is an archaic Aleut word
meaning "great country", or "great land". The state of Alaska
derives its name from this word.
Mike said, “I wouldn’t
characterize the boat as having been abused but there were many
signs of neglect…and the Bubba Factor.” The original electrical
panel had become a hairball. A new AC & DC panel went in along with
an inverter/charger. A holding tank was plumbed in. The electronics
were replaced. Dirty Carpet? Gone.
Dunbar Marine Service
installed a teak and holly sole in the galley and forward cabin. As
Mike described it, “We’d spent a lot of money on things no one sees;
we needed a little WOW factor”.
Mike and Barbara have now
enjoyed 5 years with Alyeska on their favorite cruising grounds;
Puget Sound and southern B.C.
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More Members of the Month
Member of The Month" is a monthly article published on the
front page of our web site which features a club member who has been a
contributor to Super Disc or a member who has advanced the goals & purpose of
the club. Selection can be either by an EC member or suggestions from club
members. The Member of the Month feature debuted in January 2012.
May 2012: George and Lynn Shanks
April 2012:
Dave Marzullo & Chris Sax
March 2012:
Chris & Beth Benedict
Feb 2012: Mike Forrester &
Barbara Purrington
Jan 2012 :
Lawrence & Jena
Neisler
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