Louvers Looking Good … and So Is Cups!

Cups is looking awesome ... especially her louvers!

I finally finished cleaning and polishing all 766 louvers (there were actually more like a million, but I don’t want to discourage any potential buyers!) on schedule and they look maaaah-velous. In actuality, Nine of Cups looks better than ever … all that TLC works wonders for an old girl … and the boat, too. There are still some projects left unfinished, however.

The weather has not cooperated at all … cold, raw and rainy … and hence the port side deck did not get its final coats of paint nor did the port rail get varnished as planned. But … looking at her from the starboard side, she’s” shipshape in Bristol fashion”. It’s that port side that still requires attention. After all, this IS a boat and we all know what that means.

Below decks, however, things are sparkling. Newly varnished soles are shining. All is clean and tidy. Locker contents are neatly arranged and many locker interiors have been repainted. The new stainless stove is gleaming. So it begs the question … why sell now? she’s perfect! The answer … it’s time.

Cups' newly varnished soles are gleaming!

Well, over the weekend, we had a visitor who flew out from California. He is familiar with other cruisers’ Liberty sailboats and has fallen in love with the design. Through a FB follower/friend, he found out that Cups was for sale and got in touch with us. We’ve been talking and planning ever since and on Friday, he arrived to meet us and Nine of Cups in person.

An 11-page checklist ... a well prepared man!

Over the course of many, many hours over two days, he went through every nook, cranny, system, locker and piece of equipment on Cups. He’s a very knowledgeable guy and gave our girl a thorough look-over. His 11 typewritten pages of questions and checklists were ticked off as he and David methodically worked from stem to stern below and above decks. He took pix and gave his wife a 30-minute What's App live tour. The end result? We’re pretty sure Nine of Cups has found a new family who will love her, take care of her and continue to let her take them on wonderful adventures as we have for the past 18 years.

Personally, I’m convinced the reason he loved Nine of Cups is because of those clean louvers ... but that's just me!