I have been busy as a one armed bricklayer in Baghdad in the last few months between working on my catalina 22 and a new female in my life. I have had little time to spend on the net and what little i have had as been searching for sailing related information and researching my next boat purchase. One boat that has really taken my interest is the compass 28. They are apparently very sea worthy with a 3/4 keel, keel hung rudder, keel stepped mast, tiller steer, inboard diesel and a host of other features that appear to be a testament to great design. And they are well within my budget :)
Since finding them i have read great things and inevitably it has fueled my desire to learn more about sailing, and hopefully be a livaboard soon after I finish my trade ( 2.5 years ) or as i explain it to my skeptical family is " a bum on a boat " ;) If anyone here is familiar with the compass 28 any insight would be very much appreciated.
Well the last few months have been a terrible time. i lost my father in late January and an uncle some 2 weeks after that. My father was aged 65 and my uncle 66, I'm not looking for sympathy I dont think that any one could really say anything that will make it all better.
One positive that i have taken from all this that basically mimics the sail far motto is "life is short do it now" in the case of dad he worked his hole life waiting for retirement to spend his leisure years. years that obviously would not be available to him. My uncle on the other hand traveled all his life saw amazing places and met amazing people, he was also a professor in tourism and world renound for various books he had written. I think i will follow his lead. ( travel not the books :) )
Speaking to friends of my uncles at the wake, one in particular asked me if i intended to travel, when i told him of my intentions of buying a small yacht and sailing off after i finish my trade his eyes lit up and he said " If i had my time again i would give that a go". unlike most people that give you the look usually associated with a madman. A look which I'm sure most of you here have met at some time or another.
I guess that is my latest piece of inspiration. I have inherited a sum of money from my father that will pay any out standing debts and buy my next (read bigger) boat. I have spent countless hours at my computer over the last few years looking at boats and stories of people who have done what i want to do. All the while it seemed so far away that i couldn't really formulate a plan. Tall that has changed for me now I have given up smoking and banked about $2000 in the last month. I am heck bent on doing this now and hopefully I will be able to purchase the new boat in a few months ( or at least start seriously looking for one ) .
I have made a bit of a short list of boats that really seem to suit what i want to do. The Compass 28, Tophat 25, Clansman 30 and the Pearson 30-28. alot of the yachts that are highly regarded on this website are rare as hens teeth in Australia so they are ruled out for me. One thing that is a real priority for me is standing headroom as I am 5'11"so six foot is a minimum. one thing all yachts listed above appear share.
I think I am going through the usual process with the list though. That is constantly convincing myself that i need bigger and bigger boats. a while back i was looking at 35 footers with price tags that put me out of the game for alot longer than I would like ( 2 years is too long already ). At the moment I am thinking the tophat is HIGH on the list ( http://www.tophatyachts.org/ ) The price range for a start leaves me with $10,000 to $15,000 in the bank where as most of the others would leave my with next to nothing. I am hoping to start out with coastal voyaging and move on to tackling the pacific ( Noumea Tonga Samoa NZ ) and hopefully further .
If any of you would care to look at their website and specifications and give me an opinion it would be greatly appreciated.
Matt,
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your father (and your uncle). I have a tradition of calling my dad each time someone mentions having lost theirs. I do think it is a fitting tribute to use some of the money he left to follow your dream.... something I would wish for my son some day.
I hope you are able to find the right ship for your plan. Of course you know what you need, I encourage you to stay as small / simple as you can be comfortable with.... those dollars are hard won freedom.
The very best of luck to you. Here is a grog for you, and I hope to hear more from you as you continue to pursue your dream.
Matt - Go.
:)
It sounds like you are in a great position to do so. The Tophat - I'd never heard of them, but it seems that they are very similar to a lot of the boats known as 'small, capable cruisers' on this side of the world... After a quick look at the site, I would give _serious attention_ to what it says about the fact that some shipped from the factory as a separate hull & deck, left to individuals to join/finish. You'd either want to make absolutely sure that that job was done full-on proper back then, or plan on redoing it yourself prior to taking off. And of course, there will be other expensive and time-consuming things to do before she's ready, but I don't see anything that would preclude taking one to sea. Remember: KISS!
