Single Handed Cruiser Choices, Realities & Compromises

[wrevans]

This thread seems to have wondered a bit but I wanted to return to the original post on boat and rigging choices. My advice would be to really closely reread and reread Jeff_H comments. And then if still want to learn more about the qualities of sail boats search all of his other posts and sit down on a Sunday afternoon and go to school. Everyone on this board has their preferences and biases Jeff included. But what I have found from reading his posts is that for the most part I think he is right. Often he has added a few warts to my favorite type of boat. So be it. I may choose not to completely follow his advice but after sailing the boat I choose (Bluenose Sloop) I have become a believer in his advice. His advice stems from years of hands on experience. In any other venue we would pay a dear price for his advice.

His recommendation about fractional rigs is about the best I could pass along. My boat does have a fractional rig and I sail it without an engine. Every time I return to my mooring I get to short tack into a narrow channel about 4 to 5 boat lengths wide. My non-overlapping jib is a savior for these short tacks. I don't know how I would short tack single handed with a large masthead overlapping genoa.

Also, find Jeff's words about speed. Time and time again people say they aren't worried about speed. Where I sail a 3 knot current is not uncommon so to make headway to windward I have to sail about 45 degrees to windward and make around 4 1/2 knots just to fight the current. Many of the well regarded cruising boats would struggle at this in light to moderate wind.

But best of in your search and do read Jeff_H.

Cheers, Bill

Originally Posted by ScrimpAndSail

Hi Every one
I guess I need to start with my situation, needs, & wants.
I'm new to sailing. It's been an interest on and off since I was in my teens. I'm now in full-on midlife crisis. Work is a horrible travisty of all that's holy on a daily basis. I can't emphasize this enough. I don't want to reach the end of my life in a house full of junk & no life experience. I never went to college. (At least for a full degree or even close to it, Just what interested me. I could never discover a course of study I could stomach that would be worth while economically.) None the less my job has decent pay for someone without a college background. My soul is left dying.
Bad Timing- I know, But I'm almost ready to sell my house for less than I could If I just could wait a few years. This will only allow for a very well priced older boat. Maybe 20,000 or so.
I know, I know. Sweat equity OK, but it has to float.
I'm Taking classes to learn to sail. I just wouldn't feel comfortable without a foundation to grow on. But here is what I need-

Rig- About the simplest rigging for a single hander. I'm single, I need to be able to sail it independantly. I don't want sailing to be a struggle. Being able to reef in a hurry is important for safety's sake. I'd rather not die of procrastination. Remember, I'm still an inexperienced neophite. I've read a bit, But hands on is still a work in progress. The Cat Ketch seems to get good marks. So does a fractional Bermuda Rig. The Junk sounds good. Especially with reguard to maintenace costs. Something that will always likely be the real struggle. Speed is nice & the CK & FB sail to windward better. Speed is not the most important factor, Safety, Ease of singlehanding, & Cost of maintenace are. Also, Older Junks are few & far between.

Use- While I'd love to sail around the world & Not in race fashion. It would be a great personal acheivement. In practice I veiw cruising as going from place to place, not a distance goal. I would start by Island hoping the caribbean. Also, I just can't seem to shake the need to Island hop the south pacific. While I definately want to see the caribbean. There's really are limited number of islands. The islands of the south pacific are nearly innumerable. This means blue water from the caribbean to the south pacific. Also, I don't want to be forever parted from the US. I'll need to make that jouney from time to time. This means multiple blue water travels. Also, It's important to note- The Islands of the south pacific have extensive reefs with very shallow waters surrounding them. 10 more feet away from shore & your in blue water. These are under water mountian peaks with the tops capped by islands. This makes the versitility of the boat very impotant. Swing keels seem doudtful as they come with their own problems. Damage potential, Cost of maintenance, & also Far & few between among the used beauties out there. This on top of the need for a boat that also meets the rigging requirements.

Size- We all like room to move about. I'm single but not forever. The boat will be my home. I need it to be comfortable as a liveaboard. Small size is a bonus for both initial cost & maintenence cost, But I do need to live. Don't forget that my Blue water travels will only be to get to the next stop or area, not my life mission. I would like to make passages as safely as possible. But if I can't go from island to Island & mysterious shore to shore, Why Cruise?!

Hailing all those that would chime in. With all the above in mind, What would be my best reletively common choices out there that would meet these needs? And also, What would be the pros & cons of each choice?

