Choosing a boat

[Kettlewell]

Some people don't believe me when I tell them this, but even in the tropics you will want things like a fleece jacket, a light hat, and gloves for night watches when sailing offshore. You may find that Maine is just too cold for you, even in the summer. Even when it is 90 degrees ashore (rare) the water will be in the 50s making a sail outside the harbor quite chilly. I can remember many sails that began with a sweaty row out to the boat baking in the hot summer sun, then a sail out of the harbor into a solid wall of icy fog with a temperature drop of 20 degrees or so, then an arrival in a warm and sunny harbor on the other side of the bay. The water gets dramatically colder north of Cape Cod, so you might end up finding the waters just south of Cape Cod more to your liking. I really love the Buzzards Bay, Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket area, and the water is warm enough for swimming in the summer. The wind is more reliable than north of Cape Cod too. The Chesapeake is too hot and humid for my taste during the summer, but many people sail there and it is a wonderful cruising ground. When snow birding you can move up and down the coast with the seasonal weather you prefer.

[CharlieJ]

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?

Patty- I was in Punta Gorda Fla in Jan 2010, when it was 23 degrees. Didn't get over 30 for 10 days (resulted in a horrible fish kill all over SW Fl). A small cube type quartz heater kept the boat toasty. Ran it 24 /7 for the 10 days!! We had the marina (Laishley Park) put us on a meter and that time cost us 23 bucks- worth every penny :D

And no, I've never been in the Bahamas during the summer, nor in the Keys. Left the Bahamas end of June, and sailed up to the Chesapeake. Some do stay of course, but many come back to the states, or head WAY south for summer- say Rio Dulce in Guatamala ;D

[Kettlewell]

Patty, I too wouldn't recommend staying in the Bahamas during the summer months due to the hurricane threat. There are just not enough secure hurricane holes for the number of boats over there, and some of the storms pop up very quickly. You might be lucky and go several years with no problems, but it just takes one to ruin your dream. Florida is better in that there are more places to hide, but still lots of boats to compete for the space. At least you can get yourself out of harms way fairly easily. Keep in mind that you have to move quickly and do it days before a hurricane is expected to hit because once the land evacuations are ordered opening bridges will stop working blocking the ICW in many areas. The Chesapeake and New England are not at all immune to hurricanes, but there are many secure harbors and the storms tend to travel through very quickly. I've had several direct hits while in New England but managed to survive them all, so far. Personally, I couldn't stand being cooped up in the Rio Dulce for hurricane season. It is a beautiful and interesting place to visit, but I have no desire to remain tied to the dock for six months. Instead cruise Panama and Colombia--once you're south of about 10 degrees latitude you're immune from hurricanes. The rainy season is very wet and thunderstormy in Panama, but the San Blas Islands are an amazing cruising ground.

[PattyLee]

Born and raised in Berkshire County, MA..and lived there for 35 years.  Rented a small house in Wells Beach, Maine for many years..took the kids back with spouses a few years ago, same little house. :0  Water still hadn't warmed up..lol.
I remember taking a small rowboat across the Ogunquit River to the beach..hot in the morning..it was snowing in the afternoon..and it was Labor Day!
We live on the east coast of Florida..been thru hurricanes. 
Had a very interesting morning today.  Only one marina in town has 6 feet of water..no liveaboards.  However..we can set our own mooring ball just out of the channel for free!!  And do whatever.  The Dock Master was really cool..told us how to do that.  He had a sailboat moored during the hurricanes and survived without a scratch. Just have to hope nothing runs into you. Dockage was $8.00.  Oh, there was another marina..dockage started at 11.00, plus tax, water, elec, no liveaboards.
There are liveaboards in Vero..dockage was 350., plus 100.00 liveaboard, elec, water, etc...
It is doable..

[CharlieJ]

Moorings available in Vero also. Some cruisers called Vero "velcro beach" because many seemed to just stick.

Also moorings (and dockage) in Stuart at Sunset Bay Marina. They had liveaboards when I was there.

What town in east Fl? I have friends over there.

[Kettlewell]

You should try anchoring out there for awhile before you plop a mooring in. "Just out of the channel" isn't good when living aboard. Not sure exactly where you are looking at, but knowing the area quite well I also know it is hard to get far enough out of the channel so that you are comfortable. Hopefully, you would be in a No Wake Zone or life would be miserable.

[PattyLee]

Charlie, we're in Sebastian.
The main problem in this area is the depth as you all know.  Kettlewell, I made a mistake..Just out out the channel is wrong.  It would be just outside the access channel that takes you into Squid Lips (used to be Fins) , just north of Hirams. There are five or six sailboats out there.
I've read about a state law that claims the land under the water is owned by the state and many places that offer dockage don't want to mess with it.
More than likely we won't have to live on our boat here, as we still have a house. Just wanted to know if we had that option.  So we hang onto the house a little longer, or rethink the situation and not sell it at all.

[Grime]

Hang on to the house for awhile. Get the boat go cruising for a few months and see if this is the change of life you really want to make. Then sell everything and sail off into the sunset.

[CharlieJ]

Just above the bridge at Sebastion inlet, out on the island, there's a fish camp.. The West Coast Trailer Sailor Squadron has a gathering there once a year- the only one they have on the Fla east coast. Launch at the fish camp and sail south.

South of the inlet there is a spoil Island that Florida has turned into a camping spot- strictly primitive. I've joined them there twice in the last years. Would love to do it again- great folks, in small boats.

This pic was taken on that spoil island  a few years ago. Tehani was anchored just out of view.