Sorry to hear about both your father and your uncle. My father died in 2000, and even now it seems like that was just yesterday. It is nice to know that we carry much of those we love around in us, even after they have gone. Doesn't make up for the personal loss, but it helps.
Some of those that Matt has mentioned are essentially US models being sold under a different name. Some of the small catalinas were licensed for manufacture and re-badged IIRC.
Adrift The re badged catalinas (boomeroo's here) are not really what I am after. I am pretty well sold on the top hat 25. CapnK note taken on the hull deck join I appreciate you spending the time to have a read through that page. I have also recently found a few web sites of top hat circumnavigations, one of which the boat was standard.
One thing that I Need to make a decision on is the engine .... out board or inboard , msot of the MKII and MKIII's that have out board engines have cockpit wells. I am of the opinion that a diesel engine would be the better choice for safety sake ( non explosive fuel). although out boards are so much cheaper to replace or maintain .... I think i need to do some more reading on this one.
I have also been working on a wish list for the next boat .... It is about $14000 worth (a lot of which is worst case stuff) assuming that the next boat has none of the things on the said list. Also the 22 footer is now on the market at a price that should see it sold sooner rather than later.
Quote from: matt195583 on March 06, 2010, 11:35:02 PM
Adrift The re badged catalinas (boomeroo's here) are not really what I am after. I am pretty well sold on the top hat 25. CapnK note taken on the hull deck join I appreciate you spending the time to have a read through that page. I have also recently found a few web sites of top hat circumnavigations, one of which the boat was standard.
The Tophat is a pretty solid little boat from what I've read about it.
QuoteOne thing that I Need to make a decision on is the engine .... out board or inboard , msot of the MKII and MKIII's that have out board engines have cockpit wells. I am of the opinion that a diesel engine would be the better choice for safety sake ( non explosive fuel). although out boards are so much cheaper to replace or maintain .... I think i need to do some more reading on this one.
The inboard will also give you more options in the way of power generation, hot water, refrigeration, and such, since you can power equipment off of it. It will also probably give you more range. However, it will also complicate the systems on the boat, as it will require through-hulls for the cooling water and exhaust, as well as a stuffing box and cutlass bearing for the prop shaft.
QuoteI have also been working on a wish list for the next boat .... It is about $14000 worth (a lot of which is worst case stuff) assuming that the next boat has none of the things on the said list. Also the 22 footer is now on the market at a price that should see it sold sooner rather than later.
powering other applications is a bonus. a few things that really appeal to me with diesel engine is the fact that the fuel doesn't go bang quite so easily. As adrfift mentioned increased range, ability to run a decent sized alternator for auxiliary charging and the ability to run a stove on the same fuel. Effectively reducing the fuels needed to be carried to diesel, a small amount of alcohol to preheat and a small amount of gas for the tender outboard if one is used
Also I doubt i would sleep well with 100 odd liters gas on board. Where as diesel would not bother me so much and just about double mileage.
again as mentioned by adrift the downside to the diesel is thru hulls and prop shaft issues . not to mention loss of all important cabin space.
I've had a diesel inboard, and now on this boa, have an out board in a well. For a 25 footer, I'd choos the O/B In the well every time.
We have not found any range problems with it. We carry two 6 gallon tanks one each side of the engine and two two gallon tanks in the cockpit footwell. The O/B is a 4 stroke- only way to fly.
Our dinghy O/B is a 2 stroke so we use the fuel there too.
As I said, we've found zero range problems and we've now been some 5000 ICW and coastal miles aboard.
