Thursday, December 29, 2011

Wisconsin Easterly


I didn't pick the best time of year to start a new blog. Family, travel, holidays...way too much to do.

Here is a photo of another Easterly 38. It was sent to me by another Easterly owner who has been collecting info about them.

This boat looks very similar to a 1980 model on my pier that is said to be the last Easterly 38 made. I have no way of verifying that.

It is a bit different from some other 38's in that the topside is very squared-off. You can see that the standing area in the forward cabin is more angular than other Easterly's.

I also noticed that the combing on the cockpit sides is narrower than some other 38's I have seen. I don't know why someone would go to the length of making a new mold for such subtle changes, but it happened. I also can't understand what the advantage would be.

Feel free to chime in if you have any ideas.

If you have any Easterly photos, email them to me, along with any info you have, at danahersoutdoorsatgmaildotcom. Obviously, use @ and . instead of "at" and "dot".

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Getting Started


About three years ago, what started as a serious cleaning job turned into a full blown restoration of a 1977 Easterly 38 sailboat. Not knowing much about sailboats at the time and absolutely nothing about Easterly's, I started doing some research. So far, that research has turned up only a little information. Mostly I found other owners looking for information.

One man I traded emails with went so far as to drive down to Pearlington, Mississippi (where the Easterly Yacht Company built the boats) to see what he could dig up. He came up empty-handed.

So, I decided to start this blog as a meeting place for Easterly owners. Hopefully, this becomes the spot for owners to share ideas, problems, photos and other information that might benefit us all. Given the ages of Easterly boats, I'm sure a lot of them have been renovated and modified.

How many are out there? I'm not sure. I do know the various production numbers I have run across don't really add up. For instance: I have read that there were only six 38's made. That seems unlikely as there are three on my pier alone. I have also seen photos of at least three others and found info on a couple more. Maybe we'll figure it out.

In the mean time, spread the word and let me hear from you. Send photos to me and whatever information you have and I will post it.