Buying a cruiser to see the caribbean

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Ron.
Sorry about your wife's medical condition.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by DebbieNTX

We are sailors too, but financially, we think it may be smarter for us to buy a 38'-42' cruiser.

By "cruiser" you mean a powerboat. Many powerboaters zip back and forth from south FL to the Bahamas. No big deal.

The "what kind of powerboat" may be something you need to examine more fully. There are probably 8-9 different major types -- few of which are referred to as "cruisers" -- that would fit your intentions. You'd just need to identify features you want/need/must have, etc. to find boats compatible with your destination, the trip, and your future place in Punta Gorda.

If you home in on brands and models, there's often an owners club you can join -- even before purchasing -- to ask questions of current owners of that model.

And there's also trawlerforum.com (sister site, to this one) where several members travel like you are describing. Many there don't actually own "trawlers" (which is more of a marketing term anyway, not really a true boat description), as you can maybe see from my avatar.

-Chris

[flyingfin]

If you want a vessel to cruise the Bahamas and Florida Keys, and one that you will then use regularly once you have a home in Punta Gorda consider a 28-34' cuddy or sportfish with twins. You will see more of the islands and get into skinny water and reefs where sailors fear to tread.

[zedpassway]

I wonder if the OP will return.....

[skipmac]

Hi DebbieNTX,

I might have missed it but don't think anyone yet has pointed out, it NEVER makes sense financially to buy a boat, any kind of boat. At the end of the day a boat will cost you, will just depend on how much. One buys a boat for the enjoyment of the boat. I would (actually did) buy the boat I could afford and not spend too much time worrying about whether it will make financial sense.

However, looking at costs, if you do plan cruising to the BVI or far reaches of the Caribbean don't forget that a power boat can use huge quantities of fuel, unless you get a trawler or displacement design and resist the urge to go faster. And don't forget that sailboats have motors and can get you there under power as well as sail.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by skipmac

I might have missed it but don't think anyone yet has pointed out, it NEVER makes sense financially to buy a boat, any kind of boat. At the end of the day a boat will cost you, will just depend on how much.

You read this all the time, but I don't really agree. I think buying a boat makes a lot more sense than renting a house, as long as you are going to live on it.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

You read this all the time, but I don't really agree. I think buying a boat makes a lot more sense than renting a house, as long as you are going to live on it.

When my kids were little, I bought a sailboat for us to "vacation" on during the summer instead of going on airplane trips or renting/buying a cottage. We had a great time, and sailed a LOT! Compared to cottage ownership, it was a bargain. Compared to cottage rental, about the same annually, but we got MUCH more use out of the boat than the 1 or 2 weeks of cottage rental equivalent cost. And the entire annual cost of sailboat ownership was about the same as taking the whole family on a one week airplane vacation. So I thought owning a sailboat made a lot of financial sense...so long as we were using it. An unused boat is just a sinkhole for money.

[kjbiceman]

Hi John & Debbie, sounded like a great idea for me 4 years ago and It still sounds good today. I bought a Whitby 42 Ketch in Guatemala and sailed around the south Caribbean and then north to the Yucatan area and then to Corpus Christi. I have enjoyed my Whitby and she has been a strong and easy to sail ketch rig. Unfortunately life got in the way for me and I need to sell her to help pay for my daughter's wedding. Very sadly I need to sell her. She is in need of a little up dating but with very little work and money she would be ready for the open water again. Asking $70K but am taking all offers. Give me a call (405-850-9242) and would be happy to send you pics & info. Peace & good winds Ken B.

[JstaRebel]

Originally Posted by DebbieNTX

We are sailors too, but financially, we think it may be smarter for us to buy a 38'-42' cruiser. The reason is... We will stay in the caribbean for 4-8 months starting hopefully this November. Plus we will then move to Florida and keep this same boat in our future canal home in Punta Gorda.

What do you think? Do people drive cruisers down to caribbean?? We have bareboated the BVI about 10 times and LOVE IT. We would like to see more of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Spanish Virgins, USVI, BVI, Antigua, St. Martin and even further south.

We would welcome all advice.

John & Debbie

This is done all of the time. There are many power boaters in the VI. I have friends who live aboard on their 36' and do exactly what you described. Of course they chose to get jobs there even though Dave is a retired fireman from Chicago. They brought their boat down from the states stopping off on all of the islands. Reverse of your overall plan, but still quite similar. Passages are planned to maximize time and fuel consumption and all you have posted is done all of the time. In fact, the Florida boys have already brought down the sport fish boats cause it's Marlin season. Lots of power boats. I say go for it if you can afford the fuel.

[JstaRebel]

Originally Posted by DebbieNTX

We are sailors too, but financially, we think it may be smarter for us to buy a 38'-42' cruiser. The reason is... We will stay in the caribbean for 4-8 months starting hopefully this November. Plus we will then move to Florida and keep this same boat in our future canal home in Punta Gorda.

What do you think? Do people drive cruisers down to caribbean?? We have bareboated the BVI about 10 times and LOVE IT. We would like to see more of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Spanish Virgins, USVI, BVI, Antigua, St. Martin and even further south.

We would welcome all advice.

John & Debbie

This is done all of the time. There are many power boaters in the VI. I have friends who live aboard on their 36' and do exactly what you described. Of course they chose to get jobs there even though Dave is a retired fireman from Chicago. They brought their boat down to St.Thomas from the states stopping off on all of the islands. Reverse of your overall plan, but still quite similar. That was eight years ago. Passages are planned to maximize time and fuel consumption and all you have posted is done all of the time. In fact, the Florida boys have already brought down the sport fish boats cause it's Marlin season. Lots of power boats. I say go for it if you can afford the fuel.