Throwing it all in and Sailing Off - Where do you Start?

[squirty34]

I am 45 and my partner is 43. I am an ex Sales Director, my Girl runs her own catering business. We both have limited experience on yachts and own and sail a racing Hobie 16. (I know there is a world of difference - but we know how to sail and use the wind)

We really fancy renting out our houses and living off the rental income. We think we can raise about 100K - 150K by extending the (almost) paid of mortgages on our houses. After mortgage payments (after financing the boat) / tax we think we can clear about £1.5K - £2K (Sterling) a month to live.

Question 1

Can we make it work?

The choice is we don't charter and live carefully (if it can be done...?).

Or we take a boat and charter her as a skippered catered boat which gives less freedom but we both like people so possibly not so much of a hardship.

Question 2

Is it for us?

If we can make it work, then the next question is how do we get the experience to know if this is the life for us?

(Any wonderful people out there please don't hesitate to let us know if you can help on this one.)

Question 3.

Choice of boat?

We have been looking at ex charter Lagoons (380/410), FPs (40-44) and Leopard (40) - Possibly Broadblue 385. It was all going so well until Mrs stepped onto the new 44FP. After surgically extracting both her from the boat and the smile from her face, I know understand two things - One we cant afford it, two - this is the new benchmark for any choice.

Not worried about wear and tear as we are both good at repairing woodwork / linings / upholstery. I am an Engineer and quite handy, so quite happy to fix even quite major stuff - but don't want to blow all my money on parts.......

All suggestions very welcome.

Question 4

We fancy sailing the world, but we want to start smaller. Where is a good place to start? BVI? St Martin? Greece?

Thanks for looking, all sensible replies very welcome. I am aware I am asking for the answer to life, the universe and everything. (Its 42 BTW)

Andy

[nimblemotors]

Welcome to CF Andy.

If you don't sell the houses but rent them and still have $150k for the adventure,
then I don't see much problem if it turns out not to be your thing.
Just sell the boat and move back to land.
Obviously $150k won't get you a new production 40ft cat,
or even a good used one.

I will bet nobody else would suggest you considered building a catamaran,
or more precisely three of them. See my sig below.

[Cheechako]

Sounds doable to me using the 1.2k lb to live on monthly. The caribe is a great place to start and spend 2-3 years in.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Andy.