But if the boat had an inboard, with it's tankage, piping etc we simply would not have the storage space for two of us to live aboard long term. It would cut our water tankage drastically and also seriously reduce storage space for food, spares, etc needed when you are out for long periods. We can stay out for around a mmonth without resupply. Reducing water tankage would cut that in half.
On a larger boat, I'd go with the diesel. On a smaller one the O/B makes more sense.
T
Also, it amuses me no end to sit in a gathering and listen to someone rant about the dangers of gasoline on a boat, then find they have propane stoves aboard!! We use kerosene to cook with, but propane and gasoline can both be quite safe if you are reasonably careful with either.
Having had a small boat both with a diesel
(Universal M2-12) and with an o/b
(Merc 6hp 4strk) in a well, I'm with CJ - the o/b makes much more sense in a smaller boat. From my experiences:
- Range per gallon of fuel - little difference.
- Noise while underway - o/b *much* quieter and smoother.
- Power - My o/b is 1/2 the hp of the diesel I had, & on a larger boat, so there is no way to compare the two. I think that if the horsepower ratio was closer, that it would be pretty much an even contest.
- Weight - the o/b (just the engine) weighs about 1/4 the weight of the diesel (again, just the engine). The weight from it is out farther on the end, but I don't think it quite evens out. With the diesel, add in weight for filters & brackets, heavy duty hoses, prop shaft & prop, tranny, thru-hulls, controls and cabling, etc etc... My guess is the o/b winds up being 1/5th to 1/6th the weight of a diesel installation, so overall the boat is much less burdened under sail by the o/b.
- *Mental* weight - This is one of the biggest factors for my preference. With the diesel *every time* I knew I was going to be hitting the start switch, I worried that it wouldn't. I knew that if it didn't start, it was gonna be ex$pen$ive and _difficult_ to work on. Plus, down the road, I knew that sooner or later I was looking at a rebuild, with all the work and expense that would entail. I don't like worrying that much. :) With the o/b, I can work on it, if needed, with relative ease on the dock, cockpit, or even in the cabin. Parts are relatively cheap, and there are fewer of them to go wrong. And I can replace the whole engine for a fraction of the cost of a diesel rebuild, especially considering parts and labor and possibly haulout. As a bonus of sorts, there are multiple fewer holes in my hull.
- Space - Obviously, this one goes to the o/b.
- Ease - diesel wins, but not by much. In my case, it is not a lot of effort to put the o/b in place. And as it can be removed with a plug to fill in the well, this negates prop drag and fairs the hull. I've read that this can increase a small boats speed by 1/4kt or so - which would add 6 miles a day to run totals. Not much, but every little bit can help. :) Also - I don't have to scrape the prop off every so often. ;)
- Explosions - Lots more boats *don't* blow up, than do, because of gas engines. It's an understood risk, one which can be compensated for by the use of proper precautions.
- Charging - diesel wins this one, but - I don't have a charger on my o/b. I have a small energy budget, work to keep it that way, and use solar for now while planning to add wind generation.
-------------------------------------
Now, all that said, don't get me wrong thinking I hate diesels - I don't! They are way cool and do a great job, and I never had much problem at all with mine. I made sure that I had extra belts, filters, impellers, tools appropriate for the engine, and kept my fuel and tank clean. Same thing I do for the o/b, or would do for any engine.
It mostly just comes down to the boat size, and the KISS principle, and the o/b has all the advantages there, *for me* in my situation.
One thing I hate about diesels that I hadn't seen discussed here is the smell. With an outboard in the aft well, your cabin is free of the smell of fuel. I'll tell you this much, there is nothing quite so miserable as being stuck below in a storm when it's 90 degrees, ridiculously humid, the diesel is banging and your cabin reeks of diesel fuel. It's loud, sickening and miserable. I had this experience on a 27 footer. I've been below on a 35 footer with a diesel and it was a whole different experience.
Thank you all for you reply's . they are very helpfull. I am swaying towards the O/B in the well. For one the boats with O/B's are considerably cheaper. The less thru hulls the better as well :) also as capnK and charlieJ both mentioned space is at a premium so that has to be a major plus ......... food for thought hey.