If I've left anything unclear, Just ask.

[ScrimpAndSail]

Arbarnhart & SEMIjim
You could only be as specific as you were with such a vague question. Both of your answers were helpful. Thank You.

JustMeUC
I grew up American poor. In many diffenet American subcultures. Instead of making me everyman, it's helped me in becoming a misenthrope. I don't really fit in with any group, But I sure can sell. Many would say I've done well to get to the place I am today.
I've lived without ac, But not month after month in bad climes.
I can eat out of the garbage, But I'm well adjusted to a better lifestyle. I can go back on many things but many of them will be a struggle. Most of all, Temperture will be the most difficult. I'll have to find my comfort zone.

[JustMeUC]

I hear ya, I am forty now and don't know if I could do the 100+ with no A/C like I did at 20. I suppose if I HAD to I could... LOL but that is probably the one thing that I would have the hardest time with. Luckily when the time comes for me to sail off I will not be in the situation where I am having to watch every last penny so I may not be willing to give up on that one thing. Then again, I am cheap/stingy enough that if it really does cost too much I very well may TRY to give it up with the option of getting it later.

I understand the dream you have and just want to say that you really need to see if you can make it work financially before committing too much time and planning into it. The worst thing I can imagine happening is for you to buy a boat, put all your money into it and love the life but not be able to afford to do it. Hope that makes sense.

[wind_magic]

arbarnhart, Thank you!

Originally Posted by JustMeUC

SandS, I think I understand what you are saying. I think you should try to really live on the bare minimum right now, I mean cut out ALL the fat in your life. Turn down your heat in winter to no more than 60, the A/C up to at least 85 in the summer, get rid of the TV, certainly no cable!! no A/C in your car except on your way to work (don't wan't to smell bad there). Spend no more than $15 per week on food (it can easily be done). Live like this for 1 year. It will save you a TON of money to help you for cruising, and it will let you see if you are the kind of person who can really make it on bare minimum. It will let you decide if that is the kind of life you want to lead. Cause once you are in by buying a boat, then you better be pretty committed.

Nice post JustMeUC, we are on the same page I think.

Anybody can live like they are on a sailboat, just pick up your telephone, call the gas company, the electric company, the cable company, and anyone who performs service for you such as fixing your car and just tell them you aren't interested anymore, that you do not wish to continue service. It's okay to keep your bank account, but it is NOT okay to use your automobile to go there, you have to ride a bicycle. In fact you get to ride a bicycle to the grocery store, gasoline station, pharmacy, and anywhere else you wish to go. It's okay to drive your car to work, you need to make money for the trip, but that is all you get to use it for. You can't get mail at your house anymore, you have to get it sent general delivery to the post office then ride your bicycle over to the post office to pick up your mail and anything you order. It's ok to keep your computers up and running along with anything else, but you have to have a solar panel or wind generator installed and you have to charge up a small battery bank to power whatever it is you want to power. And you can use the Internet so long as you can find a wi-fi signal nearby to connect to, otherwise you are going to have to hang a wire antenna in a nearby tree and use an HF radio to get your email, no web surfing on that connection! You can keep a telephone, but you can't use it to make calls, send faxes, or for dial-up, unless it is for business, again, you need to be making money to go on your trip. Refrigeration is okay so long as you can figure out a way to have it after the power company comes and turns off the electricity at your house. And it's okay to have heat, but you are probably only going to be able to heat one room in your house, and that should be with a diesel heater. Your diesel heater will need fuel, of course, so it's probably time to get some fuel containers and get a map to find the shortest way to walk to the gasoline station. Might be time to take up hitch hiking! And of course you aren't going to get picked up as a hitch hiker looking like a tramp, so you will want to do laundry. That's easy enough to do, cruisers have all kinds of tricks for it, putting laundry in a bucket and using a plunger to wash it being a popular one. That means you are going to need plenty of water so it's time to get those water containers out and start walking to a nearby stream or business to fill them up. If you don't like carrying that wash water you can always bag your clothing up and take it to the laundromat. And you'll need to eat, so you'll need to get yourself some kind of a camp stove or propane stove to do that, probably time for a pressure cooker too to make boiling that stream water go a little faster. And those propane containers ? You guessed it, it's another long walk to the gasoline station assuming you can find one that sells propane. Maybe you can stop at the grocery store and get a few bags of food to carry back home while you are at it. Pick up some soap and shampoo while you are there, oh .. yep, it's time to get those water containers out again, you're going to want to wash up from time to time! And then there's the matter of going to the bathroom, remember, you don't have running water anymore ....

