Planning to learn all I can

[sololadysailer]

Hi everyone, this post may be rather long, but I'll try to keep my questions somewhat organized. I'm a sixty-four young, independent and adventurous lady who actually grew up in one of the most popular sailing towns on the east coast, Marblehead, yet never learned to sail. Now, at this almost late stage in life, I yearn to move back home but will never be able to afford it. I am retired from a career in Silicon Valley, had a farm in New Hampshire, sold that to travel the U.S. in my RV with my two dogs, but missed New England. I now live off the grid in Maine, yet miss the sea and am feeling restless. Although I never learned to sail, my father owned many motorboats and took us out during many summers all around Marblehead, as well as to the cape. So I feel quite comfortable out at sea, yet now want to learn how to sail my own boat.
So I am happy to have found this forum and hope many of you would like to toss some of your expertise my way. I plan to use this year to learn all I can, hopefully, take some sailing lessons this summer if this COVID pandemic calms down. Here are some questions,
Can someone recommend what you consider the best books to read about sailing, the equipment, and anything for a lady like me to start learning?
What might be the best brands to look at with a budget of around fifty thousand?
I plan to keep this cabin while "getting my feet wet" to make sure it works out. Are there any groups that sail together?

Again, I've always loved the sea, and I also am quite aware of its dangers. I want to be smart, and learn all I can before purchasing anything.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much,

barbara

 

[PaulK]

U.S. Sailing has a basic learn-to-sail curriculum and book. They have been putting a lot online too, especially recently. $50k is a lot to spend on a daysailer, and is more than enough to get you a floating RV. The trick is to find a boat that is better than an RV and which, as you mention, is affordable.

 

[capta]

When, as you said, "this COVID pandemic calms down", my suggestion would be to buy a 15 foot or smaller very cheap sailing dinghy that's pretty beat up, but serviceable. This is not going to be a boat to take your friends out on, but instead you will be crashing into docks, running aground and even tipping her over on occasion. This is the boat to make all your beginner's mistakes on, before you buy a nicer, more expensive boat. And believe me, if you start with the more expensive boat, you are still going to make all the same mistakes, classes or not, but the repair bills will be much more expensive, and if you load the boat up with friends, there is the possibility of someone getting hurt. Sailing isn't rocket science, but it does take a lot of sailing to get it.

This is how almost every professional sailor of note learned to sail, not through some expensive cookie cutter course.

Along with your little beater, I would highly recommend a great little book called Royce's Sailing Illustrated, a fun yet very comprehensive book filled with important information for the novice sailor or experienced professional. No massive preachy tome this, just a well put together book with everything from rigging, docking and even splicing. I've been using it to teach sailing for over 45 years, and still refer to it now and then, myself.
I have a question. Once you have a boat you can live aboard, do you intend to do so in Marblehead or thereabouts year round? I spent one winter on my boat in RI and it was a pretty unpleasant experience. Lots of negatives and very few positives, which is why most liveaboards travel south for the winters.

Good luck and remember, sailing is supposed to be fun, so keep that in mind when you are having a particularly hard day.

 

[ToddS]

20 years ago, my father-in-law passed away suddenly. My wife (then my girlfriend) and I were in our 20s, and while I had visited her father for many fantastic weekends aboard his 35' sailboat, I was never expecting to suddenly inherit the boat. I quickly learned that the "making the boat go" part was much easier than I thought, and I had learned enough by being/observing in the cockpit to make the transition to captain fairly easy. Granted, I'm not talking about winning races... but basic navigation, and using the wind to get from point a to point b. What I did not expect was how much it took me (and 20 years later I'm still learning) to be a competent boat OWNER. Learning how to sail is the easy part (in my opinion)... but learning about winter storage, storm preparation, engine repair, plumbing and electrical work, marine safety, meteorology, modern electronics and digital systems, safe anchoring, chemistry involved in battery options, corrosion, etc, etc... takes time, and a passion for learning, and requires you to be humble and ask for advice (which, you're clearly already doing... congratulations!) You'll quickly see/learn that sailors vary from those who pay for someone else to master all of these things, doing little-to-no work on their boats themselves, to those who do everything themselves... and I mean everything. Most of us exist somewhere in between. I, myself, lean more toward the D.I.Y. side of the spectrum, but I completely understand folks who pay to have some things done that I would try myself. Initially, I did most things myself to save a few bucks after the sticker-shock of seeing how much everything costs when you add the word "Marine" to a price tag or invoice. That being said, I now believe that for SOME systems at least (most, in my opinion), it is important that you learn how to perform basic repairs on most of your boat's systems whether you can barely afford to keep a boat afloat, or whether you're a billionaire sailing off to your own private island (again, most of us exist somewhere in between). If you're using your HOUSE, and your furnace stops making heat, you can generally call a guy to come fix it. If you're at the supermarket and your car won't start, you can generally call someone to pick you up, or help fix your car. There WILL be times on a boat, when a wire comes loose, or a hose bursts, or a line (rope) snaps while you're on the water. Part of the appeal (for me at least) of sailing is a sense of freedom and self-reliance, but along with that comes the need for preparedness. Obviously, a smaller boat, with simpler systems, that you're using to sail around a harbor, won't be as significant an undertaking as a larger boat that will allow you to go farther, and stay longer. And again, neither end of that spectrum is right or wrong. I would only advise that you research/learn about whichever systems your (potential) boat has. Whether that's on deck like a roller-furler, or windlass, or down below like a marine toilet, or a diesel engine. Learn how to sail, but also learn how to perform basic maintenance and repair. When I first inherited the boat, I bought two books:

