How often do you do it?

[oded kishony]

Because we're two hour's drive from the marina I find that we go sailing about once a month. The middle of the summer months often get skipped because it's too hot and no wind.  How often do most folks sail? How do you deal with the underutilization of a boat? What kinds of experiences have folks had with sharing ownership of a boat?

Thanks,
Oded Kishony

[Norm]

For me: Almost every day! 
Seriously.  Brokers, marina operators, insurance agents, etc report that a new boat owner uses the boat about 4 days a month during the first year's season.  After a few years of ownership, use steadies out at about 10 to 14 days per season in the North East.  Many marina's report that the "boat as a summer cottage" component boosts actual use but doesn't change the sailing time by much.

The time-share sailing clubs are capitalizing on that fact. 

The Caribbean cruisers I know sail to a new destination every month or so.  There are many days at anchor for each day of sailing.  They have a pretty short commute to the boat and don't sail much.

Best regards, Norman

[Pixie Dust]

Love the question.   ;D ;)

I am on my boat at least 3 weekends every month.  I generally sail out to the anchorage if any wind at all, anchor in the chosen spot and sail back to dock on Sunday evening.  My boat is also 2 hrs from my home, so I am limited to weekend adventures.  If the wind is kicking on Sat, I will sometimes pull anchor and take her outside and down the beach for a nice sail. 
Unless I need electricity, I often will put my projects on the boat and work on them at the anchorage.  More breeze, beautiful surroundings and a beach close by if you need to take a break. 
PS-  I am still loving that hammock.  What a way to spend an afternoon or evening.  Every boat wake that comes by rocks it for you, sometimes even swings you out
over the lifelines.   Just like a ride in Disney.   :o :D

[Zen]

Well, if the Lady Zen has not been working too hard that week I can avg a couple...er oops :-\
you mean going on the boat heheh ;)

I try for a once a week depending on my schedule. Sometimes I can spend the whole weekend out , but not that often.

lately it's once a couple of weeks at least on s/v Zen
I had two full weekends of training with the ASA

With the rainy season coming it will be a couple of times a month for awhile. But i have a couple of quickies planned before that.

[Seadogg]

Nowhere NEAR enough!!!

With the schedules of two kids (16 and 12), both our extended families living in the same town, and all the projects and stuff that go along with owning a home, plus the fact that our weekends have been really crappy, we wound up only sailing about 5 times this year.

Now, the temps are beginning to fall and it's getting close to time to winterize the First Step before the snow flies.

*sigh* Hopefully, we'll get out a bit more often next year.  We had great sailing excursions this past summer, just nowhere NEAR enough!

Nick

[Captain Smollett]

Good question, and I'll second the "Nowhere Near Enough" answer.

When Becky and I bought our boat, we decided a minimum use of once per month was 'required' to justify owning it.  We did not want to purchase something and have it just sit there.  We've done 'pretty' good with this on average for some years but not-so-good on others.

When Becky was a resident, she was working about 80 hours per week.  Hunter was born early in her first year and Jonathan was born during her fourth year of residency.  My work schedule was about 60-70 hours per week, including time taking care of both children so we don't have to put them in DayCare.

My point: little time left for sailing.  And this is a point I made repeatedly, ESPECIALLY on those days that were sunny, not too hot and had 10-15 kts of breeze.  Like today. :)

This year, we are getting back on track and have exceeded that 12 times/year minimum.  This is her first full year out of residency, and her present work schedule (though still in the tune of 60+ hours per week) allows for one or two three day weekends per month.  We've been able to use one or two of these for short sailing trips here and there, and took TWO week-long trips that had sailing components.  Couple these trips with the occasional day-sail on the home lake and we've done better this year than the past two or three.

"Underutilization" of the boat bothers me.  I did not buy it for it to go unused.  I've considered selling it when I thought we would "never" find the time - with my thinking being someone should enjoy it rather that it just sit and decay.

As for co-owndership, I've never done that.  And I really don't want to.  I have an 'open' policy on my boat that certain trusted friends can use her anytime they wish.  But co-ownership is not for me.

