Glade to hear it:
I hope your health hold out also...I am farther away from cutting loose the lines then I was yesterday..One of my daughters needs 5k for something she wants to do for a career path...
I like your questions...
I will get hammered on for my answer Im sure probably not from you though...
I believe what we are talking about here is two completely different personality types with more or lees a common cruising mindset. Not all but most I would call "Free spirits" One worked hard to enable him or her self the ability to set off in whatever boat they want ( with in reason ) with a residual income producing investment funding them and sail away..The other dosent want to work a day longer then they have to to and wants to get any boat that might work...plan on living and working anywhere sunny weather and and piece work jobs combine not worrying about next week and sail away...Both may either think large or small boat here and that is not my point both can be found for cheap...
Freesail: I am guessing you are more of the first type...
I like Sailaways description of Blue water because it takes away anyone else's actual personal definition of it the best...To paraphrase...he said "Anytime the boat you have feels unsafe to you in the sea condition your in is Blue Water"...I made a snide comment that that was anywhere away from the dock ..if your aboard the Tincan...( If you have been following Mr. Vauns escapades ) The point here is The harbor is blue water for a solo dingy sailor at night in the fog...
As far as batteries you will get even more opinions...I look at these two sailors the same way both will chose differently either more or less as
Minimal electrical needs... but for sake of argument lets say VHF and running lights only...you asked how would you charge them..First the VHF is to communicate your intentions or whereabouts
only not to listen to others chat or to chat with...maybe listen to the weather but a disposable battrie powered radio can do that...second the running lights are just that and from my perspective both will be mostly daylight cruising and not night time passages especially in your case of the ICW... you will be anchored at night...That is a great place for a kerosene anchor light..no current draw...I know that cloudy days exist that will not alow charging but for the demands I have described for 150.00 you can get enough trickle charge to keep it up...Remember we are talking Minimalist here..dont tell me ya but what if..so and so...what ifs arnt
all covered by the minimalist...and hard to cover all by the mega yacht...
A minimalist is not going top have a windless...so if your health in your situation does not give you the ability to pull up 35lb of anchor and chain off the bottom then I would say you are diverging away from the minimalist by necessity and realistically might as well have all the electric goodies.. because you will most likely need to run some form of battrie charger...This could be the minimalist equivalent of the Honda 2000 but Im not going to open that can of worms again...Point is minimalist is hand and back power low amp demands period..
Your chosen cruising waters will dictate your rode and chain..enough said..
I love the last ones...Entertainment...Food ...Living expenses....
This is why I could never be a minimalist...I am a self indulgent sap...I love a good restaurant and bar seen...I could not cruse without it...Not daily mind you but two or thee times per week..I some day want to at least cross one ocean and my cruising goal is to work 6 months cruse six months ( Im and excavation contractor and tired of working in the mud and cold..
then move the boat from one cruising ground to another every year...But Back to your question..I have one question for you...How much do you spend on entertainment now...I believe it will be the same if not more while cruising...I know it will be for us...But you can and my have to pare down to be solvent and not go broke...only you know that number..
The real minimalist will be less into hoopla and more into secluded solitude and meager bar and food bills period...I put away 6 to 12 beers a day while on the boat that has to be figured in...or it ain't cruising its work..
I could not be a minimalist and wont try to be..I could have done it when I was 17 to say 21 but not now...I want it all...and will work it out untill I can have it all... My current boat does pretty much have it all but only ...in the harbor in the dark in the fog..
If I want to cross that ocean I will need a different one....
Hope this helps...And Keep us informed of your plans and journey...God Bless