Thanks to everyone that has replied to my article. A few people wanted us to be a little more specific about our intentions. We intend to purchase a boat to live aboard. It doesn't therefore need to be trailerable. We will mainly use it in coastal areas but we would like it to be deep water capable. There are only two of us. I am quite slight in build and therefore have very little weight to put into things! My partner is well built with muscle and therefore far more use that me! He has 10 years sea experience as a commercial fisherman and therefore the sea. Neither of us can sail at this point but we will be taking the advise of some replies and getting some experience as soon as we can. Because there is only us two, and because of my size, we wouldn't be looking for anything over 30ft as I think it would be beyond us. We have read such books as "Walkabout" etc and would like to visit many places at a leisurely rate with no end destination particularly in mind, and a time scale that depends on how it goes! If anyone can help us on books to read, information to gather etc then we would be very grateful. We need an idea about what sort of rig, keel etc that we will need. We are aiming at a diesel inboard usless advised otherwise. The boat age can be anything within the past 15 years ish and not to lavish. Certainly new is not necessary!! Adivse on dingys, gear, first aid etc would be gratefully received. Basically anyone who can give us some advise based on their own experience would be helpful. Thank you for reading this far and I hope that this puts you in the picture to advise us a little more. s&m
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
J
Jack Tyler
You'll need to start at the beginning...
Hi, Mandy While working at getting *your* answer to this question can be lots of fun, you'll find almost all info along the way to be based on others' preferences (probably not yours) and on others' limited experiences (which may be different from your plans). And it's way too early to be looking at specific boats IMO. So rather than suggesting a specific boat or two, here are some general suggestions I think you should consider: 1. Expose yourself to experts. Attend the SSCA annual gam in Melbourne, FL in November. This is a huge concentration of people already doing what you intend, 3 days of seminars, it's inexpensive and the SSCA can provide an ongoing window to many others who can help. Join for the small fee. (www.ssca.org) 2. Begin sailing. You say you have no experience doing what you want to spend considerable funds and time doing; how do you know? There are countless ways to get sailing experience without a boat: walk marina docks, visit yacht clubs, talk with marina staffs, look for sailors at church, at work, in the neighborhood, etc. Explain your interest, willingness to help with yukky boat chores in exchange for crewing at local races. Look for a sailing club in the area and take some lessons. Charter a boat & captain in a region of the country you would find interesting to visit, with a firm who understands 'novice cruiser' needs, and on a boat similar to what you think you want. (Too much money? You'd be willing to spend $25K/$50K/$75K for a boat, but not $1K/$2K to find out whether you like cruising on it?) The best intro to offshore cruising I know of is John Neal's "expeditions" - strong/safe/impressive boat doing real cruising legs in the Pacific (www.mahina.com) but that's for later on. 3. Look for local/regional organizations who can help expose you to this topic more directly and provide a support group and networking opportunity. Women Aboard is one excellent example (www.womenaboard.com), a local sailing program (yacht club, college or recreation dept. sponsored), seasonal events like boat shows that are heavy on seminars so you can meet others, attending the local Power Squadron & USCG classes, and much more. 4. Reading can be very helpful but its value is dependent on finding the right sources of info for you. E.g. Beth Leonard's _Voyager's Handbook' is excellent and gets rave reviews, especially from women cruisers with whom I've talked...but it's about round the world cruising, a goal you can't yet know you should have. Treat yourself to a half-day (or more!) visit to a major marine bookstore (Armchair Sailor, Blue Water Books), browse and browse some more, and select what you think will scratch *your* itch vs. what any of us think you should read. You can see that this requires a lot of effort to get a good start, along with substantial time (altho' not very much money, initially). Recreational sailing and its subset of cruising has been popular long enough that the resources are almost infinite - and overwhelming, too. Dive in, for sure! But do it selectively, and be sure to balance intellectual exposure with hands-on stuff; in the end, how it *feels* to you two will govern how far you take it. Good luck to you. Jack
