Updated on February 21, 2026
Love at First Sight
During the Spring of 2021, we were moored at Golden Isles Marina near St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. Across the dock was a trawler, “Sea Breeze”. Looking out of one of the large windows was a large Amazon parrot with whom I became friends.
See Fernandina Beach and Back to Beaufort – The Adventures of Sophia (sophiasails.com)
Elena and I became friends with the owners and Elena was invited on board for a tour. Elena was enamored with the layout of the boat. It had everything in a boat that she wanted: few steps, no longer that 50 feet, large open windows, galley (kitchen) near the living area, ability to do work, big enough for us to have a cat. We told Teri and Tami that if there came a time to sell their boat to please contact us
Fast Forward to July 2022
In July 2022, we got a text message from Teri and Tami saying they ready to move ashore and were going to sell “Sea Breeze” and asked if we were interested. We went a couple of negotiating rounds, but the asking price was outside our budget. We continued to prepare “Sophia” for the fall trip south. In September we got another call from Tami and Teri telling us they were willing to take our last offer if it was still on the table.
In Elena’s mind, the answer was a definite yes. So began all the work of obtaining financing, arranging the survey, and figuring out all the logistics. In early October, Elena flew to Florida to conduct the survey which was for the most part successful with a couple of required repairs noted,
The financing was finalized. We emptied SOPHIA of our belongings, putting much into storage and packed up the rest with most of our earthly possisions into a rental minivan. On Nov 3 we departed for Atllanta detouring a bit to see the grandkids in Richmond and so that Elena could see the Smokey Mountains.
On Nov 7, 2022, we turned the checks over to Tami and Teri in Atlanta and we began the final steps of taking ownership of “Sea Breeze”
We were now physically on our way to Florida hoping to take possession of “Sea Breeze”. There had been some hesitancy about allowing us on board until our checks cleared which could take weekGs leaving us basically homeless, living out of minivan. Finally, Tami and Terri were gracious enough to allow us to move onboard as long as we did not start up anything except the galley and the air conditioning, to which we happily agreed. We got to the Florida state line and stopped at Lake City while Hurricane Ian passed over the state. While the west coast of Florda was devastated, the east coast was largely spared. In our marina the docks were underwater and we were asked to delay our arrival a few days.
On November 18, 2022, we were notified that the last of our checks cleared and the boat was considered ours. We began my learning the boat, engaging with marine mechanics and marine electricians to explore repairs and upgrades.
We had our marine mechanic (Austin) walk us around the engineroom to make us familiar with the Cummings turbocharged diesels.
Elena decided that she wanted to name her new boat “BELLA”, not for any particular reason that could be determined, but it should be noted that the parrot that drew our attention to the boat was named Bella.
Specific repairs undertaken by the marine mechanics of Apex Marine were:
- Replaced the raw water air conditioner pump
- Replaced shower sump and pump
- Installed engine room hatch actuator (automatic hatch opener) and repaired hatch hinge
- Replaced the starboard engine intake hose
- Replaced the vent blower for the main stateroom head
- Align the battery wires and replaced the wing nuts
- Investigate all water in the bilges
- Fabricated and install a support for the port engine exhaust water hose
- Removed and replaced trim tab zincs
- Repaired the holding tank and related fittings including a new macerator pump
- Replace the Sirius XM antenna (GXM53) to get the satielite radio to work
- Tested inverter/chargers and inspected the batteries
- Tested the Helm Alarm system
- Cleaned the bottom and checked zincs
- Installed tank level gauge for fresh water system
- Installed an anchor locker hatch actuator
- Flushed both engines and replaced coolant
- Installed holding tank gauge
- Installed new bilge pumps in the engine room and in the forward bilge area
- Replaced hand bilge pump
- Bought several emergency battery and electric pumps
- Elena painted a good part of then engine room and the forward bilge area.
STEERING FAILS
At some point, we decided it was time to get the boat underway and test both the boat and ourselves. We went through our underway checklist carefully checking engines and peripherals. Just as we were getting ready to start the engines, we were testing the steering. It seemed really stiff, almost impossible to turn. Trying to force the issue, I pushed as hard as I could, risking breaking the hydraulics. Finally we called in the yard.
The diagnosis was not good. At a minimum, we were going to have haul the boat out of the water (we had just had her hauled out for the survey). In reviewing the survey video record, there was a conversation between the hired captain and the surveyor that the steering was stiff. Of course, that was over 5 months ago and any problem would have gotten progressively worst.
BELLA was hauled out and the rudder dropped. The subsequent investigation revealed a corroded bearing that had finally frozen or been jammed by rust debris. A Delrin bearing would have to procured and installed which would take over a week.
The repair was successful and BELLA went back into the water and we were ready for our first northbound transit on the good boat BELLA.
TENSION WITHIN THE CREW
It was now well into December and time to get some underway time to practice handling BELLA in and out of a slip. Elena had made arrangement for a paid Captain to take us out for a few hours. That individual was a no-show. She had also made friends with a couple of Captains on the dock (Ron and Keith) who offered to help teach her how to handle BELLA. I of course had no desire to have another person on my boat telling me what to do. After much unpleasant discussion, I agreed to her proposal to have these individuals coach her as long as I did not have to participate; she could take her lessons from anyone she wanted to, just leave me out of it.
This was also part of the deal that Elena and I had agreed upon that she would share in the boat handling responsibilities. So I agreed to let these guys on board, with the understanding that Elena would drive the boat at least half the time (which she has since welched on completely).
So we got underway twice times and I will admit having someone else instruct Elena was probably helpful, but I made it clear that was the last time
On Dec 22nd we moved to working dock and took on 301 gallons of fuel ($1445, ouch!).