[ScrimpAndSail]

I can't get rid of a lot of the services as they're I offer them as part of the deal for my meal ticket (I'm sorry... Roommate) The televison for instance, Is in the livingroom. My roommate Doesn't want to remain in his room the majority of the time.
In many ways it would be refreshing to simplfy. When I was considering property in western N Carolina, Part of the plan was to get rid of a lot of the services discused. Without constant stimulation from TV (in the background if nothing else) and not spending all my time working to support so many unnescisary services. This makes for a much more peaceful life. When I was 11 I spent a spring & summer in the Washington High desert in a small yurt. When I look back, This was one of the best times of my life. Of course, If I did Buy NC mountain land, My plan was to live in a trailer until I was able to build my own small passive solar cottage. Having property has the advantage that you can grow a lot of your own food.
The sea has a few more difficulties. Cheifly to me being slip rates, Boat upkeep, & Electricity to support AC & refridgeration. Any detailed methods of trimming these bown but still keepping them would be helpful. Honestly, I don't see how I'll be able to support ac. Refrigeration is a different story. There are a lot of foods that don't require Refridgaration. Be picky & just cool the things that I need for my emotional well being. Scale down the useful volume and increase the insulation. This will help keep electrical needs down. Without AC I think This is do-able.
The Other electric hog is the computer. Most especially the monitor. I haven't seen any of the following mentioned anywhere in boating media I've read. Let me throw you all a bone. Weather you are dealing with my issues or not.
http://www.cwonline.com/store/view_p...p?Product=1289
The Resolution isn't enough for every need, Just most of them. Resolution is getting better all the time.

[pigslo]

If you spent the same 900 bucks for a solar panel, you would have enough electricity to drive a moniter.
pigslo

[ScrimpAndSail]

I'll need the solar panel or panals anyway. I think the key is keeping power consumption as low as possible. The lower the consumption, the more you can services you can afford yourself.

[pigslo]

Just my thoughts on this scrimpandsail. If you set your goal just a tiny bit higher than "live like a monk" you will achieve it just as well. If you set it low, you will achieve that as well.
pigslo

[wind_magic]

I think "living like a monk" can be very beneficial if your goals are broad enough. If your motivation is just for your own comfort, then by all means set your goal "higher" and save up to buy the comforts you want, but austerity has a lot of practical ends in itself if comfort isn't a primary goal. The most obvious benefit of living simply is freedom to act. With little to own you and to spend your labor on, you are free to focus your attention on bigger goals than your own comfort, to roam out into places in this world that you wouldn't be able to if you were constrained by requirements like having a warm bed to sleep in, an assortment of foods to eat, etc. Unnecessary excess has a price beyond money, even the value your boat has in your mind ties you to it. Having a lot invested in a boat makes it a greater target for theft or general loss (in your own mind) and so you are less likely to leave it to go inland for weeks at a time to do what you really may have set out to do - explore the world. You are less likely to go to "dangerous places", more likely to only go where your insurance company allows, etc. You risk ending up one of the cruisers who has to stay in the safe waters, dealing with the high cost of services and the low regard paid to "cruisers" by the numbed locals who have seen more than their share of boats moving south and east along well established lines. To me leaving the large floating homes to the downsized home owners is a good course of action, because they have expectations about comfort and having a large boat gives them some sense of pride and achievement. But I'm just not one of them, to me having a boat that has more power than some "AA" batteries, more room than my tent, and floats further than my bicycle is a real boon to exploration, and is all I need or want. Again this is probably just a case of the lines between cruising and let's call it "exploring", because cruising can often be about hedonism, comfort, egoism, etc, whereas explorers are happy to trade those things and more away as a currency to buy freedom and range, a kind of secular asceticism that values creature comfort mostly as a means to an end (i.e. not getting hypothermia, etc). Or something. And though the original poster wasn't asking about doing with less in the context of going exploring, he did seem to be saying he didn't have much money, which in the end is going to mean either waiting longer, or doing with less. I didn't feel the original poster wanted to wait longer, in fact he seemed to want freedom most of all.