Hi, Mandy While working at getting *your* answer to this question can be lots of fun, you'll find almost all info along the way to be based on others' preferences (probably not yours) and on others' limited experiences (which may be different from your plans). And it's way too early to be looking at specific boats IMO. So rather than suggesting a specific boat or two, here are some general suggestions I think you should consider: 1. Expose yourself to experts. Attend the SSCA annual gam in Melbourne, FL in November. This is a huge concentration of people already doing what you intend, 3 days of seminars, it's inexpensive and the SSCA can provide an ongoing window to many others who can help. Join for the small fee. (www.ssca.org) 2. Begin sailing. You say you have no experience doing what you want to spend considerable funds and time doing; how do you know? There are countless ways to get sailing experience without a boat: walk marina docks, visit yacht clubs, talk with marina staffs, look for sailors at church, at work, in the neighborhood, etc. Explain your interest, willingness to help with yukky boat chores in exchange for crewing at local races. Look for a sailing club in the area and take some lessons. Charter a boat & captain in a region of the country you would find interesting to visit, with a firm who understands 'novice cruiser' needs, and on a boat similar to what you think you want. (Too much money? You'd be willing to spend $25K/$50K/$75K for a boat, but not $1K/$2K to find out whether you like cruising on it?) The best intro to offshore cruising I know of is John Neal's "expeditions" - strong/safe/impressive boat doing real cruising legs in the Pacific (www.mahina.com) but that's for later on. 3. Look for local/regional organizations who can help expose you to this topic more directly and provide a support group and networking opportunity. Women Aboard is one excellent example (www.womenaboard.com), a local sailing program (yacht club, college or recreation dept. sponsored), seasonal events like boat shows that are heavy on seminars so you can meet others, attending the local Power Squadron & USCG classes, and much more. 4. Reading can be very helpful but its value is dependent on finding the right sources of info for you. E.g. Beth Leonard's _Voyager's Handbook' is excellent and gets rave reviews, especially from women cruisers with whom I've talked...but it's about round the world cruising, a goal you can't yet know you should have. Treat yourself to a half-day (or more!) visit to a major marine bookstore (Armchair Sailor, Blue Water Books), browse and browse some more, and select what you think will scratch *your* itch vs. what any of us think you should read. You can see that this requires a lot of effort to get a good start, along with substantial time (altho' not very much money, initially). Recreational sailing and its subset of cruising has been popular long enough that the resources are almost infinite - and overwhelming, too. Dive in, for sure! But do it selectively, and be sure to balance intellectual exposure with hands-on stuff; in the end, how it *feels* to you two will govern how far you take it. Good luck to you. Jack
Two good books
Try "Cruising in Serrafyn" and "The Self Sufficient Sailor", both by Lin and Larry Pardey. You can find them in any large bookstore, marine supply or local library. The Pardeys do a lot of bluewater cruising but the underlying guidelines and principles for boathandling and living aboard are the same for what you have in mind. I particularly like their ability to keep things simple. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Try "Cruising in Serrafyn" and "The Self Sufficient Sailor", both by Lin and Larry Pardey. You can find them in any large bookstore, marine supply or local library. The Pardeys do a lot of bluewater cruising but the underlying guidelines and principles for boathandling and living aboard are the same for what you have in mind. I particularly like their ability to keep things simple. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
R
Richard Brabazon
Size does not really matter
Hi MAndy - Jack's reply is a real gem - every suggestion is totally valid. Your physical size does not count for that much, it is really about the techniques used to do the various tasks required and getting into the habit of thinking through a task BEFORE doing the first part of the task - look before yoy leap - Have you heard of Ellen McPherson, the slightly built Englsih sailor who came second in the last round the world single handed race driving a 60 foot monster ? Her physical size / strength would not match most of the men she came in well ahead of BUT her approach was everything. Good luck in doing what you intend, but hear what Jack said and go softly softly until you really do know what you want.
Hi MAndy - Jack's reply is a real gem - every suggestion is totally valid. Your physical size does not count for that much, it is really about the techniques used to do the various tasks required and getting into the habit of thinking through a task BEFORE doing the first part of the task - look before yoy leap - Have you heard of Ellen McPherson, the slightly built Englsih sailor who came second in the last round the world single handed race driving a 60 foot monster ? Her physical size / strength would not match most of the men she came in well ahead of BUT her approach was everything. Good luck in doing what you intend, but hear what Jack said and go softly softly until you really do know what you want.
R
Ron
Where are you??
