New to me

Bobbers · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

I just started browsing this forum and thought i could get some good feedback from you guys. I'm in south florida, 24 yrs old, work full time and go to school part time. I've been sailing with my dad and brothers for years now, mostly day trips and the occasional week into biscayne bay. To get to the point, i found a boat near our dock space for sale and i love it. Ive been saving to buy my first home and i think this may be it. I've never lived on a boat but the idea is exciting, i would plan to live on it in a marina near ft lauderdale (i realize that may be a tough spot to find) but i have some time to work it out. I forget the boat model, but i know it's a 45 foot 1977 charley morgan design. I would be grateful for any thoughts or advice you may have for me.

camaraderie · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

45 ft. is a lot for a single liveaboard...especially when marinas charge by the foot. You are certainly in a good climate for living aboard if you have AC aboard. Check out marina prices and figure on a minimum of $5k a year in maintenance even if you never leave the slip. More if you actually sail.
Also...whatver you buy...get a good survey...it will sae you money OR a very bad decision.
This is do-able if you have a decent job and can handle the monthly payments and expenses beyond owning the boat. Don't forget to factor the initial FL sales tax into your budgeting.

Bobbers2 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

sorry about the new name, i couldn't log into the account i created earlier, and i was blocked from emailing the admin.

anyway... i didn't think about tax, that will have to be planned for definitely. I have a decent job now and will have a better one once finished with school. also no house or girl to take my money and a car almost paid off. i am pretty handy and will do as much as i can myself as far as maintenance, do you think that will cut the costs down? and do you figure that to include hauling? the boat i'm looking at has the same engine as the one my dad has in his 34' bristol. i am hoping to pay about 500 a month for marina space, but i am willing to go to 700 if needed.

i will be living by myself, but my dad has been a sailor since he built his first boat when he was 16. and i think he owes me for all the time i've spent in the engine compartment of his boat

does the boat need to be hauled for an accurate survey? i would like to talk the price down a bit and not hauling may help me do that.

camaraderie · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

YES...you MUST haul to check...blisters, voids, shaft/prop corrosion, rudder and post, delamination, water in keel slurry, hull to keel joint etc. ALL of which can EACH be many thousands of dollars to repair. Also get a diesel mechanic to run and check the engine IN GEAR with you. Both are bucks WELL SPENT.
My 5k estimate includes an annual haulout, normal care of teak and annual bottom sanding/painting (which is TYPICALLY not allowed by owners due to environmental regs) and normal attrition and breakdowns of equipment like pumps, refrigeration, engines, alternators, etc. A good rule of thumb is 10% of boat value annually. You may be abl to take a couple of grand off with your own labor...but not much more than that. Boat stuff always costs triple what it is worth. A Gallon of the GOOD bottom paint will cost $200 a gallon and you will need 3 of those!
You should go on yachtworld and see what the asking rices are for the same boat. If the one you are looking at is WAY low...beware. If it is WAY high...you can print out the yachtworld stuff as a negotiating tool.

CardiacPaul here is a surveyor in the Palm Beach area and he may be able to give you a pointer or two or know some folks that are good and reasonably priced for surveys in your area.

CaptainForce · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008

I agree that 45' may be more $, maintenance & manuvering than a single liveaboard would be pleased with. There's a couple of sites for locating private dock rentals in Lauderdale,- I think it's docklocator.com or findadock.com,-you may want to search. The best rate for a marina in Lauderdale is probably still at Marina Bay Resort; however, they are a long trip up new river and you have to be able to clear the 55' I-95 bridge. 'good luck, Aythya crew

Bobbers2 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008

thanks for the input, its good to see from a different viewpoint. you guys are right, it is a lot of boat for one person. I sat down and discussed it with my dad, we never go sailing without each other.. so we decided to go halvsies on this boat, me paying a bit more due to me living aboard. Hes decided to sell his 34' bristol to pay for his share. Thanks for the dock search links, definitely can't get too many of those.

I will be giving the boat a more thorough look over on thursday. Its a private seller and he is willing to let me finance, are there any drawbacks to this?

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008

I would highly recommend getting a survey if you decide you like the boat enough to go ahead and make an offer. Private financing can have both advantages and disadvantages... whatever agreement you come up with in terms of financing with the seller...get everything in writing...and get the boat title or USCG documentation transferred if you do decide to buy. Have the seller listed as a lienholder if he is providing financing, but get the title or documentation transferred.

Omatako · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobbers2

Hes decided to sell his 34' bristol to pay for his share. Thanks for the dock search links, definitely can't get too many of those.

I don't know anything about a Bristol 34 so this may be a dumb question but why don't you buy a half share in your dad's boat and live on that? Seems like it'll save both of you a lot of money and zero quality risk.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008

Not to mention the upkeep costs, like dockage, haulouts and such would be much lower.

Bobbers2 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008

my dads bristol isn't really equipped for any long distance sailing, nor is it ready to be lived on. the bristol is a great boat, don't get me wrong. The one i'm looking at tomorrow is bigger, better equipped for long hauls, and has a few creature comforts to make the transition to living aboard a little easier. also, i think my dad was looking for a good excuse to upgrade, this way we both get what we want and share the costs of ownership.