I'm just getting into sailing and could use some/a lot of advice. I will be taking a course at a sailing school soon, but are there any other good learning tools I should be utilizing? Also, can anyone give me a ballpark figure of what it might cost to keep a boat for a year (barring major problems)? Slip rentals at the local marina seem to run approx. $120.00 per month. Is there such a thing as leasing a boat from someone? What would be a suitable boat for someone sailing alone or with a guest; daytrips and overnighters? I don't know enough about sailing yet to anticipate costs, problems, etc., just the joy I get from being out on the water. Thanks for your suggestions
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Michael Cohn
Hi
Nice to see you here. Your question(s), unfortunately are almost too general to answer adequately, but... In addition to sailing school, you should also try to get as many rides on racing boats as you can. Be very honest about not having any experience, and I promise you willl learn much more than the school ever taught you. Boat costs in general tend to increase almost as a geometric function of size; a 40 foot boat costs much more than twice the cost of a 20 foot boat, all things being equal. You need to consider costs like slip fees, boat mortgage, routine maintenance, bottom painting, and of course, unexpected-but-necessary repairs, of which there can be many. Typically, the larger the boat, the more all of the parts cost. Finally, I have heard of lease agreements, but getting locked into one seems like a bad idea. My thoughts would be that you should first learn to sail, then rent different types of boats as often as possible and sail as much as possible before making any financial committments. Lastly, remember the 5 feet per year rule; if a 20 foot boat is good this year, then by mnext year you will want a 25 foot boat, and the following year a 30 foot boat, etc. I'm on my 12th boat at the moment, and, while I would certainly like an even BIGGER boat, this is the largest I can handle by myself... Good luck! MC
Nice to see you here. Your question(s), unfortunately are almost too general to answer adequately, but... In addition to sailing school, you should also try to get as many rides on racing boats as you can. Be very honest about not having any experience, and I promise you willl learn much more than the school ever taught you. Boat costs in general tend to increase almost as a geometric function of size; a 40 foot boat costs much more than twice the cost of a 20 foot boat, all things being equal. You need to consider costs like slip fees, boat mortgage, routine maintenance, bottom painting, and of course, unexpected-but-necessary repairs, of which there can be many. Typically, the larger the boat, the more all of the parts cost. Finally, I have heard of lease agreements, but getting locked into one seems like a bad idea. My thoughts would be that you should first learn to sail, then rent different types of boats as often as possible and sail as much as possible before making any financial committments. Lastly, remember the 5 feet per year rule; if a 20 foot boat is good this year, then by mnext year you will want a 25 foot boat, and the following year a 30 foot boat, etc. I'm on my 12th boat at the moment, and, while I would certainly like an even BIGGER boat, this is the largest I can handle by myself... Good luck! MC
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Mark Cooper
Your questions
Lots of good questions. I've been sailing for about 2 and a half years now. I took the beginner and intermediate courses; but learned most of what I know from getting out there and doing it. As for slip costs, around here they range from 120 to 160 a month; but you may consider not leaving your boat in a slip but keeping it in dry storage. My new 240 will go in a covered dry storage with electricity and lights for 60 a month and it's only a mile from the marina. That helps to keep the cost down. Renting boats can get a little expensive. I did that for a while; but decided the cost was prohibitive and bought my own. I started with a 170, which was a fun and fast little boat that fit in my garage. It was strictly a day sailor since it didn't have a below deck; but I enjoyed the daylights out of it.
Lots of good questions. I've been sailing for about 2 and a half years now. I took the beginner and intermediate courses; but learned most of what I know from getting out there and doing it. As for slip costs, around here they range from 120 to 160 a month; but you may consider not leaving your boat in a slip but keeping it in dry storage. My new 240 will go in a covered dry storage with electricity and lights for 60 a month and it's only a mile from the marina. That helps to keep the cost down. Renting boats can get a little expensive. I did that for a while; but decided the cost was prohibitive and bought my own. I started with a 170, which was a fun and fast little boat that fit in my garage. It was strictly a day sailor since it didn't have a below deck; but I enjoyed the daylights out of it.
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Jay Hill
I agree...
