Ahoy!

[stoupidmonkey]

Hey all, new to the site. Lots of good info on here and sage wisdom. Im a vet of the Coast Guard (navigation and law enforcement) and am finalizing purchase of my second boat on Thursday (a Columbia 411). Planning on sailing the Caribbean in a years time with wife-to-be and looking for tricks of the trade as far as cruising goes. I worked down there for a couple years, but it is quite different when in a 41 foot sailboat compared to a 270 foot cutter. Feel free to list your favorite trick for cruising on the cheap or the best way to keep out of trouble down there!

[rleslie]

Welcome aboard. Where in NC are you located and where will you keep your new boat?

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Coastie,
Welcome aboard!! Lots of vets here. I'm retired Navy. Congratulations on your boat. Send us a photo if you can. I truly like giving advice to folks going on the cheap.
Do your own work. Go to all the second hand marine places you can find and fix things instead of replacing them (except electronics). Lots of "marine" things can be found in auto parts stores or RV centers and are half the price of "marine." Shop on eBay or Craigslist before buying new.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Pblais]

Planning on sailing the Caribbean in a years time with wife-to-be and looking for tricks of the trade as far as cruising goes.

If you intercom down to the galley for coffee you might not get any. Hey, when you own the boat it's a different game. We have everything here you need to know and even more you don't. Enjoy the wealth. Welcome Aboard.

[stoupidmonkey]

Hey rLeslie, the boat will be kept in little Washington at McCotters Marina. Pretty good place to work on a boat and slip fees are reasonable. Have to bring her up from New Bern, about 75nm, which should be fun. Where's yours located?
SkiprJohn, thanks for the heads up. I have heard few things that could be more true. West Marine is surely a last resort for me and search Craigslist all the time. Never thought of the RV path though. I will look into that one for sure, may be very fruitful for a good deal.
Paul, my little lady was reading over my shoulder and wondered what the intercom reference was to. Well, says I, a Boatswains Mate of the Watch will rarely get you coffee on his rounds, though a wife is quite a bit better at fetching it. Thats at least what I got from it.
Thanks all, very warm welcome and look foward to gaining info and perhaps imparting some as well.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by stoupidmonkey

Feel free to list your favorite trick for cruising on the cheap

Drink other people's booze and eat other people's food.

Seriously, sounds like you have a well laid plan.

Do some googling and look for other people's blogs. Lot's of good tips on stuff brought and not needed and stuff not brought that was expensive or unobtainable.

Have fun!

[S/V Antares]

Welcome Sr. Monkey! NC? Good place to start. Beaufort is a few miles away and used to us dreamers leaving from there. Check out the "Beaufort Grocery" befor you leave and send pic's back to them. Great wall of Pic's. Fun to come back a few years later and see your pics on the wall.