Just checked my profile. It says I joined here in '04. I was sure I had been here longer. Perhaps under another username?
Anyway, I first saw this board back when I was first interested in the 26X. I owned a Catalina 22 @ the time. That was either '95 or '96, when the Xboat first came out, I think. (memory..... second thing to go, forgot what the first thing to go was)
Anyway, I got my '97 Xboat in 1999. Was a avid reader and poster on the old Sailnet 26X board for several years. Don't Remember when I joined it, but remember when F.M. did
(one reason you'll never se me answer his posts here. The two of us have been down that road. I shall not travel that path with him again). Truce still in effect, eh Frank?
I've been reading and posting on some sailing site now, since about '92. Once in awhile, I still get a hello from one of the Catalina 22 people (from Catalina Direct's forum similar to this one). Seems like my article on gelcoat repair has been here in the "Featured Articles" section for several years now.
BTW, on that note, I talked with Heath last year about a more indepth article, with pictures and now that I have another old boat that needs some repairs, I may be able to publish a more helpful article with some illustration included. My Dboat has a few blisters and some of those little hairline stress cracks, that come with vintage gelcoat, that will make great examples.
In case any of you remember, I once had a website of my own where I, pretty much restored my Catalina 22, inside and out. One of the things you'd remember most about this site would be the pictures of the boat, sitting completely upside down on a rack in my back yard. It made refinnishing the hull so much easier.
Randy