Thanks for all the kind words.
For background, big step for me though it is, this isn't my first boat. I had a 16' aluminum fishing boat with an 18 hp outboard on it for a number of years, and sold it some time ago after concluding that it wasn't the "on the water experience" that I wanted. I think I actually made money on that, but not much. I have accumulated 3 canoes, one quite new and made of Kevlar, and the others much older and made principally of wood.
They used to say that Minnesota has 10,000 lakes but the actual figure is higher. I've been at the helm of friends' and family member's boats, and rentals from resorts, in some of the largest and best known ones --
Lake of the Woods, Minnetonka, Vermilion, as well as some less well known ones and a few places out of state. Fishing boats, pontoons, ski boats, runabouts, jet skis. The boating scene here is very much based on smaller boats that are readily trailerable as there are only a handful of waters where launch facilities and slips exist to accommodate anything larger.
"Bridget" is the result of a search for a boat seaworthy enough to take on Lake Superior, small enough to be trailerable, shallow enough in draft to use most launching ramps, able to be single handed, large enough for a couple overnight or some friends during the day, economical to operate, and able to be used as a dive platform.
The previous owner only used the trailer for seasonal moves between a slip and storage, and will need all new brakes and lights. Otherwise the boat and motor are in good shape. Other than basic maintenance and cosmetics, I'm replacing a sea cock that doesn't meet my personal safety standards, adding a 4-step folding boarding ladder to the transom (as mentioned upthread), and probably making some electrical and electronics updates.
I'm anticipating diving the centerboard to replace the pennant (control cable) for it. It can't be done on the trailer because part of the trailer blocks access. That will be a tricky project.
