The “Big” Boat

My husband, Charlie, and I have what we call,
....The ‘Big’ Boat.
It is a 1978 Carver Mariner that is 32’8”.
We purchased it, unexpectedly, in June of 1999 because “it is one of my dreams” says my Charlie.
The man who sold it to us was experiencing great distress in his financial life and needed to sell it quickly. Suddenly, out of the “serendipity blue”, we became the new owners.
It had been lived in by a ’blue water’ fisherman and was his ‘workhorse’ boat and home.
We immediately named her appropriately...’Milagro’!
Milagro is Spanish for ‘Miracle’.
That she was......and is!

Our immediate task was to restore the lady to her former legacy of teak laden excellence. Charlie stripped her of her fishing boat days and began to recycle her to our lifestyle that being a ‘Tropical Condo’ on the water!
New became the word of the day, inside and out!
Carpet, curtains, refrigerator, microwave, hot water heater, TV/VCR combination with satellite direct TV service and even a wonderful marine commercial U Line ice maker, which was a miracle in itself.
Then new pumps galore, new/used generator, reconditioned out drive, ship to shore radio, antennas, marine CD system, GPS , custom made canvas, lines, bumpers, etc. all new from bow to stern.
Also, of course, we had to have a dinghy with 8.5-hp motor.

We soon learned that the word B.O.A.T. means,
........bring out another thousand!
We , also, found by experience that what we call the “Big” boat became a REAL big boat investment.
Our investment has been fun, work and a challenge which has certainly fulfilled Charlie’s dream.

Once the Milagro was ready, we took her by water from our Tampa Bay Marina to River Ranch Resort on the Kissimmee River, approximately 250 miles away. She performed wonderfully enroute.
The ’workhorse’ aspect of her mechanics proved trustworthy of her legacy.

Now, 2002, we have her docked at the entrance to the great big Lake Okeechobee.
Lake Okeechobee is the second largest lake in the U.S.
It is a 700 square mile fresh water lake filled with all kinds of fish.

Our nautical family is the reason we are boaters today.
There is a group of several couples that have boats our size and they all live by the “Golden Rule” of life and boating;
...............“Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you.”
This golden rule buddy system on the water, with a big boat, is certainly a MUST for the ’good life’.