Traded Wife and House for Boat . . . Now what ?

[hpeer]

FWIW,

Bernard Moitessier thought that the Joshua, at 39', was too large and down sized to about 35'

[cburger]

WESTSAIL - CRUISING BOATS FOR SALE

[YourOldNemesis]

Boat choice: once you set off and leave the USA you'll see very few plastic fantastic boats. Most long-distance cruisers and RTW live-aboards choose things other than the latest Beneteaus and Jennaus - they tend to go for chunkier things, often because the plastic fantastics are manufactured with the charter and holiday market in mind rather than live-aboard, go anywhere boats. Make of this what you will

Are you crazy? Sure, all the single-handers I met on my semi-circumnavigation were crazy. I wouldn't worry about insurance though, because when you're single-handing offshore, you can't get it anyway. Make of this what you will

East or West: You're right to ask this question, but I would hope that long before you set off, you are experienced enough to know the answer. There is a hard way and an easy way and even that's not particularly easy in the great scheme of things!

Overall, get some experience. Ideally do an ocean crossing as crew - then you'll have a better understanding of what it means to do one, whether you want to do another, whether you want to do another alone, what boat will actually be right and what equipment you can live without.

[Boomp]

Lots of folks who dealt w 911 have ptsd...like a lot of us Nam vets. I lost a good friend in one of the towers and his wife dealt with it like you seem to be, while others dealt with it successfully. You can buy a boat and sail the world sans the effects of it all. Life is what you make it. I hate that your wife ran off...its stinks. 50 feet even at a good price is too big. You'd likely enjoy the trip in a 35 or 40 footer and as all the current councilors so rightly say...don't dwell on the trauma, don't hide in bottles or drugs. Stay busy doing good things....its important to dignify the lives that were lost by living and enjoying your own life!

[Hud3]

Maybe it's just me, but I've always found that any problems (big or small) that were bothering me simply disappeared from my mind when I was out sailing in my boat. Sailing is great therapy for almost anything.

I voted "Just Do It".

[Mario G]

My only question is "When do we leave?" The wife and I are willing crew, shes a great cook ex nurse and I can fix anything. Or I'm sure you can find others up for the adventure. On anything that size I think it would only be smart to have a crew with you untill you had a few thousand nm behind you. I hope it all works out for you.

[Olorin]

For me the dream of circumnavigating has been there for about 37 years now.
I traded the wife a dozen ago in a similar manner to you.
I’ve spent the interim raising my two kids who are now successful adults.
Last year I bought a forty-foot sailing Catamaran.
Yesterday, I sold the house.
In three weeks, I move onto the boat for the next phase of my life with my girlfriend.

I saw a t-shirt once that said:
“Sell all your stuff.
Keep the dog.
Live on a boat”

Words to live by

[sleptic]

You folks are awesome! I really appreciate all of your advice. Thank you.

Eric

[Fishman_Tx]

I agree that for a singlehanding amatuer/novice, 50 is too much boat. Stay around, say 39-42 as previously stated. Or maybe go with a Cat if your so inclined and need the room. You can get into a lot more secluded places with the shallow draft.

Re: the EX ball and chain.
I feel you.
Let me refer you to 2 songs that worked for me.
Heart of the Matter - Don Henley/Eagles

once the condition of the first tune has been attained, play this one on the boat. ...and get out of town!
Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills, and Nash

oh, and read my signature....

Got out of town on a boat
Goin' to Southern islands.
Sailing a reach
Before a followin' sea.
She was makin' for the trades
On the outside,
And the downhill run
To Papeete.
Off the wind on this heading
Lie the Marquesas.
We got eighty feet of the waterline.
Nicely making way.
In a noisy bar in Avalon
I tried to call you.
But on a midnight watch I realized
Why twice you ran away.
Chorus
Think about how many times
I have fallen
Spirits are using me
larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.
I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woman/girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will.
And you know it will.
When you see the Southern Cross
For the first time
You understand now
Why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from
Is so small.
But it's as big as the promise
The promise of a comin' day.
So I'm sailing for tomorrow
My dreams are a dyin'.
And my love is an anchor tied to you
Tied with a silver chain.
I have my ship
And all her flags are a flyin'
She is all that I have left
And music is her name.
Chorus
Think about how many times
I have fallen
Spirits are using me
larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.
I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woma/girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will.
And you know it will.
So we cheated and we lied
And we tested
And we never failed to fail
It was the easiest thing to do.
You will survive being bested.
Somebody fine
Will come along
Make me forget about loving you.
At the Southern Cross.

[CharlieCobra]

I'd love a Bene 50'. Great sailing boats, fast enough to get the job done, big enough to do it comfortably and if set up right, still small enough to single hand.

[Fishman_Tx]

Originally Posted by sailingaway221

Saw this yesterday and it seemed relevant.

AS for the wife..... all Im going to say is buy the boat ..... point that boat at Brazil.... I hear the beautiful climate there will help you to a speedy and unforgettable recovery....


As for the boat..unless you have 3 or 4 people going with you no one will insure you in a 50 foot beneteau...Personally after a year and a half living on my boat....smaller is better...cheaper.....easier to handle....not to mention much easier to maintaina and keep cleanish....single handing a fifty footer in bad weather or if things are going bad is not easy for anyone.

Freakin' Awesome! All teenagers should see this. And most adults too.

[Randyonr3]

The Cure For Anything Is Salt,
Be It Sweat, Tears, Or The Sea....

The Beneteau 50 is the Only boat we would concider trading into if we were to..
Its an ausom boat, and not to big.. we've been cruising blue water, and living aboard for a few years now, Its fast and managable quite well single handing..
Cost wise, No more expensive than a smaller boat if you do the mantiance yourself..

[DaveSherman]

Another vote for "go for it"

However, I think that you should really think about whether taking your dog along will be feasible. My biggest concern is that in some countries, they will require you to put the dog in a kennel while you are in the country. Besides that, where is the dog going to take a crap and urinate? I dunno, maybe you can try to train your dog to crap and urinate in a box, but I doubt that it will work in rough whether.

It broke my heart to send my dog off to a new home a couple of weeks ago, but we are selling our house and will be purchasing a boat for what will be my second circumnavigation (I hope)


Dave Sherman

[YourOldNemesis]

I met people who sailed from EU to NZ with a dog. Didn't seem to be a problem.

[Fishman_Tx]

Depends on the size of dog and whether it's trainable. Ask those who have dogs on board. There are plenty here. Threads already cover that subject.
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