Buying, Fixing, and Equipping a Monohull

[vtcapo]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Yup...I guess in a sense this forum is moving away from sailors drinking a few beers to Yachties sipping Chardonnay in Waterford crystal.

You got that right. I was told in no uncertain terms that I would be banned from this site if I didn't..... shape up.

A heated discussion is to be expected considering the varying opinions and old salts that frequent this website. I say let it rip as long as you are not cussing someone out. Our moderators appear to be too concerned about us being rude to each other and not hurting each others feelings. Give me a break and poor me another beer.

RT
PS That mindset would turn you to chum on some of the sites I participate in.

[sailstoo]

Wow...guess I missed the fun. But in response to the orinal questions regarding specific boats, clothes, etc. I suggest the poster get on a crew board (perhaps on this forum), do some sailing and find out what he needs/likes/doesn't like. Probably good boat shoes, a decent set of weather gear">foul weather gear and some non-cotton layers would be a good place to start. Don't go cheap on the foulies. Maybe subscribe to some sailing mags like "Sail", "Cruising World" and "Practical Sailor". There's a lot to know and he's just trying to shorten the learning curve.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

You got that right. I was told in no uncertain terms that I would be banned from this site if I didn't..... shape up.

A heated discussion is to be expected considering the varying opinions and old salts that frequent this website. I say let it rip as long as you are not cussing someone out. Our moderators appear to be too concerned about us being rude to each other and not hurting each others feelings. Give me a break and poor me another beer.

RT
PS That mindset would turn you to chum on some of the sites I participate in.

I was told in no uncertain terms not to take shots at the Mods. Matter of fact had the particular post I did take a shot at was removed...and I didn't even swear...(not enough beer).
All in all, they do a good job. That being said, it is the members that make the forum and not the Mods. Hopefully they just help facilitate some threads going sideways and not worry too much if a bunch of beer swiggin, non-spell checking sailors having a good time.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I was told in no uncertain terms not to take shots at the Mods. Matter of fact had the particular post I did take a shot at was removed...and I didn't even swear...(not enough beer).
All in all, they do a good job. That being said, it is the members that make the forum and not the Mods. Hopefully they just help facilitate some threads going sideways and not worry too much if a bunch of beer swiggin, non-spell checking sailors having a good time.

You've got pretty good idea of how it works. Nobody cares much about your spelling, and if you have go at someone in a good-natured way, that's ok too. It's when people start calling each other body parts and the thread starts to turn into a brawl, where nothing useful is being said and people just start getting pissed off at each other, that we have to step in. In such cases we also have to cut responses to unacceptable posts, to maintain continuity of the thread. Believe me, it's no fun for us. It's a lot better when people simply keep themselves in hand.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Nobody cares much about your spelling,

Apparently not all...See post #10

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Apparently not all...See post #10

Well, you're unlikely to get sanctioned for it, anyway

[m_kcisoh]

I greatly appreciate the help from mods concerned with thread continuity. Their take on the "etiquette", I do not agree with, but dad's house, dad's rules...
I also appreciate the help of those who took the time to understand where my questions came from, even though they were vague. Anyways, to further clarify what I am looking for are simplified (as possible) answers to what people find important personally. My favorite responses have included tips such as multiple oars and why, non-cotton clothing, ect. Little bits of information, things that perhaps could get looked over, even if they are glaringly obvious too you.
If you have a favorite brand of weather proof jacket please feel free to post it, and if you feel that this thread sticks too badly of "newbie", then please refrain from commenting. I am sure there are other threads that would better suit your interests.
I appreciate the advice to take walks down by the docks, and I have. Unfortunately, the docks where I live are 30 mins out of town, and oh yeah, in the middle of Nebraska. Oh boy, now I have probably opened pandora's box, but still land locked or not I will cruise, eventually. Anyways, "just trying to shorten the learning curve". So, let the thread roll on, or not...(I'm hitting myself for allowing email notifications every time a user posts)

[Dockhead]

The best advice I can give you is buy a Laser, or if you prefer, some kind of modest day sailer, find an instructor, or a course, and start sailing on the lakes around you. If there is any racing where you are, this is great fun and the absolute best way to learn about sail trim and basic boat handling.

Like that you'll make some friends with more experienced sailors. Get a group of them together and go charter a sailboat in the Carib. Do that once or twice a year, and between that and your weekend lake racing, pretty soon you'll have a good basic understanding of what sailing and cruising is all about. In parallel with all that, you will have time to save money to eventually buy your own cruising boat.

That's about it. Don't worry about gear and clothes now. There will be plenty of time for that later. First thing is to get out on the water.

[Dockhead]

Here you are: http://www.lincolnsailingclub.org/

They race Snipes, a fantastic little boat.

[m_kcisoh]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The best advice I can give you is buy a Laser, or if you prefer, some kind of modest day sailer, find an instructor, or a course, and start sailing on the lakes around you. If there is any racing where you are, this is great fun and the absolute best way to learn about sail trim and basic boat handling.

Like that you'll make some friends with more experienced sailors. Get a group of them together and go charter a sailboat in the Carib. Do that once or twice a year, and between that and your weekend lake racing, pretty soon you'll have a good basic understanding of what sailing and cruising is all about. In parallel with all that, you will have time to save money to eventually buy your own cruising boat.

That's about it. Don't worry about gear and clothes now. There will be plenty of time for that later. First thing is to get out on the water.

I am doing these things. With all do respect, it is responses like this that do not progress the thread.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by m_kcisoh

I am doing these things. With all do respect, it is responses like this that do not progress the thread.

Not sure that it's the thread that is not progressing. You have been given sound advise that most of us years ago when starting out, followed. While I built my first boat, I studied a course at the Canadian Power Squadron and begged rides on sailboats. Those connections proved to be invaluable.

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by m_kcisoh

I am doing these things. With all do respect, it is responses like this that do not progress the thread.

Wow you really are a glutton, now you insult the Mods. I suggest you look up the meaning behind " With all due respect"

[carstenb]

As someone noted earlier - you don't, at this point, know enough to ask the right questions. Asking "Gee what kind of neat gadgets/boats/clothing do I need?" can't be answered without modifiers. such as
1- HOW MANY BUCKS YA GOT? 100k? 1000? 10,000? If you happen to have a million or more, let me know, give me your credit card and I will return with 1 complete boat, including gadgets for a round the world trip.
2- HOW MUCH SAILING EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE? none? Hmmm - better get some and we'll talk later
3- WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO SAIL? - West/east? East/west? round the great capes? Baltic? North of iceland?

and lots of other questions that you are not prepared to answer yet.

Sorry - but you need to educate yourself a bit first - then ask the questions

[Kindred Spirits]

I thought Dockhead's response was well reasoned and valuable. It was not clear from any of your posts the you were already doing these things. Do not bite the hand that feeds you. You should be thanking Dockhead profusely.
At the risk of being flayed alive, the best piece of advice that I was given about buying a boat, was to get the smallest boat that you need, not the biggest boat you can afford. Very sound advice.

[carstenb]

Tbodine - I'm not completely sure how a set of oars will work on my 40 ft Jeanneau. Damn big oars in any case - not sure either I or my wife can lift them, not to mention row with them

OH - you were just kidding - not sure the OP caught that.