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Boat dreams

4K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  jjwoods5 
#1 ·
Okay, am a complete newbie so I am still in the dreaming phase of boat ownership.
At 24 this is my extended life plan:
1) finish graduate school in the next 9 months.
2) Get as much sailing experience as possible while I
3) Stash cash at every turn until
4) I can sail and
5) have enough money to buy a relatively small used boat (around 28''- 30'') that I can
6) live on and sail alone... a boat that
7) has headroom enough for me at 6''2 and
8) is seaworthy enough for sailing anywhere.
9) I can get for under 15K.

I realize this is a long list, and I have a long way to go in order to realize these dreams. In the meantime I love nothing more to read up on boats and sailing, as well as puruse online classifieds and Sailnet.
Anyone have any suggestions boats I might want to consider (I do realize I''m jumping ahead of myself, but it never hurt anyone to look and dream), as well as good ways to get more sailing experience. I am signed up for some lessons, and from what I understand, crewing is a good way to learn.
Thanks.
 
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#2 ·
mkrautha,

I admire your spirit and setting of goals. I''ve always been goal oriented,and have found that it keeps me focused. You do have your work cut out for you to achieve the items you''ve mentioned. I think you have a good plan, but if I may, I''d like to offer one suggestion.Once you learn the basics of sailing, you might want to consider purchasing a small day sailer if you live close to the water. You can usually pick one up used for around $1K. If you decide to go this route, get one that has both a jib and mainsail.The experience of working and trimming two sails will be very valuable to you later when you upgrade to your 28''-30 footer. As you''ve already realized, you need to spend as much time on the water as you can. Good luck!
 
#3 ·
Stede has a good point: a daysailor that can be stored in a garage or backyard, and adding a trailer hitch to your car can get you in the water and along the learning curve with a minimal investment (that you can recoup later if you don''t smash the boat) while all that "stashing" of money is happening.

A dinghy is an excellent way to learn the basics of sailing, with minimal investment.

Great plan. Write it in pencil, and make the necessary adjustments as you go.
 
#5 ·
I haven''t a clue as to what I am doing. I have never set foot on a sailboat but dream of sailing costal waters when I retire in 4 years. I plan on going to a keelboat school next summer and maybe a cruising school following that.
I would like to know how I could learn the names of the equipment of a sailboat.
Old men dream dreams!
Orban Hallum
 
#6 ·
Orban
Before I bought my boat I arm-chaired sailed for 12 years. I found that Capman''s on Ploiting is a great teacher. Then there are several monthly publications you can get.. I know it''s not to popular but I like SAIL mag.

Email me if you would like to talk I love anything to do with sailing even being told off by the guys around here :)

jbanta@sailnet.net
 
#7 ·
I highly recommend taking courses in basic boating and navigation. They are pretty easy to find in most areas through marine supply stores etc. There, you will get to know sailors of all kinds, and sailors love to talk about their boats and experiences at sea (and elsewhere.) You will certainly find some kindred spirits and friends among this lot. Next, you will undoubtedly get invited aboard some of those boats for a beer, a peek, a tour, a sail, a cruise, or "other..." This is where the learning really starts! You learn so much from other sailors and their collective experience! Good luck!
 
#9 ·
If you want to live aboard, I'd start putting my name on a waiting list now. I went through US Sailing certification program & loved it. You can just order the books online too: Learn Sailing Right - Beginning Sailing

You get a discount on the books if you do it w/ a class. Since I'm the only real sailor in the family (& just bought a boat), I passed those books onto my H & son to learn how to sail. Even when my brother & I chartered a boat to Catalina last summer, I brought the BBC book w/ me as a reference.

Normally, I learn first & the last thing I do is crack open a textbook! There's benefits to both. It's good to know the parts of the boat for crewing. When I get on a boat, the first thing I do is look @ where the lines are so when the skipper gives a command I don't have to ask where it is.

I think that's a really cool goal!! Took me 30 years to actually buy a boat, & my family is absolutely thrilled!!
 
#11 ·
Took me 30 years to actually buy a boat said:
Actually you do not have to waste all those 30 years. It is not necessary to wait until you have the money to buy a 50 footer in order to fulfill your dreams. You can start sailing as soon as you can afford to buy a small dinghy on a trailer.

You could have spent all that time taking formal lessons, reading books and getting experience on a small dinghy with one or two sails. Then upgrade, step by step, to a larger boat when you can afford it from 12 ft, 16 ft, 22 ft,... 50 ft.

I had exactly this same dream too:
https://davidchin35.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/how-it-all-started-for-me-in-1968.html
 
#12 ·
Yes stede is right. I bought my first boat, 21 foot pandora 1.8k lot of work to be done on it. Took a year before I got it in the water and still work to be done. I have learnt a lot about the boat, stuff I didn't think I needed to know, important to know how to fix and maintain a boat cause if there is an issue you'll needed to know how to fix it, no AA in the middle of the Atlantic. Don't rush it. I'm 35 years old, boat owner 1.5 years did my first trip last week, lots of learnings. Seasoned sailors make it look easy. 15k on a boat, one mistake and 15k down the drain. Good luck from John on the same journey as you. Dream to sail the world, sorry goal to sail the world, start with smaller goals.


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