What and where should I look?

[Bangbang]

Alright...I decided against the 33' Morgan O/I...so I can sleep better...$1500 was definetly too cheap...but now my dilemma is...what should I be looking to buy...realisticly...I have $10,000 cash...I could of course finance more...I have excellent credit...but then of course insurance will fit into the equation...and of course my monthly expenditure would increase...I would like to keep my total monthly output under $800...take away dockage, which where I am at now is around $12-$14 a foot a month...that doesn't leave much leeway for maintenance, insurance, fuel, rum, etc....am I being unrealistic....Is sailing not for me? Should I put my dream on hold, and save another $50,000...if not where do I start...I ideally want to cruise...oceangoing is a long way away...but the ICW and offshore is where my mind wants to be...island hopping(I am on Hilton Head Island, SC) what kind and size boat should I be looking at? I love the 32'-36 foot range, but maybe this is where I am fooling myself...I will take any and all advice...help me please...I WANT TO BE A PART OF YOUR WORLD!!!...Bang Bang

[buckeyesailor]

You're ALREADY part if the cruising world Bang!.....Most boat owners never leave the dock anyway...It's just a nice place to park their extra cash.......

Next Jan/Feb/Mar and maybe Apr. I will, hell or high water, (and God willing, of course) be in the Bahamas on my own boat (28' to 32')..... I have a lot less disposable cash laying around than your 10K......I've lived on boats, sailed, but mostly dreamed of doing exactly what you are contemplating, 'cept I'm married to a wonderful wife that want's NOTHING to do with any of it.....fine....
Instead of testing fate with a 200k boat (which I could do) I'll settle for keeping the house and wife and set out on a 15k (tops! including provisions) boat for a short sabbatical next winter......roughing it, fer sure......who cares......weigh a rough day on the cheap in the Carib IN the winter vs. a good day at work.....no brainer....(rice and beans are great compared to walking outside my door in the winter)

as for the technical stuff.....I don't have a clue......but I can tell you to the penny what it costs and what it takes about a year from now. There's more "knowledge" on this site than you could muster in a lifetime....so take advantage......other than that.......I wish you all the best..and I KNOW you can do it......just adjust your ca$h with some patience.....and as always, "SAFETY FIRST"

stay tuned for the REAL advice........

[sailingdog]

Bangbang-

I think you need to tone down your expectations. Any boat in the 32-35' range that is affordable at $10,000 will likely need some very serious work. If you're just going to be coastal cruising, with a possible hop to the islands, you can do that in a smaller boat fairly comfortably.

The Tartan 27, Alberg 30, Southern Cross 28, Pearson Ariel/Triton, Albin Vega 27, are all small boats that you might be able to get in reasonable shape, given your budget. However, given your monthly budget limitations, I'd recommend you stick with the shorter boats, since you'll want to have enough in your monthly budget to pay for materials and equipment, since most of the boats you'll be looking at will still need some work.

[CBinRI]

There can be some interesting opportunities on ebay. You may be gambling by not be able to have a survey but there appear to be some good values.

[citation34]

For sale: Hunter 33
For sale: Hunter 33_77-83

Look at these! Both Hunter Cherubini 33s which is an affordable and well built boat.(much opinion involved there but many will agree) Be sure to scroll down... One of them is even an estate sale!
SURVEY!
If these links won't open then look in sailboatowners.com under boats for sale and trim your search accordingly to Hunter 33 under 20K.

[Sailormann]

Alright...I decided against the 33' Morgan O/I...so I can sleep better...$1500 was definetly too cheap...

Smart move !

but now my dilemma is...what should I be looking to buy...

a smaller boat

realisticly...I have $10,000 cash...I could of course finance more...I have excellent credit...

This is really not a good idea. Apart from the fact that it makes NO sense financially, this is your first boat and you have more than enough money to buy a good first boat. When you are looking at boats - find out what the most expensive part(s) to replace on the boat are. Then look at how much money you can easily part with at any time without affecting the quality of your life, or the life of your family. Don't buy a boat that has a part that costs more than that figure. If you do, you are sailing beyond your means. Many thousands of folk do it, but to some extent their boat owns them and it turns into one more responsibility in life, rather than a source of pleasure and freedom.

but then of course insurance will fit into the equation...and of course my monthly expenditure would increase...I would like to keep my total monthly output under $800...

if you want to keep your boat in tip-top shape - this is a budget for under 30 feet.

take away dockage, which where I am at now is around $12-$14 a foot a month...that doesn't leave much leeway for maintenance, insurance, fuel, rum, etc....am I being unrealistic....Is sailing not for me? Should I put my dream on hold, and save another $50,000...if not where do I start...I ideally want to cruise...oceangoing is a long way away...but the ICW and offshore is where my mind wants to be...island hopping(I am on Hilton Head Island, SC) what kind and size boat should I be looking at? I love the 32'-36 foot range, but maybe this is where I am fooling myself...I will take any and all advice...help me please...I WANT TO BE A PART OF YOUR WORLD!!!...Bang Bang

Well - 'be a part of my world' is a little forward coming from someone I've never met but we get the gist..

You should buy an 18 to 25 foot boat, which is more than large enough to do some coastal cruising and island-hopping. The cost of maintaining a boat of that size is about a third of what it costs to run a 33 - 35 footer. It will also give you the opportunity to determine if you actually like sailing. Is it the destination or the journey that appeals to you ? If it's the destination, there are better ways to travel. If it's the journey, the size of the boat is not particularly important.

You need to get some time and practise in, learn how to handle your boat in nice and in heavy weather. The best way to learn to sail, is to start on a light, small boat like a Laser. You will be able to feel and understand the effect of your trim and weight much better than on a larger, heavier boat.

Start small and work your way up. Buy boats in good condition, improve them and sell them for what you paid for them, or more. It's the way most people who are sailing 40 footers started out.

Look for : Bristol
Cape Dory
Com Pac
C & C
CS 22
Tanzer 22
Mirage 24
Alberg 22
Paceship
Rhodes
Precision
Balboa
Montgomery
Shark

Good Luck !

[copacabana]

"find out what the most expensive part(s) to replace on the boat are. Then look at how much money you can easily part with at any time without affecting the quality of your life, or the life of your family. Don't buy a boat that has a part that costs more than that figure. If you do, you are sailing beyond your means. Many thousands of folk do it, but to some extent their boat owns them and it turns into one more responsibility in life, rather than a source of pleasure and freedom. "

Sailorman, that is, without a doubt, the best advice I've ever heard given to a new-boat buyer!

[Bangbang]

Thank's again to all...I greatly value your opinions and wisdom...it is nice to have peers to set me straight and keep my dreams alive...bangbang

[xort]

What, you some kind of commie? Finance to the max and get the boat you deserve!!! This is America!
Just kiddin, this is a good excersize to go through. I cut our price by 1/3 after giving further thought to the whole process.