Okay, I'll wing it:
I'm not quite sure why I need to explain it to a farmer, but I guess what I'd say, is something like, "just like you have the heart that says you will confront vagaries of
weather because you just love the little shoots coming up in spring, watching them grow, and then the bountiful harvest if the
weather gods have been kind, I love the sea, and even though she can be a mean old thing (like when the weather gods have been unkind) that is where I am going to spend the remainder of my life.
"I have not much
money, so I must find a vessel to carry me that I can afford, and afford also to keep up mechanically. It must be small enough that I as a small woman can handle the
sails, but large enough to carry
food and
water for my longer voyages. I want
wind steering, as well as an
autopilot." I'd explain to the farmer that
wind steering does not require
power other than the wind, so if it were too light, I could rest and await wind to carry on.
"It would be between 30 and 35 ft. in length, have a
diesel auxiliary
engine in good working nick. I'd consider
sloop or
cutter, grp, most likely (doesn't seem like the budget would run to strip plank
epoxy modern construction) fin or cutaway forefoot type
keel, rig with inline spreaders. I'll be interested in the sturdiness of construction and would have to look at a lot of boats. secure sea berth, and handholds. I'll
work till I can afford new
sails for her. I shall need about 50 US gal
water capacity and perhaps 20 US gal
diesel. Chart
storage space. My boat will be simple because I am not an
electric stuff wiz. Which also means that while I use and value electronic aids, I'd be hopeless at fixing them. " For the dreaded
electronics, I'd carry a
GPS (or two), an
autopilot, and an
SSB radio,
VHF,
depth sounder, and would like to have a windpoint and anemometer. I'd like to add a
salt water pump to the
galley. Two burner
propane stove, preferably with an
oven (I like to bake bread, but it can be done in a Dutch
oven on top the burner). I'd like to have a
toilet, rather than use a bucket.
and now I have to stop, because it occurs to me thatif I am including someone else, all the parameters change, and I would never force abstemious standards on a friend--and only someone who is foremost a friend would I wish to voyage with.
Thanks for an interesting mental exercise, satdiver. It is that for me, the sea has amazing things to offer, and that draw, and the willingness to undergo discomfort for the pleasures are difficult for me to try and explain.
Ann