• I read this one cover-to-cover about sailing (mostly about making the boat go)
  

  Learn To Sail: A Beginner's Guide to the Art, Equipment, and Language of Sailing on a Lake or Ocean: Conner, Dennis, Levitt, Michael: 9780312110208: Amazon.com: Books

  Learn To Sail: A Beginner's Guide to the Art, Equipment, and Language of Sailing on a Lake or Ocean [Conner, Dennis, Levitt, Michael] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Learn To Sail: A Beginner's Guide to the Art, Equipment, and Language of Sailing on a Lake or Ocean

  www.amazon.com
• and I used this one as a handy reference for projects as they came up (mostly for fixing and improving things aboard)
  

  Amazon.com: Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual 4/E eBook : Calder, Nigel: Kindle Store

  Buy Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual 4/E: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

  www.amazon.com

 

[Hunter216]

Welcome to SBO

Your post implies you enjoy new challenges, sailing being a new one, you have been on the ocean and understand what that is like and might even consider living aboard at some point but it’s not clear if you have actually been on a sailboat.

It might be prudent to get out for a sail before you plunk any money down.

You don’t necessarily even have to own a boat to live aboard. Some larger boats have crews

There are quite few blogs about people living on their boats which you might find enlightening.

In any event your approach to life and learning new things is inspiring.

 

[rgranger]

When, as you said, "this COVID pandemic calms down", my suggestion would be to buy a 15 foot or smaller very cheap sailing dinghy that's pretty beat up, but serviceable. This is not going to be a boat to take your friends out on, but instead you will be crashing into docks, running aground and even tipping her over on occasion. This is the boat to make all your beginner's mistakes on, before you buy a nicer, more expensive boat. And believe me, if you start with the more expensive boat, you are still going to make all the same mistakes, classes or not, but the repair bills will be much more expensive, and if you load the boat up with friends, there is the possibility of someone getting hurt. Sailing isn't rocket science, but it does take a lot of sailing to get it.

This is how almost every professional sailor of note learned to sail, not through some expensive cookie cutter course.

Along with your little beater, I would highly recommend a great little book called Royce's Sailing Illustrated, a fun yet very comprehensive book filled with important information for the novice sailor or experienced professional. No massive preachy tome this, just a well put together book with everything from rigging, docking and even splicing. I've been using it to teach sailing for over 45 years, and still refer to it now and then, myself.
I have a question. Once you have a boat you can live aboard, do you intend to do so in Marblehead or thereabouts year round? I spent one winter on my boat in RI and it was a pretty unpleasant experience. Lots of negatives and very few positives, which is why most liveaboards travel south for the winters.

Good luck and remember, sailing is supposed to be fun, so keep that in mind when you are having a particularly hard day.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Welcome to the site.

As mentioned by @ToddS , Caulder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual is one of the best books on the mechanics of boats that you will find. His ability to explain technical ideas in a simple manner is second to none.

Once you start to get into it, this forum is the place to go for answers. Place one question / posting as more tend to lose the reader's interest. As you read through this site, you will see there is a lot of humour to the point of even gross improprieties but you will also see that a considerable portion of the replies are coming from professionals in their respective fields. Even better replies are those coming from people with years of experience who have honed their skills through time and testing.

