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A good friend of mine just looked at a 28' Bristol, $4,000, diesel engine ran, in fair shape. IMHO a sweet buy, of couse it needed some work but nothing out of hand for a somewhat skilled or willing to learn energetic owner. The galley needed rebuilding, packing gland, and cosmetics...another $3-4k over time it would be great. (To steep of companionway for my disabled friend who has been living and cruising on a 28' Pearson Triton for 10 years, third liveaboard boat!)
I see buys like this frequently. Perhaps or not a bit small for the long term but certainly enough to see if cruising/ liveaboard is the right path. Well built, solid and not too much to lose on resale. While you were fixing her up you could learn much about sailing from your 10' sailboat or a sailing dinghy, sailfish or lazer. We have Sailing Singles here always looking for crew. There are so many ways to sail and learn for free. If you have a pretty little sailboat you will be sure to attract some expieriencd sailors willing to show you the ropes. I could teach the basics of sailing in 4-6 times out, from there its a life journey to master.
I have been sailing all my life, I passed my 100 ton aux.sail in 1984. I started on Lake Erie in 1961, started cruising the Bahamas in 1979 for weeks and then months at a time, for navigation we were lucky to have an RDF, refrigeration which we did not have was extremely rare and broke all the time. It does not take a fortune to cruise if you don't mind camping, you can buy all the luxuries over time. Take small steps...keep it simple, go for weekends. Learn what it is you are really after from sailing/cruising. When I was growing up, my Dad told me about sailboats is that anything over 27' is luxury. I had 43', then a 30', now I have 35' and I don't need crew to go. I also have more time from less maintenence. In my observation so many PEOPLE on this forum demand all the creature comforts of a land based lifestyle they make SAILING complicated! I live a simple happy life, I don't want all the STUFF nor the EXPENSE of the STUFF, that's why I cruise.
Jim
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