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Sailing Vessel:   Dream Date

Model:  1982 Watkins 27

Hull:  454

 

 

Owners:  John and Sharon Peterson

 

Home Port:  Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, VA

 

 

Sailing Area:  Southern Chesapeake Bay

 

The Dream Date Video!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6643647551235585532#

 

(Produced by Terry Hunsicker)

 

How is boat used:  Cruising

and occasional  obligatory racing in support of our sailing club/

 

Willoughby Bay is just outside our marina. There is nothing better than going out and dropping the hook and spending the night. Just Sharon and I. It is like being alone in the woods, except you are on the water. Heaven!

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to Splash! Bottom completely sanded, 5 coats of barrier paint and two coats of Vivid Red bottom paint. People still refer to the boat with the red bottom!

 

Dream Date Racing October 2010

 

 

 

Sailing trips, experiences: 

Chesapeake Bay Cruising.

 

Spending restful nights at anchor

 

Boat Condition: 

Excellent

 

Upgrades by you or other owners:  

 

October 2003

Purchased Dream Date from Original Owner. Bud Werth

 

2004: 

Replaced all portlights

Replaced toilet in Head

Replaced Fresh Water Pump

 

2005:

Installed 2.5 gallon AC water heater and new faucets in galley and head

We had fuel filter failure three times during summer of 04. Pulled Engine and Replaced Fuel Tank. Downsized tank from 19-13 gallons, No more fuel filter failures since then.

Replaced all water/fuel hoses and zincs,

Painted engine compartment

 

2006:
Hauled out

-Bottom job

-Replaced cutlass bearing

-Replaced stuffing box with PSS Dripless Shaft Seal

-Replaced fuel shut-off cable

-Replaced rub rail insert

-Lots of buffing!

Installed Garhauer Boom Vang

Installed 20 Amp Battery Charger,

Installed Amp and Voltage Meter (Thanks to Terry H!)

 

2007:

Rebuilt fuel injectors

Replaced Main Sail Cover

Main sail cleaned and reconditioned with by Sail Care Malouney System.

Cabin cushions re-upholstered.

 

2008:

 

Added Engel AC/DC Chest Refrigerator (Great recommendation by Lou Spagna!)

2009: 

Genoa cleaned and repaired by Sail Care with Malouney System. New sunbrella cover, clew, tack and head rebuilt.

 

Below: Our route and ports of call for our 2008 Tour of the Chesapeake. (AKA Tour De’ Chessie!)

 

New upholstery

 

 

 

 

2009: 

Haul Out. 

-Completely sanded bottom

-Five coats of Interprotect Barrier Coat

-Two coats of Vivid Bottom Paint

-Buffed hull

-Painted boot stripe and below toe rail

-Replaced steaming light.

Replaced mixing elbow and exhaust manifold.

Replaced batteries; Optima AGM 27 and Deep Cycle 31.

Replaced depth finder

Added two Odyssey Deep Cycle Batteries for house batteries. Returned Deep Cycle 31.

Relocated Optima battery to quarter berth for reserve battery.

 

2010:

Replaced life lines.

Added speakers to cockpit

Added winch to mast

Added 1,000 Watt Inverter

Replaced Bimini

 

Dream Date passing the review stands, all dressed out for the annual Norfolk Parade of Sail.

 

 

 

Planned projects:   

 

Replacing the crazed forward hatch. There is a company in Norfolk that will replicate the Lexan for $200.

 

Would love to have an autohelm…

 

 

 

Two Watkins: Rafted Up with Terry Hunsicker in Mobjack Bay, north of the York River

 

 

For more picture and video of Dream Date, visit our website by clicking on link below.

 

http://www.norfolknavalsailing.org/dreamdate.htm

 

 

January sailing in the Southern Chesapeake with son Chris

 

 

Winner for Best Decorated Christmas Boat in our Marina!