Ahoy Scooters :)
It's been about a year since we first started talking Scoot. What a year!
And right now, we're only about 1.25 years away from the planned start. :o ;D
I know the US economy is in a bit of a tear right now, and I am not sure how long that is going to last, whether it will get worse, stabilize and start to get better, or just hover hereabouts in a 'bad way' for some time to come...
(And of course, this isn't the place to discuss that - it just has relevance.)
In my business, I deal with people from all aspects of life - caterers, builders, lawyers, fisherman, a real cross section of society. Without exception, everyone is being affected adversely. Heck - I figured that lawyers would be pretty much economy-problem-proof, but even they are crying "no money". :) And I know that the economic situation has put at least one Scooter in a real bind...
Bummer. In many ways.
So that got me thinking today - How many of the rest of us is this going to have an adverse affect on, or is it having already? Is it something that is going to make it near impossible for most who've planned to participate, to be able to? If so, what can/should we do to maximize the chances for everyone who wants to participate to be able to do so?
I know that if things don't start to change for the better and pretty soon, I will be hard pressed to have the time/money to take a month off next year. If things have not at least begun to turn around by say mid-summer, then there will be no way, unless they turn around really, really fast...
Part of planning a voyage is to look at the intended route ahead, and plan for it, plan for the situations encountered along the way. So I guess that is what I am getting at - I am an optimist at heart, but I do try to leaven that optimism with reality. And the reality I am having to face is that doing the Scoot might be a financial impossibility for myself, if things don't change soon enough, or, heaven forbid, it even gets worse.
>:( >:( >:( :-\
How is everyone else fairing, I wonder? Is what I am seeing somewhat isolated, or is it something common enough that it needs to be taken into consideration, and planned for, even if the plan is just to re-visit the subject in a few months for a 'status check' and see how everyone is doing?
Input? Thoughts, comments? What say you, Scooters-to-be? :)
I refuse to let my life be dictated by money. Nuff said.
That sounds great.
Right now, I am taking just one day at a time. I'll just have to see how much money I will have left in a year, and or save. Marc
Personally, my "to do" list has been shrinking somewhat. While I am definately not the norm (ie single, young, debtless, etc) it has affected me in the way of being more selective about what I can get accomplished before the leave date.
For the most part im ready to go at a moments notice, however, personally, it means I would have to come back after X ammount of time and pick up work again. While not opposed to this, I was hoping that the scoot would be my start to open ended cruising.
I think every few month status checks would be great!
Not that we are planning to be in the Scoot, but Laura just gave her two weeks notice at her job. She has a ton of sewing work lined up, and we are getting the boat ready for a July (or thereabouts) departure for an open ended eastward cruise- Gulf states, Florida Keys, Bahamas. We have all the chart books in hand now ( Explorer charts, claimed by CSBB cruisers to be THE best)
With any luck at all, we'll be IN the Bahamas when the Scooters arrive and can meet up there.
@Charlie
Great news, enjoy your cruise.
As for us, we are living aboard since mid January. The problem is my business, due to the financail crisis I 've had 4 (!) presumptive buyers drop out since they were not able to get a bank loan to finance it.
I am afraid that our planned departure at the end of May is most uncertain at this point. Hopefully it can change fast, though. we try to keep our spirit high and keep working
All the best!
My boat is ready. My expenses are pretty fixed regardless of where I am (and actually go down away from the dock). Income is what it is as long as I can maintain comms, and HF e-mail does well enough for that most of the time. I'm in. Still, it would be a bummer to be waiting at the finish line and not have anyone show up.
I am hoping my company will be OK. We have been pretty bullet proof and posted out best year ever last year. With that being said this year so far has been the worst start ever. We are rather small and pretty specialized so we will see.
I live on less then 25 percent of my salary so money is not an issue. however the survival of the business might now allow me to take a month off just do to the competition and how tight the market is.
If the company goes completely belly up which is possible, I plan on selling what I can and moving to my boat anyway. Might was well make the scoot the first part of my extended cruise.
I hope everyone weathers this storm OK!!
