Looking For Ideas - May Give Up

[Buzzman]

Get a smaller bike! 300lbs is not light. That's like Suzuki DR650 weight. Big engine trail bike. It's what I'd want, but it IS 'big'. Maybe a Honda CT110 might be a solution?
OK, so it will only do 40mph flat out, but you're not in a hurry, right?

Otherwise, what's to stop you modifying the foredeck and forward compartment on one hull to make it a 'bike garage' with a raised, long, deck hatch? Then one of those 'dinghy cranes' (or similar) that you see on the top of super-yachts. Like a single davit crane, to haul it in and out, then swing it out...maybe extend the boom a bit, then lower bike to dock/pontoon.


Could be a one person operation, even, if thought through carefully.

And as you said further up thread that not finishing the hulls completely would see you sailing sooner, an empty 'bike garage' is a lot easier to 'finish' than the berth or bathroom that otherwise would be in that space.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

This is so personal. Me, I love sunrise at sea. It begins with Venus rising, and all is still dark. Then, very gradually, it begins to lighten. Eventually it is light enough to discriminate colors in the cockpit, and within about a half hour after that, it is light. If it is clear, you'll get a rainbow of pre-dawn light. Within 200 n. mi. of shore, you may see land birds. Another day out, you'll see only sea birds. You can just take a deep breath and ease into the natural rhythm of the days. On our boat, pretty soon after sunrise, Jim gets up and has a morning coffee. And soon after that, my night watch is over and I go to sleep. If we're lucky enough to catch a fish, that will wake me, but mostly I sleep well. I just LOVE watching the earth come alive. If it's not your sort of thing, you wouldn't miss it. But if you've never done it, you don't know what you're missing, because it can be a sort of almost mystical pleasure. Not as high as coming unexpected upon the Southern Lights, but pretty darn good, at least for me.

And, of course, it is totally different from the many pleasures of land exploration.

Ann

I guess after 30 years straight doing what you describe, it has started to feel like driving a car on the freeway to me. I’ve lived aboard and traveled for most of those years. I remember those feelings you’re describing. That’s what’s beautiful about boats. They are wonderful things.

It looks as if my girlfriend is not joining me on the sailing or RVung so it has become a different sort of situation.

She needs time to live on her own and a stationary existence to go to regular therapy. She moved directly from her parents house to live with me. She’s never had her own space. So she wants to give that a try and I support her. She feels it will help with her issues. A routine, etc.

So, I’m trying to pick for myself. She will join here and there as well as may ultimately join (we see a cabin in the woods in 20 years anyway), but this is mostly just for me now.

My big issue is even just commuting the boat up/down the east coast of the USA.

It takes weeks to do that solo, as I need my sleep. These are weeks lost in my current view. Weeks I’m forced to be alone, at the helm. I love alone time and being a hermit, but I also need time with people. It’s difficult as a traveler on a boat to find time with people as you’re limited to the coast.

These are some of the factors swirling around currently.

[goboatingnow]

I once toyed with the idea of an RV ,

but I realised why I sail. It’s not the destinations or the sunsets etc. These are the accessible from an rv too

No for me it’s sailing and most importantly the sea.

I’m most content out of the sight of land , my world shrinks to my boat , it will keep me alive and I need to mind it. The sea is endless in its fascination after all 70 % of our planet is covered in it. It bristles with life. It’s temperamental and it could kill me.

I’ve crossed oceans , in many cases the actual sailing was repetitive , but the sea was fascinating I could watch it forever. The dusk, the dawn , the line squalls , thunder storms , big seas , oily seas. The whales swimming along side the boat.

No RV can come anywhere near to that. !!

[goboatingnow]

I should add that I would not sail on my own. I need the company of like minded people also.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I should add that I would not sail on my own. I need the company of like minded people also.

Thank you for adding this.

This has now become a focal point of the decision making.

[rslifkin]

For the solo thing, there's always the option of having friends or family join for a few days here and there as crew on a long coastal trip. I've known people to do that and have it work well.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I should add that I would not sail on my own. I need the company of like minded people also.

I love to sail on my own, sadly not possible on deliveries (insurance) however on my own boats..
Company is for when I arrive at a port, then the conversation goes.. "Can I have a pint and the chicken and chips with side salad please"..

[PirateFoxy]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Thank you for adding this.

This has now become a focal point of the decision making.

On the RV side we haven’t had one long but I’ve been surprised how much of a conversation starter it is. We’ve had lovely chats with several people - locals, other campers, random people at gas stations and rest areas. I like my own time and space and so sometimes I just hole up in the bedroom of the RV for the day, but the random conversations really do add to it.

As far as seeing things from the boat - do remember that just like some RVers rent a car at destination instead of towing a car with them, you can do the same if you’re at a place where you want that kind of mobility. Heck, there’s lots of RVs out there to be rented, too. Extra cost, yes, but depending on your use pattern it might work out better in some areas than having your own since you don’t pay for a rented vehicle when you’re not using it.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by PirateFoxy

On the RV side we haven’t had one long but I’ve been surprised how much of a conversation starter it is. We’ve had lovely chats with several people - locals, other campers, random people at gas stations and rest areas. I like my own time and space and so sometimes I just hole up in the bedroom of the RV for the day, but the random conversations really do add to it.

