New to sailing

[DLM]

Looking to start sailing...just turned 65 and have decided that I'm going to retrace my ancestors route to Norway....reverse...they came from Oslo to US.. Anyhow..living in FL..West Coast lots of shallow areas and crab traps. Question is. from what I've seen, my preference is full keel, protected prop and rudder.. is that unique to a specific boat? Haven't been able to pick up on that? Any other suggestions.
DLM

[chuck5499]

DLM -- great goal -- i wish you luck -- it sounds like you do not sail yet so what ever i can do to help i will-- by the way i live in Miami --first i took up sailing at 55 as i got to old to climb big mountains and rock climb anymore - at 58 i bought my first boat, a new 40' blue water cruiser from a broker who took more time to teach me about boats than sell me one -- i bought new on purpose as i should get fewer breakdowns as long as i go proper pm -- second i did a lot of reading and one of the better books is "modern cruising under sail" by dodds and a few others-- next i took sailing course from ASA (american sailing association) (i learned to sail at a sw fla yachts in charlotts harbor - had a great instructor) to get a jump start and i chartered boats to find what i liked and did not like -- next i worked with my broker for over a year on the right boat that was a blue water boat -- finally i now sail a lot and i mean a lot - 3 weekends out of 4 - and learn and try and learn some more and read and study and learn some more. i am now 61 and as soon as my house sells i plan to take off to the islands for the winter -
good luck with your dream -- i will send you a private message with my contact infor if i can do anything for you
chuck and soulmates

[sailingfool]

DLM,

Welcome to the craziness, hopefully you have pockets of money you don't need...

"from what I've seen, my preference is full keel, protected prop and rudder.." FWIW the only thing this preference is sure to get you is a slow sailboat. As sailboats arn't fast at best, starting with slow is a curse...
There are plenty of efficient design (fin keel and spade/skeg rudder sailboats that are more capable and safe for ocean cruising the ocean than a lead slug (I won't mention any names, but most readers know the list...).

Boats fitting that description belong in museums, not on the ocean...

Just my opinion.

[DLM]

Thanks, Chuck and Sailingfool...

No... I don't have unlimited funds. Obviously, I'm no expert sailboat design or what makes a good one or bad one. Just seemed to make sense in these parts to have a protected prop and rudder? I realize that in the ocean that would not be a problem...or should not be...something can always be floating anywhere. Anyhow, my dockage area is about maxed out at 5' at low tide...perhaps not that much at low low. Looked at a 42 Whitby today...looked nice, well cared for...however...after reading your comments, Sailingfool, I guess I'll have to rethink things.

Chuck, something happened to your private message. If you could resend it I would appreciate it. Thank you.
DLM