11 months on the hard, 1 month sailing: good or bad?

[Niebla]

Dear cruisers,

My wife and I are reasonably experienced sailors who participate regularly in club races crewing on friends' boats (offshore 1-2 days, long day races and around the cans). We also charter every year for 4-6 weeks of sailing vacations around the world.

However, we are not boat owners. This means that although we get a clear picture of everything that needs maintenance in a boat and breaks through our involvement in the club, we never have the headache of "thinking about everything" or have the A-Z experience of boat ownership and maintenance.

We are planning to start cruising the world in 4-5 years' time, once the kids have left the house and our savings allow us to start enjoying retirement sailing full time. Apart from the usual destinations like the Med or the Caribbean, we also intend to cruise in the Baltic Sea or Alaska in the summers.
Obviously, we will need a boat that can become our home and take us to those places safely when time comes.

Recently, we came across an excellent blue water cruiser in an excellent condition at a heavily discounted price due to unfortunate circumstances of its owner (approx. 30% cheaper comparable boats). The boat ticks all the possible boxes that we have in mind:

- Reputed, bluewater boats specialised manufacturer
- Only one owner. Never chartered. Wonderfully kept
- Fully equipped with relevant gear (watermaker, bowthruster, generator, heating, washing machine, two head sails, self-tacking jib, radar, navtex, etc. etc.)

The only problem is: a priori, it might look like it is too early for us to buy "THE" boat now.

Since we do not live anywhere close to where the boat is and "bringing it to us" makes no sense (we are expats living in a "crisis area"), if we buy it, we will have to keep it on the hard (outdoors, in the Western Mediterranean) for 11 months every year and we would sail it for 1 month during our vacations.

This is exactly what worries me because I have no idea or experience about this being a good idea or a wholly awful plan:

- Will the boat need extensive work every time before we put the boat on the water potentially consuming half of the precious vacation time?
- Will the boat deteriorate during the future 4-5 times 11 months on the hard so that it will not be "THE" boat any longer when we finally retire and go cruising?

I would like to pick your brains about this matter hoping to get valuable information which will help me make up my mind for or against a buy. Thanks.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Niebla.

Your questions all have answers you don't want (I wouldn't) to hear.

[Niebla]

Thanks for the welcome.

I was suspecting that it could be as you say; that is why I started asking first before going ahead with the buy...

I would be very interested to learn why you think what you think. If it is too much to write, please try with a condensed version

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy and Welcome Aboard CF!

I know of a few CF members who sail in the Med and keep their boat in storage for months there, when they are living back in The USA or Canada or elsewhere..

For example, KENOMAC says he stores his boat for six months, then sails it for six, each year for several years. Perhaps he will add to this thread or you could send him a Private Message.

Good luck with your decision.

[Niebla]

Thanks Steady Hand for the hint.

I would see 6 months on/off as more feasible and would not see so much of trouble with it as the time needed to get the boat fit after being on the hard would dilute if I were to sail for 6 months.

My doubts come more from the fact that I fear that my 1 month of sailing vacations might end up being 1 month of checking/repairing vacations... while still having to be on the hard instead of sailing! That would make no sense at all and is what is, apriori, keeping me back from this attractive opportunity.

[Sandibar]

We sail the Baltic and splash the boat (35ft) every June and lift it out every September or so. While it's a bit of a pain, it does not cost much at all here (the club has it's own crane). I think I use a few days preparing the boat for splash and a few days to winterize it again, including engine service. The most annoying thing is to de- and re-mast the boat every year, which we do by our selves. Having the boat on the hard every year also gives possibilities to do maintenance and refitting, that may be more difficult in the water. Although many disagree, I see no ill effects on the boat from standing in its cradle for extended periods. At least it's out of salt water.
That said, I would not have a boat on another continent if I'd plan to use it for just 1 month/year. To me it just seems like a bad investment and some surprise defect may just ruin that whole vacation. If you can pay for someone to splash it before you arrive and check/fix all systems then maybe. Even then it would seem that investing the price of the boat now would offset any price difference in 5 years time, no?

