I did a lot of soul searching over the last few days, and used a spreadsheet to help out with that. I calculated the prices I though I could get the boats for and then added the costs of essentials. Then I compared them, and subtracted the totals from my declining
budget, then subtracted the cost of replacing my
camera gear.
There is a Tartan 38 that I would love to pick up. I already know what it would take to buy it. It's loaded up with everything I need including a
spectra watermaker. Although much of the
electronics are 10 years old or more, they are all there. Unfortunately, it's just out of reach of what I can afford and still make the trip. If my gear had not been stolen, I would buy it, ad I have been struggling with that realization for the last couple of weeks. It's been tough to wean it down based on the new reduced
budget, but I had to face the facts.
Doing the spreadsheet really put things into perspective and since I don't want to rely on sponsors, which is a big unknown, I don't want to end up boat poor with a bigger boat but unable to afford the trip itself. So, I'm going small and more affordable and changing the plan to support that. I need to put in a lot of
equipment but it will all be new. It will take some time, but I'd rather leave later and know the systems. And i'll take the time to learn to sail it and make the overall trip shorter.
I want to replace my film gear and do a lot of photos an filming myself. I will bring a cameraman, but i want to be self sufficient just in case, and that includes being able to sail
single handed.
And while making a bigger profit on a bigger, better, more saleable sailboat at the end of the trip factored into my decision making process, i just can't afford to play that
game now. I'm focussing on the trip, the footage and the experience first. I don't really have a choice right now.
As for the Cal 34 vs. the
Islander 36, I have been on one and didn't find it much bigger inside. In fact, I found the layout of the 34 better with two quarter berths. The one thing I didn't like was that there was no dedicated chart table, which means hop bunking depending on who's on watch. Since I'm unlikely to use the v-berth on crossings, it may be the place for
storage, but with water
tanks there and the need to level things out weight-wise, that could be a challenge. There's not much
storage in general either, but my budget is what it is, and if that means myself and one other person, so be it.
Thanks for all the info guys. I really appreciate it. Oh and sorry if there are typing
mistakes. I'm using my
iPhone.