Freshman sailor asking for advice

[Hunter216]

@Klaussic

I have just read through your thread and it appears you have now experienced the full gamut of rapid fire advice you can expect here on SBO

It would appear that you have made some local connections in your area so my “advice” would be ensure you and your admiral are prepared to take advantage of an offer to actually get out on the water when the time comes.

By all means continue your education on all things sailing but perhaps your more immediate focus could be on making sure you both have properly fitting PFD’s, footwear, clothing etc.

EDIT: I guess I should expand on my advise. The PFD’s and footwear that you wear on a sailboat might be different than what you wear power boating. Sailing will require you to move around quite a bit more.... hoisting sails, going up and down companionway, going forward to deal with anchor etc. Same might be said about clothing, nice day, storm front approaches power boat 40k - sail 6k, chances are you will get caught out . Having the right gear makes a big difference!

 

[rgranger]

@Klaussic

I have just read through your thread and it appears you have now experienced the full gamut of ... both have properly fitting PFD’s, footwear, clothing etc.

CLOSED TOED SHOES (no flip flops)

More rapid fire advice

 

[Jim26m]

For PFDs. Put them on before you step on the dock.

The fact that your Admiral will hop on the back of a motorcycle and also has no motion sickness issues, is very promising. You have some boating experience in a reasonably large power boat. You have a contacts for sailing lessons. You have a freakin dock in your front yard... I would bet you guys are going to really enjoy it - if you can get used to going places at 4-6 knots... I just enjoy being on the water. If I wind up going anywhere, well that's just a bonus!

Lake Pontchartrain looks like a nice place to learn sailing. Can't wait to read about your sailing adventures!

By the way, I'm 6'-2" and 200, so I have some appreciation for wanting a big boat with spacious accommodations. Problem is, I don't have a big enough garage to get a bigger boat... I'm max'd out at 26 ft. Trailer sailing is my thing currently, but I don't have a slip in my front yard.

Stay well and good luck!

 

[BigEasy]

Yes, Big Easy, that’s the idea. But every time I look through the local offers and compare those to other regions, I have the impression that in Louisiana people think their boats are worth more on an average than in Alabama or Florida Panhandle.

Don't forget about Houston; its one of the top 5 sailing markets in the country. You could bring it back to LA thru the intracoastal waterway.
Would be a good idea to get an experienced captain to make the trip with you as there are lots of commercial traffic on the ICW.

 

[FDL S2]

if you can get used to going places at 4-6 knots..

One thing I tell first-time sailors is they will be surprised at how fast 6knots feels when the wind is your engine, but it's not fast when you are trying to get somewhere....

 

[rgranger]

I forget who posted this first but I like it...

One of the big differences between a power boater and a sailor is that a power boater uses his boat to get to a place and a sailor is already where he wants to be when he is on his boat.

 

[jssailem]

That of course wouldn’t work for a boat moored in Michigan or California.

Hello Klaussic and welcome to SBO. I’ve watched your thread and it sure looks like you on a good path.

Don’t be to quick to discount the options. Sure there are challenges, but folk have made water passages from both locations. It just takes a bit more time and provides a bit more adventure. Michigan to Louisiana is just a cruise down the mighty Mississippi. Doing it would give you a beginning to what many consider a life time achievement “the Great Loop”. What is the Great Loop?

Getting started need not include owning a 35ft cruising boat. For most folk they find the crawl (small day sailor), walk (pocket yacht overnighter camping boat), ok were out of here (sailboat of our dreams) route a viable and affordable path to take. Along the way they learn a ton of knowledge that is usable throughout the journey.

 

[Klaussic]

Hello Klaussic and welcome to SBO. I’ve watched your thread and it sure looks like you on a good path.

Don’t be to quick to discount the options. Sure there are challenges, but folk have made water passages from both locations. It just takes a bit more time and provides a bit more adventure. Michigan to Louisiana is just a cruise down the mighty Mississippi. Doing it would give you a beginning to what many consider a life time achievement “the Great Loop”. What is the Great Loop?

Getting started need not include owning a 35ft cruising boat. For most folk they find the crawl (small day sailor), walk (pocket yacht overnighter camping boat), ok were out of here (sailboat of our dreams) route a viable and affordable path to take. Along the way they learn a ton of knowledge that is usable throughout the journey.

