[Woodfinatic]

Ran across a thread that had a comment in it that somewhat gave off the idea that to be a successful sailor and sailing yacht owner you needed to have an excess of money. I am 15 years old with no job and I have a San Juan 23. Am I considered a sailor or yachtsman? I usually don't have money to pay for specific parts or service on my boat,but I put time,creativity,and the little money I do have into my boat to make it usable and worth my time. So my question is, Do you have to be wealthy to own and sail a sailing yacht and be a successful sailor?

 

[rnixon]

Before buying, yes. After, probably not!

Seriously, for a small boat, no. Larger boats start to get very expensive, very quickly. As you've done, you can make your money stretch further, but parts need replacing from time to time. They can be expensive, particularly on big boats.

If you do most of the maintenance yourself, have a seaworthy boat, and can sail, then you rate as a successful sailor in my book. I take my hat off to anyone that manages to maximise their enjoyment with little money.

 

[Bill-Rangatira]

Before buying, yes. After, probably not!

Seriously, for a small boat, no. Larger boats start to get very expensive, very quickly. As you've done, you can make your money stretch further, but parts need replacing from time to time. They can be expensive, particularly on big boats.

If you do most of the maintenance yourself, have a seaworthy boat, and can sail, then you rate as a successful sailor in my book. I take my hat off to anyone that manages to maximise their enjoyment with little money.

I think you have it backwards you need to be wealthy to own a yacht but not to buy one

 

[nolatom]

No, not to own one, used ones are downright cheap. Yes, if you want to own one and keep it in good condition over time.

And double yes if you want to have a place to keep her, afloat. Waterfront property has appreciated, boats largely haven't.

Also, when is a "boat" a "yacht"? I've lived around both, and still don't know..

 

[Waterrat]

If you are in a position to own, and maintain a boat for only your leisure enjoyment. You also have a computer and can post on the internet then I would say you are pretty wealthy. That would put you ahead of at least 3.5 billion people give or take a few hundred million. It is all relative. I know many people with nice cars, houses, boats and other toys who make large salaries but have a negative net worth and live check to check. I know others who make meager salaries but are frugal have a large net worth and adequate financial cushion. So a lot depends on who you compare yourself with, what you value, and how you define wealth.

 

[SloopJonB]

Depends on a lot of things.

What do you call "wealthy"?

How big a boat are we talking about?

Where will it be kept? Around here the annual moorage can get very close to the purchase price for a fairly typical used boat under 35'. Certainly will match it within 2 or 3 years.

 

[rugosa]

So a lot depends on who you compare yourself with

Why get caught up in that? OP has a boat to be proud of. Was the Skipper a sailor and Thurston Howell III a yachtsman?

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

It sure helps!

 

[Markwesti]

I like your question am I a sailor or a yachtsman ? Whatever you want . I myself would prefer sailor . There is a book that was written for you , It will answer that question for you . Please read it . Mark .
The Sailor's Sketchbook - Ideas and projects for the yachtsman's rainy days: Bingham: 9780915160556: Amazon.com: [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NVvDf%[email protected]@[email protected]@51NVvDf%2B8uL

 

[titustiger27]

Depends on a lot of things.

What do you call "wealthy"?

How big a boat are we talking about?

Where will it be kept? Around here the annual moorage can get very close to the purchase price for a fairly typical used boat under 35'. Certainly will match it within 2 or 3 years.

I think this is such a relative term, in a lot of the third world countries that posters here would sail into, all boat owners would be considered 'wealthy.'

 

[VF84Sluggo]

Buying a boat is one thing, affording it is another.

 

[titustiger27]

There is a thread about paying someone to do something for you or doing it yourself (http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/188497-i-paid-dude-i-liked.html)

Which highlights the fact you can have a boat that is financed by sweat and ingenuity. I've watched this video (

) a couple times and it is interesting how without much money they were yachters....

 

[backpacker6794]

LOL ! I own 5... a Southcoast 22..luger 26 and 28..a McGregor 26 and a Glen L 17..... and were just work for the state of N C.... Not rich.

 

[Capt Len]

Having to ask tells me you're on the curb and likely to stay there. I wanted a sail boat so picked and recycled.With scrounge and upcycle built a 17 meter ketch for 12 grand , lived aboard for 40 years, chartered some of that, Made about half a mil from tourists and sold for enough to make me smile. Developing some skills probably had a lot to do with it but wealthy???. Standing on your wallet don't impress me much

 

[harmonic]

owning one is easy maintaining one is what costs the big coin and if you dont maintain them they loose value fast.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

Of course you need to be wealthy to own a boat.

The OP is a 15 year old unemployed kid with a 23 foot boat. Of COURSE he would find it difficult to afford one damn thing on that boat. With no money coming in he would find only a 'wealthy' person could afford a 10 foot piece of string he vitally needs.

Its the same with a 50 year old millionaire... He has a much larger boat, more advanced systems, but still boats PINCH the pockek. It hurts millionaires when they blow a spinnaker, replace an engine, install a new watermaker.

Boats are expensive to everyone who buys one... Unless a millionaire buys a 23 foot Jan Whatever.

 

[Minnewaska]

.....I've watched this video (

) a couple times and it is interesting how without much money they were yachters....

You didn't know that Moxie is a very successful computer security consultant (read semi-legit hacker) and that vid is predominantly a fraud? Personally, I don't believe they actually stole the things they claimed, nor squatted as they claimed, but rather arranged it all to tease out the anarchist in some. It's been a while, but I recall a $500 EPIRB on the bulkhead down below, which had no explanation, among all the scrap. There were many other incongruities.

 

[pdqaltair]

Sailor. No.

Own a boat. No.

Own a yacht. Yes. Isn't that how each person defines "yacht?" If they feel they are wealthy (or that it matters to them if they are) they call it a yacht.

 

[Sal Paradise]

Just to dock it.

 

[titustiger27]

You didn't know that Moxie is a very successful computer security consultant (read semi-legit hacker) and that vid is predominantly a fraud? Personally, I don't believe they actually stole the things they claimed, nor squatted as they claimed, but rather arranged it all to tease out the anarchist in some. It's been a while, but I recall a $500 EPIRB on the bulkhead down below, which had no explanation, among all the scrap. There were many other incongruities.

had me fooled