doc_cj,
Thanks for the reply. The outfitting list that I have shared is what I
know I need in order to move aboard the boat as a full time liveaboard (OK, the Paintball Gun is more of a want, I admit
). You don't even want to see my wish list!
I have a healthy enough bank account to not have to worry about unforeseen problems. I went with the
Hunter 27 because that is the largest boat that I had single-handed in years past (Columbia 27 I owned in another life), the Cherubini hulls have a good reputation (which the
marine survey bears out), I like the
interior layout, and well, the boat just sang to me after reviewing all of the photos and
documentation provided by the previous owner. The boat is pretty much turn-key with the exception of needing
bottom paint. Items that need to be addressed are in the 12-VDC systems. They all tested satisfactorily, but me.. working as a
marine electrician, welder, pipefitter,
mechanic and having taught and trained
repair and troubleshooting in 3 different country's navies...I tend to be a bit anal about my
electrical systems (MIL-SPEC Baby, MIL-SPEC....)
The point that you make about determining the "life" of the boat is spot on and one which I have already considered. I have my boat "life" set at 9 months to a year, might stretch to two if I'm still having fun adventures.
What I may not have adequately expressed in my original post was that I am repatriating to the US after living abroad for nearly 20 years, have no living
family to go back too, no US driver's
license, no
health care other than what the VA will provide (luckily have no
health issues that I'm aware of) and no job (and I'm not looking for one at the moment either), don't know where I want to go back to in the States and I don't have to be anywhere. My last visit to the States was 10 years ago and I can honestly say that I don't know my own country anymore and as such, will have to go through an adapting process if that makes sense (Changing mannerisms, hand language, speech patterns, etc.). I'm returning with a
single backpack (shipped other items), basic handtools (we're metric here), no
power tools (we're 220-VAC here) and a couple of disposable
cheap Chinese-made changes of clothes until I can buy a few pair of proper Levi's, Hanes undies and socks, shirts with proper sleeve lengths, and a decent pair of shoes that will last more than a month.
So I bought a little boat that costs about the same or less as
renting an apartment in some city I may or may not like,
buying furniture, setting up the utilities, etc., etc.,...that, and being anchored to shore. No thanks.
The priority list of 10 items that you mention? Well that works great for day sailors and weekenders, but not liveaboards. Priorities change when outfitting a boat for full-time liveaboard where comfort and
safety needs and requirements have to move to a different level for long term sustainability.
I'll be honest here....bought the boat off the internet, had it surveyed, and am damned scared of what it will be like to "come home" after all these years. This is gonna be one heck of an adventure and I'm looking forward to it!