This is one of the candidates . i reckon i could drop the price to 12 or 13 G http://www.tophatyachts.org/board/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=352
Hey Matt I say go for it, I to have been talking about living aboard for awhile like the winter months some where warm.
We just got a Chrysler C-26 and I think its going to work great for our needs. I think the OB engine can give you everything but heat. (back to living aboard where its warm ;D)
you could get in the habit of disconnecting the tank from the out board and making sure they have good ventilation. Mine have very little chance to collect vapor and that's what you need to worry about.
When someone looks at me funny about I dream I share with you, I know they have never sailed thru a wild life reserve. Or have the 1st mate ask if you could go faster she wants to be at the marina dinner for lunch. And we have meet the greatest people at the marinas ...
That sailboat is well equipped, good luck finding one .
Looks nice, Matt, what with all the 'extras' - like the tiller pilot and windvane. New, those would be probably ~US$2,000-2,500 alone.
Someone mentioned heat. As I continue thinking about buying a liveaboard this, as much as anything, made me interested in Diesel. I will admit to being extremely pleased with the diesel heater (forced air) while on Auspicious. Heat wasn't generated by the engine; but by another bullet style heater. But, it used the same fuel.
Of course, heading south permanently is probably even better.
I had a very interesting day today ;D . I went and looked at a clansman 30. I is a 1966 build fits well within the guidelines for a liveaboard cruiser and is in amazing condition for her age. The bloke who owns it has lived aboard for 10 years and the boat is a credit to him. http://boatpoint.ninemsn.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=8336466 that is the link. It is on the expensive side and would see my budget exausted but in comparison to what else is available the extra 10k is easily covered by a handfull of the onboard systems. I am seriously considering making an offer subject to survey and test sail.
I've long contemplated a marine wood stove, but it's far at the bottom of a list of upgrades, in order of necessity.
Quote from: matt195583 on April 05, 2010, 03:55:51 AM
I had a very interesting day today ;D . I went and looked at a clansman 30. I is a 1966 build fits well within the guidelines for a liveaboard cruiser and is in amazing condition for her age. The bloke who owns it has lived aboard for 10 years and the boat is a credit to him. http://boatpoint.ninemsn.com.au/boats-for-sale/boatdetails.aspx?R=8336466 that is the link. It is on the expensive side and would see my budget exausted but in comparison to what else is available the extra 10k is easily covered by a handfull of the onboard systems. I am seriously considering making an offer subject to survey and test sail.
Matt,
Looks like a nicely thought out, and laid out little ship. They really got a lot of interior out of that hull, with the cabin top going to the rails like that. Looks like she would really feel much larger then her WLL below.
I hope this works out well for you. Hope you send along some more photos once she is yours. ;D
I like this 'layout' shot, both because I like the layout of the boat, and for the way it shows how boats with either inboard or outboard in a well are generally configured.
Matt,
Go now, I speak with experience. I retired at age of 52 which is early I know but not early enough. I had traveled all over the world buy the time I was 26. I then went to work for real so I could retire and learn to sail my new found love. I bought a small sailboat (19 ft) and learned as much as I could on my own. I then bought a bigger boat thinking I knew enough (but I didn't) I am in my second year of work on this boat getting her ready for the blue water. Did I do it right? heck I don't know but I wouldn't change anything if I could. Life is short and if you work for someone else you are trading your life for money. Keep it simple and understand what you have. You can sail a long ways with very little money. Good luck
Go as soon as possible. Remember no boat is perfect and every boat is a compromise in one area or another. I know right where you are coming from with e loss of a loved one, as I lost my mother, grandfather, and uncle within 17 days of each other a few years back...makes for some tough time for sure. Also as I have worked as a nurse for many years and had a bedside seat for many passing of others loved ones, I can say that I have never seen anyone wish that had worked more at the end of their life. So go now and never look back.
