Glenn's Blog: A New Flying Scot? Part 5 - The Pick-up

This blog post is part of a series describing our experience in ordering a new Flying Scot.  The previous installment discussed selling Flying Scot #3834.

Friday January 22, 2010.  It's time to venture to western Maryland and the home of Flying Scot Inc. to pick up our new Flying Scot!

The weather is "iffy".  A cold front has spread eastward resulting in a winter storm warning south of the Pennsyvania border.  The line of sleet and possibly snow is forecast to advance north/northeast and break up over the day.

Route to FSIOur route of travel from our home in Lower Macungie is basically south/southwest ensuring we will pass the edge of forecast sleet on the way out.  (Click on the image thumbnails to see the full size image)

Now, I don't mind slippery weather and in this case the later we go the better the forecast.  So I make the decision to launch at first light.  I figure the worst case is we need to take a long early lunch somewhere in middle of Pennsylvania.

My crew, however, does not feel the same about inclement weather as I but if I get lucky Dorothy will be fast asleep as we approach the weather.  This great planning fails immediately as we exit the driveway and I hear "let's stop for coffee".  Uh-oh.

We encounter the weather earlier than anticipated, outside of Harrisburg.  This is a good sign since it means the trip back is likely to be clean.  Unfortunately in this direction the precip continues for about 80 miles making for 2 hours of sloppy driving.  We see only one accident and our convoy of cars and trucks is both careful and courteous.  More importantly my crew once again exceeded expectations and diligently identified every potential upcoming hazard.

We arrive at Flying Scot Inc. towards the tail end of the time window predicted.  Now it's time we meet our new Scot!  First we meet Dee Burns, the office manager, Karen Carpenter, VP of FSI and Harry Carpenter, the builder.  The facility itself is unpretentious, basically a small warehouse with the lovely fragrance of "new boat" fiberglass.

Our new Scot, #5919, is front and center.  A grin appears uncontrollably on my face.

The previous week when planning the trip, I cringed at the idea of scarring our shiny new boat with winter road debris.  So I added a bottom cover to the boat order.  The cover was already on when we arrived.

I had to see the shiny new hull and its color so we lowered the cover to unveil the hull.  Yesss!!!

Then we were down to business.  We inspected all the custom features I requested.  Aft console - check.  After centerboard lift line - check.  High speed bottom finish - check.  Thru-seat spinnaker block - check.....

We proceeded to complete the paperwork.  Boat title - Check.  Installation instructions - check.  And after several signatures it was "$check - check" (ouch).

And finally it was time to get her ready to bring home.  The bottom cover was re-secured and the top cover strapped on.  Harry lent us a mast cover as well.  We put all the loose parts in the car.  The trailer was hitched to the car and the lights were tested.

Pulling out on to the road we immediately heard the staccato sound of road salt and stones in our wheel wells.  The bottom cover paid for itself immediately.

Except for a little fog the return trip was uneventful.  As predicted the weather had dissipated.  Once we hit Pennsylvania the sun peeked out from behind the clouds welcoming us back.

All Tucked In: FS #5919 at homeWe arrived home 12 hours after we left.  Our new Scot is in our driveway looking to the untrained eye much as our old one.

Now begins the tortuous wait to get her in the water.  Anticipation is high. 

In the mean time I will keep occupied working on a full page of work items.  These include the usual: installing storage baskets; desiging and ordering the boat name; organizing the parts; adding non-skid; as well as some minor refinements I intend to add.

The sailing season can't come soon enough.

Glenn Wesley

FS 5919 - DJ'