[sailorboy1]

I wouldn't buy a boat that I wasn't going to use for years just to get a "deal". There are always "deals" and you should wait. The real reason people buy a boat early is to feel they have started the "dream", when all they have started are the expenses and maintenance.

[GordMay]

Use of a boat for one month a year (3 weeks sailing before/after a week of start & finish chores) argues more for a charter, than for ownership (especially remote), and all it’s attendant costs, obligations, and risks.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Use of a boat for one month a year (3 weeks sailing before/after a week of start & finish chores) argues more for a charter, than for ownership (especially remote), and all it’s attendant costs, obligations, and risks.

I would agree. With the money you could save, when you buy you could buy more. !! months on the hill won't help any boat. JMHO

[steve77]

Things do degrade and break over time. You can remove canvas and running rigging during storage, but stuff will still need repair when you next visit. Your list contains a lot of gear that will be happier being used rather than sitting unused.

On the plus side, you will gain a lot of experience! It will cost you vacation time, however.

Cheers!

Steve

[taxwizz]

In Ontario, we mostly sail 4 months or less every year and the boats rest on the hard, covered in snow in winter.
Because of the work to winterize and open up the boat, I would think that only using it for 1 month might be a lot of work for a little pleasure.
Personally, I have just used my boat (full time) in July and August, with it put to bed for 10 months a year, and have found this quite acceptable. This 2 months use and 10 months storage has worked for 40 years, for me.
If properly prepared, boats survive well on the hard.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

In Ontario, we mostly sail 4 months or less every year and the boats rest on the hard, covered in snow in winter.
Because of the work to winterize and open up the boat, I would think that only using it for 1 month might be a lot of work for a little pleasure.
Personally, I have just used my boat (full time) in July and August, with it put to bed for 10 months a year, and have found this quite acceptable. This 2 months use and 10 months storage has worked for 40 years, for me.
If properly prepared, boats survive well on the hard.

I'm in Canada too. Although I don't own a boat right now, I've owned boats for most of the last 30 years or so. And the season here is short...July and August are nice. June and Sept are shoulder season usually with cold nights and big winds. So most people sail maybe 2 months...many just weekends or their "2 weeks off". And the marinas are full of boats. Truthfully, we must be crazy. So much work, so much expense, for 2 months sailing at most!

I used a rule of thumb...my goal was 20 nights aboard each season. If there were fewer than 10, I should consider selling the boat.

If I were in your shoes, I would buy that awesome boat, and just try to make more time to go sailing. You will learn a lot about your boat and sailing, and that will make you more prepared when the time comes.

Please let us know what happens, and post some pics too!

[chris mac]

You will lose a lot of your 4 weeks use. Getting it ready, stocked, cleaned, launching and fixing things that broke. Then more time at the end pulling it and putting it to bed.
The other consideration is what will it cost for marina fees for the year. If close to or more than your costs of charter, it makes more sense to charter. Cheaper and easier.
Save the money to buy when you are ready. There are always boats for sale and always Deals if you are looking.

[TheThunderbird]

Irony mode ON:
l thought post was about we spending one month mailing, 11months at hook or in the dry. Which is Absolute truth, unless you sail across the oceans

Irony mode OFF:
you can keep her in the Med waters 11months a year, and sail her frequently, if close to a cheap to fly to airport (Malta, Majorca, Catania,...)

best, if you find a man of trust keeping her up locally....

[alansmith]

There are many boats to be had. There are many more opportunities to come. Keep putting money in the bank. Right now u r in boat lust.

The guy who said once u buy u have begun maintenance and associated ownership costs is dead on correct. Insurance, storeage, stepping costs if so needed, slashing and unsolashing fees, changing fluids, ... and dozens of other worries like electrical, refridge, waste tanks, sludge in fuel, mold issues, engines like to be run and just sitting...

Keep chartering until retired. U will be many thousands ahead. You will be surprised how long even a good mono will sit before she gets sold.