am i crazy

[All-in]

Please tell me if I'm totally insane.I have no sailing experience but would like to buy a cat and move to the carribean. my idea is to do some chartering to provide an income for me and my family.I have looked at some lagoons 07-08 440 models. I run a plumbing business where i live and would sell everything and go.so once your done laughing how hard would this be...this seriously is my dream my family consists of myself my wife and 9yr old daughter

any advice would be greatly appreciated on make and model even age of the boat I was looking at newer boats,but would consider older ones also

this is something I've wanted to do all my life. I feel like if I don't do it now I never will
Clarification: I am not considering sailing off into the blue yonder with my family and no experience I am looking at purchasing and existing charter service and managing it until I have the experience to safely captain charters.Then I might do some extended sailing with my family
I'n really wanting knowledge from those that have it on good boats to buy and what size boat for this use. Older models vs newer and where to get the most for your money

[jameswilson29]

Perhaps you should try a day sail first?

[chuck53]

No you are not crazy, but there are steps that need to be taken in order to do what you want.
In order to run a charter, you have to have a captain's license and this is not something you run down to the court house, pay $100 and get. It takes experience. As part of getting a license, you have to have a certain number of hours out on the water, as well as taking classes and passing an exam.
I don't have a license so I don't know all the exact details. I'm sure someone will chime in.

[jameswilson29]

If you call your local Child Protective Services and explain your plans, they will relieve you from having to fill out all the burdensome visa paperwork for your 9 year old daughter.

[All-in]

yep knew about the lic.one of the boats I'm looking at is in BVI where I'm told by the couple that owns it I dont need a lic. there and they will train me they run a little charter service which I would also be buying.I would apply for uscg course after I had the the required time

[sawingknots]

i think every sailors dream is along those lines[mine included]for years while i was working my butt off at a job i hated my screensaver on my pc was a tropical isle with coconut trees leaning over a white sandy beach,that kindof kept me sane[used loosely] but i'm also reminded of the saying "becareful what you wish for because it might come true" or if you want something bad enough you can have it

[kpgraci]

Despite the not totally unwarranted haranguing you're getting from the chatters I like the idea. Heck, who wouldn't? I would like to join you but I've got too dang many bills to pay first. But it's still a business, with all the problems that go along with that, finding clients, maintaining equipment, insurance, feeding your family...but what a beautiful place to have all those worries. So long as you're motivation is not trying to 'run-away' from your problems...those pesky things follow you around.

[carl762]

Yes, good advice. Read up, take a class. Lots to learn. In fact, I view it as a lifetime learning process, and I'm pretty much new to the game (2 years+). I essentially live-aboard during the evenings.

Plus I believe, through my readings on this board, that you will have lots of hoops to jump through to work a business in a foreign land.

Welcome to the board, it's OK to dream, but listen carefully. There's a ton of real experience here.

EDITED TO ADD: YOU GUYS ARE FAST. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE POST #3.

[killarney_sailor]

A good dream - my concern would be that you would be competing with big companies with a lot of expertise doing this. Also, the size you are talking puts you into the mass market. If it was a captained 60' cat, for example, you would be in a different segment of the market where single boat operations are more common - and yes I know how much boats like that cost.

Right now the prices of boats are most attractive, including those with a built-in charter business but I suspect that business is tight with this economy in the two areas where your business would come - US and Europe. You have to balance one against the other.

[rbrasi]

I have an 11 year old daughter and my first thought: how is the education system in the Caribbean?