1984 Endeavour 35

Name: Frank Slater fslater2@earthlink.net
Boat Name: Drifter
Year: 1984
Hull Number: 158
Model: sloop
Date Purchased:1984

Boat History:
Original Owner

Experience:
Began sailing on 22' Venture in early 70's. Cruised the Bahamas with my wife for six months in ‘78 on a 30' Morgan Out Island. Purchased 35' Endeavour in '84, went in charter in St.Thomas, USVI until ‘86 when it was brought to it's present location. Sailing is mainly coastal cruising. In early '90's participated in occasional low key racing 30 miles north in N.Myrtle Beach. Boat appeared in Sail magazine, December '97 issue, for Cruiseweek article on our trip to wilderness area between Charleston and Beaufort, SC. Drifter is the only sailboat in the marina so sailboat talk among my neighbors is nonexistent except for continuing questions of how my boat manages to go against the wind.

Boat Review/Upgrades:
Have had an ongoing re-work and upgrade of a little bit of everything for last two years. Replace hatches, opening ports, portions of interior teak because of old water stains, had mast pulled and rusted step re-placed,etc. All original standing and running rigging, mast and winches, are good. Had blistering problems about ten years ago but have had no problems since. We sail in shallow waters and the keel is given a bump test on a regular basis. I guess I'm amazed at how well everything has held together and remains operable even though there were some years when the boat was somewhat neglected when business duties began to take up weekends. It's a sorry excuse, but it happened. Anyway, priorities have been corrected and I'm back to enjoying tinkering on the boat. I sail single-handed, just offshore, fairly often and a piece of duct tape between the pedestal guard and the wheel serves as my autopilot. It balances up nicely with neutral helm and I'm free to meander about. 15 to 20 kts of wind with a reef in the main and the headsail rolled up a bit and she really finds her groove. Thinking of Doyle StackPack to make mainsail handling easier when I'm alone and when just gunk-holing around - would keep me from cranking up the damn engine - which has never been overhauled and still runs like a clock with regular oil changes, etc. Also thinking of a genneker, flasher, etc. for light summer airs but not sure how much effort they would be to take up and down. Basically I still think it's a damn good boat and after looking at the current crop of plastic fantastics, Beneteaus are built just up the road from me, I'd still rather go to sea in what I own. I look forward to sharing stories and information with the other members.