~not making light of a sad memory...my family also has a history of "dying times"...for many years no deaths in the family, then one year when several of us are lost, and often as not, when one partner departs, their spouse follows months later, regardless of excellent health. In 1993 my father, grandfather and grandmother on my mother's side, two uncles and aunts passed as couples, one aunt and two uncles passed away solo (partners surviving), all within eighteen months...and we haven't had another death in the family since. It's said it has always happened this way on my father's side of the family. Besides the personal sorrows, the inevitable numbness and confusion, the financial impact of funerals scattered from Hawaii to Europe is another burden that adds to the feeling of devastation. More than once I've heard it said with a bit of dark humor at a sad time, that since historically none of us has ever had a reputation of particular holiness, we prefer to distract old Peter and pass the gate by storm~
Good looking boat. I was not expecting to see something that good, but she looks like a good cruiser. If she is that clean in real life, I would make an offer!
Thankyou all who have commented on this thread with either opinions ideas or even just relating to my situation it is a great help to me both on the boat front and the emotional.
Newt she is clean as a whistle below decks I done a rough add up of all the gear i could think of that isnt listed on any of the other boats of the same make on the market and came up to $15500. thats not taking into account things like the new 2 burner metho stove and the new electric head or the fact that the engine was rebuilt about 200 hours ago or 4 year old sails instead of 25 years old. this boat is listed at 45k the same make is advertised from 25k up with the average being about 30k-35k.
It is the first boat that i have looked at so I am desperatly trying to convince myself not to get to exited. I am driving 10 hours south this weekend to see some more boats of the same make I have arranged to see 5 in the average price range so i should get a fair idea of relative condition. If things are as I suspect then I will more than likely make an offer on the first boat next week.
Which brings me to the other thing that has been stressing me a bit I am looking at laying out 40k on a boat that will become my home for the next few years or alot longer . I have never lived on a boat before although i did live in a 26 ft caravan for about 6 months and enjoyed it I am just worried that I may be biting off more than i can chew .
Quote from: matt195583 on April 07, 2010, 02:55:45 AM
Which brings me to the other thing that has been stressing me a bit I am looking at laying out 40k on a boat that will become my home for the next few years or alot longer . I have never lived on a boat before although i did live in a 26 ft caravan for about 6 months and enjoyed it I am just worried that I may be biting off more than i can chew .
Hi Matt,
Just a couple of quick comments in reply to your last sentence.
Living on a boat is a broad term, so there is a bit of the 'it depends' in answering your concern. Will you be actively cruising, lying at anchor, in a marina, etc?
I lived in a 19 ft camper (what you would call a caravan :) ) for a year. I used this experience to help sell the idea of living aboard to my wife. I think there are a lot of similarities, both physical and cultural. By having done that, you've already confronted some of the physical and mental issues that living aboard brings, so the 'shock' will, I think, be less.
Here are some links to my views of the getting used to living aboard. These threads also contain posts by folks who have lived aboard (longer).
The First Week of Living Aboard (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php/topic,2006.0.html)
The First Month of Living Aboard (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php/topic,2086.0.html)
Some comments after the first full year (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php/topic,1192.msg28250.html#msg28250)
One of the things that I noticed, and my wife too who was initially very reluctant to try this 'experiment,' in many ways, it's not so different than life ashore. The logistics are different, but the issues of "life" don't really change that much. You still have to eat, you want to stay out of bad weather, you have some fun and you have some not-so-fun times.
You'll probably come to dread rain in the forecast. :)
I would doubt it's more than you can chew. Like most other things, it is all about attitude.
Per what I understand a "LiveAboard" is someone who is working and using the boat as an apartment.
"Voyaging" is not intending to work but moving the boat every so often. Like a long vacation or retirement.
One has to adjust to the boat and make the small points what YOU want. Staying coastal where fuel and supplies are a few days or hours away makes a small boat much nicer. Many people have done it in all sizes of boats.
