Hi, I have recently come into a small amount of inheritance, may grand mother passed away, and want to go sailing before I settle down and begin my career. I'm 22 and plan on leaving as soon as I buy a boat and figure out what types of stuff I should bring with me. So I've decided on a 26 foot boat made by magregor with a nice engine probbly a four stroke and now I just need to figure out how to dile my boat in for the trip. I have read a few books and understand how to sail but I've only sailed a sunfish with one sail. I will be sailing alone and figure I can do both sails if I have one of those furlers for the front sail. Should I have anything else? Do I need a blooper sail or spinaker? Do I need a sail cover if I'm mostly going to be sailing? I figure that would save some space and with all my stuff I'll need it. Here's my list of questions. Do cell phones work out in the ocean? I'll be sailing towards new foundland first then back to nova scotia then maine and down the east coast. What do you guys do for music? Should I bring a small boombox and CD's or just my iPod and headphones? How would I charge my iPod at sea? Do you guys use sheets and a pillow or just a sleeping bag? I have an electric guitar but I'm thinking about one of those small acoustics so I would not use up my batteries. I was also thinking about using Stabil in my gas because I'll mostly be sailing and would not want the gas to go bad. Do you guys know if those caraffe type Brita filters filter out salt or should I just bring some bottled water on top of what my boat will carry? Sorry for all the questions but I'm buying the boat soon and want to leave before August 20th befor it gets to cold in newfoundland. This looks like a great source of info and I'm glad I found it from google. I think the 26 will be perfect for me and if it gets to rough I can just fire up the motor and be safe.
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Stuff
I won't comment on the boat size, since Abora 3 is a reed boat and they are currently crossing the Atlantic and it would not be my choice of a boat. Stuff Water - I don't drink the water from my tanks, but its probably safe since I brush my teeth and haven't gotten sick yet. However, you should plan on a gallon of drinking water per day for each person on board. It's recommended but I have never drank a gallon of water on any day, beer, however, is a totally different story. I generally bring bottled water... iPod - great for music and can be recharged via the 12volt adapter. Sirius/XM radio also a good idea. You will be using your engine ( at least one hour per day) to recharge the batteries, unless you use solor or wind to recharge.
I won't comment on the boat size, since Abora 3 is a reed boat and they are currently crossing the Atlantic and it would not be my choice of a boat. Stuff Water - I don't drink the water from my tanks, but its probably safe since I brush my teeth and haven't gotten sick yet. However, you should plan on a gallon of drinking water per day for each person on board. It's recommended but I have never drank a gallon of water on any day, beer, however, is a totally different story. I generally bring bottled water... iPod - great for music and can be recharged via the 12volt adapter. Sirius/XM radio also a good idea. You will be using your engine ( at least one hour per day) to recharge the batteries, unless you use solor or wind to recharge.
You're Kidding, Right?
#1 Landsend is right, wrong boat. #2 from some of your questions, I'm wondering if this is just a hoax, if not you need to do a LOT more research. #3 There's a lot more important stuff to wonder about rather than how to power your Ipod. #4 if you think starting the engine in rough weather makes you safe you need to do a lot more research. #4 from sailing a Sunfish to sailing open ocean to Newfoundland is quite a stretch, step back take a deep breath and take some ASA sailing courses.
#1 Landsend is right, wrong boat. #2 from some of your questions, I'm wondering if this is just a hoax, if not you need to do a LOT more research. #3 There's a lot more important stuff to wonder about rather than how to power your Ipod. #4 if you think starting the engine in rough weather makes you safe you need to do a lot more research. #4 from sailing a Sunfish to sailing open ocean to Newfoundland is quite a stretch, step back take a deep breath and take some ASA sailing courses.
Wrong Boat
DEFINITELY DEFINITELY the wrong boat -- particularly if you want to liveaboard for a period of time. Get a bigger boat. Make sure you have shore power for marina life. Make sure you have some kind of heat and some kind of air conditioner (even a window unit in the companionway. Refrigeration would preclude the constant quest for ice. A barb-q would be nice and a dinghy would save you a fortune in marina fees. Make sure you have a comfortable berth as well.