...with both Michael and Mark that you should rent boats and it can become cost prohibitive. It depends on HOW much you will be sailing(renting). The typical breakover point is 6-7 three-day charters per year. If you charter this much or more, you are better off buying a vessel of appropriate size that will be less than the price of those charters. Lease programs work well for practice and skill improvement but you're just stuck with the same boat and if you don't like it, well, you've got a year to think about that. OTOH, you might be able to get into a fleet lease program where you can take out any of the fleet's boats with one lease contract/rate. This program is much harder to find though. I would also recommend chartering in different places to get a feel for what kind of weather, seastates, etc. you are going to enjoy sailing in. This is a large factor in deciding what is the best boat for you. the disadvantage of boat ownership is you have the same boat in the same place (unless you by a trailer sailor and can move it around a lot.) I like to sail lots of places and owning a boat limits HOW much you can spend on travelling to other places; but that's just my income....uh....opinion. If you do decide to rent/crew awhile and then dive into a boat, make sure it is something that is popular, used, and holds value well like the H240 H260 or C25 to give very few examples. Then if you decide to move up or change boats, you will get a good return on your money. Before you buy anything, check on insurance, slips, cost of fuel (usually negligable on a sailboat), and the cost of equipment you know you'll want. All big factors on how much to spend on a boat. I would still recommend taking some training. No, it will not make you an expert, but it will give you a good enough knowledge base to know what to try, what to practice, and what to do in emergencies. All of these are the toughest lessons to learn on your own. Plus, you should get good information on USCG Rules and Regulations, Rules of the Road, Navigation Aids, General Good Seamanship, and in some cases, American Red Cross First Aid and Adult CPR, all in the sailing class. Taking a class can eliminate a lot of frustration when you are out there trying to figure out what to do. Good luck!
...with both Michael and Mark that you should rent boats and it can become cost prohibitive. It depends on HOW much you will be sailing(renting). The typical breakover point is 6-7 three-day charters per year. If you charter this much or more, you are better off buying a vessel of appropriate size that will be less than the price of those charters. Lease programs work well for practice and skill improvement but you're just stuck with the same boat and if you don't like it, well, you've got a year to think about that. OTOH, you might be able to get into a fleet lease program where you can take out any of the fleet's boats with one lease contract/rate. This program is much harder to find though. I would also recommend chartering in different places to get a feel for what kind of weather, seastates, etc. you are going to enjoy sailing in. This is a large factor in deciding what is the best boat for you. the disadvantage of boat ownership is you have the same boat in the same place (unless you by a trailer sailor and can move it around a lot.) I like to sail lots of places and owning a boat limits HOW much you can spend on travelling to other places; but that's just my income....uh....opinion. If you do decide to rent/crew awhile and then dive into a boat, make sure it is something that is popular, used, and holds value well like the H240 H260 or C25 to give very few examples. Then if you decide to move up or change boats, you will get a good return on your money. Before you buy anything, check on insurance, slips, cost of fuel (usually negligable on a sailboat), and the cost of equipment you know you'll want. All big factors on how much to spend on a boat. I would still recommend taking some training. No, it will not make you an expert, but it will give you a good enough knowledge base to know what to try, what to practice, and what to do in emergencies. All of these are the toughest lessons to learn on your own. Plus, you should get good information on USCG Rules and Regulations, Rules of the Road, Navigation Aids, General Good Seamanship, and in some cases, American Red Cross First Aid and Adult CPR, all in the sailing class. Taking a class can eliminate a lot of frustration when you are out there trying to figure out what to do. Good luck!
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Philip Teter
Rent
Check the cost by hour and/or by day before you jump. Renting would give you a chance to check out several boats before you purchase one. Check what changes would be necessary to single sail each boat. Slip rent is sometimes available at a yearly rate. My yearly rate is 5% less than monthly, BUT I had to ask for it. I wouldn't want to single sail such larger than my h20. ) ( ) / >|< / >|< Phil ________/______|/__ Force 1
Check the cost by hour and/or by day before you jump. Renting would give you a chance to check out several boats before you purchase one. Check what changes would be necessary to single sail each boat. Slip rent is sometimes available at a yearly rate. My yearly rate is 5% less than monthly, BUT I had to ask for it. I wouldn't want to single sail such larger than my h20. ) ( ) / >|< / >|< Phil ________/______|/__ Force 1
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Tom Chulski
Great Source of Information
Join your local chapter of the United States Power Squadron, too. They have a great series of courses (Safety, Navigation, Cruise Planning, Sailing), and frequently members with large boats. Most of my time on the water last year was on a 28 foot Catalina whose owner taught the Sailing I module. Crewing for folks is even cheaper than leasing.
Join your local chapter of the United States Power Squadron, too. They have a great series of courses (Safety, Navigation, Cruise Planning, Sailing), and frequently members with large boats. Most of my time on the water last year was on a 28 foot Catalina whose owner taught the Sailing I module. Crewing for folks is even cheaper than leasing.
Advice from a former newbie....
