Suggestion on boat model...

[Kernix]

Here are the facts:
1. I got laid-off in October '07 - still haven't found a job. Currently studing web design\digital imaging on my own with the hopes of making cash doing that, as well as $ with my photog and my music (if I can form a band).

2. Assuming I can get a slip at the Philly Marina as a liveaboard (which they have), my rent (now slip fees) would be cut in more than - it's my main expense.

3. I have ~ $28K in an IRA - I've already done the research - 1st time home buyers can use an IRA for a home purchase without penalty, and the "home" definition includes living aboard a boat.

4. I do not see myself sailing within the next year, and if I do it will be local cruising: down to Cape May, NJ or the Chesapeake via CD canal

5. I want at least a 30' sailboat, but I noticed even older Catalina 30's are at the lowest high $ teens, but seem to average mid $20's - I can deal with high teens, but mid $20's cuts into my cash too much - I'll need at least $3600 for a year of slip fees plus close to the same for food\phone\electric.

Main question: Are Hunter's really so bad? What about an older Pearson? Any other?

My logic is I just started pulling from my IRA to pay my rent - might as well buy a sailboat and when I need to sell it and get my money back - or get a bigger boat? Otherwise, I'm going to piss the IRA away and get hit with a big penalty next April.

Any thoughts? I need to move ASAP.

Jim

[Freesail99]

Hunters are not so bad ( ok, maybe some models) but I saw last month in a New Jersey free sail rag, a 34 ft. Hunter for $12,000 with a diesel. So maybe that be the way to go. Many if not most of the older Catalina 30's will have an atomic 4 in them.

BTW, getting from the a Philly marina to Cape May is the better part of a day trip if the tides are with you.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by Kernix

Here are the facts:
1. I got laid-off in October '07 - still haven't found a job. Currently studing web design\digital imaging on my own with the hopes of making cash doing that, as well as $ with my photog and my music (if I can form a band).

Good luck with that... making money as a web designer, unless you have mad design and programming skills is going to be tough, especially without previous experience in the field.

2. Assuming I can get a slip at the Philly Marina as a liveaboard (which they have), my rent (now slip fees) would be cut in more than - it's my main expense.

3. I have ~ $28K in an IRA - I've already done the research - 1st time home buyers can use an IRA for a home purchase without penalty, and the "home" definition includes living aboard a boat.

The boat can qualify as a residence under IRS guidelines provided it has a plumbed head (no porta-potties) and permanent galley (permanently affixed and installed stove of some sort generally). If either is missing, it doesn't meet the definition of a legal residence.

4. I do not see myself sailing within the next year, and if I do it will be local cruising: down to Cape May, NJ or the Chesapeake via CD canal

If you're not sailing, don't get a sailboat... get a powerboat, barge or house boat. All would give you far more living space for the same price than most sailboats. If you're going to sail, then it is a different story.

5. I want at least a 30' sailboat, but I noticed even older Catalina 30's are at the lowest high $ teens, but seem to average mid $20's - I can deal with high teens, but mid $20's cuts into my cash too much - I'll need at least $3600 for a year of slip fees plus close to the same for food\phone\electric.

You might want to look at some older designs, like the Alberg 30, which some people have used for living aboard. A Catalina or Pearson would probably give you more room, but is probably more expensive.

Main question: Are Hunter's really so bad? What about an older Pearson? Any other?

Depends on the Hunter. Some designs and years were really pretty atrocious, and the whole brand has been marked by the ones that were complete junk.

My logic is I just started pulling from my IRA to pay my rent - might as well buy a sailboat and when I need to sell it and get my money back - or get a bigger boat? Otherwise, I'm going to piss the IRA away and get hit with a big penalty next April.

Any thoughts? I need to move ASAP.

Probably should have done this before you had to pull money from your IRA to pay rent. Be aware that getting a liveaboard slip and liveaboard insurance can be more difficult than getting a regular slip and a regular insurance policy. Don't skimp on the policy, and see if you can get a rider/clause for alternative living arrangements in case of the boat needing repair. Don't forget to get a survey of the boat. Make sure the hull and deck are in decent condition, since repairing either would be pretty touch while living aboard. The engine and rig being in good condition, while nice, wouldn't be as important if you're primarily using it as a home.

[Kernix]

Why can't I see the responses?

[Kernix]

Sailingdog - I don't want a motor boat, especially with gas prices what they are - I'll be sailing but not right away.

If you are sure about those IRS guidelines, then I'll look for a model with a head and a propane stove.

I programmed in SAS, SQL, and VB for the past few years - that along with my photog and maybe dog-walking, is all I got - if you have a better suggestion let me know.

The interviews have dried up over the past 4 weeks - I thought of this BECAUSE of pulling money from my IRA.

Hunters - is there a list somewhere showing what years are okay?

What about 1970's PEarsons, Catalina's, Ericson's? Too old?

[sailingdog]

I wouldn't say a 1970's era boat is too old. It really depends more on how well it was cared for and maintained, than how old the hull is. I've seen a 30 year old boat that looked almost new, and a ten-year old boat that looked ready for the scrap yard.

If you're going to do web design, you should probably learn PHP and CSS at a minimum. Not a big fan of VB and MS for internet web servers.