DEFINITELY DEFINITELY the wrong boat -- particularly if you want to liveaboard for a period of time. Get a bigger boat. Make sure you have shore power for marina life. Make sure you have some kind of heat and some kind of air conditioner (even a window unit in the companionway. Refrigeration would preclude the constant quest for ice. A barb-q would be nice and a dinghy would save you a fortune in marina fees. Make sure you have a comfortable berth as well.
Why.
Why would I be using my batteries so much? I don't plan on using much that needs batteries. I guess it may seem like a small boat to some but I've read of smaller boats doing it like Dove. The 26 is much bigger down below than Dove was.
Why would I be using my batteries so much? I don't plan on using much that needs batteries. I guess it may seem like a small boat to some but I've read of smaller boats doing it like Dove. The 26 is much bigger down below than Dove was.
I.m all for seizing the moment
but ocean sailing offshore requires some serious preparation. Do you kow how and when to reef your sails? What are your navigation skills? Do you have a GPS or a sextant? How about a compass? Do you know all your boats systems? Can you make repairs if you have to while undeway? Do have charts for the areas you'll be sailing in? What is your electrical system? What runs off your batteries? What will you need to run off your battery? If you want to charge anything you will either need to be plugged into shore power or have an inverter. Do you have foul weather gear and safety gear? Ground tackle? Is your boat ready for the crossing? Standing and running rigging in good shape? Do you have autopiot or are you going to helm the boat yourself all the time? If so, how will you manage rest while underway? Do you have communication equipment and I'm not talking cellphone. If any of these questions don't make sense to you or you don't understand them, you are not ready to go. I give you credit for the desire to do this but you might want to take a deep breath and sleep on it for one more night at least. Also, I agree with Landsend. If you are talking ocean you are picking the wrong boat. This forum is a goood source of information but you may want to give yourself some time to learn sailing and your boat first.
but ocean sailing offshore requires some serious preparation. Do you kow how and when to reef your sails? What are your navigation skills? Do you have a GPS or a sextant? How about a compass? Do you know all your boats systems? Can you make repairs if you have to while undeway? Do have charts for the areas you'll be sailing in? What is your electrical system? What runs off your batteries? What will you need to run off your battery? If you want to charge anything you will either need to be plugged into shore power or have an inverter. Do you have foul weather gear and safety gear? Ground tackle? Is your boat ready for the crossing? Standing and running rigging in good shape? Do you have autopiot or are you going to helm the boat yourself all the time? If so, how will you manage rest while underway? Do you have communication equipment and I'm not talking cellphone. If any of these questions don't make sense to you or you don't understand them, you are not ready to go. I give you credit for the desire to do this but you might want to take a deep breath and sleep on it for one more night at least. Also, I agree with Landsend. If you are talking ocean you are picking the wrong boat. This forum is a goood source of information but you may want to give yourself some time to learn sailing and your boat first.
