Living the life..

Ross · Jul 28, 2009

Short answer: Boat's too big. Budget is too small.

Tim R. · Jul 28, 2009

Your dream is absolutely realistic. Especially if you are good with your hands.

Keep your day job, buy a used boat(15-20yrs old), pay enough so it can be sailed and lived on while you upgrade her systems. You will need to know every inch of this boat anyhow. This will save you some on the up front cost and also allow you to get her in shape while you sail her the next couple of years. Here are a couple to consider:

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...&city=&cint=113&pbsint=&boatsAddedSelected=-1

BTW, your profile lists Beneteau or Oceanis. I would stay away from these lighter built boats for world cruising. Flame suit on.

higgs · Jul 28, 2009

I just read an article about guns in either sail or Cruising World. the author was someone who had done world cruising all his life and had carried guns in the past. His present position was not to carry, but to avoid places where one might be needed. He pointed out that in many countries, you have to turn your gun in while visiting so it really so it was unavailable a lot of time. Sorry I can't recall who or what issue.

Learn diesel mechanics, rigging, fibergalss repair. If you are gong to work along the way this is the environment you will be in.

higgs · Jul 28, 2009

The article was by none other than Donald Street and appears on pg 16 of the July issue of Sail. Not sure if it is available in Australia.

Cpt. Jon · Jul 28, 2009

I read the same article about guns, so it must have been Sail magazine. I know he took that position of not having a gun on board, but for some reason I feel like he said if you were to take a gun, a shotgun would be best, not really sure the reasoning there. There are a few lines of thought with guns. You may end up putting yourself at more risk pulling a gun. In the old days, and probably now too, pirates look for the easy prey and only attacked ships that they were confident that they outgunned, had more fire power, and were faster than. That being said, I still think I would want a gun onboard.

I would try to learn everything about the diesel engine and every other system onboard. Spare parts for as many things as you can carry as parts and mechanics are probably hard to come by and pricey in remote parts.

I think the boat size is a bit on the large size but with modern systems and rigged to the cockpit it might not be that tough to manage, I don't really know though.

Tim R. · Jul 28, 2009

Shotguns are good for home and boat security for 2 reasons. They are very menacing and make a very loud noise. They are also more likely to be legal.

John · Jul 28, 2009

First, as far as guns: All the stories I've read of sailors being killed involved their having a gun, pulling it out in the course of an attempted robbery, and ending up being killed themselves. I am not "anti gun", but it seems to me that in these cases, a gun is a greater danger. I am sure that there are some contrary cases, but overall I think having a gun on board is a greater danger than not, never mind the hassle with different authorities.

On the more important issue of Ryder's general plan: I suggest he read some of the books by Lyn and Larry Pardy - "Cruising in Serrafyn", etc. I think they wrote one called "The Cost Conscious Sailor" or some such. For many, they may go to extremes. For instance, they argue against even having a motor on the boat, but overall I think their approach is very reasonable. Their view is to keep it as simple as possible - and as small as possible. Their first boat was 24 feet, and they sailed around the world on it.

If you are going cruising by yourself, why buy a 48 or 52 foot boat? The costs would be many times greater, not only in the purchase price but in upkeep and maintenance. What the Pardy's write makes a lot of sense - why spend time doing the upkeep and/or working to earn money for it when you could be sailing and travelling? If I were to go world cruising on my own, and I had a limited budget, I think I'd get something around 30' or a little larger.

Stu Jackson · Jul 28, 2009

I agree with John.

Except for the last part, I'd go in a boat the size of the one I already have.

Hermit Scott · Jul 28, 2009

Why do you want such a large boat? Especially if it is likely just going to be you aboard?
It's like retiring to a 5 bedroom house on a limited income.

tsmwebb · Jul 28, 2009

Many have traveled similar routes. It isn't an impossible dream. But, too much boat makes it much harder. If you just want to live on the boat then buying a lot of boat on credit is fine -- you'll be working and the boat will be safe. If you want to go voyaging buy a boat you can afford. Be brutal. If all you can buy and keep with the cash you have on hand is is a tent camper then make it work.