Hello Jim, and thanks for your note!
i am not saying that a passage wouldn’t be possible for those locations, but I am not yet retired and have very little vacation to spare for such an adventure. The Gulf Coast usually offers a bunch of sailboat options and it makes a transfer for me more feasible and reasonable. But if I had the option and the time, I wouldn’t mind cruising the Mississippi River down to NOLA where I live. And one thing is for sure or at least highly likely, a 10-year old freshwater lake boat has less corrosion than a same-aged saltwater boat.
BTW: I have not yet found a boat for me that suits my budget and pleases my expectations.

EDITED:
Maybe it is not Jim, but John. My apologies, I still mess things up on this site.

 

[Klaussic]

Don't forget about Houston; its one of the top 5 sailing markets in the country. You could bring it back to LA thru the intracoastal waterway.
Would be a good idea to get an experienced captain to make the trip with you as there are lots of commercial traffic on the ICW.

Hi BigEasy, yes, I am looking for boats also in the greater Houston area (Kemah and surroundings). I wouldn’t mind doing the road trip to look at a good and healthy boat over there, since the Houston prices are more reasonable than the overall Louisiana prices. And the choices might be much higher. Thanks for the hint!

 

[Klaussic]

For PFDs. Put them on before you step on the dock.

The fact that your Admiral will hop on the back of a motorcycle and also has no motion sickness issues, is very promising. You have some boating experience in a reasonably large power boat. You have a contacts for sailing lessons. You have a freakin dock in your front yard... I would bet you guys are going to really enjoy it - if you can get used to going places at 4-6 knots... I just enjoy being on the water. If I wind up going anywhere, well that's just a bonus!

Lake Pontchartrain looks like a nice place to learn sailing. Can't wait to read about your sailing adventures!

By the way, I'm 6'-2" and 200, so I have some appreciation for wanting a big boat with spacious accommodations. Problem is, I don't have a big enough garage to get a bigger boat... I'm max'd out at 26 ft. Trailer sailing is my thing currently, but I don't have a slip in my front yard.

Stay well and good luck!

Many thanks, Jim! I have been researching the market a little more and I have met a great sailor on this forum who is already concerned that I am not getting into a bad sailboat (Thank you, Jerry!). My dock allows up to a 60 footer, but my wallet says “no way”. Trying to settle somewhere in the early to midst 30ies, ideally Catalina, Hunter or Morgan. And must be a cruiser with enough headroom, glad you know the feeling when you bump your head on everything lower than 6’2”. I keep looking and hope I can share and post soon a success story. For now, I am really grateful for you guys helping me with knowledge and wisdom about sailing.

 

[Klaussic]

@Klaussic

I have just read through your thread and it appears you have now experienced the full gamut of rapid fire advice you can expect here on SBO

It would appear that you have made some local connections in your area so my “advice” would be ensure you and your admiral are prepared to take advantage of an offer to actually get out on the water when the time comes.

By all means continue your education on all things sailing but perhaps your more immediate focus could be on making sure you both have properly fitting PFD’s, footwear, clothing etc.

EDIT: I guess I should expand on my advise. The PFD’s and footwear that you wear on a sailboat might be different than what you wear power boating. Sailing will require you to move around quite a bit more.... hoisting sails, going up and down companionway, going forward to deal with anchor etc. Same might be said about clothing, nice day, storm front approaches power boat 40k - sail 6k, chances are you will get caught out . Having the right gear makes a big difference!

There is a lot common sense to what you are writing about PFD’s and footwear. We haven’t yet been shopping much for those things due to COVID-19, but we surely will learn more about it when the situation gets a little more under control. Many thanks for your fine advice!

 

[Klaussic]

One thing I tell first-time sailors is they will be surprised at how fast 6knots feels when the wind is your engine, but it's not fast when you are trying to get somewhere....

Thanks for that quote, FDL S2! When you feel the power in your right hand at the throttle of a powerboat, it might be a big change to get used to once I get the power only by trimming the sails. But I don’t see a challenge in lowering my speed to around 6 knots because I will have a different destination, the cockpit of the sailboat itself. Enjoying the moment of having that wind from sailing in my face will let me easily forget the relatively short excitement to go 60 mph over the lake. Looking really forward to it. Many thanks!