Hello from Michigan !

[mcsabb]

Mini-Bio:
Lifelong power boater... mostly Lake Michigan, but some time on the Gulf of Mexico

First job at age 12, was first mate on a Salmon Charter boat in my home town. Lived all my summers on our families' boats, vacationed on the boat to Mackinaw and surrounding islands every year thru my teenage years...

Graduated H.S and went into the Army, got out a few years later, and bought a 35 Chris Craft Roamer which I lived on for 2 years.

Have owned boats from 8'- 35' (all power, with the exception of a 14' Sunfish sailboat) I have piloted power boats up to 48', and done all the associated maintenance along the way, from wood and brightwork, to re-powering, replacing outdrives, to electrical and plumbing.

Current:
We just sold our 30' Sea Ray Weekender, and my wife and I are toying with the idea of switching to a wind powered vessel....

As a kid, I was indoctrinated against sailboats, (for whatever reason, I am not exactly sure) but somehow now the idea of silently harnessing the natural energy of the wind appeals greatly to me. (Might have to do with the fact that I got into surfing 7 years ago, and the simplicity of flowing with the natural energy of the water has opened my eyes to other possibilities in boating)

I don't even know if I will like it, but I am open. (I think I will love it)

I have been saturating myself with everything I can find online (reading, youtube, etc...) trying to get up to speed on terms, boats and sail types, etc...
Pouring over classifieds looking at floor plans of different boats, and just generally getting the feel of the sailing/cruising community.

I will be in FL. this spring break (wife is a teacher) and friends of my parents are going to take us out on one of their sailboats in the Gulf (either a 30 or 34 Catalina)
This will be our first time on a sail powered vessel, bigger than the sunfish.

So is it possible that we can make the transition from power to sail???

Lots of reading to do yet ...
Thanks in advance for all the wisdom shared here,
Mike

[Zeb]

Welcome aboard Mike.

- Zeb

[Ocean Girl]

Welcome aboard, last summer spent some magical time on lake superior and lake Michigan, :-) not to mention the absolute perfect beach combing. 3 agates! And lots of cool rocks ( I'm not a geology nerd, well ok I am )
I made the change from sail to power to sail just because i like boats.it's really quite easy except for all the ribbing you will get from your power boat friends.

If the heeling is too disconcerting try looking at a tri or cat, they are a blast too.

Cheers, stay warm!
Erika

[SV Siren]

Welcome aboard from a fellow Michigander...our family went both ways, and each time took a little grief..but in the end it worked out..just need a little thick skin for the ribbing you will get. I prefer sail..and will again someday, soon Where in Michigan are you located??

[mcsabb]

No problem on the thick skin...

We are in Grand Haven, Mi. and generally we vacation in the Fort Myers Area (parents retired there for the winter, & summers up here on their 48' Bluewater)

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here and thanks for your past military service. Welcome to the world of sail.
kind regards,

[kbudd]

Hi and welcome. We have a sailboat across the Lake in Milwaukee. Usually sail across to White Lake for a few days in the summer. Be happy to take you sailing if you want to.

[Tbrad]

Just remember: power boaters ask; "how much longer until we get there?" On a sailboat; you're already there.

[boatpoker]

There is very little difference .... you'll be motoring 95% of the time anyway.

In a survey of Canadian sailboats in the Gulf and the Bahamas ... sailboats who kept a log told me they sailed between 6-12hrs between Lake Ontario and land of the palm trees. Sailboaters who did not keep a log said " We sailed all the time"