To get a feel for how much it will cost call some marinas for cost and availability of dock space. Call the local yards to find out hauling fees, daily fees and labor rates. Assume that you'll spend a minimum of a couple of weeks a year on the hard fixing things. Materials will probably be in the same ball park as dockage and haulage. Then add your current monthly budget minus rent and you've got a feel for your ongoing expenses. Of course, if you buy a "project" boat you'll spend a lot more getting it seaworthy. The costs and amount of work you need to do will rise exponentially with the size and complexity of the boat.

You don't need any guns.

--Tom.

Ross · Jul 28, 2009

I often have discussions concerning how much living space we use and need compared to the amount of space we have. Example we have a table that will seat six but for 350 days each year only two sit there. We have 3 double beds but only two people live here. We can provide seating for fifteen but only two people live here.
Our boat can seat 4 for a meal and can accomodate six to eight for drinks but only two people sleep on it. Our boat is thirty feet over all but we have friends that have sailed farther and for longer times on a 26 foot boat with a large dog and a cat for company.
I would say buy a little as you can comfortably live in and get the strongest boat you can find.

Cpt. Jon · Jul 28, 2009

After reading a very long thread on another site regarding a man losing his 42' boat near Bermuda (due to many reasons), I am left thinking that a smaller more simple boat is better for single handing in bluewater. There were many factors involved and he didn't really seem to be prepared for the trip and was sailing to a schedule as things went awry.

I don't know if it would be inappropriate to point to it on another sailing forums, so won't post for now.

Franklin · Jul 28, 2009

I have your dream...had it for 5 years now and getting closer and closer to it being a reality. Currently I live on my 37'er and it's enough for a couple. I know of couples living on much smaller, even a 24'er for 10 years and a 33'er for 14 years. It would be nice to have a larger boat like what you want but way toooooo expensive. Plan on averagely spending 10% of boat value each year to keep it up. That's not an expense one wants when not working and working small jobs and chartering a little is not going to pay for the parts you will need.

My plan is to have at min $60,000 for just me and twice that much for a couple and having a little income coming in each month. This may be enough for 5 years of crusing and it may not but my boat is only 37 feet so my expenses are much less than your plan.

Things will wear out like pumps, sails, autopilots, batteries, GPSs, dinhgies, outboards, lines, just about everything on the boat, and you will have to do a bottom job every 3 years which is getting more and more of a pain with the new laws. The sea is very rough on boats and everything is expensive on boats. I dumped over $20,000 on my boat last year and it's still not ready to go. Dumped another $5,000 this year and still not ready. I need to put in another $6,000.

Don't forget, it's illegal to work in another country so you just can't sail into a country and pick up a part time job. Also, when talking to people about what it cost to cruise, you have to understand there is a hugh difference between just going to the Islands for 3-6 months verses going around the world for 5-7 years. A few months in the Islands isn't going to destroy a boat, but 7 years of cruising will and that's the big difference is cost...the cost of keeping the boat in good shape.

I agree of one post of getting an older boat, because you can then replace all the stuff on it and it be new with the same cost (or maybe less) of a 5 year old boat which you will end up replacing the stuff anyway.

Bob J. · Jul 28, 2009

If you're looking to carry a gun onboard, I'd go with a shotgun....

If you live aboard or go cruising that boat becomes your home & you have a God given right to defend yourself.

Bob

Bob

Jim Kolstoe · Jul 28, 2009

On the question of carrying a gun on board, ignoring the legalities, consider that you're talking about a lethal weapon. You can't effectively bluff with it. If you bring it out in a confrontation, you must be prepared to kill with it. Are you certain you can live with having killed someone? If not, do not, under any circumstances, carry a gun.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

Phil Herring · Jul 28, 2009

Hey guys, the gun stuff, which has been beaten to death hundreds of times, is about 1% of this topic. I recommend leaving it alone and dealing with the other 99% of the question.

Thanks!

jibes138 · Jul 29, 2009

What about duck hunting?

Free food sounds like a good idea on a long distance cruise with no money?

Cpt. Jon · Jul 29, 2009

Franklin said:
Don't forget, it's illegal to work in another country so you just can't sail into a country and pick up a part time job.

What does this mean? I just don't get this statement. Maybe it's just not worded right

Living the life..

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