I suggest that you make sure that everything is in GREAT condition or you have the money to replace it at hand and get a good deal on NEW parts. Stuff on a boat really takes a beating after 2 years full time use. My list of stuff was over 500 items and that is without food.
One step at a time. Make sure you know what you need to replace on the boat before you buy. That says a lot. Inspect ALL. I have seen way to many people who bought a cheep boat only to get somewhere and not be able to move and have to get a job because of not known expenses. That is part of the game.
Get a camera that can take close ups in good detail with a good flash.
If the boat is to cheep find out why. Buying a boat is like buying a used car. Buyer beware. There is some good deals. One boat appraiser that I knew took over 2 years before finding a good boat that did not need extensive repairs.
thanks again for the replys. In saying live aboard I will have to stay in a marina for 2 years to finish my trade apprenticeship (may finish early) cruising in my holidays,then I hope to have enough $'s to go for at least 6 months of cruising (no work) If that is peachy then I figure I will work for 6 months to a year and then head out for a year or 3..... It all sounds to easy when you say it quick ;D
What I am more or less stressing about is working while living on the boat ( marina berth-amenities should make that easier). I think I am up to it and love the minamilist lifestyle so hopefully the adjustment period is not to bad.
capt'n S I will check out those threads you sent me
Lynx this one isnt a cheapie it is the dearest boat of that make on the market. But it is set up. the guy has lived on it for 10 years . I added up about $15000 worth of stuff I would want on a boat that is on this one and not on others so being 7000-10000 above the average price is not so bad with all that stuff taken into account not to mention the time and work involved in installing all the gear. I listed some of the stuff earlier in this thread.
Also when I opened any hatch / locker on this boat there was gear in there but it was spotless I could not find any obvouse faults . I intend to go back after this weekend with Dan's mini survey and go over it with a fine tooth comb if all is well I will make an offer subject to an out of water survey (survey mainly for insurance, peice of mind too).
One other thing that I thought of last night after reading this thread. The last time i saw my dad before he had his stroke and lost the ability to comunicate. I was talking to him about buying my 22 footer. He told me I was mad and that "dont waste your money on that, at least buy one that you can live on" . i think it is kind of fitting that I will do exactly that with the money I will inherite from dad.
Mum on the other hand hates the idea she seems to be under the impression that I am going to take $40000 and blow it , never to be seen again. although I try'd to explain to her that even if i hate it i can always sell the boat and still have a sizeable deposit for a house or what ever mind numbing liberty shackling junk other people keep telling me to spend the money on. I for one am not at all inclined to buy a house and be a slave to the system for the rest of my life.
Sounds like you have the right attitude Matt.
I know I'll never live on a boat. I just don't have that burning desire.
I think many people buy a liveaboard because they think life will be easier and cheaper that way. Which, of course, it won't be. I suspect you need not only wanderlust, but a willingness to endure nearly any form of discomfort to live the life aquatic.
It looks like you are going in the right direction. I hope it works out for you. You may want to have a shore side locker while you are working. It would have helped me.
It is lot different living on a boat than on land. I may move back for the experience and cost savings.
Fair winds, James "Lynx"
Good luck with the inspection... I hope she turns out as well as you hope... :)
Quote from: matt195583 on April 08, 2010, 03:32:51 AM
Also when I opened any hatch / locker on this boat there was gear in there but it was spotless I could not find any obvouse faults . I intend to go back after this weekend with Dan's mini survey and go over it with a fine tooth comb if all is well I will make an offer subject to an out of water survey (survey mainly for insurance, peice of mind too).
One other thing that I thought of last night after reading this thread. The last time i saw my dad before he had his stroke and lost the ability to comunicate. I was talking to him about buying my 22 footer. He told me I was mad and that "dont waste your money on that, at least buy one that you can live on" . i think it is kind of fitting that I will do exactly that with the money I will inherite from dad.
