Choosing a boat

s/v Faith · March 12, 2014, 07:34:12 PM

Quote from: PattyLee on March 12, 2014, 07:26:12 PM
Will a boat with a five foot draft, 45 feet tall be able to cross Florida via Lake Okeechobee?

Yes, no problem. Your lowest bridge is 49'

PattyLee · March 12, 2014, 07:40:32 PM

Thanks ;D

s/v Faith · March 13, 2014, 08:12:03 PM

Pat,

If you are going to take a look, you might want to look at this thread first,

Boat buying tips thread on Sailfar.net

PattyLee · March 13, 2014, 08:45:41 PM

Thanks Craig..sounds like we have a ton to learn. Since our boat will be our home, we have decided that we need something with a little bit more room, or we'll kill each other. Not really, but a 35 footer generally has a shower..and that may be a luxury for some, but we really really want a shower, and room for the grandkids once in awhile. :)

Grime · March 13, 2014, 09:09:46 PM

A shower. Yes a shower is nice. On my boat there is a drain in the head floor and someone at some time used the head as a shower. I had to replace all the bulkheads and even the compression post because everything was rotten. If a boat has a shower like an RV all plastic that would be the only way I would go. You'll also need extra water holding tanks. The shower can drain to the bilge.

I know others will have better words than I do.

On another subject.

Has anyone heard from Dan? S/V Pretty Gee

CharlieJ · March 13, 2014, 09:47:29 PM

Quote from: Grime on March 13, 2014, 09:09:46 PM
A shower. Yes a shower is nice. On my boat there is a drain in the head floor and someone at some time used the head as a shower. I had to replace all the bulkheads and even the compression post because everything was rotten. If a boat has a shower like an RV all plastic that would be the only way I would go. You'll also need extra water holding tanks. The shower can drain to the bilge.

I'm with Grime here. Unless it's on a BIG boat, a shower below decks is miildew waiting to happen- a CONTINUOUS battle against it.

I uses a pump up sprayer in the cockpit, and it has never been a problem, even when I had a wife aboard.

Pictured- my Pump up sprayer, built as a shower, sold by Duckworks. Also used to rinse dishes, rinse sand off feet, etc

A second point- if you MUST have a shower, do not rig for pressure water- put some sort of small gravity tank up above, and use a hand pump to fill it.You would not BELIEVE how quickly a pressure shower can kill a water supply, particularly with kids using it ::)

Grime · March 14, 2014, 07:17:23 AM

Another good source of information on inspecting a boat. Don Casey's book on "Inspecting the Aging Boat". You might find it in the Library.

PattyLee · March 14, 2014, 09:09:52 AM

Thanks for the shower info..I've heard solar showers work pretty well. Makes sense keep as much moisture out of the cabin as possible. We're good with that.
Thanks Grime for the info. :-)

s/v Faith · March 14, 2014, 09:24:36 AM

Pat,

It can be hard to know what will really work for you until you have some experience, but for a full time liveaboard some do like to be able to take A shower below. I never missed it too much aboard Faith, but it is nice to have aboard Emerald Tide.

Taking the occasional hot shower ashore (many marinas will let you pay to use their shower even if you Are not staying there).

Consider the "Elimination of Misery" in your decisions about what is important to the two of you in your quest.

Kettlewell · March 14, 2014, 10:37:37 AM

Our current boat, a 38-foot motorsailor, is the first one we've ever had where taking a shower down below was even possible, but we almost never use it for the stated reasons. Even on this boat we always use a garden hose type spray head on a hose in the cockpit to take showers--not even hot ones most of the time. We do have pressure water, but having lived aboard for many years without pressure water we are still quite water conscious. With a squeeze type hose sprayer head you can get just as much or as little water as you need and then let go and it stops--saves tons of water. Traveling in warm weather areas we typically go swimming at least once a day, then take a quick rinse off in the cockpit for a shower. Some shampoos lather up pretty well even in salt water if you want to wash your hair that way.

PattyLee · March 14, 2014, 07:25:40 PM

ok, you have convinced Chris..I've done the shampoo, soap, jump in the ocean and then rinse of. Works for me.
As a matter of fact, we will be revisiting a lot of boats we eliminated for one stupid reason or another because they either didn't have something we thought we could not live without, or they had something we didn't want (or know how) to deal with.
you have no idea how much we appreciate the feedback from all of you.
Ok, here's the big question for all of you. If you were to start over, knowing what you know, what would be the one thing you would have done differently?
Thanks. Pat

Kettlewell · March 14, 2014, 07:33:50 PM

The one thing I would now do differently, having owned eight cruising boats, is I would spend less on the boat than I have and use the rest to equip it and go cruising more. I seem to never be able to resist the temptation to spend a bit more than I planned on the boat. I would also heartily endorse the go small, go now philosophy of the Pardeys. The most fun I have had on a cruising sailboat was on about 30-32 feet, which IMHO is the ideal size for a couple. Keep it small, keep it simple, keep it going.

CharlieJ · March 14, 2014, 08:18:57 PM

Quote from: PattyLee on March 14, 2014, 07:25:40 PM

Ok, here's the big question for all of you. If you were to start over, knowing what you know, what would be the one thing you would have done differently?
Thanks. Pat

;D ;D ;D

Started earlier

PattyLee · March 14, 2014, 08:51:31 PM

What is IMHO? :-\
We have decided to get the boat now, sell our stuff, sell the house, and live on the boat. When the time comes that we can take off, we'll be ready. We'll have learned how to sail by then and will probably be ready to buy a different boat. :)

Kettlewell · March 14, 2014, 09:12:37 PM

IMHO=Internet lingo for "in my humble opinion." Meaning, don't take it for Gospel, but that's what I think.

Frank · March 14, 2014, 09:48:22 PM

Started WAY ealier!

Grime · March 14, 2014, 10:01:21 PM

Patty
Don't rush. Take your time and find the right boat.

On your question. What would I have done differently. ??? Purchased a RV but I live in a RV. ;D

PattyLee · March 14, 2014, 10:30:03 PM

Well, Kettlewell, thought it was some sort of boating term.. :P Had someone told me six months ago that I would be doing this, I would have thought they were crazy. We love to travel, and this is the most economical way to do it. I really really dislike cold intensely, so the islands on a boat is a pretty good answer to that problem.
Florida is not warm enough!! ;D

CharlieJ · March 14, 2014, 10:34:55 PM

Quote from: PattyLee on March 14, 2014, 10:30:03 PM

I really really dislike cold intensely

Definitely in your corner on that one. I don't even begin to wear shorts til it gets over 85 ;D

Dislike is not really strong enough though- try DETEST or ABHOR!!!

PattyLee · March 15, 2014, 05:04:57 AM

Charlie, Chris said we needed to have heat on the boat because I'll be cold. Ha! I don't plan on living anywhere that cold. Besides, we can get a little space heater if we absolutely have to. Hmmm, May need one if we head towards New England one summer.
Charlie, do you stay in the Bahamas in the summer?

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Choosing a boat