Betty Jean is the opposite of Grand Slam: she is smaller and closer to the water yet almost 20% heavier, with a full keel and bowsprit. She is a ketch, with a main, mizzen main and genoa, as opposed to a sloop with a large main and jib.
I wrote this blog last year around this time and thought I’d share it – Over the past few months, as I’ve been singularly focused (with varied levels of enthusiasm) on reviving the wood on Betty Jean, my mom’s voice (spoken in tones both endearing and exasperated) swirls in my head, “You’re your father’s daughter.” The light…
For Christmas this year, my dad gave Adam and I the most awesome gift – a new port hole! Below is a shot of the boat pre-porthole – take a look at the front of the white cabin. And the modest master at work: Our new porthole is the greatest thing. It lets in a…
Did I go for the easy title? Perhaps. Do I regret it? Not for a second. Earlier this year, the family took on a team project of constructing two identical Eastport Pram dinghies from a kit. We estimated that in a few weeks time we’d be finished – and several months later (who’s counting anyway)…
One of the first things we did once we got settled at the Bay Club Marina was take the old name off the boat and replace it with Betty Jean. It took me one month to pick the font, it took Adam and I three hours to scrape off the old vinyl lettering and it took John…
In November of last year, Bud (Grand Slam’s new owner) and Adam orchestrated the ol’ switcheroo – simultaneous trips moving Grand Slam up to Long Beach and Betty Jean down to San Diego. Bud and his son drove down to San Diego where they began their trip while Adam and I drove Bud’s car up…
Here’s our new boat Betty Jean: This picture was taken last November at the public docks in Newport Harbor, CA. She’s one of 100 or so Fuji 32s, designed by John Alden and built in the late 1970s. We have hull #51, built in 1977. Molly’s dad told us that one should have a boat…
After spending the weekend with my mom, grandma and uncle, Adam and I returned to the boat to find a hungry cat and an unbelievable sunset. We walked across the street to Hollywood Beach to witness the result of a week of Santa Ana winds blowing smog, dirt and dust from the mainland off shore.…
After two weeks, we’ve left Santa Barbara and our heading back to Catalina, where our trip started two months ago. Here are some final pics from Santa Barbara and the first leg of our trip to Catalina – with a stop back in Oxnard.
Adam and Molly Go 