Mum on the other hand hates the idea she seems to be under the impression that I am going to take $40000 and blow it , never to be seen again. although I try'd to explain to her that even if i hate it i can always sell the boat and still have a sizeable deposit for a house or what ever mind numbing liberty shackling junk other people keep telling me to spend the money on. I for one am not at all inclined to buy a house and be a slave to the system for the rest of my life.
The inspection went really well. We went for a test sail all was well everything functioned as it should. One thing is the noise from the prop shaft . The owner says the noise is coming from the cutlass bearing as a result of there being anti foul in the cooling grooves therefore making it wear. would this be a do it ASAP job or as the owner says change it at the next slipping date ?
Also thanks to various government departments i cant actually make an offer on this boat for a month or two yet. heres to hoping she doesn't sell.
Well things have changed for me yet again. this time taking a really really really cool angle. I am now sitting at my desk in my hut at a mine in Karratha AU . I will be earning some really good money here with about 5 months work here at this stage . 4 weeks on 2 weeks off . so 2 out of every 6 weeks I can play in my Catalina 22 . and at the end of it I will have no debt and 10-15 more boat bucks to play with :D
sounds great. Have fun
Well life has been interesting lately. I sold my catalina 22 :'( . but on the upside I have found a 30 footer that I would like to buy, I have been over it with a fine tooth comb and beleive it represents good value. But it is about 1400 mile from home ..... I have got a few quotes to truck it and the average is about $6500 :o that is not an option. the other option is to sail up the coast , I know a guy who lived on the same make boat for 10 years and he reckons 15 days would be a safe guestimation on time . I can get the time off work ..
She has 2 full sets of sails all lines led aft storm sails furler and some 2 auto pilots ..
My question is would i be mad to buy a boat (with survey ) and plan to sail 1400 miles as a maiden voyage ?
Quote from: matt195583 on September 10, 2010, 08:06:52 AM
My question is would i be mad to buy a boat (with survey ) and plan to sail 1400 miles as a maiden voyage ?
I'd say no, why do you even ask? ;)
When Laura and I got Tehani, we drove to New York and trailered her home. We'd only seen pics. Then we rebuilt and launched- on a Tuesday. We left for a 1500 mile round trip that THURSDAY!! Had never had the sails up.
So, of course, I'd say- go for it if the boat is what you want. You can always stop along the way, leave the boat, then come back.
Quote from: matt195583 on September 10, 2010, 08:06:52 AM
My question is would i be mad to buy a boat (with survey ) and plan to sail 1400 miles as a maiden voyage ?
Given this comment,
Quote
I have been over it with a fine tooth comb
That's the kicker. If you REALLY have been thoroughly over the boat, and with a critical eye (ie, not the eye if a 'potential buyer who wants a boat'), and have done a real assessment of the current condition of the boat, then you know the answer to your question better than we do.
Is the boat REALLY ready for such a trip? Do you trust the surveyor?
I'm reminded of MANY stories in magazines and on the 'Net of delivery nightmares...boats not properly equipped, crew not ready, etc.
Is it 1400 miles on the open sea? Coastal hopping? Something akin to our 'running the ditch?'
Also, 1400 miles in 15 days is certainly do-able, but how tight is that schedule? It seems a little on the optimistic side to me, and gives little in the way of 'safety margin.' Do you (or your crew) really HAVE to be back in 15 days, or is there some wiggle room (like and 5 days or so, at least).
Sailing or motoring? If sailing, the time depends on the weather. If motoring, what happens to your schedule if you have an unexpected failure on a (to-you) untested engine?
Schedules and sail boats don't mix; having external pressures to 'get there' pushes us to make poor, imprudent decisions. If your schedule is sufficiently flexible that the 15 days is a "non-critical target just for planning," no problem.
Just my thoughts...I don't think you'd be mad to do it, but with a boat you are unfamiliar with, safety margin comes from having several layers of contingency plans; don't assume the trip will go 'smoothly' (though it might).