[oded kishony]

Capt Smollett writes:

>As for co-ownership, I've never done that.  And I really don't want to.  I have an 'open' policy on my boat that certain trusted friends can use her anytime they wish.  But co-ownership is not for me. <

We co-owned our first boat (O'day 23, very nice boat) with our closest friends. They were retired and we weren't, so it really worked out great. We had the boat any weekend we wanted and they used the boat during the week. We would often go out together. Now I hesitate to co-own a boat because .......... of all the uncertainties surrounding it. It's one thing to own a boat with your best friends another altogether to do it with strangers.
I've hear that there are organizations that help people co own boats. Anyone had any experience with that? I also know of someone who 'charters' his boat to friends in order to lower the cost of ownership. What do you think?

Oded

[AdriftAtSea]

Just got back from a week on the boat.  Not all of it was spent sailing though.  I spent Sunday working on the boat, and shock treated the fresh water tank.  UGH... some nasty stuff growing in it from being on the hard for all of August.  Spent Monday through Wednesday daysailing and modifying the rigging layout on the boat.  I think I've got a good plan for running some lines aft this winter.  :D

Spent all of Thursday and part of Friday helping Charles and Michael get a 30' sailboat ready for a trip to Nova Scotia.  They just bought a boat that was for sale at my marina and I was helping them get it commissioned after splashing it earlier in the week.  It had been on the hard for a year.  They left Friday morning, so I'm glad their not superstitious.

I hope to be back at the marina Thursday night, since I have someone who wants to go sailing on the Pretty Gee, besides me, next weekend.

[Cmdr Pete]

Small boat--Short distances

I can't seem to take time off for a long cruise. But, I can steal some hours to get out on the boat.

Every year I average 70 times out on my boat.

I guess its enough. Yesterday I got back from a nice sail. Got in my car and started driving home. Went to change lanes. I started reaching around to trim the sheets--in my car!

I have a sickness

[AllAboutMe]

Oded,
I do my best to sail at least 3 times a month all year. Of course, it happens that there are times when it is impossible to get to the boat(s).
You're asking about "Fractional usership".They call it fractional ownership, but you don't own anything but guaranteed sailing time. The actual owner puts up the big bucks, and if all the shares are sold, winds up with a nice new(ish) boat for pennies on the dollar. You pay an annual fee, and have a set number of reserved sailing days, and can call for spur of the moment sailing if the boat is not being utilized. There are a limited number of fractional owners(users) for the boat, and all maintenance and cleaning is handled by the management company. All you have to do is show up, and go sailing. Cost varies, depending on the size of the boat, but it seems to average about $4500 a year for a 30 something foot Hunter. That's about $150 a month more than I pay for two slips and maintenance on my 2 Columbias. If all you want to do is day sail, or do an occasional weekend it could be a practical way to go. No maintenance chores, no varnishing,waxing,washing,repairing rigging,patching sails. (All of the fun stuff) I'm almost as happy doing the maintenance as I am sailing. Its all a way to escape.
Of course, if you wanted to do an extended trip, say a couple of weeks, you'd need to charter a boat.
As far as a partnership goes, if I could be guaranteed that I'd have use of the boat during the week, say 26 weeks out of the year, and a couple of weekends, and at least 2 two week periods for extended Bay cruising, I'd probably consider a partnership. That's assuming that I could find someone that's as hinky as I am about the boat.

[CapnK]

LOL, C'pete - at least you didn't tiller steer on the way home! ("Honest Officer, I really haven't been drinking..." ;D)

My boat is fully utilized but sadly undersailed so far this year. I'm on her all the time, but due to mechanical issues she has been unsailable. Nonetheless, I'm hoping all will be fixed soon - I'm shooting for being able to go up to Southport NC for the Steed Bonnett Regatta on Oct 28. If I can make that, she won't be pretty, just functional. That's all I need. :)

I've been getting my 'sailing fix' via other methods - sailing my windsurfer, and/or dinghy, and occasionally on OPB's*.

Done quite a bit of powerboating as well, either offshore fishing, or just running the river with my brother and his rugrats on their 16' Carolina Skiff. As long as I can be on the water in some way, I'm basically happy. It may not be my 'ultimate outcome', but it satisifies the beast. ;D



*Other Peoples Boats

[Captain Smollett]

I'm shooting for being able to go up to Southport NC for the Steed Bonnett Regatta on Oct 28.

I'd like to go ... I've heard Steed is a lot of fun.  But....

That's the weekend we are celebrating our TEN YEAR anniversary.  I probably should not 'ask' if I can go sailing that weekend. ;)

[CapnK]

Congrats, John and Becky!!! 10 years - that's something! And she still let's you sail!!! ;D