I was there again last June with the 21 footer I sold when I got Tehani back

[CharlieJ]

Please, please please, don't get like this- Taken from another forum-In the Exumas

"Our provisioning has reached a crisis stage, no milk for the espresso machine. We had bought a bit of the super pasteurized unrefrigerated milk in Highborne Cay but it makes a horrible morning latte. Adderly's Store in Black point had only soy milk, this is better but still a poor substitute. I tried some powdered concoctions with equally dismal success. I now have a greater appreciation for the mariners of old: hard tack, salt pork, and no lattes - a hard life."

[PattyLee]

Thanks Grime..Good advice.
Sebastian Inlet and surroundings are beautiful. Gorgeous pic  Charlie.
Population in Sebastian was 5,000, 25 years ago when we moved here. Now there are 25,000.  Time to go.
Stovetop perc, extra glass tops, and Folgers and we're ready to go.

[Kettlewell]

That's a nice area, particularly if you have shallow draft. I've had some great sails up and down the Indian RIver. Still, it's really exposed out there for leaving a boat long term, with or without you onboard. Vero Beach mooring field would be the logical place to check out if you wanted to live aboard.  Since I believe it is first come first served you could get a place in there during the off season (the summer), and have a decent hurricane hole. Lots of folks love Vero, and I know cruisers who have left from there to sail around the world, then went back there to live. Parts of Florida claim they own the underwater land, but often they are mistaken. There is actually a Florida law prohibiting the regulation of anchoring in most locations, and there is another Florida law that holds the waters of the state are to be equally shared by everyone and should remain open to navigation--anchoring is considered a normal part of navigation. A mooring is technically nothing more than a very large anchor. In fact, if I were to create my own mooring in a place with few other moorings around a very effective way of doing so would be to lay out three large Danforth anchors in a star pattern connected to a big swivel and from there a line going up to your boat. It would be far more effective than the typical mushroom or dead weight mooring.

[PattyLee]

It is not our intention to stay here and live on a boat, at least for the long term.  We are just "getting ready" for when we can take off.  I can't leave my dad.  my siblings don't want him, so we have obligations. I would have a major case of the guilts, so this is the hand I've been dealt for the time being. I have to work for another year anyway, for SS to kick in. Chris will be eligible for medicare next year, but I won't.  Lots of stuff to deal with, but we could still get a boat, fix it up, learn how to sail, sail on weekends and vacations..and pray we have no hurricanes. Are we crazy?  Probably.  People thought we were crazy when we sold our house, quit our jobs, packed up a truck with 2 little kids and moved here 25 years ago: nowhere to live and no jobs. We made it!
enough of the drama..
WE have happy feet ;D ;D

[PattyLee]

Kettlewell , Again, thank you for your expertise.  We really appreciate all of the feedback we have received from all of you here.  :)

[Kettlewell]

Sounds like you are embracing the now, which is a great attitude to have. It will be a perfect time and place to find a smallish and shallowish sailboat and to learn to sail, fix things, keep it safe, etc. I can remember those early days in my sailing life as some of the best. We had no money so bought an old 17 footer with a tiny cabin, no working motor, and nothing in the way of equipment. Sailed it all over southern New England in all sorts of weather because I usually couldn't take a vacation until late October. Despite the lack of an engine we went to places like Menemsha, Cuttyhunk, and Lake Tashmoo. Tacked in and out of the Cuttyhunk channel to the inner harbor. Went back and forth from a mooring in Newport harbor many, many times under sail or towing the boat with our rowing dinghy. We had a too small crummy anchor so I learned to anchor well with what I had. Taught us a lot about boats and boating and we had a ton of fun!

[PattyLee]

Kettlewell, I think you are definitely on to something there..learning on something small, decide if this is what we want to do long term. Going to look at a 30 footer on Wednesday..I know, it's not really very small..but I feel pretty good about handling something that size.  Besides, the price is reasonable, I think. We'll see..there are lots to choose from, but if we can keep it local, will eliminate transport costs.  Just don't have the time right now to bring anything long distance ourselves. It's all very exciting!!  ;D

[s/v Faith]

How goes the search Patty?

[PattyLee]

We looked at a 30 ft Hunter in very good shape, well cared for, etc, price was right. However, I quickly discovered I have a few physical limitations navigating on the small vessel.  So we are rethinking our options..
We will definitely continue our search for what will fulfill our needs.  Still picture ourselves sitting on the deck, rum in hand, watching the sun go down somewhere warm.  :) It's all good.
We may have to look into getting a trawler..now before you all ban me from this site, hear me out. We still want to be out there, we don't want a go fast boat, we don't want to cause disturbing wakes and tick off the sailboat owners...We would prefer sailing..have done several windjammers..I know,, it's not the same either. So we will do what we can with what we have to work with.
You guys are great, have taught me so much.  Will keep you up to date with our search, which is slowing down at present due to life getting in the way. Heading for St Martin in a couple of weeks for a week on the Sagitta, a 120 ft schooner with 24 passengers..sister ship of the Diamant out of Grenada, a 12 passenger, 100 foot s/v.  It works for now.

[Captain Smollett]

now before you all ban me from this site,

Not at all.

I can't speak for everyone, but for myself I say do what works for you to follow YOUR dream.  "The best boat is the boat you have" works for power boats, too.   ;)

[CharlieJ]

now before you all ban me from this site,

Not at all.

I can't speak for everyone, but for myself I say do what works for you to follow YOUR dream.  "The best boat is the boat you have" works for power boats, too.   ;)

Absolutely.

And life does have a funny way of getting in the way of dreams- or changing them.

Good luck and don't go away