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Kudu · 16-06-2019, 17:03

I grew up in Capetown. When it comes to sailing there, you are instantly at sea. No nice sheltered estuary to fix things which go wrong. FFFreezing Atlantic water unless you are lucky enough to sail in False Bay.

Get a boat which is as close as possible to seaworthy now, and get a friend to come with you, who is experienced.

Alan green · 17-06-2019, 11:08

Depends on wether you wisk to repair boats or sail them when buying a supposed good boat take a experience person with you can learn a lot from a calm friend

R Collins · 05-07-2019, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggerknot

Depends, wanna dream about sailing while you're covered in bilge funk and sweat OR, actually be sailing?

Ready to go! Then you will know what things are supposed to do when working correctly.

exMaggieDrum · 06-07-2019, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Collins

Ready to go! Then you will know what things are supposed to do when working correctly.

While I understand why you give this advice, I don't think it always (actually almost never) works out that way.
These are wild numbers but not totally out of line:

90% of used boats advertised as "ready to go" are not.

99% of new boats are not "ready to go".

And how someone who does not know boats and cruising will know how to evaluate that and what needs to be done is beyond me. But I am a conservative type with boats. We had our cruiser for five years before setting out offshore. And she had just got back from offshore and was "ready to go back" (and needed a lot of work).

But, it occasionally happens that a good boat is ready to go as advertised so best of luck to you. And good things can happen to all of us so you may find a boat you can learn on as you go and not have to call the Coasties or put in to the first port along the way to fix stuff.

geoleo · 06-07-2019, 07:08

Is there anything more unreliable than a offshore cruising sailboat???

**boatman61** · 06-07-2019, 07:16

The truth is.. One mans ready to go is another mans project boat.
Only the individuals needs and risk aversion can decide.

Lake-Effect · 06-07-2019, 07:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conradb

I am new to sailing and looking for suggestions on my first boat. Would it be better to buy a "ready to go" boat or buy cheaper and renovate over a couple of months?

If I buy a project boat, I will surely learn everything about the boat as I am renovating it, allowing me to pretty much fix everything myself.

If I buy a boat that is ready to go, it could take me quite a while before I learn everything and there is no guarantee that I will be able to fix it myself without paying an expert. ie. the repairs might be more expensive overall

Does anyone wish they renovated instead of buying RTG?

I'm way late to this.

First I'd like to replace the qualifier "ready to go" with "sailable". "Ready to go" implies all done, nothing to do... and that boat doesn't exist.

A sailable boat... can be sailed with a minimum of work. A sailable boat might still require a lot of work to be better, but you can still jump in and go for a sail.

I recommend getting a modest sailable used boat as your first. There will be work to do, but you still get to sail almost immediately... which is the point of boat ownership. As you sail and work, you will gain a better idea of what really needs to be done, and what is going to work best for you.

Best of both worlds. Its what we did.

Calif.Ted · 06-07-2019, 07:54

I always wonder how many people would suggest buying a "project" car from the junkyard to learn how to drive.

boatpoker · 06-07-2019, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conradb

I am new to sailing and looking for suggestions on my first boat. Would it be better to buy a "ready to go" boat or buy cheaper and renovate over a couple of months?

If I buy a project boat, I will surely learn everything about the boat as I am renovating it, allowing me to pretty much fix everything myself.

If I buy a boat that is ready to go, it could take me quite a while before I learn everything and there is no guarantee that I will be able to fix it myself without paying an expert. ie. the repairs might be more expensive overall

Does anyone wish they renovated instead of buying RTG?

I've done three (37', 43' and 38') total gutted down to the shell reno's. Someone should have had me put away after the first one. I am afraid to add up the actual costs.

Sailing is the easy part. You need to learn how to look at used boats.

Marine Survey 101 -
Marine Survey 101, pre-survey inspection

john61ct · 06-07-2019, 09:13

Most USians buy secondhand cars, not new.

Junkyard really doesn't come into the analogy.

What are you saying it only makes sense to buy a brand new boat ?

R Collins · 06-07-2019, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by exMaggieDrum

While I understand why you give this advice, I don't think it always (actually almost never) works out that way.
These are wild numbers but not totally out of line:

90% of used boats advertised as "ready to go" are not.

99% of new boats are not "ready to go".

And how someone who does not know boats and cruising will know how to evaluate that and what needs to be done is beyond me. But I am a conservative type with boats. We had our cruiser for five years before setting out offshore. And she had just got back from offshore and was "ready to go back" (and needed a lot of work).

But, it occasionally happens that a good boat is ready to go as advertised so best of luck to you. And good things can happen to all of us so you may find a boat you can learn on as you go and not have to call the Coasties or put in to the first port along the way to fix stuff.

All boats have to be fixed continually, you have to get used to it. Its easy to comprehend when one componant breaks and you figure out how to repair it to how it was..... more than to "renovate" a boat without a clue where to start

Calif.Ted · 06-07-2019, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by john61ct

Most USians buy secondhand cars, not new.

Junkyard really doesn't come into the analogy.

What are you saying it only makes sense to buy a brand new boat ?

I'm saying nobody has ever learned to sail in a boatyard.

RGN · 06-07-2019, 10:52

As already mentioned "One mans Ready to Go boat is another mans Project". That does not mean the Project is not seaworthy, it means for that guy, the boat needs things done for his purposes.

Also as mentioned, boats break, wear out or need upgrades on a regular basis. A moderate amount of "Project" is to be expected and perhaps even desirable for newer cruiser. In my case I like getting to the guts of new to me boat or car. I really don't trust a new acquisition much until I have mucked around in the details of the Project. But, that might just be me.

We all have a tolerance for what we are willing to take on before the boat is at least usable, by the same token, some knowledge of the boats structure and systems is very valuable when the inevitable problems arise.

Then there is the subject of Money. Yes, new boats are very expensive, but a Project boat is not going to be cheap after all is said and done (if that ever happens). They both demand blood sweat and tears The new one to earn the money and the projects literally demand blood sweat and tears!

Damn I make this sound gloomy