[SSBN506]

This will sound like strange advice but I am serious. I employed web developers in my company for a few years. I now outsource the work to a local firm. But one of my employees was a friend and we kept in touch. He tells me the best place to get work in web development is in the porn industry. He works from home and makes about 70k a year doing php and myslq. I can’t give you any info on how to get into the industry just that it is the place to be if you are a web developer apparently.

[hellosailor]

" 1st time home buyers can use an IRA for a home purchase without penalty,"

I'm fairly certain that is still subject to a limit of $10,000, and then the rest is subject to taxes and a 10% premature withdrawl penalty.

Also bear in minds that boats are not necessarily a cheap way to live. Bottom paint, maintenance, insurance (most marinas require it)...the slip fees are the least of it.

[USCGRET1990]

Originally Posted by Kernix

Here are the facts:
1. I got laid-off in October '07 - still haven't found a job. Currently studing web design\digital imaging on my own with the hopes of making cash doing that, as well as $ with my photog and my music (if I can form a band).

2. Assuming I can get a slip at the Philly Marina as a liveaboard (which they have), my rent (now slip fees) would be cut in more than - it's my main expense.

3. I have ~ $28K in an IRA - I've already done the research - 1st time home buyers can use an IRA for a home purchase without penalty, and the "home" definition includes living aboard a boat.

4. I do not see myself sailing within the next year, and if I do it will be local cruising: down to Cape May, NJ or the Chesapeake via CD canal

5. I want at least a 30' sailboat, but I noticed even older Catalina 30's are at the lowest high $ teens, but seem to average mid $20's - I can deal with high teens, but mid $20's cuts into my cash too much - I'll need at least $3600 for a year of slip fees plus close to the same for food\phone\electric.

Main question: Are Hunter's really so bad? What about an older Pearson? Any other?

My logic is I just started pulling from my IRA to pay my rent - might as well buy a sailboat and when I need to sell it and get my money back - or get a bigger boat? Otherwise, I'm going to piss the IRA away and get hit with a big penalty next April.

Any thoughts? I need to move ASAP.

Jim

For the money, old power boats have twice the liveaboard room as s/v's.
Unless you plan a trip to the Carribean by sale, go with an old power boat!

[Cruisingdad]

I only have a little time for a quick response (well turned into a bit of a long one)... but thought I would try as it sounds like you are in a fix.

First of all, I really like the Pearsons. Some good friends of ours just bought a 36 last weekend and I really liked it. They are good boats and I find many of the people that own(ed) them are passionate about them.

Hunters. I get really frustrated when people come on here and bash a sailboat that they know little/nothing about. If it says Hunter, it has to be crap... or something like that. Whatever. Judge each boat - not simply the brand. However, I have personally (not hear-say) witnessed MANY horror stories on these boats. But there are also many that seem to have been 'better' built. I remember a broker once telling me, "Depends on if it was made on a Monday or a Friday..." As such, judge each boat as such. However, if you have concerns on these boats before you have even bought it, what about afterwards?? What about trying to get rid of it?? I am not being negative on the boats - but buy what you feel good in and makes YOU happy.

The C30 crowd has a VERY loyal fan club. You would have an enormous owners group. You could also sign up for Mainsheet (which I write in) and get quarterly updates on things to do for the boat. You will also have a tech editor to be a point person for you with C30 specific questions. All these things will help. However, it is still an old boat.

Living aboard:

Living aboard is not like day sailing or weekending or vacationing. DO not take ANYONES advice that has not done it or is not doing it. When your boat becomes your home, your priorities on things change drastically. You will want a LOT of storage, refrigeration, a nice head (with seperate shower if possible), at least one (prferably two) hanging lockers, and a very comfortable berth. That is a good beginning. On a liveaboard (no offense), you liveability takes priroity over performance - period. Otherwise, you will be the most frustrated liveaboard on your dock that has not made your mistake.

Boat expense:

Here is a quick wake-up call: living on a boat may very well cost more than a house or an apartment. If the bilge pump breaks, you HAVE to buy another. You have no choice as it is one of the many critical items. There went $100 down the drain. And as EVERYTHING on a boat is much more apt to breaking down and costs 10x as much as household items when they do, you will suddenly find yourself on the steep learning curve of how expensive boats really are. Sorry. They don't tell you that in the boat shows. They also don't tell you about the storms and long rainy days you will spend in 200 sf, or the lightning storms where you cannot touch the mast or tie rods, or the freezing cold weather when your water gets shut off so you are living out of tanks, the head filling up and no way to get it pumped out until Johnny gets the stupid pumpout fixed... etc.

All that being said, it is nice to come home and sit in the ****pit and stare out over the water. It is relaxing to hop in the dink with a cold beer and run the docks with nothing on your mind but how to rewind. I would not approach it with the mindset that it is cheaper than land life. I do not think it is unless you are very lucky (which it sounds like you are not right now). However, it is a lifestyle away from the rat race and a simple way to live. To take it for anything else is simply denial which will give you a rude awakening one day. Go read Hofflives threads here. That is closer to reality than sunsets and margaritas. Talk to people here that have and do live aboard.

Hope taht helps some. It is not sunsets and margaritas and certainly not stress-free. However, the picture I paint is the one I lived and saw with my own eyes.

If you have any real questions, don't hesitate to ask.

All the best,

Brian