Return to Sea — A Boat Called Intuition

Sometimes a change in plans doesn’t mean abandoning the destination. It means finding another course to get there.

My Return to Sea plans have evolved, and that means taking a fresh look at which vessels make sense for the journey ahead.

That changes the boat budget. Some boats have fallen off the shortlist, but another vessel has stayed in my thoughts: MV Intuition, a 1972 Grand Banks 32.

A Possible Home in Victoria

Intuition is associated with Westbay Marina in Victoria, British Columbia, with survey work previously carried out on the hard at Canoe Cove in North Saanich. The seller says her moorage and liveaboard arrangement can transfer with the sale. That is a significant attraction: finding a boat is one challenge, finding somewhere legally to live aboard is another. I’ll still want confirmation directly from the marina before committing.

What the 2024 Survey Says

The owner sent me an 18-page condition and valuation survey completed by SV-MV Marine Surveyors B.C. Ltd. in April 2024. Intuition has a Philippine mahogany carvel-planked wooden hull and an original 120-horsepower, six-cylinder Ford Lehman diesel. The survey recorded approximately 6,600 engine hours, two steel fuel tanks with a combined 946-litre capacity, dual helms, navigation electronics and the essentials for living aboard.

The surveyor rated the vessel “Above Average Condition” for her vintage, described the hull as solid and considered her suitable for coastal cruising and liveaboard use. It also identified a propane gas-sniffer/pressure-gauge service item. Those findings are encouraging, but they’re not a substitute for knowing her condition today.

No Shortcuts Before the Sea Trial

The owner and I agree that a fresh, full marine survey is necessary. We’re working on dates for me to fly from Edmonton to Victoria in the coming weeks. The plan is to view Intuition, arrange the independent survey and take her out for a test cruise during the same trip. He’s also offered to introduce me to his insurance broker, which could be especially helpful for an older wooden-hulled liveaboard.

I’ll be looking closely at hull planking and fastenings, decks, machinery, tanks, electrical systems and the realities of day-to-day life aboard. Insurance and transferable liveaboard moorage must be confirmed, not assumed. The survey will help establish the vessel’s present condition and the maintenance work she may require.

The Next Chapter, Not the Final Decision

Intuition remains a serious candidate, but there’s no purchase decision yet. The vessel still has to earn her place in the fleet.

For now, I’m looking forward to stepping aboard, taking the helm and seeing whether this old Grand Banks feels like home. There may yet be a way back to the water without spending every dollar getting there.

Fair winds,
Captain Stormy
Stormy Sailors Maker Lab — Return to Sea