Most of the people on this site would welcome you aboard their boats. I live in Houston and you and your husband are more than welcome to sail with me aboard my H37C, which incidently isn't too big for my wife and me. In fact I sail alone at times.. Ron/KA5HZV
Most of the people on this site would welcome you aboard their boats. I live in Houston and you and your husband are more than welcome to sail with me aboard my H37C, which incidently isn't too big for my wife and me. In fact I sail alone at times.. Ron/KA5HZV
B
Bill Buckley
From a new boat owner
As new boat owner, I know it is tough to know what you are looking for. My sailing experience before owning included sailing on my brothers small daysailer, A few trips in Charleston Harbor and Lake Murry SC on bigger sailboats and some experience on a friends hobie Cat. I knew I liked sailing but could not really call myself a sailor. I wanted a boat that would be good for small trips primarily in Chesapeake bay area (but maybe a trip someday down the coast (mostly intercoastal). I still work so I did not necessarily want to live aboard the boat but I wanted a comfortable boat where I could easily spend a week with friends and have some privacy. I also wanted something new enough where I did not have to be a mechanic or skill resotorer to get in sailing conditions. Prices vary widely as you move from 27 to 40 feet in boat. My choice was a Hunter 35.5. I have had it since March. I also took sailing lessons once I got it (highly recommended for new sailors). Its been great. I still have not single handed it yet, but feel that the sailing portion is no problem, getting in and out of the slip is the greatest challenge. I have sailed with my 16 year old nephew (who had no experience) as my line man with no problem. I agree with other that say size is not really the issue there are many sailing couples out there in there 60s with small builds owning 40-45 foot boats that seem to have no problem handling their boats (I have had some tell me operating their bigger boats is easier than the smaller boats they started with). There is a lot of momemtum on a big boat and even your herculean mate probably can not hold back the boat approaching a dock at high speed. A good helmsman with good power control (both under sail and under moter) and understanding of what the winds and currents are doing to the boat are what makes a safe boater not strength (therefore taking us back to take lessons).
As new boat owner, I know it is tough to know what you are looking for. My sailing experience before owning included sailing on my brothers small daysailer, A few trips in Charleston Harbor and Lake Murry SC on bigger sailboats and some experience on a friends hobie Cat. I knew I liked sailing but could not really call myself a sailor. I wanted a boat that would be good for small trips primarily in Chesapeake bay area (but maybe a trip someday down the coast (mostly intercoastal). I still work so I did not necessarily want to live aboard the boat but I wanted a comfortable boat where I could easily spend a week with friends and have some privacy. I also wanted something new enough where I did not have to be a mechanic or skill resotorer to get in sailing conditions. Prices vary widely as you move from 27 to 40 feet in boat. My choice was a Hunter 35.5. I have had it since March. I also took sailing lessons once I got it (highly recommended for new sailors). Its been great. I still have not single handed it yet, but feel that the sailing portion is no problem, getting in and out of the slip is the greatest challenge. I have sailed with my 16 year old nephew (who had no experience) as my line man with no problem. I agree with other that say size is not really the issue there are many sailing couples out there in there 60s with small builds owning 40-45 foot boats that seem to have no problem handling their boats (I have had some tell me operating their bigger boats is easier than the smaller boats they started with). There is a lot of momemtum on a big boat and even your herculean mate probably can not hold back the boat approaching a dock at high speed. A good helmsman with good power control (both under sail and under moter) and understanding of what the winds and currents are doing to the boat are what makes a safe boater not strength (therefore taking us back to take lessons).
T
Tom Hamilton
Reading
Get a hold of the Pardee books. They have been doing what you plan for about 30yrs. They often give lectures at boat shows. if you are interested in a sailing school on the east coast, I highly recommend upperbaysailing.com.
Get a hold of the Pardee books. They have been doing what you plan for about 30yrs. They often give lectures at boat shows. if you are interested in a sailing school on the east coast, I highly recommend upperbaysailing.com.
B
Bill
several ideas
My wife and I took a path that you are looking at by first taking a general baoting course. We then took two on water ASA courses, basic keelboat and costal cruising. We then made our purchase a 30 ft Pearson. We are working with her, she's very handleable for two people. We will take the next level ASA on her to learn some more advanced technique, esp spinaker stuff. If you are in the CT are I recomend Blackrock Sailing for a school. I also joined the CoasT Guard Aux. for lots of free training in navigation, boat handling, first aid and lots of volunteer activity. Bill
My wife and I took a path that you are looking at by first taking a general baoting course. We then took two on water ASA courses, basic keelboat and costal cruising. We then made our purchase a 30 ft Pearson. We are working with her, she's very handleable for two people. We will take the next level ASA on her to learn some more advanced technique, esp spinaker stuff. If you are in the CT are I recomend Blackrock Sailing for a school. I also joined the CoasT Guard Aux. for lots of free training in navigation, boat handling, first aid and lots of volunteer activity. Bill
- Status
- Not open for further replies.