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Time2Go · 05-04-2014, 15:28

Hi Friends,
I joined the forum about 4 months ago with a whole bunch of questions
about boats and cruising in the Caribbean, Winter 2015. I got some great advice and reformatted and reconsidered all my plans. I scaled them back considerably from the Caribbean to the Keys and Bahamas. Then some unfortunate health issues arose and somewhat depleted my boat kitty and forced a " REAL" Reality" check.
Anyhow, I'm happy to report that I have just purchased my boat for the next few years.
It's Oday an Mariner 2+2 in great shape that I will use on the largest and second largest lakes in New Jersey. I also plan on increasing my formal sailing resume by getting
ASA certifications up to BareBoat and then next winter do some chartering
down south as well as seeking out crew positions. I'd like to get a spot on the
Caribbean 1500 and with any luck I'll be able to make that happen.
We see lots of questions from new people and I'd like to share some of my
decision process with them

For me there were way too many stories of
people getting bogged down with maintenace issues especially if they
didn't live close by the boat. That's me, I was going to live up north for
8 to9 months and cruise for 3. The collective wisdom here, which I believe
after reading maybe 1500 posts said that this was not such a great idea and that after leaving a boat for 9 months, recommisioning and getting ready for a cruise was not going to be so easy or inexpensive. I'm not opposed to work on my boat and in my youth spent many summer afternoons flat on my back
pulling out cotton from between planks of lapstrake wood boats.
Now however, for me, the fun is in sailing not fixing.

Also after taking a good look at all the costs and not bullshitting myself
into thinking I can do it for less than anybody else
I came to the conclusion that if I only had a few months during the winter to
cruise, I'd get a much better dollar per day on the water value by chartering.
This would especially be true if I could find another kindred soul to share with.

So in the end, It came down to my willingness or unwillingness to own and maintain a boat for 12 months a year and only use it 3. The better value and greatly increased flexibility of Chartering Won Out
So for the time being, until I move down south
I'm going to lake sail my Oday Mariner (19' Daysailer)
10 minutes from home during the summer
and do some charters down south in the winter.

I'm sure I will have some posts coming up about the Mariner as I get into it
For sure, If it floats it's going to need some fixing. It's just a lot easier to work on a 4HP outboard then a 30HP inboard diesel and so on.

Once Again, A real thank you to all that have answered my posts over the last
4 months. I can only imagine the grief you have saved me.
My dream to go "Cruising" remains alive and I am certain that I will
get to do it before my final "About" It's just going to have to wait until
I can do it full time.