How did you get the money for your first sailboat?

[chef2sail]

Originally Posted by killarney_sailor

My wife's first boat was my Niagara 35, so she was spoiled. It was her idea that we needed a bigger boat, so I went along with it. It was her idea that we should circumnavigate, so I went along with it. Waiting for her next idea.

I looked at the Niagra 35 and wopuld have bought one, but couldnt find one in as good as condition as our C&C 35 at the time.

Funny the boat you have 45.5 and the 41.1 as well as the Mason 43 and 44 are on our very short list. I have been on a number of 45.5. The are sweet boats and perfect for wahat we want to do when we retire.

I follow your trip religously. She has seemed stout enough and comfortable for it.

Dave

[cruisingdream]

I Looked at all my expenses and figured the best way was to eliminate the top two.

Soooooo... I quit smoking & got a divorce

[H and E]

I was lucky to have a good job. Went to the marina to get a part for my stinkpot boat and saw a Sailfish hanging from the ceiling and took it home. Learned to sail in Lake Michigan with it. (Year 1963) Kept it for several years. Life long dream was to retire on a sailboat-I did not get to do that. The admiral refuses to sell the house and move on a boat and I probably will not go it alone. (She cooks and does laundry) I would sell all my adult toys to get a nice live aboard boat if----------------------. I do spend as much time on the Catalina-25 as I can.

[sww914]

BTW, there's a guy in Ensenada who started with a free Cal 25 in So Cal. He cleaned it and fixed everything and sold it and bought a neglected 30 footer. He cleaned it and fixed everything and sold it and up & up, always looking for the next good deal and now he has a beautiful ~47 foot Nordhavn. He invested many many hours as he came up the ranks but the dollars were hundreds at a time, not hundreds of thousands. It took him 10 years and he was able to enjoy boating the whole time.
He bought very carefully, never bought a boat with more than 1 major problem.

[cookwithgas]

Originally Posted by IamJohnGalt

How did you come to take ownership of your first boat, and what do you suggest for someone looking to get their first? (Still want a contessa 26 or 32)

-Snow laden economics major, sailer to be.

While I was in college I found a cheap Hobie 14 that was stored at a local yacht club (under the I-10 bridge) so it was ready to shove off into the water with little notice. I sailed every day in the summer after classes. Learned a lot and picked up a life-long passion for sailing. Start small and get something you can afford.

[Dubbinchris]

Saved up and bought a Siren 17 for $900. It was in sailing condition save for needing a few lines and some trailer work. I put a little more money into it to make it nicer. I've recently traded it for a Chrysler 22. It's a bigger boat but its not as nice and needs a little work. It's okay because I have the whole winter to work on it. It cost me nothing but a tank of gas to go get it and a few bucks to swap titles. I'll fix it up and then see what's in the cards for me a few years down the road spending only a little money at a time.

[JoeDiver]

I walked around my house and looked at a bunch of toys and stuff I no longer play with, and over a two month period sold them on Craigslist:

Dirtbike and trailer
couple of guitars
old amp and stack
50 gallon aquarium
Jeep parts
Corvette tires
old laptop
telescope

That's the bulk of it....just converted those old toys gathering dust into cash and bought my boat.

[xort]

Funded boat & retirement kitty via worlds oldest profession. Whatever it takes...

[Squidd]

Originally Posted by xort

Funded boat & retirement kitty via worlds oldest profession. Whatever it takes...

You work for the IRS...???

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by IamJohnGalt

SHow did you get the money for your first sailboat?

24 years ago I borrowed $400 for a Venture 15 catamaran from my then-girlfriend/now-wife. Sold it less than a year leter to help pay for a move to Hawaii.