We'll be looking forward to seeing more postings from you.

 

[sololadysailer]

So many kind responses, thank you so much, everyone. I failed to mention that yes, I do plan to live full time onboard. I don't want to sell my off-grid camp here in Maine, however, until I've considered myself "seaworthy" enough to do so. In a perfect world, I would never leave New England, preferring to sail off the coast of Maine, meander down to Marblehead, anchor off of Misery island if that's still possible, and hang out at the cape, but winter will drive me south, which in a way seems a bit scary, but it's those scary things that we face that make us all stronger and hopefully wiser. I'm thinking that once I get my boat, perhaps there are other people who I can sail with, at least on my first trip south for the winter.
The suggestion to buy a beater boat is tempting, have to think about it. It might actually be a good idea for many reasons. My camp is about an hour and a half drive to the ocean, so if I got something small enough to haul on a trailer, (I have a Ford F250 that easily hauls anything) I could go back and forth learning. Great idea. I figure maybe I can save money as well buying something small to trailer back and forth from here, rather than pay for a mooring or at a marina. I'm hoping that by summer things will let up and I can venture out and take a look at what's for sale.

I'm the kind of person who enjoys my solitude. I find an odd pleasure in being independent, being able to do what I want when I want. I have a sense I might take on to sailing pretty quickly, as I spent summers with my dad out on the water in all kinds of weather.
Todd, you are so right. I have no mechanical skills, however, this is how I see life. Do I not try, because of my fears? Or do I learn all I can, do the best I can, and go for it? As a comparison, I'm a pretty accomplished equestrienne, having trained and ridden horses for many years. I so often met people who would say "Oh, I know how to ride, it's easy." Well, they were clueless. Watching someone ride who is accomplished makes it look easy, but it takes years. I see sailing as the same thing. I respect the sea because it is a wild beast that can turn on us in an instant. Going out there unprepared is not only stupid but dangerous.
So I"m eagerly looking forward to learning, and looking for that boat I can eventually live on while knowing not to be overconfident.
I look forward to spending time on here to read other posts, and thank you for recommending those books, will get them today.

Thank you again to all of you who responded so quickly. I'm happy to have found this forum and know I'll learn much from reading other posts.

 

[thinwater]

Learn to sail on small boats.

A dingy will teach you more about the wind and trim, faster, than big boats or lessons.

And books. It really is all in books (better than the internet for basic learning).

 

[Bob S]

I found this a good read when I started out.

Sailing: The Basics: The Book That Has Launched Thousands: Franzel, Dave: 9781585748075: Amazon.com: Books

Sailing: The Basics: The Book That Has Launched Thousands [Franzel, Dave] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sailing: The Basics: The Book That Has Launched Thousands

www.amazon.com

 

[dlochner]

Take a look at Offshore Sailing School They have an excellent reputation. My wife attended one of their courses and found it valuable, learning things I didn't need to teach her. (Boyfriends and husbands are not always the best choice for instructors.)

If you plan to live aboard and cruise, take a look at a mid range Sabre, a late model 34 or a 36. Both will be comfortable and well built. As you are learning here, sailors and cruisers are friendly supportive folks. As you look at boats, consider the support network around them. Sabre Yachts continues to support their legacy sailboats even though they have not built a sail boat in 10 years or so. Invaluable help. There is also a Sabre group with over a 1000 Sabre owners, past owners and wannabe owners. If the boat develops a problem, someone has probably dealt with it and has a solution. Invaluable support.

 

[BigEasy]

As others have mentioned, Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual is THE reference book to own on maintenance & repair of systems. I also like another of his works, Nigel Calder's cruising handbook, especially the cruising half of the book. As you have emphasized that you are not interested in going the "beater route" and you're more interested having a boat that will allow cruising and living aboard, my advice would be to read what you can to become familiar with sailing theory. Nautic Ed also has online courses with excellent animated graphics that could be beneficial. However, you can't learn to sail reading a book or taking online courses without suffering some serious bumps along the way, thus the "beater boat" that some have recommended. Another option that I highly recommend is taking sailing lessons from a quality sailing school, such as Maryland School of Sailing & Seamanship. They have a quality program including top notch captains who can provide onboard learning experiences in a controlled environment. My philosophy is to learn from the mistakes of others to minimize learning from your own mistakes, that will undoubtedly occur. After you obtain a couple of sailing certifications, you will then have the credentials to charter boats to determine if sailing is really something that you want to pursue and also allow you to "try out" various boats of interest, before you run out and buy a boat with no prior experience.

And, welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of information here; however, we all have our opinions with regards to some topics, especially the learning to sail topic, so you will have to sift through the chatter to formulate your own course of action! Of course that is what a forum is all about.

Finally, You can sign up for a live on line Sailing & Seamanship question and answer forum tomorrow (Saturday) from 10-12am, EST. It is hosted by Maryland School of Sailing & Seamanship and free to attend. You must sign up at office@mdschool.com . I have no affiliation with the school, just putting it out there for anyone interested.

 

[sololadysailer]

Duh!! Please feel free to laugh, I was just standing in my kitchen, and realized, hey, I live near a lake! Two miles down the road no less. My town has its own landing, so a piece of cake there, only thing is, I'll be selling it within the next few years or less for what I really want. Is that a good idea?
At first, I thought I'd be taking lessons, then putting my money into the boat I can live on. Now, maybe I can find a deal on something small to have fun with, and yes, maybe crash, before I get that boat I can live on.
I am delighted to have so much help on here. Much to read and digest. Won't ask any more questions for awhile!!!

thanks again
Barbara

 

[David in Sandusky]

Welcome, Barbara! You are starting on a journey that can offer much enjoyment and fulfillment in return for the reasonable investments you seem ready to make.

I like the words from Capta, and ToddS. Here are my offerings in response to your questions:

Like Capta, I started sailing a small boat through college summers, then moved up to Rhodes 19’s, then raced a 14 foot Sunfish while stationed in Key West with the Navy. The advantage of a small sailboat is lots of experience (things happen fast) with low risk. It was easy to recover a Sunfish when I ended up in the water after a mistake, and a capsize. On the other hand, many of us started out with reading, sailing lessons, chartering (with and without an experienced captain) then acquiring and sailing their target boat. It’s your choice, but if I were in your situation, I would probably choose the second course. It’s quite feasible, and probably gets you where you want to go faster.

When it comes to choosing a boat, I strongly recommend Roger Marshall’s “The Complete Guide to Choosing a Cruising Sailboat.”

The Complete Guide to Choosing a Cruising Sailboat: Marshall, Roger: 9780070419988: Amazon.com: Books

The Complete Guide to Choosing a Cruising Sailboat [Marshall, Roger] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Complete Guide to Choosing a Cruising Sailboat

www.amazon.com

It’s a thorough and knowledgeable book that covers all aspects of the choice and leaves you to make it for yourself. I have sailed Hunters, Catalinas, Beneteaus, C&C, and other makes from 27 to 45 feet. I could be happy owning any of those makes. In the end, it comes down to which one fits you and your plans the best! And this forum is always here if you want us to offer more thoughts as you move through the process. Your budget will allow you a broad range of choices of older fiberglass boats. But I do advise you to split it to about $35,000 for acquisition, and $15,000 for changes and upgrades you want to do after buying the boat.

Although the Admiral and I most often cruise alone, we have also sailed in groups. The way this usually happens is in yacht clubs. Most clubs plan cruises for members, and we have enjoyed a number of those - around one a year lately. Checking out a few yacht clubs around you could also help in a number of ways. First, a club would encourage and support you even before you become a member. Many offer lessons to non-members. And they will offer you a chance to meet and talk with experienced sailors face to face in pleasant circumstances - at the bar, or on their boats for instance. They are the best source of local knowledge about sailing, cruising, weather, tides, destinations, etc. And walking the docks will allow you to see alternative boats and solutions up close and personal. Finally, there is usually a chance to crew on a boat in club races - another great way to learn how to sail.

In any case, fair winds, and following seas on your new adventure!

 

[Jim26m]

Put on your PFD before you step on the dock, or otherwise get where you could wind up in the water.

An inland lake and trailer sailboat is a great way to get started. You won't have to knock a hole in your boat budget to learn and can sell it when you move to a bigger boat.

Can't wait to read of your adventure on the water!

