G'day All, from Australia

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Both are full of 2 types of cruisers:
1) those head down, arse up fixing their boat with repairs that will never stop
2) those that sail in, fuel up, drag on new groceries, go to restaurants and then piss off to the next nice place.

Invariably the differences are in boats and monthly budget.
Number 2 is those with newer fibreglass production boats with a good monthly investment income ($40-$60k annually is great!)
Number 1 is all those with steel boats, unusual boats, unique boats and combined with less regular or less high monthly income.

Excellent!

That is exactly what I observe. I know one guy "near" here who has been "fixing" his motor for 2 years. He's basically stuck.

Then there are the ones who stop in, stay a week and haul ass somewhere nicer...

[meanda46]

Ahoy Golden Wattle, good to see another Melbournian here. And John, I too have started the "build-a-boat" thing with a ferro 46 footer. I am just about to have her soda blasted and throw a coat of colour over her while the coach house gets repaired and hot dip galvenised. Like me you have a lot of work to do, but keep your head up and it will come together, at least untill you cost your mast/s and rigging. Im trying to work down from the $60,000.00 I was quoted (at 25ish tonne its all big). Oh well, onward and upward we go. The mast sections at 50' and 35' came in at $3000 and $2200 new so im looking at ways to save on all the other crap that goes on them. #60 ST. winches are another hold your breath thing. Keep a look out for second hand stuff now,you dont know when you will find a bargain that can save you BIG bucks.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Golden,
Sorry to not have gotten back to you about bilge keels but think they are really good if you have tremendous tides and need to sit on the bottom frequently. They are not as good "to weather" performers as a mono with a deep keel. I think for shallow draft I'd pick a shoal draft mono with a centerboard. Pearson 35 is one such boat. Maybe in OZ you have similar designs?
I don't like the motion of cats at sea so that's why I don't have one. You might like them though so give them a try.
Good luck in your choice.
Regards,
JohnL

[Golden Wattle]

Hi Meanda 46 & thanks SkprJohn.
Still reading & learning here.

Cheers
GW