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Alan and Evelyn Barker
Email: alan.barker@idbois.ang.af.mil
Searunner 40 stretched 3 feet
Sail Number: 105
Date Launched: 1997
Where Launched: Cleveland, Ohio
Present Location: St. Augustine, Florida, USA
This boat has a short but interesting history. It was built by John Schneider, to almost 100% completion, to be his retirement home afloat. It is all WEST epoxy system construction with fiberglass and kevlar overlay. It sports a beautiful LP paint job over the fairest home built hull I have ever seen. Unfortunately, John passed away just as his dream was coming to fruition.
The second owner, Jim White of Cleveland, did a super job finishing the boat out with rigging, electrical, galley… literally sparing no expense.
Nice finishing touches include custom cockpit cushions, complete with Searunner logo, and professionally done boat graphics. Jim also had a building built to house the boat! "Sea Skate" has only been in the water twice and is in pristine condition. We are lucky to be her new owners.
Sea Skate will spend the winter of 2000/2001 in Cleveland in her heated, humidity controlled building. In the spring of 2001 we will bring the boat south after cruising the Great Lakes. The route is undecided but we are leaning toward exiting the Lakes via the St. Laurence Seaway. If we tarry too long in the Great Lakes, then the Erie Canal will shorten the trip.
Alan speaks:
Having just acquired Sea Skate from the previous owner in Jacksonville, we had our beautiful Searunner moved to St. Augustine Florida where it waits for it's absentee owners to enjoy this coming June (For the entire month)
In the mean time work is progressing on the installation of a cockpit shower, dingy boom hoist, and the four solar cells that came with the boat, but were never installed. Perhaps a water maker later on as finances allow.
This boat represents the culmination of several hundreds of hours of searching the web for just the right boat to fulfill a life long dream. I have always held a special appreciation of the Marples/Brown designs.
When I first saw this boat, it literally made my jaw drop. The quality of craftmanship is extraordinary and is virtually showroom new. I've really stretched my resources for this, but my life is more disciplined and joyful now as a result.
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