Use your own money ... not your Grandmother's
R. I. "A fool and his money are soon parted" Your Grandmother did not manage to save you an inheritance by indulging her whims and embarking on adventures she was ill prepared for. As any Boy Scout could tell you ... Be Prepared". Let me suggest that you spend one night on a boat as the guest of someone, Hell grab a plane ticket and I'll take you out. As soon as the sun goes down and you want to turn on the battery powered lights that the law requires you to show, I think you will realize that there is much to learn. The good news is you have the time to learn it. You're 22 for crying out loud. Get ready and then go. Ol Dave
R. I. "A fool and his money are soon parted" Your Grandmother did not manage to save you an inheritance by indulging her whims and embarking on adventures she was ill prepared for. As any Boy Scout could tell you ... Be Prepared". Let me suggest that you spend one night on a boat as the guest of someone, Hell grab a plane ticket and I'll take you out. As soon as the sun goes down and you want to turn on the battery powered lights that the law requires you to show, I think you will realize that there is much to learn. The good news is you have the time to learn it. You're 22 for crying out loud. Get ready and then go. Ol Dave
I'm your new best friend
Can you make sure my name is spelled correctly on your will?? Brother do us a favor and take a bit more time and research...you have a bit to learn before you take on such an adventure. S/V Jenny Lynn
Can you make sure my name is spelled correctly on your will?? Brother do us a favor and take a bit more time and research...you have a bit to learn before you take on such an adventure. S/V Jenny Lynn
Whoa, slow down
Let me begin saying I was 20 when I bought my Oday 22 for about as much as a junkyard car. I live in Virginia Beach and the boat was around Baltimore. I spent about a month driving from college to Middle River, MD on weekends and occasional weekday afternoons just to fit the boat out for the trip down the Bay. I had been sailing a few years at this point, on similar boats, and felt fully capable of single-handing the trip. It was November, and on the first day I experienced my first frontal passage on open water. It was humbling, and I had yet to leave the narrow confines of the upper Bay. The rest of the trip the temperature was below freezing and winds at times in excess of 25 knots for the next day and a half. I realized how much experience I lacked, despite being reasonably familiar with the body of water I was traversing and knowledgeable of the boat. You're talking the ocean. You're talking northern waters as fall approaches. That kicks up the ante from my story no less than a little bit, as dangerous as my trip was anyway. I'll tell you bluntly, it will take you more time to learn what you need to know than your August 20 deadline allows. This assumes you find a boat in that time, as I agree the Macgregor 26 is not the right boat, also assuming said boat may be fitted out within the same timespan (which essentially means it is nothing less than ready-to-go at the time of purchase). Lastly, I'm a sailing instructor 4 weeks out of the year. The kids who sail dinghies can just about sail any boat. This doesn't include Sunfish. Exclusively Sunfish sailors are 98% lost on the big boats, and the switch from big boat to Sunfish is like going from a pickup truck to a toddler's tricycle. I don't even use them for capsize demonstrations, so reconsider your sailing experience. I'm only saying this because you indicated you want to return from your sailing adventure.
Let me begin saying I was 20 when I bought my Oday 22 for about as much as a junkyard car. I live in Virginia Beach and the boat was around Baltimore. I spent about a month driving from college to Middle River, MD on weekends and occasional weekday afternoons just to fit the boat out for the trip down the Bay. I had been sailing a few years at this point, on similar boats, and felt fully capable of single-handing the trip. It was November, and on the first day I experienced my first frontal passage on open water. It was humbling, and I had yet to leave the narrow confines of the upper Bay. The rest of the trip the temperature was below freezing and winds at times in excess of 25 knots for the next day and a half. I realized how much experience I lacked, despite being reasonably familiar with the body of water I was traversing and knowledgeable of the boat. You're talking the ocean. You're talking northern waters as fall approaches. That kicks up the ante from my story no less than a little bit, as dangerous as my trip was anyway. I'll tell you bluntly, it will take you more time to learn what you need to know than your August 20 deadline allows. This assumes you find a boat in that time, as I agree the Macgregor 26 is not the right boat, also assuming said boat may be fitted out within the same timespan (which essentially means it is nothing less than ready-to-go at the time of purchase). Lastly, I'm a sailing instructor 4 weeks out of the year. The kids who sail dinghies can just about sail any boat. This doesn't include Sunfish. Exclusively Sunfish sailors are 98% lost on the big boats, and the switch from big boat to Sunfish is like going from a pickup truck to a toddler's tricycle. I don't even use them for capsize demonstrations, so reconsider your sailing experience. I'm only saying this because you indicated you want to return from your sailing adventure.
what?????
This has got to be a hoax, trying to get a rise out of people. I'll bet your one of those that puts out false maydays for fun.
This has got to be a hoax, trying to get a rise out of people. I'll bet your one of those that puts out false maydays for fun.
The same
The same type of negative nancies told me I could not climb Mt. Rainier at 15 but I did. I'm a smart guy and I know how to use a compass and a GPS the rest I have plenty of time to read about and learn.
The same type of negative nancies told me I could not climb Mt. Rainier at 15 but I did. I'm a smart guy and I know how to use a compass and a GPS the rest I have plenty of time to read about and learn.