I never thought that my line of work would suffer from a recession (power plant maintenance) but it has. My only income for about four months was unemployment payments :P. Things are starting to pick up now but who knows how long it will last ???. I'm still working toward "The Scoot" and hope like heck to make it but if things keep going the way they have been ...well, I just don't know.
Thinking positive ;D :D ;),
Pappy Jack
About the only thing that will stop me is high inflation - It appears the treasury has increased the amount of money in circulation 271% in the last 5 months. not good.
(I'm still working toward "The Scoot" and hope like heck to make it but if things keep going the way they have been ...well, I just don't know.
Thinking positive Grin Cheesy Wink,
Pappy Jack)
me to ---- jim
Quote from: Polecat on March 05, 2009, 06:47:07 AM
About the only thing that will stop me is high inflation - It appears the treasury has increased the amount of money in circulation 271% in the last 5 months. not good.
Is that because we are not using credit cards as much and paying in cash????
The Fed adds money to the supply to try to make it more available. There is also a school of thought that says that the money supply increase will stimulate the economy.
The thinking behind these moves is outside of the scope of SailFar, and would be better off left unaddressed here.
Suffice to say that as it relates to cruising, it is likely that today's dollar will buy quite a bit less in a few years. Those with fixed income streams, or a pile of cash that they are planning to cruise on will likely have some challenges ahead.
I'm still a big question mark. If certain criteria are met in the next couple of months, I should be just fine (as in better than I was last year) financially. If those criteria are not met, I will likely start defaulting on debts in the next two months with bankruptcy following shortly after. I don't sleep much anymore.
I've been so busy working every second of overtime I can just to keep my head above water, I have done nothing this winter to prepare the boat. I don't know if I'll be ready in time (I need to be ready by September when I was planning on moving the boat to Beaufort). It is not looking good.
At this moment I wish we had set a three year target instead of a two year. But it hardly seems fair to change things for those who are going to be able to make the planned trip.
Hopefully I'll be able to do a Scoot +1 year trip, if I can't make it as planned in 2010.
(an alternate course if financially things pick up, but I can't get prepared in time for September would be to leave around the same date from the Chesapeake and do my darndest to catch up to the rest of the fleet).
My wife is still resolutely against my doing the trip alone. If I can't get ready in time, maybe I'll throw my thumb out and see if Auspicious is picking up hitch hikers. ;)
@ Godot
Sorry to hear of your problems.
The financial crisis certainly affects all of us. Obvisously my 'cruising kitty' basically consisting of savings from the last 20 years of hard work is in SEK (swedish kronor) since september-08 our currency has declined 25-30 % against USD and Euro. Not fun. Not much one can do about it either...
Anyway, back to the SCOOT (a SO nice concept!) Couldn't you team up with someone else as a crew? That would calm your 'admiral' a bit too... just a thought! all the best!
Quote from: Godot on March 05, 2009, 11:44:38 AMMy wife is still resolutely against my doing the trip alone. If I can't get ready in time, maybe I'll throw my thumb out and see if Auspicious is picking up hitch hikers. ;)
Adam, I just ran forward and stuck a Post-it note on the berth with your name on it. You have a spot until and unless you give it up.
Room for one more if need be. Food costs split, boat costs are mine to bear.
sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious
Quote
Room for one more if need be. Food costs split, boat costs are mine to bear.
sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious
Dave,
I just kicked in a grog for the effort... ;D
Quote from: s/v Faith on March 05, 2009, 04:46:42 PM
Quote
Room for one more if need be. Food costs split, boat costs are mine to bear.
sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious
Dave,
I just kicked in a grog for the effort... ;D
And one from me, too. That's such a cool attitude, the best kind of cruiser mindset exemplified.
I don't even like to mention The Scoot outloud for fear of jinxing myself. As such, we haven't openly comitted to the scoot because things here have been changing so rapidly since last April. It seems like I'm living closer to the 'edge' every week. Eh-they can't stomp me out that easily. I highly doubt I'll starve to death living in America, but, I certainly do entertain the 'what if this happens' scenarios more frequently. I honestly believe once I finish the boat (using the term loosely) I will breath much easier.
