Please go easy on me.

[Mtngeo]

right on. follow your bliss....i would suggest looking at a lot of boats online. there are more than several....google "sailboats for sale" and start looking. you can narrow your search parameters to your specs and get lots of really good ideas of what's out there.

[Scout 30]

For SW FL & the Keys I'd make shoal draft a priority. What about a Cat? For that kind of money you can get into a pretty decent one with a ton of room.

https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/boa/5570706151.html
https://spacecoast.craigslist.org/boa/5535736775.html

[Aaarrgh]

Dude! I applaud your efforts to make the best of a bad situation. This planet needs more of the unfortunate, like you, to not whine, but to rather use the strength that God provides, to rise above circumstances, and notice that HE will sustain you.

YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION !!!

Aarrrgh!

[avb3]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

I might suggest aiming a bit smaller, toward the 35-40 foot range. Smaller is better in that the cost of ownership is so much lower. Maintenance for a 35 foot boat will be 15-20% ish of a 48 foot boat. Small boats cost less to dock, to sail and to motor.

As Paul said some spend well over $10K a year on boat maintenance, not including slip. More if your not handy. Me I spend less then $1000 a year, but I'm a poor boater with a very simple boat. (though I do sail quite a bit) For me an Old 35 year old boat was in my price range. It's now 44 years old and I still love it.

If you have $130K for a boat. Look for boats in the $80k range. That way you'll still have funds to upgrade/repair the boat once you buy one. 95% of boats sit for years and never move. There is no such thing as a cruise ready boat either. At the very least, it will need a new raw water impeller and most likely new batteries, and the fuel polished.

BTW asking price and condition of the boat have no or very little in common. Never assume the higher price boat is in better condition.

IF you wanted to be very adventuress, you could buy a 32' boat for $8000. put $10-20K into it (or not) and go sailing for x number of years.

As to the type of boat, that really depends. Do you want a dock queen, you take out 2-3 times a year, Do coastal sailing or hit the blue water.

Southwest Florida has some pretty skinny water so a draft of no more then 6 feet would be good. 5 feet even better.

In any case, I wish you luck in your adventure.

6 ft is WAY to deep unless you want to really restrict where you can go. Mine is 4'10" and trust me, I know what bottom bumps are. Fortunately on the Gulf side/Tampa area bottoms are soft. Some of the marina's you will never get into with a 6 ft draft at low tide, and the tide only varies by 2 feet here.

If you're going to live on it and not worry about crossing oceans, have you considered a cat like a Gemini? They'll have more room, although if you're looking at doing any long term trips, a monohull will hold more weight. That being said, I know a couple from Calgary that did a round the world trip in their Gemini.

[four winds]

I second that. I'm 4.5' on the keel and 47' on the sky side. Any more of either and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the nice little protected basin where currently located.

It's worth mentioning the larger the monohull the harder it becomes to maintain the flexabilty offered by a draft under five feet and a mast under fifty.

If the OP intends to live in one spot and sail the local waters, then possibly more water or air draft could be OK, depends. But to travel from, say, the Keys to New Orleans, <5 and <50 would open up many options when trip planning.

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by avb3

6 ft is WAY to deep unless you want to really restrict where you can go. Mine is 4'10" and trust me, I know what bottom bumps are. Fortunately on the Gulf side/Tampa area bottoms are soft. Some of the marina's you will never get into with a 6 ft draft at low tide, and the tide only varies by 2 feet here.

Hum. Well I lived and sailed on a sailboat with a 6 foot draft in SW florida for a few years too. Not to Tampa though. Did find the bottom a few times but not Too bad. I think 6 feet is doable. Sure 4 feet would be nicer, but it's a compromise too. Keys were not a problem, but then I stayed away from skinny water.

[KeithS]

Start looking at what a buddy calls "boat porn"i.e. Yachtworld.com. 36 feet or less shoal draft. Remember that boat ads are like real estate ads.....mostly BS. Good boat brokers are hard to find. Florida climate tough on boats. Go look at boats in Florida and consider buying in Annapolis area. In seems boats get neglected for 1-5 years before going on market. If you find 3-4 boat builders you like research by year for major defects, osmotic blisters, keels falling off, etc,etc. Plan on single handing so autopilot important. Research insurance before buying. Research surveyors. If financing research the financing...lenders may not finance the boat you want to buy. Don't rush and don't get hustled into a "great deal" .....it probably isn't. And HAVE FUN.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[four winds]

lol. 4 feet, 6 feet, either way one will find the bottom from time to time in the Gulf coastal waters. I stopped keeping count.

But under sail that two feet will make a huge difference in the available water for making way upwind, or around a point, or approaching a bridge. Less likely to drop sail and motor.

I tack by depth at six feet. If I had to tack at eight that could easily be a quarter mile astern, if at all.

Sure six feet is doable, just less sailing and more motoring.

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by four winds

Sure six feet is doable, just less sailing and more motoring.

Oh Just more tacking .

Agree that 4 feet or so would be nice. But I would not limit my search to boats less then 5'. A shallow keel might give more lee way close hauled.

I do agree that 4', 5' or 6' they all find the bottom some time. Mind you my little boat is a 4'6" keel. Least it was before I moved on and loaded it up with batteries, cat food, etc.

I should note that I don't do a lot O tacking anyway. If it takes too many tacks or more likely the wind is on the nose, I run the iron genny anyway. I know a Slacker. Got to use the engine some now or it just goes to pot.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Got to use the engine some now or it just goes to pot.

Uh huh, yeah, that's it! Gotta keep the engine in good running condition. Hmmm

[four winds]

Oh, I definitely have a "too many tacks" threshold, sometimes quite low. Ain't skeered of using the engine.

Don't wish to sound like a sail snob, sneering at every at every passing sailboat with bare masts. Those types make me chuckle.

[Ramblingman]

I'm with avb3;

IF I were your age and in your position, living where you do - I'd be looking long and hard at a Gemini cat. Nice size cockpit, large salon, large forward owners stateroom berth , two private guest berths, nice spaces all over and shoal draft, go spend time in the Keys!

That said, there are plenty of folks living single on boats 25 to 55 feet that I have met. Depends on your needs and likes. Make a list and then go look at used boats.

[Scout 30]

NO offense to sailorchic but recommending 6' of draft in Fl is nuts. Life is stressful enough without doing that to yourself. Don't go over 4' & you'll be a lot happier. Keep it closer to 3' & Florida really opens up to you.

[barnakiel]

1) Go to the marina you want a dock with, ask their annual berth charge,
2) Walk into the insurance office, ask how much they charge per year,
3) Go to the boatyard, ask how much they charge for haulout,

Add.

Think about consumables: fuel, electricity, materials, workforce.

Add.

Think a new kit every X years and a new engine every Y years. (sails maybe 10 to 15, engines perhaps 20 to 25).

Add.

Calculate takeover haulout cleaning and updates, unless boat new.

Add.

Add a small emergency budget (say 25k in this size bracket)

That's about the major money suckers and easy enough to get at some kind of a broad estimate.

Plenty depends on where exactly you are. As has been shown whooping geographical variation exists.

b.

[captain58sailin]

Just a suggestion, I have sailed this particular vessel all over the Pacific, from Alaska to Tahiti. It would be a bit deep draft for FL. Anyway good luck on following your dream.

1973 Skookum Cutter Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com