Our Boat

2017:  You know the one time you just go to “look” at puppies at the pound, well the same thing happened to us when we just went to “look” at a 1997 Kadey Krogen 42.  M/V Magnolia found us.  She had been sitting unloved for some time. By July 2017 we were cleaning and testing and updating all the systems. She also had an interior refit. After six months in the yard, we were ready to cruise on her full time.

She has a 15′ beam, 14′ air draft and 4.5′ draft allowing us to take her to waters where we couldn’t sail. She has a Lugger engine and a Northern Lights generator, solar power, watermaker allowing us to be off the grid. She is very comfortable with two staterooms. Piloting is comfortable too with the pilothouse as command central. We feel very confident with her on the water as she is a sturdy vessel.

2013:  Magnolia is a 44′ center cockpit Morgan 1990 with a 44 hp Yanmar auxiliary engine and Westerbeke generator.  She has a 13’6″ beam, 5’8″ draft, 58 ft mast and 23,750 lb. displacement.  She’s a good sturdy cruiser, but she can move as proven by her proudly displayed award as the winner of the 1991 Biloxi Challenge.Magnolia

We named her Magnolia since that was Annette’s Mother’s favorite tree.  Annette grew up with a Magnolia in her yard in Falls Church, VA.  Beyond that our friend, Jill, said that Magnolias are relatively easy to grow and pest free – isn’t that what you want in a boat?  Who can argue with that logic?

How did we come to sailing?  After watching others sail on the Potomac River from our 11th story condominium in Arlington, VA, we decided there was no reason we couldn’t learn too — and why wait?  Since neither of us had any sailing experience, we both took sailing and navigation classes with some on-the-water time on the Potomac,  Chesapeake Bay and the BVIs in 2009/2010.  With a ton of help and encouragement from the Pentagon Sailing Club, Northern Virginia Power Squadron, Sistership, and great friends who cruise internationally, we caught the sailing bug.  We’d start small and build our kitty we told ourselves.  Next thing we know, we are traveling to look at sailboats — and a sailboat found us sooner than expected in 2010.  Yes, a bit crazy, but we decided that we want to live aboard when we retire and wanted to learn and make improvements to our boat vs. chartering different boats. She was in Ta2010_08_21_19_49_24_AWB-062mpa, FL.  Magnolia’s new home is in Galesville, MD until we head south in the fall of 2013.   Our friends have shared more moral support, advice, and training than we could have possibly hoped and for which we are extremely grateful.

Annette & Anthony Baker  “A2″

www.a2baker.com/magnoliablog

4 thoughts on “Our Boat

  1. Hi, your pic of the sewing machine appears to look like a Sailrite machine. If so, are you happy with it? I had heard reports that it was somewhat of a tank and loud. I am considering purchasing one, and am curious of your comments. Regards, Dean

    1. It is a Sailrite LSZ1 (zigzag). I do like it and use it a lot. It is heavy as it has mainly metal parts (44lbs). A bit loud, but not unusually so. If you plan to work with marine canvas, vinyls and sail cloth for more than a few projects, it is worth it. Watch for any Boat Show specials. Sailrite tends to price reasonably and not engage in heavy discounts. Get a good light, the new thread holder, and new stitch length lever. You need the kick stand and #16, and #18 needles. If you will do zippers and piping get both the left and right pressure feet. If you just buy one inevitably you’ll need the other! Have the retaining ring cap spring in spares. A needle strike will require this to be changed out which isn’t hard to do. I have yet to use the monster wheel. The website, machine’s DVDs and forum will be helpful.

      All that said, if you are looking to do a few projects with not many layers of canvas or vinyl, a good solid (maybe older metal) home sewing machine could work fine. I use my old Singer for the lighter projects (e.g., wind scoops).

      Hope this helps and good luck!
      Annette

  2. Hi, I am interested in finding out more about Magnolia? Can you send me some more pictures by email or a link that I probably haven’t found? Thanks! Kind regards, Gerard

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