 

[dlochner]

Duh!! Please feel free to laugh, I was just standing in my kitchen, and realized, hey, I live near a lake! Two miles down the road no less. My town has its own landing, so a piece of cake there, only thing is, I'll be selling it within the next few years or less for what I really want. Is that a good idea?
At first, I thought I'd be taking lessons, then putting my money into the boat I can live on. Now, maybe I can find a deal on something small to have fun with, and yes, maybe crash, before I get that boat I can live on.
I am delighted to have so much help on here. Much to read and digest. Won't ask any more questions for awhile!!!

thanks again
Barbara

Yep, this is the way to go. Actually the boat you'll buy has pretty much depreciated about all it is going to. If you put a little elbow grease into and may be some new lines, you might sell it for as much or more than you paid for it.

 

[sololadysailer]

Well, I've been looking at boats and I am completely overwhelmed. Since I"m sixty-four, (and have never really been very good with being patient) I was hoping to learn this summer how to sail. That of course, depends on what's going on with this horrible virus. I was also wondering if fall might be the best time of year to buy a boat, seeing as how owners are taking them out and storing them.
Then, believe this or not, I was thinking of just taking off, leaving my truck and camp just in case a)my adventure is a disaster or b)I hate it "which I"m pretty sure I'll love it) (I'm also traveling with my two best friends, a very energetic Jack Russell, which I"m not too sure will enjoy the boat but she does love to swim, and my other very quiet small shepherd cross who will go anywhere with me. I have so many other questions but will spread them out in various posts. Most of all, I realize I need to avoid hurricane season which may affect the timeline in leaving for heading south. Lots to coordinate but I enjoy figuring this all out.
I presently am leaning more towards what you, David, mentioned, which is to learn as much as I can and just purchase my target boat. That feels more like me.
So, I have a lot of reading to do and decisions to make. I very much appreciate all of you responding, and I am really excited about planning all this. I'm sure I"ll gain knowledge as well by reading all of your posts and conversations.

Have a great day everyone, thanks again
Barbara

 

[rgranger]

You might find you are a trailer sailor. Check out @Sumner 's profile page. He has several write-ups of adventures he has taken with his trailer sailboat. I can also post some of mine if your are interested. Some of the larger trailer sailboats are comfortable enough to camp on a week at a time... and you can go check out interesting places that you could never see if you had a larger boat. As they say, a trailerable sailboat can go 60 mph to windward. And if they are calling for really bad weather, you put it on the trailer and leave... (done that running from a hurricane once).

I count myself as one of those who trailers to new places often and I sleep out on my boat at least three or four times a month year round (except December and January). If you start a new thread on "what is the best trailer sailboat" you will get a thread that goes on for a great many pages.... or search the archives and you can see what has already been posted. Everyone has different "must haves" but as your read through the pages, you will see some things that are common to almost everyone... and that is the place to build your foundational knowledge for what should be in a good "camping" boat. BTW the boat I "camp" in has an enclosed head, a galley, a foot pump sink, electricity etc.... so more like glamping than camping.

 

[rgranger]

... there is a lot of humour to the point of even gross improprieties ...

... my bad

 

[sololadysailer]

Hi RG, thanks for your post. I have some decisions to make. Being on a fixed income, I need to make some good financial
choices. I've been looking at some sailboats online and find that they are more affordable then I thought, so that's a good thing. I will, however, be very careful not to buy a lemon, and will have whatever looks promising checked out completely.
I don't plan on living here in this cabin for much longer. Not sure if I can sell it this summer, might have to be next, but definitely will be buying the boat by next summer. I traveled across the country twice in my RV between 2016 and 2018, and after all, that I realized how much I missed my home, New England, and the beautiful Atlantic, so the idea of having a sailboat, being able to visit my home town Marblehead Mass every summer, and all those familiar places and islands my father used to take me, makes me very happy.
I appreciate you telling me about "trailer sailing." Sounds kind of funny didn't know there were sailboats that could be towed. That would certainly save on mooring fees, and I could keep it here till I figure out where to either move or live on it full time. I'll google it, and perhaps start another thread as you mentioned.
I have a lot to think about and again appreciate all the information tossed me way today. The only concern I have living full time on the boat is that I actually don't want to leave New England again, and I'd have to each winter if I didn't keep my home, or find another one closer to the ocean. I have my eye on an oceanfront lot that hasn't sold and will check it out when and if we can start traveling again. I also will be curious to see if land prices drop, due to the market slowing, and might get a better deal.
I"m a pretty gutsy lady, but not sure I want to sail all the way south each winter on my own. Thanks again for the idea!!
If you don't mind, could you share a little about what kind of boat you have and if you launch it by yourself?
thanks
Barbara