Graduating Shortly - Lurked and read everything here first

[maine89]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Not following the insurance/hurricane concern. If you head south during winter, you will miss hurricane season. Most policies are discounted if you keep your boat north of the Carolinas until Nov 1.

It would be around July/August that I would be able to head down (though I could wait, but without a good reason I would prefer not to)

[Minnewaska]

Sorry, got it now. To mitigate the insurance concern, stay in Northeast during warm weather. Sail from New England down to the Chessy and visit as many of the thousands of anchorages and ports as you can along the way. What a great cruise for several months. When Nov 1 rolls around, move on to warmer climates.

[maine89]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Not following the insurance/hurricane concern. If you head south during winter, you will miss hurricane season. Most policies are discounted if you keep your boat north of the Carolinas until Nov 1.

Is that something I can realistically do with only a 1 month, 30 hour sailing course? I had planned to start south so I would not have any deadline for being somewhere. I assumed it would take quite a while to get to a point where I could make any significant cruises.

[JimPendoley]

Maine89,
I'm living aboard in New England on a Pearson Vanguard-32 footer. I am aboard all year and can tell you it is very doable in New England. I'm also right down the street from you in Newburyport and would be happy to give you an opportunity to see what a boat looks like that has been set up for full time life aboard.

No matter where you choose to live aboard, I think insulating makes a lot of sense-for summer heat waves and cold snaps-which means you might want to search for boats that are easily winterized ie easy access to the sides of the hull. I have hot water year round and am off the grid all summer.

I'm also 52 years old and buried with kids (not living aboard) so when I hear a younger person at your stage of life asking "should I do it?" my answer is a thundering "Go for IT!" I'm waiting five more years till my youngest graduates before I can drop the mooring pennant and travel aboard-you seem to have the world spread out at your feet. Anything I can do to help, let me know. I'm also in IT sales, so we might have that in common.

[CaptainForce]

We've been successfully dealing with hurricanes while cruising and living aboard in Florida since 1972. Timing and location is everything! We're not in the Bahamas from August to November and we always have a three day window reserved to get to the best loacation: inland, little fetch, shallow, good holding, forgiving banks, little debris and not crowded with other boats. For the last ten years we've tried to stay to at least the Chesapeake or to Maine by hurricane season, but you can be safe in Florida if you pick a good spot or have a good spot within 100 miles and you're willing to committ to cruise to a safe spot at the three day threat window. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[maine89]

JimPendoley -

Thank you for that encouragement! You're about 2 hours north of me, I would certainly be willing to take you up on that offer. I'll be passing through on my way to Maine around the 21st. Please feel free to PM me!

CaptainForce -

What would you recommend for someone with no current sailing experience?

Start local in Maine and work my way down? Hunker down in Maine for the first year through winter?

Start in Chesapeake area and either work my way down or stay put while I get the hang of things?

or start in FL in a safe-ish area like Tampa Bay and be ready to tie her up and stay in a hotel if I can't get out of the way fast enough?

I feel starting in FL would put me at ease knowing I don't have to be anywhere by a certain time. But I don't think going down as everyone is fleeing would be comforting either.

Thanks again everyone!

[CaptainForce]

Maine89, I must keep this climate and weather concern in proportion; afterall, you're from Maine!.....You might find the Chesapeake winter pleasant! Where I grew up we'd have no school if the high for the day wasn't predicted to reach 60 degrees Fharenheit. Spend the crusing time through all the seasons in the Chesapeake, --plenty of great sailing as well as too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. 'plenty of safe hideouts for the tropical storm remnants of the hurricane season. You might as well collect on your experience there and push the envelope later. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by maine89

Is that something I can realistically do with only a 1 month, 30 hour sailing course? I had planned to start south so I would not have any deadline for being somewhere. I assumed it would take quite a while to get to a point where I could make any significant cruises.

If you are living aboard, you can take it as the weather is comfortable for you. However, you have a point.

[maine89]

Just a little update. I ended up flying to SC and learning the boat was in worse shape than advertised and decided to eat the flight fare before I got in deeper with the hauling and survey. I took a few month break but kept a watchful eye out until I found a great deal on a n ODay 27 at a boat donation foundation. She's now mine and I'm working on having the engine checked, boat surveyed (the price was good enough I had to jump on it, the survey now isn't a pre-sales survey but rather just for my own peace of mind), finish scrubbing her down, etc.

Looking forward to hitting the water asap!

Thanks for all of your help!