Assuming this is a Joke!!!!
But if this is for real maybe you should consider backpacking the appalachian trail!!!! If you want an adventure for a few months hiking the AT is a great way to spend some time alone. If you start soon at the northern end you should be far enough south when it starts to get cold. I've hiked a couple hundred miles or so of the trail and it is great. If you insist on a boating adventure you may want to buy a sea kayak. With a good seakayak you can have some excellent adventures. But as a novice sailer heading out to sea in a Macgregor you are asking for trouble if not death. If you have enough money to buy a suitable boat you can probably find one well equipped for cruising. Some complete novices have made some great cruisies. One young lady sailed around the world. But she had enough sense or rather her dad had enough sense to buy her a suitable boat. If I had money and time I would probably buy a boat in Florida and sail the Bahamas. Or even sail in the Chesapeake. A mac would probably do OK in the Chesapeake and you could have some excellent adventures. I've only been sailing for 30 years so I don't feel qualified to sail around Nova Scotia. But consider myself competant for the Gulf Of Mexico and the Bahamas... But if you are just looking for an adventure solo hiking the AT will provide plenty of adventure for the 5 months or so that it takes to hike the whole trail. If you start early August and are lucky you can miss the snow. But snow isn't so bad. I've spent several nights out camping in the snow. The only really hard part of winter hiking is that your boots freeze solid during the night and you have to warm them up the next morning. To keep liquid water I usually put a container in my sleeping bag to keep it from freezing. The beauty of the AT adventure is that the main requirement is that you can carry a backpack and walk. If you get tired of walking you can come down out of the mountains and go home. Cell phones work on most of the trail. There are snakes and bears and you could fall of a cliff or drown crossing a stream but it is generally a safe trip..unless you are an idiot. But with your proposed cruise we can't rule that out.
But if this is for real maybe you should consider backpacking the appalachian trail!!!! If you want an adventure for a few months hiking the AT is a great way to spend some time alone. If you start soon at the northern end you should be far enough south when it starts to get cold. I've hiked a couple hundred miles or so of the trail and it is great. If you insist on a boating adventure you may want to buy a sea kayak. With a good seakayak you can have some excellent adventures. But as a novice sailer heading out to sea in a Macgregor you are asking for trouble if not death. If you have enough money to buy a suitable boat you can probably find one well equipped for cruising. Some complete novices have made some great cruisies. One young lady sailed around the world. But she had enough sense or rather her dad had enough sense to buy her a suitable boat. If I had money and time I would probably buy a boat in Florida and sail the Bahamas. Or even sail in the Chesapeake. A mac would probably do OK in the Chesapeake and you could have some excellent adventures. I've only been sailing for 30 years so I don't feel qualified to sail around Nova Scotia. But consider myself competant for the Gulf Of Mexico and the Bahamas... But if you are just looking for an adventure solo hiking the AT will provide plenty of adventure for the 5 months or so that it takes to hike the whole trail. If you start early August and are lucky you can miss the snow. But snow isn't so bad. I've spent several nights out camping in the snow. The only really hard part of winter hiking is that your boots freeze solid during the night and you have to warm them up the next morning. To keep liquid water I usually put a container in my sleeping bag to keep it from freezing. The beauty of the AT adventure is that the main requirement is that you can carry a backpack and walk. If you get tired of walking you can come down out of the mountains and go home. Cell phones work on most of the trail. There are snakes and bears and you could fall of a cliff or drown crossing a stream but it is generally a safe trip..unless you are an idiot. But with your proposed cruise we can't rule that out.
