HULL #230’s Story

“MOMENTOUS”: 1983, C38, #230. Owned by Mark and John O’Dell, Baltimore, Md.

MOMENTOUS: 1983 S&S Catalina 38 Hull #230 (a rare shoal draft keel version) was found on the internet for sale through Martin Bird & Assoc. brokerage in the winter of 2010. We don’t know a lot about her origins but at the time she was named SPIRIT (Wash. D.C.) and was located at Holiday Point Marina on Selby Bay on the mouth of the South River in Edgewater, MD.

As far as we can tell the boat had been at Holiday Point for most of her life and was well cared for by the original, or 2nd owner (what was left of an original partnership of an early 1980s purchase from a broker in Wash D.C.)

The boat had gone through an extensive refit maybe 5 years earlier, which included an awl-grip hull job, a mast and boom paint job, a new full batten main sail, and Ray-marine radar, auto pilot & chart plotter. As far as we can tell all the work and maintenance was done by  Holiday Point Marina.

SPIRIT was then transferred to another owner partnership (with family ties we believe) that had since lost interest in the boat and listed it through Martin Bird & Assoc. out of Annap. MD. after about 2 years on the hard.

The boat surveyed well and after some issues with a lien, yard bills and a dirty title were cleared up, she was had by our new father & son partnership for an a VERY low price. (Well below her original asking price of $35k.)

There was minor keel damage to be repaired from an unusual de-lamination problem which was isolated in one small location on the port side below the keel / hull joint, but that was to be repaired after the boat was moved to it's new home in South East Baltimore, MD.

SPIRIT was moved from Holiday Point to Young's Boat Yard on Jones Creek on the Patapsco River in Baltimore, MD in mid April 2011 by a crew of three in steady rain and moderate wind.

The engine ran great and the electronics worked, but the main wouldn't hoist the full hight of the mast -- so SPIRIT made the  30 miles on mostly a wing/wing run where she showed her speed immediately, hanging around 7 knots most of the way.

Rechristened “MOMENTOUS” late in the spring of 2011, she was given a minor keel repair, two coats of A.C.T bottom paint, a loving redo on her teak, a brand new hydraulic backstay adjuster and splashed for a great season of short cruises and many days sails.

At the end of the 2011 season the boat received a cockpit dodger / sun shade & bimini, then put on the hard for the  conclusion of her first season on Jones Creek.

Young’s Boat Yard is full of “vintage” sailboats, most kept in very nice condition and “MOMENTOUS” has an outside slip for all passing salts to admire. (See this website's background image.) She truly is the darling of the area.

Young’s yard has an active, Wednesday PHRF fleet and members are taunting us to get in. Right now we’re just enjoying sailing circles around them, and enjoying a rum or beer with the crew.