TLDR – Millfam is shopping for a Sailboat. Today’s boat is a Gib’Sea 43 in Malahide Marina – Maddex and Khaleesi came with me to go look at the boat.
Boat shopping and thinking
Living in a rental with little prospect of buying a house in the current Irish housing market we don’t have a building project. I’ve always had a thing for being on the water and sailing. Genius idea; let’s buy a sailboat, those things are endless projects. At first, I wanted a catamaran. Specifically a Privilege 585 with 5 double cabins, which would be the perfect size for our family to live on. We still have a few more years before we obtain Irish passports, keeping is landlocked most of the year to acquire days of residence. Plus, the kids need more space than a boat can provide right now, so no huge boat, yet…
Instead, we’re thinking we’ll start with a monohull we can sail around locally and get used to the idea of being on a boat. We don’t have to go far to shop; there are plenty of monohulls for sale around Ireland and the UK. Our first boat is a 2004 Gib’sea 43. With 2 double berths in the back, 2 bunks and a third double berth in the front. Plenty of room for the Millfam to spend weeks at a time in. In addition to the space for the family, it also has a sugar scoop rear vs a flat rear making it much simpler for the kids to get back on the boat after a swim.
The Trek to the Boat
The original plan was for the whole family to LUAS to city center, walk around a bit, pick up donuts then Catch the DART to Malahide. We were going to make a day out of it. This time of the year is normally not the best weather in Ireland. This year is worse than normal with extra rain. Today was no change from that new norm; complete shit weather. Maddex and Khaleesi came with dad while the other girls stayed home with mom in the warm dry house.
First stop in the city – Off beat donuts. Today they have some new Xmas themed donuts. Both Maddex and Khaleesi picked the Olaf donuts. With white sprinkles on top and a frosting snowman in the middle. We had time to kill so we sat in the restaurant eating our donuts. Khaleesi kept offering me a bite of donut saying ” Hi I’m Olaf and I like warm hugs” She doesn’t even need to try to be cute. Across the street from donuts on the way to Tara station, we noticed all of the stuff in the Bordaloii squirrel had been removed from the wall. According to the internet, it was removed a few months ago in preparations for the building to be demoed. The picture below was borrowed from the internet to show what the Squirrel used to look like – Thanks brilliantviewpoint.com for the picture.
We had about 24 minutes wait for the train from Tara station to Malahide. Connolly station has better weather protection. A train to Howth was due as we arrived on the platform in about 2 minutes; next, stop Connolly station. We took the train one stop north to Connolly station sat on a dry bench and busted out phones and the Switch for the kids and waited. On the Dart, we had a nice quiet calm ride sitting over the heater warming our feet
The Malahide trains run about once every 45 minutes give or take on the weekends. We are meeting Mr. Joss Walsh of MGM boats at 1300. Never been a fan of being late; we planned our departure with a good hour buffer. We’re in Malahide with an hour to kill. We decided to go out for lunch. Maddex picked a place called Al Fresco Malahide. All he cared about was fish and chips on the menu. Great service, spectacular food, we had a nice lunch. spaghetti for Khalessi, Fish, and chips for Maddex, and fresh mozzarella on tomatoes with olive oil and pesto for me; 26e for the meal.
As we were finishing lunch Maddex asked me when we were looking at the boat. I said 1300, and he said we better go it’s 12:50. Oh snap, I let time getaway with us enjoying a calm meal with the kids. We asked for the check, paid, and carried on to the marina at a brisk walking pace. Joss met us inside the main building in front of the MGM office with his little doggo.
The Gib’Sea in Malahide
The boat is everything I expected it to be; huge. There would be plenty of room for the Millfam to spend a week or so confined to the boat on a crossing. two double cabins in the rear, a double cabin in the front with 2 bunks. The boat has been on dry land for most of the last few years. Looks like the owner has not sailed her much. She has the mainsail and a genoa. The Main cover looks to a bit rotted, and the main could probably use a good cleaning. It’s got some of that green slime that covers everything in Ireland. The Genoa was stored indoors and looks in great shape.
The lines and rigging look good to be, but I have a feeling they are all original from 2004. Most insurance force less than 10-year-old rigging regardless of what the survey says about quality. Insurance “rigging is 11 years old, replace it now or you’re fired” Joss knows a few companies that will insure up to 20-year-old rigging, so it might not be an issue, but something to look at. The boat is dry and clean on the inside with little sign of wear. Buying this boat would be like buying a new boat. You’d need to outfit the boat with all of the kit to actually sail her; There’s not even a safety raft on board. The anchor chain looked like it had not been dropped in some time – it could be good for negotiating if the owner wants it gone.
There is another Gib’Sea for sale in Dun Laoghaire I’d like to look at. It’s 9 years older(1995), but it looks like it has been sailed, used, and loved. It has updated electronics, lifeboat, newer rigging, electric stove conversion, new inverters, etc. Will be fun to compare. On the journey home I was thinking about the boat, sailing it in my head and the Helm position hit me. The boat has dual helm stations on the stern of the boat. Both fully exposed to the elements. In my mind movie, we’re sailing to Iceland, it’s raining, it’s night and I am out there on the stern in rain gear cold and drenched not enjoying life. – Would hope there is a full cover for the rear, but I did not see it on this boat. – better ask the dealer.
Heading home
Getting home was a quick train ride to Connolly on Irish rail. The Dart was 30 minutes out, Irish rail was 2 minutes out. For the same cost with fewer stops, on a train made after I was born; sure we will take Irish rail. From Connolly, we walked down Talbot street to the LUAS. Kids were calm and collected. At bedtime they both said Adventure with dad was their favorite part of the day.