Periodic updates on how others are doing may ease the anxiety. The camaraderie on this forum alone does wonders for my spirit day in and day out. Cheers and good luck to all of you.
In my own personal stimulus package I just gave everyone on this thread a grog... ;)
Quote from: s/v Faith on March 05, 2009, 08:39:30 PM
In my own personal stimulus package I just gave everyone on this thread a grog... ;)
Now that's a fine initiative. ;D Here's one for you!
Things getting a little sloppy over here ;) ;D but I figure I better grog Dave just in case I can fly out take that other berth :D
Thanks, Dave. I mentioned that possibility to my wife and she became a lot more relaxed.
Now I would prefer to do it solo in my little itty bitty boat, but I have to give consideration to Allison's feelings. <shrug>
The good news is that I should be able to afford to crew for you even if the worse happens on the home front. I've been very anxious to try my hand offshore.
I enjoyed our sail together Adam, and would be pleased to have you aboard again. If things look to be headed in that direction we can go off for a weekend with your wife along. Perhaps that would serve to further reassure her.
Incidentally, daily e-mails as we go with updates, commentary, and position.
sail fast, dave
Allison has expressed a willingness to do a weekend sometime. Of course, she will probably become spoiled on your much larger boat, and I may never get her back out on my little rowing boat. Ah, well. Them's the chances we take.
Thanks, by the way. I enjoyed that sail as well and hope to return the favor.
I'm on a set income and seem to find away to make things happen. I don't owe anything.
I single and 42yrs, the boats paid for, so the only thing I have to worry about is entry and cruising permits.
I would like to keep on top of things and maybe revisiting the issue every 6 months or so might help keep everyone on the same page.
Bill
Quote from: Godot on March 07, 2009, 09:19:25 PM
Allison has expressed a willingness to do a weekend sometime. Of course, she will probably become spoiled on your much larger boat, and I may never get her back out on my little rowing boat. Ah, well. Them's the chances we take.
Thanks, by the way. I enjoyed that sail as well and hope to return the favor.
Good. We'll plan a weekend when it warms up a bit more.
I'll be very happy to sail with you on your boat as well.
Its been about a month (well since the original idea was posed).
Anyway, im still a "GO" for the Scoot. Finances are hanging in there, as is my job with the bank. Now if I can just resist buying anything else ;D
Monthly follow up: Things are looking UP!
I've managed to keep my head above water the past few months.
I now have a tenant in my rental property.
With a little luck I'll be able to refinance said rental property and take care of all revolving debt. In fact, I might (fingers crossed) get enough to retire all debt, not counting mortgages.
Prepping and staging the boat looks to be my second biggest problem.
Dealing with Dearest's dismay and dreary dreams of danger and disaster is definitely the dominant detail that will determine if my deep water dream is destined for a delightful denouement or disappointment.
Good for you. Funny how things have a way of turning around. Glad its coming together for you. Have fun
Quote from: Godot on April 14, 2009, 01:19:39 PM
...
Dealing with Dearest's dismay and dreary dreams of danger and disaster is definitely the dominant detail that will determine if my deep water dream is destined for a delightful denouement or disappointment.
That sir, has to be the best use of the letter "D" I have seen! Grog and "Bravo!"
Monthly update time Scooters!
Im still "good to go" for the scoot. Cruising/upgrade money took a bit of a hit because I decided to invest in that house (should close begining of next month), but i've been working hard at getting ready. If anything its caused me to invest more in myself with the work, than paying.
Hope everyone else is still doing ok! Really looking forward to this!
I'm still in my financial hole; but I've stopped digging and started climbing out. Financing the rental property has run into some snags (darn tight qualification rules ... working through it though); but should be done sometime this summer. At the moment there is no disposable cash available to make the necessary updates to the boat. I am several months behind schedule.
So, the plan is to NOT launch until late summer. It kills me to say that; but summer sailing is usually somewhat disappointing anyhow. Autumn sailing is much more satisfactory as the wind picks up, it is not nearly as oppressively hot, and the crowds thin out dramatically. This will give me a good three months to, hopefully, get everything together. If not, well, I still have a backup plan...