In other words, "luck favors the prepared." ;D
thanks charlie and capn S ,
the 15 days is the estimated sea time ( coastal hopping ) I was figuring on taking 2 months off work a week either end and 6 weeks to make the sail ..... work is pretty flexible and i reckon if i found my way home after 4 weeks i could go back to work and save the extra 4 weeks off .
so i have accounted for plenty of time to make the trip , the thing that gets me is that i havent sailed "outside" before . I spoke to an old family friend who has sailed and raced lots and he reckons it its an easy sail ..... "just keep australia to you port side and you'll be right " .......
I am pretty keen to make the shift aboard and am a firm believer that you will never learn to swim in the shallow end .... all advice is much appreciated guys.... me thinks its time to make an offer .... ;D
Hi, I ditto the answers you've got. Couldn't you start with a weekend trip or so, where she is?
I am not all that happy taking off for a passage right away with a boat that's completely new to me. On the other hand I have done it, including a few deliveries... ;)
Good luck with the offer and what follows it! ;D
Matt:
I'm with MaxiSwede on this one: Take a short shake-down cruise before trying a long trip.
But, more important, best of luck with the offer. Sounds like a sound move, and it could be the beginning of a new phase in your life.
--Joe
Quote from: matt195583 on September 11, 2010, 10:09:49 AM
the 15 days is the estimated sea time ( coastal hopping ) I was figuring on taking 2 months off work a week either end and 6 weeks to make the sail ..... work is pretty flexible
In that case, HAVE FUN!! ;D
Sailing to a schedule SUCKS. Since you can eliminate that stress, this trip sounds like a blast.
Quote
I spoke to an old family friend who has sailed and raced lots and he reckons it its an easy sail ..... "just keep australia to you port side and you'll be right " .......
Sounds like our kind of sailor...simple enough navigation, anyway. He a member of this board? ;D
Best of luck on the offer. If she's the right boat for you, getting her home will work itself out.
One word of caution for your first "offshore" trip: You might have so much fun you won't want to stop and go back to work. ;)
Well it would appear that I have bought myself another boat ;D . after haggling over the phone we settled on 29.5k down from 33.5k . subject to a survey .
now i just have to wait the 3 -4 weeks untill i can get down to melbourne to get the survey done ...... Also got a better quote to truck it up 1000miles to home $3900 . . might go with that yet ...
heres a link if anyone is interested in having a look
http://yachthub.com/index.html?page=list/ed.html?de=71963
Handsome boat! Congratulations.
Well life has been interesting, the last boat fell through...... then I found another one that seemed pretty good , apparently that wasn't the case the survey was not too much to my liking ......... I have found yet another promising boat and have a price sorted and survey booked for thursday week .... fingers crossed and all that ;D
well the dream is over ............. We are now living said dream. I bought a UFO 34 a week ago ;D and spent 4 glorious nights aboard . got a good sail in and didn't find any nasty surprises .... Life is peachy. I will upload some pics when my friend emails them to me ...
Congrats! 34ft? We might let you stay on sailfar! ;D
aw i sure hope you all do let me stay.
Congratulations.
34 feet--a veritable megayacht!
Sure, you can stay, if you want to hang around with the peasants ;D
Happy New Boat!
--Joe
Quote from: matt195583 on January 04, 2011, 04:27:23 AM
well the dream is over ............. We are now living said dream. I bought a UFO 34 a week ago ;D and spent 4 glorious nights aboard . got a good sail in and didn't find any nasty surprises .... Life is peachy. I will upload some pics when my friend emails them to me ...
Congratulations and all the best to you!!
These folks here are nice....they even let me hang around after swapping for a mega -35 footer
;D ;D
keep sharing what's new...
The last few months have been really great, I have been spending a fair bit of time on "BLUE PRINT" . I got the OK for 2 1/2 weeks off at easter so there is a bit of a trip in the making. I will try to get some pics and write down a bit of what happens.