From just a dream... to reality?!

[MalDeTerre]

I couldn't take it anymore.

The other day, I just became frustrated with the endless self torture and the mental masterbation. I thought maybe I should just stop reading these books and magazines. Stop day dreaming of emerald waters and white beaches... and just deal with reality.

So I looked around our comfortable well appointed home with every possible convenience and, knowing the real answer, I said to my wife...

"Maybe I should just get real! I mean, are we really the types who are willing to sell EVERYTHING we own, buy a boat, and go cruising?"

Her answer was, "I'd like to do it."

So that's that. Decision made. Wow, cool!

Oh my GAWD!!!

What to do? Ten thousand questions, I don't even know where to start.

Well we have signed us up for sailing classes since she hasn't had any. I have already had classes and done some sailing, though not a huge amount, but a refresher wouldn't hurt, and it would be good to do it together.

We talked about the timeframe and in 4 more years at the hospital, come October, she will qualify for lifetime medical coverage for us. Well worth waiting for! So cast off will be November 2011.

Some facts:
We really want a cruising catamaran, although we don't know which one.

We have both worked very hard the last 25 years and saved enough to spend a bit less than $300,000 on the boat, including any refit and other costs. This will allow us a kitty that will allow us to cruise in a modest but not spartan fashion pretty much indefinitely.

So from mortgaged, materialistically maxed out landlubber, to cruising the caribbean in a little over 4 years.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?
When to sell the house?
When to buy the boat?
Where to buy the boat?
Anything else...

Jim

[CharlieCobra]

Sell the house in Spring, buy the boat in late Fall or Winter.


Oh, congrats!

[PBzeer]

Before you decide on a boat, you need to have a realistic idea of where and how you'll cruise. Coastal? Bluewater? Living on the hook? Staying in marinas? These are some of the things you need to assess.

For now, start paring down your life to what will fit on a boat. Read all you can about the lifestyle. If you're near docks where crusiers stop in, talk with them. As with most things, preperation is the major part of the battle.

Currently at 34 58 11 N 76 34 47 W

[6string]

Isn't it wonderful to have a woman that would want to do that with you !!!!

I'm in a pretty similar spot as you. Our target date is July 2011. I have about half the budget for the boat, mono hull for me. We should be able to cruise indefinitly as well if things continue as they are going financially.

Sailing experience I have. Been racing for 30 years and chartering the past 7 years. Glad to share experiences. There is still a lot for me to learn tho. Sailing on inland lakes and occasional charters is not the same as regular cruising and some blue water sailing. We are hoping that after the first couple of years, if we are still enjoying it, to take off across the pacific to do a circumnavigational tour. Slowly.

I agree with the comment, Where to start. There are sooo many things to do. What a wonderful problem to have. We have a dream and some one to share and achieve it with.

I hope to be buying the boat next year. Selling the house in 2010 and just rent for a short time. Winters are too cold in Wisconsin to live a board. I'll buy the boat where ever I get the best deal on a boat I like. Hopefully it can come off the Great lakes. A fresh water boat would have less wear hopefully.

Lets stay in touch. We will be able to get together in the Carib in '11.


Jeff and Katie

[sailingdog]

I would recommend that you get the boat about three months before you plan to cast off for good. This should be sufficient time for you to get the boat re-fitted and upgraded to suit you, and enough time for you to learn about how the boat sails and such.

As for which boat to get... it really depends on what your budget is.

When to sell the house and where to buy the boat are both questions that you should probably visit when it is closer to the time to go.

If you have questions regarding catamarans or trimarans, PM me. I would highly recommend you read Chris White's "The Cruising Multihull" and Thomas Firth Jones's "Multihull Voyaging".

6String-

If your spouse is less than enthusiastic about going cruising... then you might want to look at Debra Ann Cantrell's "Changing Course". I would recommend you read it first, then give it to her.

[MalDeTerre]

Hi Charlie,

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

Sell the house in Spring, buy the boat in late Fall or Winter.
So sell the house that year, but wait until needed to buy the boat. Right?

Oh, congrats!

Thanks!

[camaraderie]

Mal...good for you. You have plenty of time to learn what you need to if you make it a priority. You will probably be best off purchasing a cat down in Florida as they are a lot more common down there and prices are good. The question will be how to get the experience you need in advance. Maybe a charter or two? Good luck!

[danjarch]

Live the dream.

[MalDeTerre]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Before you decide on a boat, you need to have a realistic idea of where and how you'll cruise. Coastal? Bluewater? Living on the hook? Staying in marinas? These are some of the things you need to assess.

Questions that I don't necessarily know yet. Hmm... where will we cruise?
First season, starting in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, sail down the Keys and the Dry Tortugas, back to Miami. Then to Bimini, the Bahamas, the Caribbean. In later seasons we would like to jump the Puddle to the South Pacific.

Originally Posted by PBzeer

For now, start paring down your life to what will fit on a boat. Read all you can about the lifestyle. If you're near docks where crusiers stop in, talk with them. As with most things, preperation is the major part of the battle.

I hear there are cruisers that hang out around here.

Jim

[tdw]

Working on the presumption that your kitty after buying a $300,000 boat is still at least $300,000 ? If not consider paring back the price of the boat. You'll be better off having less boat and more available spending money. Remember that no matter what you buy something is guaranteed to go wrong which will dig further into your kitty.

As an example of this our little hole in the water was surveyed before buying and given a clean bill of heath. However we have since found that the swages on the stays are faulty and we are about to embark on a complete re rig. When it comes to boats, what can go wrong , will go wrong and cost a bundle to fix.