Like y'all, finances are way behind, but I have found some corners to cut that make it not out of the question as yet.
I just bought my first old boat, so I am digging pretty fast. Fortunately it is all part of the plan, and I haven't over spent my planned budget.
As a military member with 5 years to retirement, I do not feel any effect of the economy, as a matter of fact, a bit of a dip actually helps me as I have a fixed income, so when the economy is bad, my $$ seems to go further.
Now if only the Canadian $$ would go back up to par or better with the US $$ I could bump up the top end price of my future permanent boat.
Bad news - I'm going back to work in a regular office job
Good news - I'm doing it because I couldn't turn down the offer
Bad news - I have to start keeping track of time off and things like that
Good news - I held out specifically for enough leave to do the Scoot
More good news - I'll take orders for beer etc to have at the finish line when you get there
Bad news - I'd like you to chip in for it. *grin*
sail fast and eat well, dave
S/V Auspicious
Well, Auspicious - Congrats, I guess?! ;D
Has anyone figured out a Proforma Budget for this trip?
I am not familiar with the cost involved and could use some enlightenment. More Light, Brother. ;D
Auspicious is ready to go, so I don't have upgrades facing me.
Rigging
Sails
Systems
I don't need to rent anything for the trip, so haven't given that much thought:
EPIRB
Life-raft
For consumables I'm planning to carry about everything with me I need expecting I'll buy some things in the Bahamas to enjoy the local culture. My budget boogy goes like this:
About 1100 miles down and 900 miles back (going well offshore southbound to avoid the Gulf Stream). 2000 miles at 140 miles (ish) per day (bigger boat) + 25% = 18 days underway at 15 USD per day = 450 USD. 15 USD / day is a reasonable average for me based on recent deliveries.
7 - 10 days in the islands at 30 USD / day = 300 USD. 30 USD / day is an estimate based on doubling the passage amount.
Note: I cook ahead from scratch for passages and cook while underway. If you use prepared foods you will spend more.
Entry fee 300 USD (NOTE: 150 USD for boats < 35')
Bahamas reciprocal operating permit for ham license 25 USD
Phone/wifi allowance 50 USD
One night in a marina 150 USD
Water 100 USD
Gifts and miscellaneous 100 USD
I should be down and back for around 1500 USD without having to pass on any opportunities.
I'm assuming I won't have to buy fuel (gas or diesel) before heading back, and I'm not accounting for the cost of filling my fuel tanks (gas for dinghy, diesel for boat) before leaving. I'm not anticipating having to refill propane (and if I do run out, I would have had to refill anyway).
I'm also assuming that I anchor out (no moorings or marinas) except for one night somewhere in there.
I'm assuming I won't be tempted into paying too much for WiFi access.
Incidentally, I do have both Winlink and Sailmail aboard, so I can send "safe arrival" e-mail for anyone that would like as we catch up with one another.
This isn't a very rigorous budget, but it captures my thinking so far.
For a SailFar boat sailing from Beaufort, NC to Green Turtle outside southbound and in the Gulf Stream northbound for about 1200 miles making 90 miles / day and eating like I do, and with a reserve like mine:
1200 / 90 * 15 *1.25 = 250 USD (by the way, you have to eat even if you stay home).
300 USD eating in the Bahamas (which allows for some bar time and eating out - run out of money? come home sooner!
Entry fee 150 USD
Water 100 USD
Fuel (30 gal 5 USD@) 150 USD
Moorings (3 x 25 USD) 75 USD
Local cell 50 USD
Gifts & miscellaneous 100 USD
Looks like under 1200 USD to me, with some of that balancing expenses you won't incur at home while you're gone.
sail fast and eat well, dave
S/V Auspicious
Fair winds!!
Hey Auspicious -
Thanks! Grog to Ya'. :D
Hey Shipscarver,
Somebody once said that all sailing(cruising) costs you is everything you have...plus 10% ;D.
Fair winds,
Pappy Jack
Hey Pappy Jack --
No doubt an understatement!