Here are a couple of suggestions, based on my own experience, arranged in loose order of preference: a) Get a good basic reference book with lots of diagrams and photos so you can learn the theory and principles of sailing at your leisure. Your sailing school will provide a good basic primer, but you really need something with a bit more meat to it. In my opinion, “Sailing For Dummies” by J.J. and Peter Isler is one of the best, and at under $20 is a real bargain. b) Resist the urge to buy a boat right off the bat. Instead, see if you can get someone to hook you up with an owner who you can crew for. Join a sailing club; there are several in the Orlando area. c) Most skippers welcome help, especially when it’s obvious that you’ve been doing your homework (see a. above). You can sail like this for little more than your time (and cold drinks to show your appreciation). d) Unless you are really gung-ho, stay off the racing boats for now. Racing offers the attraction of learning a lot in a hurry, but it can also be an unforgiving environment. You are going to make mistakes (we all do) and being yelled at by an intense, wound-up skipper can be demoralizing, especially if you don’t know exactly what it was that you did wrong. e) Try to crew on as many different boats as possible. You will find out which boats appeal to you and why. Every boat has its flaws, and this knowledge will be valuable when you finally decide to buy. f) Try not to spend a lot of money on your first boat. If possible buy a good used boat that is stable, forgiving and easy to sail. A trailerable boat is inexpensive to store on the trailer, but you have to rig the mast every time you go out. Hunters are always a good choice. g) Beware of really cheap boats and handyman specials. You want maximum bang (sailing time) for your hard-earned buck. Get a sailor you trust (perhaps a skipper from b. above???) to go along and help you with your search for your perfect boat. h) Leasing is not very common and it’s expensive because of the liability. You are better off buying a boat. It will be yours and you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. i) Get out on the water as much as you can, not just on the sunny afternoons. Sorry I went on so long. If you have more questions, e-mail me at oneprof@magicnet.net. Peter S/V Raven
Here are a couple of suggestions, based on my own experience, arranged in loose order of preference: a) Get a good basic reference book with lots of diagrams and photos so you can learn the theory and principles of sailing at your leisure. Your sailing school will provide a good basic primer, but you really need something with a bit more meat to it. In my opinion, “Sailing For Dummies” by J.J. and Peter Isler is one of the best, and at under $20 is a real bargain. b) Resist the urge to buy a boat right off the bat. Instead, see if you can get someone to hook you up with an owner who you can crew for. Join a sailing club; there are several in the Orlando area. c) Most skippers welcome help, especially when it’s obvious that you’ve been doing your homework (see a. above). You can sail like this for little more than your time (and cold drinks to show your appreciation). d) Unless you are really gung-ho, stay off the racing boats for now. Racing offers the attraction of learning a lot in a hurry, but it can also be an unforgiving environment. You are going to make mistakes (we all do) and being yelled at by an intense, wound-up skipper can be demoralizing, especially if you don’t know exactly what it was that you did wrong. e) Try to crew on as many different boats as possible. You will find out which boats appeal to you and why. Every boat has its flaws, and this knowledge will be valuable when you finally decide to buy. f) Try not to spend a lot of money on your first boat. If possible buy a good used boat that is stable, forgiving and easy to sail. A trailerable boat is inexpensive to store on the trailer, but you have to rig the mast every time you go out. Hunters are always a good choice. g) Beware of really cheap boats and handyman specials. You want maximum bang (sailing time) for your hard-earned buck. Get a sailor you trust (perhaps a skipper from b. above???) to go along and help you with your search for your perfect boat. h) Leasing is not very common and it’s expensive because of the liability. You are better off buying a boat. It will be yours and you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. i) Get out on the water as much as you can, not just on the sunny afternoons. Sorry I went on so long. If you have more questions, e-mail me at oneprof@magicnet.net. Peter S/V Raven
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Michael O'
Florida Sailing Charter Club
You've just been given some GREAT advice! Here's one more tidbit - check out the Florida Sailing Charter Club. Lotsa' boats in your area, lotsa' opportunities to sail with others, lotsa' organized group sailings, and lotsa' used boats available for rent by the hour/day/week. You'll notice a great savings on renting a used boat! And even here in Utah, I'm a member of FSCC!! Fair wind! Michael O'
You've just been given some GREAT advice! Here's one more tidbit - check out the Florida Sailing Charter Club. Lotsa' boats in your area, lotsa' opportunities to sail with others, lotsa' organized group sailings, and lotsa' used boats available for rent by the hour/day/week. You'll notice a great savings on renting a used boat! And even here in Utah, I'm a member of FSCC!! Fair wind! Michael O'
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