Choosing the right boat

[eherlihy]

I had been travelling for work the last few weeks, and missed your first post in that other thread... Welcome to SailNet!

Every year, those of us in the northern hemisphere get a little nutz from either boat withdrawal, or anticipation of the upcoming season. You'll soon figure out who is having the toughest time managing their withdrawal/anticipation issues.

Mentioning in your first post that you are considering a power boat, have a good income, are a lawyer, and a spouse... well, you're bound to provoke someone. To that, add in the fact that any first post will be regarded with suspicion. I'm not excusing it, but that's just the way the internet is.

If someone really gets your goat, or you decide is totally useless, I suggest that you use the "ignore poster" feature.

Stick around - if you are serious about sailing. This can be a helpful and informative place.

Once again, welcome to SailNet.

[RXBOT]

I think you need to look at what you need now not what you will need later. Leave off buying the retirement boat till when you retire. Fly and charter for the more distant destinations. Now a 24-28 daysailer ,weeknder for the bay to help retain , develop sailing skills or a gofast with cuddy cabin for a quick blast on the bay or both only you and your partner can resolve that issue.

[bljones]

Originally Posted by DRFerron

I think the OP's wife wants what she wants and it ain't a sailboat.

More accurately, we have the OPs opinion of what he thinks his wife wants.

How many times has your spouse been 100% correct in interpreting what he thought he heard you say, instead of intuiting what you meant?




There is a reason why some of us are on our second wives.

Chances are, if the OP and his wife have new information it may change their current course of action.


I mean, it's not like YOU have ever changed your mind when you found out your husband didn't have all the answers and what you want to do wasn't possible, have you?

This is why interior designers are bald.

[DRFerron]

Originally Posted by bljones

More accurately, we have the OPs opinion of what he thinks his wife wants.

True.

Originally Posted by bljones

I mean, it's not like YOU have ever changed your mind when you found out your husband didn't have all the answers and what you want to do wasn't possible, have you?

Changed my mind? Not that I can conveniently recall.

[bljones]

Let me correct myself- when I said "changed your mind" what I really meant to type was "adapted the mission plan to incorporate new information."

[DRFerron]

Originally Posted by bljones

Let me correct myself- when I said "changed your mind" what I really meant to type was "adapted the mission plan to incorporate new information."

Much better. In that case, yes.

[eherlihy]

... and he never returned...

rwilson37643 last posted on this site 4 weeks ago...

So much for lawyers...

[INMA]

An interesting question and lots of answers based on other's preferences and experiences.

I have a small light trailersailer, perhaps a bit small but its easy to tow, launch and retrieve, sailing is also pretty easy.

I have owned a maxi trailersailer of 28 foot and 6000lb with the trailer, its too much to tow etc. and still call it fun.

Being male, I bought what I wanted. My partner and I agreed that I was the sailor and she was happy to stay at home if she did not like the boat stuff (we have been doing it a long time so there were no surprises).

So I got what I wanted and needed. She who must be respected does come along on cruises and copes very well in the modest accommodation aboard a RL24 (about 3000lb with the trailer). We have an agreement that anytime she wishes we can pull into a marina or haul the yacht out and move into a hotel for the holiday. So far, she has never asked me to cut a cruise short. If the weather is rough, I generally wait with us hoteling it and doing the land based holiday waiting for the weather to improve.

I have learnt my partner stays aboard because we visit wonderful places, we don't hurry and I do my best to avoid heavy weather.

So far my longest destination was 3000km on road over a 10 week trip, she flew up and we spent 4 weeks cruising. There is no way a larger coastal yacht could cover the distances I travel or access the rivers and shallow anchorages I have enjoyed.

To me the advantage of the lighter trailerable yacht is I don't need to do the coastal transits between the coastal waters I access with the trailerable yacht.

My home coastal waters are Bass Straight, the yacht I would need to cruise my area is not suitable for the rest of my cruising needs and Bass Straight is not my idea of fun.

The longest we have spent aboard was 4 weeks cruising the central Whitsunday Islands. We took advantage of the excellent marinas to stretch our legs and recover from small boat life, we also went to anchorages such as Hill Inlet which are not suitable for deeper draft yachts.

I have no comments on power boats, our time is so limited we find the small trailer yacht suits our current needs.

When we retire, I expect we will buy something like a Mangrove Jack 28 motor sailor and go coastal cruising on the Queensland coast for a year or two then sell the yacht.

Even when retired, we will probably keep the RL24, its not a big investment and costs to keep are low. As I get more frail, I expect the RL24 with its light mast and light gear will keep me afloat in protected waters without too much fuss.

If the large power boat and yacht suits you, consider getting a trailerable trimaran which could also be stored in a pen.