The wannabes finally have a plan!

[brookiesailor]

Last summer we almost bought a boat, but had no clear plan and lots of upcoming unknown quantities of expenses. We decided to wait until spring. Then oil crashed and with it went our down payment... So we had to come up with a new plan.

Two years. In two years we will sell one house and buy a boat. We will spend two years coastal cruising, getting to know the boat, making upgrades and working until two of our three are out of college. Then head to the Caribbean and hopefully further depending on my health.

I have talked hubby into a smaller boat based on my physical capabilities and we both seem to be happy with the compromise.

It is a plan we both seem happy with and can plan for. It takes the pressure off of finding a boat today with job uncertainty and financial chaos and it ensures we are both not rushing into something we should enjoy the process!


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[goat]

A two year plan is still a plan. It's nice to have a light at the end of the tunnel. Best of luck.

goat

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[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

It is a plan we both seem happy with and can plan for.

The part of your plan that I like the most is that it really isn't a plan at all. It's a "lets start sailing and see where it takes us".

I would reconsider the "smaller" boat. I'm more of the "get the size of boat you need to be comfortable" verse the smallest boat you "need". Of course I don't know what a "smaller" boat means for you.

Good luck!

[brookiesailor]

Sailor boy... I talked him down from 54 ft to 47. My thinking being that if everything electric fails, I would like to know I can trim the sails manually. I think it will be plenty of boat for 2 people.


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[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

Sailor boy... I talked him down from 54 ft to 47. My thinking being that if everything electric fails, I would like to know I can trim the sails manually. I think it will be plenty of boat for 2 people.


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You did well grasshopper. To me a 46-48' boat is the perfect couple size and getting bigger is just space for guests to get over comfortable in.

[Sea Dreaming]

Congratulations! The time will go very fast. Two years is not a long way out!

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

Sailor boy... I talked him down from 54 ft to 47. My thinking being that if everything electric fails, I would like to know I can trim the sails manually. I think it will be plenty of boat for 2 people.


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40'-43' is still a very comfortable boat...and maybe you could shave a year off the timeline.

Start selling stuff now. Its a great first step.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

Last summer we almost bought a boat, but had no clear plan and lots of upcoming unknown quantities of expenses. We decided to wait until spring. Then oil crashed and with it went our down payment... So we had to come up with a new plan.

Two years. In two years we will sell one house and buy a boat. We will spend two years coastal cruising, getting to know the boat, making upgrades and working until two of our three are out of college. Then head to the Caribbean and hopefully further depending on my health.

I have talked hubby into a smaller boat based on my physical capabilities and we both seem to be happy with the compromise.

It is a plan we both seem happy with and can plan for. It takes the pressure off of finding a boat today with job uncertainty and financial chaos and it ensures we are both not rushing into something we should enjoy the process!


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I'm guessing you may be Canadian re your oil price comment.

My plans have been dampened

Cheers/ Len

[Dave22q]

If money is critical and you sound like it is, you need to remember initial costs and maintenance costs increase rapidly with size. Many couples are able to make do with a 26, others a 30 or 33.
Downsizing can cut your costs by half or more. Good luck with your plan.

[maxingout]

The size of the perfect boat changes over time.

When I was in the Navy stationed in Puerto in the 1970s, the perfect size cruising boat was in the 32 -37 foot range. Anything over 40 was regarded as being enormous. I purchased a Westsail 32, and I felt like I had the perfect size yacht.

I still feel that 32-37 feet is the right size for two people sailing without other crew. That size is affordable to sail and maintain in most budgets. I would be happy with a monohull in that range.

My wife doesn't like a yacht that heels over, and that's a major reason why I have a 39 foot catamaran - which is small by most present day standards.

For me, smaller is better. Less to maintain, and when I am sailing offshore, the boat can be handled by a single person.

Smaller is not better for everyone, but it works well for me.

[Mark424]

Congrats on having a plan. Keep focused.

A couple suggestions - get out there and charter, try boats out, find out what you like and how big you really need.

I've chartered dozens of boats over the last 25 years, mono, cat, power, sail, and for a while it was about learning and growing, trying new and bigger boats every trip. During a charter in the Caribbean on a Catana 50, I finally said, this boat is too big. We had a fine time, but the sheets on the big screecher were massive, while my friends have crewed for me for a long time, I worried about the massive winches and loads on things and would they hurt themselves. Certain maneuvers, raising the main, anchoring were no longer one person jobs. Fine for a week w/ 6 friends, but what I'd want for couple's cruising. Reading and boat shows are only 5% of the research you need - ya gotta sail these machines yourself for a couple days minimum to find out what really bugs you. Too big isn't just about waterline.

After the Catana charter I ran across a passing reference here on CF to the book Sensible Cruising, it's from 1990, but timeless wisdom on not going to big. It's worth the $10.

For me, I like performance and cats, but growing up as a mono racer I don't like not having a great view forward from the cockpit, so am going with a Maine Cat. Everyone has their own things that really matter.

Maxingout Dave has lots of great stuff on his websites - learn from folks that have been out there.

[JPA Cate]

Brookiesailor:

Good on ya for a plan. Especially so, since you are both in agreement. Honestly, in terms of haulout time, 47 is plenty big enough! Just imagine holding up a piece of sandpaper and looking at all that area to wet sand!

Sounds like a workable plan.

Ann

[skipmac]

Here's how I determine the largest boat I can handle.

Take the heaviest sail on the boat, usually they main. Put it in a bag and try carrying it from the deck to the forepeak and back. If you can't do it then the boat is too big.

[brookiesailor]

Skipmac,
That is an awesome test, thank you!




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[skipmac]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

Skipmac,
That is an awesome test, thank you!

That has always been kind of a bench mark for me regarding short handed sailing but was particularly on my mind since yesterday I had to drag my heavy Yankee out from under the mattress in the forepeak to the dinghy, to shore, to the car.

Was certainly doable but methinks my back doth protest a bit this morning.