Well, Kyle, if you're not spoofing us.....
then you need a LOT of help before you set off on your journey. Please consider that just because someone has done something, it doesn't make it either safe or prudent for you to do. Heck, people have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in BATHTUBS, but does that mean you should? What you are talking about may seem like a trivial matter to you - like setting off in a road trip in your car, just on water - but PLEASE accept that it isn't, by a long shot. So if you're serious, I suggest you buy a copy of 'The Voyager's Handbook' by Beth Leonard. It contains just about everything you need to think about BEFORE you buy your boat and set sail. Most importantly, it will clue you in to what you DO NOT know, and what you DO need to learn BEFORE you buy a boat and set sail. In answer to some of your questions: 1. Cell phones work within 5 or 10 miles of an antenna - so if you're sailing along a coastline, you MIGHT get reception. Of course, you can buy a satellite phone, and get coverage anywhere. 2. I have a Sony stereo receiver, a 10-CD changer, a 100 watt amp, a sub-woofer and a couple of nice speakers (all thoughtfully provided by a previous owner). Mostly, my wife and I enjoy the peace of the ocean, the wind and the swish of the water in our wake. 3. Sorry, Britta filters will NOT remove salt from seawater. That's why serious cruisers spend anywhere from $3500 up to buy a 'watermaker'. 4. If you're going to sail ANYWHERE in the western Atlantic, you should be aware that hurricanes occur ANYWHERE in the western Atlantic anytime between June and November. OK, I played along. If you're serious about this, hopefully you'll take some of the advice you're getting.... you DID ask for it, after all.... and if you do, and show some signs of being smart and reasonable about this, then there are lots of people here who can and will be willing to help you. If not, then folks will figure out you're wasting our time and tend to ignore you. Your choice.
Cheers, Bob s/y X SAIL R 8
then you need a LOT of help before you set off on your journey. Please consider that just because someone has done something, it doesn't make it either safe or prudent for you to do. Heck, people have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in BATHTUBS, but does that mean you should? What you are talking about may seem like a trivial matter to you - like setting off in a road trip in your car, just on water - but PLEASE accept that it isn't, by a long shot. So if you're serious, I suggest you buy a copy of 'The Voyager's Handbook' by Beth Leonard. It contains just about everything you need to think about BEFORE you buy your boat and set sail. Most importantly, it will clue you in to what you DO NOT know, and what you DO need to learn BEFORE you buy a boat and set sail. In answer to some of your questions: 1. Cell phones work within 5 or 10 miles of an antenna - so if you're sailing along a coastline, you MIGHT get reception. Of course, you can buy a satellite phone, and get coverage anywhere. 2. I have a Sony stereo receiver, a 10-CD changer, a 100 watt amp, a sub-woofer and a couple of nice speakers (all thoughtfully provided by a previous owner). Mostly, my wife and I enjoy the peace of the ocean, the wind and the swish of the water in our wake. 3. Sorry, Britta filters will NOT remove salt from seawater. That's why serious cruisers spend anywhere from $3500 up to buy a 'watermaker'. 4. If you're going to sail ANYWHERE in the western Atlantic, you should be aware that hurricanes occur ANYWHERE in the western Atlantic anytime between June and November. OK, I played along. If you're serious about this, hopefully you'll take some of the advice you're getting.... you DID ask for it, after all.... and if you do, and show some signs of being smart and reasonable about this, then there are lots of people here who can and will be willing to help you. If not, then folks will figure out you're wasting our time and tend to ignore you. Your choice.
Cheers, Bob s/y X SAIL R 8
Do it your way
Kyle...no negative nancy here bud...just a concerned sailor...I'm more of a seasoned moutaineer (20 + years) than sailor but mock my words...the ocean is far less forgiving than the hills. Please take advice...if not...have at it. But questions like can a brita filter be used to filter ocean water just makes me wonder on your state of prepardness and mindset. S/V Jenny Lynn
Kyle...no negative nancy here bud...just a concerned sailor...I'm more of a seasoned moutaineer (20 + years) than sailor but mock my words...the ocean is far less forgiving than the hills. Please take advice...if not...have at it. But questions like can a brita filter be used to filter ocean water just makes me wonder on your state of prepardness and mindset. S/V Jenny Lynn
Maybe an RV Trip Instead
Less variables on the road than out in the open ocean. Is your name Kyle or Gilligan, cause your planning more than a three hour tour. With your experience your plans are a recpie for disaster.
Less variables on the road than out in the open ocean. Is your name Kyle or Gilligan, cause your planning more than a three hour tour. With your experience your plans are a recpie for disaster.
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