Help Heather and Andy Keep Their Home Afloat

We started this venture a little over 4 years ago when we bought our C&C Landfall 38, moved back to the United States, and began the daunting task of bringing her back to her former glory.

We've spent the last 4 years making repairs, both electrical and mechanical. We've learned how to fiberglass and replace bulkheads. (There was more rot from years of neglect than we initially thought.) We've replaced transmissions and prop shafts. We've each broken our bodies and undergone surgeries to repair the abuse this undertaking has taken on our aging selves. We were blessed to be able to find work at a sail loft and canvas shop while continuing to work on the boat. There, we gained invaluable knowledge and we were able to make a complete set of sails, including a mainsail, genoa, storm jib, and spinnaker. We spent countless hours on the enclosure, which has afforded us the ability to sail more comfortably in driving rains and high seas. We upgraded the boom to a boom that had built-in reefing points due to our physical limitations that became more and more apparent as we progressed. The stack pack and lazy jacks for the mainsail were a luxury we made, adding retractable sunshades to either side of the boom to help keep the cabin cooler in tropical climates. We've hauled out for months at a time on two occasions, scraping, repairing, fiberglassing, installing depth sounders, replacing a prop shaft that fell out going around Hatteras (the graveyard of the Atlantic), and repainting the boat's antifoul. We've had our starter stop, our alternator falter, and our mixing elbow completely rust through and fill the boat with soot and exhaust. We've learned that a small hole that a pencil can't fit through in the anchor locker will fill the vberth with hundreds of gallons of water when plowing into 10 foot waves... of course at night, while raining, and exhaust filling the boat (that's when the mixing elbow started to fail). We've laughed, cried, felt beaten, been beaten, wanted to give up, and refused to give up. This little boat is our home... and it's finally kicked our butts.

After years of work and putting our all into our home, we finally set sail for the Bahamas in April, with Panama being our "first final" destination, where we planned to pull the engine and have it rebuilt affordably. God had other plans. First, we lost the gooseneck on the boom in a storm, which necessitated our unplanned stay in a marina so we could assess damage and flake the mainsail to a manageable size so the boom could be stored safely on deck. Once again on the go, we lost the engine. It just couldn't wait until Panama. We were at anchor for about a month when we finally found a mechanic willing to tackle our issues. We had exhausted our knowledge stores regarding diesel engines and desperately needed help. We've been blessed to have the mechanic we have! For months, we worked with him at anchor, constantly being at the mercy of imports due the availability of resources here. Once he decided that the entire engine had to be removed, we had to be towed into a marina (2 weeks ago) so we could safely work as we have very limited space. Import and customs fees, along with VAT (value-added tax), towing, and marinas have finally broken the bank and our spirits. Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent and we're SO close to being able to continue on. Though, we will need to return to the States to haul out one more time to redo the bottom... again. Months of being stationary in tropical waters have produced major growth and while we've been scraping and cleaning the bottom, the ablative paint is just shot and down to barrier coat in some places. There is nowhere here that can haul us out, either the yards are full, or liveaboards are not allowed. Which brings me to this...

We come to you on bended knee, with broken pride, and ask that you consider donating to the cause, that you help keep us afloat. I'm setting the limit higher than needed for our repairs. We truly need a blue water boat and if we were able to get one, we'd donate this boat (fully refurbished) to a veteran in need of a home. (It's perfect for one person or for seasonal living for 2 but not full-time living for a couple.) But, we DO need help just to finish up with what's going on now and get moving again. We've really agonized over reaching out with crowdfunding but here we are, at that point. Another $3,500 is needed to complete the engine. We also estimate $5,000 for hauling out, redoing through hulls, bottom repairs, and new antifoul paint as well.

If you feel it in your hearts to do so, please know it won't be squandered and we will be forever grateful. The captain and crew (Andy and I) of sailing vessel Hammer are forever grateful for any and all generosity sent our way. We're also very appreciative of your prayers and well wishes.

Whatever is happening in your life at the moment, we wish you fair winds and following seas.

With all sincerity and heartfelt gratitude,

Heather and Andy

"SV Hammer"