As far as seeing things from the boat - do remember that just like some RVers rent a car at destination instead of towing a car with them, you can do the same if you’re at a place where you want that kind of mobility. Heck, there’s lots of RVs out there to be rented, too. Extra cost, yes, but depending on your use pattern it might work out better in some areas than having your own since you don’t pay for a rented vehicle when you’re not using it.

Car rental at a destination. A new combination I hadn’t thought of. Thanks.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by PirateFoxy

Are there kits to do the conversion or are you putting it together yourself?

You can buy DIY kits on Amazon and Ebay but I think most are direct shipped from China. Bafang is the leading Chinese manufacturer of motors and are well respected and they have a US outlet as well as one in the EU and elsewhere. Their website is great with installation videos etc. I purchased direct from them in LA. It's the 52 volt 1000 watt mid motor kit with the 52 volt 17.6 amp hour battery. They use Panasonic cells in their batteries which is big deal cause most other bike batteries are vague on this. I'll be installing it on my Specialized Crosstrail bike. The total completed weight will be around 55# which is light considering most built bikes are 70# or more. The kit was $1590 plus I spent $30 on crank pulling tools. I hope to go up to 35 mph and a 50 to 100 mile range with pedal assist. Technically it won't be legal on the road. You can go cheaper with no-name gear but most are straight out of China with no support. It will be here tomorrow. Their US outlet is https://bafangusadirect.com/?gclid=E...iAAEgI9-PD_BwE

[Chotu]

New developments.

So it’s going to be pretty tricky for my girlfriend to get a place of her own, financially, as well as supporting her depression treatment and all that normal land stuff.

I’m considering letting her live aboard the catamaran in a harbor up north that she likes.

My to do list then becomes:

-install block and tackle on the davits
-Recommission water system and strap water tank in
-build permanent entry doors to replace temporary
-run plumbing to galley
-buy a new portapotty
-mount generator
-fill propane tanks
-fill fuel tanks
-1000 mile delivery
-using something, wall off unfinished hulls from salon to make air conditioning more powerful for quicker cooling
-stow construction stuff in hulls
-hook up second solar array to charge controller and battery bank
-arrange a place for winter storage up north
-double check steering/kick up stuff (preventative maintenance/inspection)
-get auto helm working
-build new outboard motor mounts
-rig up a way to use an anchor properly with no front crossbeam and no trampoline (anyone have ideas?? I have a couple bows, no trampoline and no front crossbeam... a cleat on either bow.)

——-and get her a torqueedo??? For the dinghy? How are those things? She could easily plane with a 5hp Lehr outboard in the past. I’m thinking no carburetor or difficult pull starting would be best for her and for my sanity. How much electricity do I need for those? Assuming 6 miles a day max?


This is another lost 6 months doing this. But it does give me more time to decide if I’d like to keep the boat or not. It also eliminates rent from her budget, which gives her a much better place to start from working on her mental health. She can work part time and really focus on mental health. In water storage/liveaboard for the winter is also a possibility in the same area. With the right heaters, it might just be doable.

I have a rig now which kind of sucks because I don’t want to pay all the money and go through everything to get that on for this motorboat trip up the East coast. Thoughts on that?

Does this sound like a bad idea to anyone?

I can then just keep my current RV and use that for the time being. It’ll also give me a good taste of this boat (sans rig) to go on a 1000 mile delivery.

[rslifkin]

It seems like a reasonable enough idea to me.

How tall is the rig relative to the length of the boat? If it's not too much longer, just figure out a way to strap it down on top of one of the hulls for the trip and take it with you. Worry about installation and use of the rig some time later.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Chotu

New developments.

So it’s going to be pretty tricky for my girlfriend to get a place of her own, financially, as well as supporting her depression treatment and all that normal land stuff.

I’m considering letting her live aboard the catamaran in a harbor up north that she likes.

... so how do you fit into that? Also living aboard there? Is this person going to be your life partner? Would this person do well as you continue to finish the boat? And is this course of action truly to her long-term benefit... and yours? Don't make yourself depressed by trying to fix someone else's depression.

I would do anything for my partner but we have over 30 years together... the commitment is there. Til death, etc etc. Boats are for sailing, not housing for someone else.

Just my 2 cents.

[JPA Cate]

Chotu, maybe you could try seeing it as 6 months spent, helping your good lady work through stuff, maybe a year, if it took that. It is the kind of investment that pays off in the long run, in emotional, if not fiduciary terms.

Plus, it gives you a while to buzz off and maybe see/do some bucket list things, and you both can be as separate as you (both) want.


Ann

[Gadagirl]

IMHO you need to seek out proffessional life counseling advice. You are still in shock from your recent health events and, again, IMHO, should not at this time be making anything other than rudimentary life decisions. You, yoursslf, are in depression, or suffering some form of transition or even PTSD. You need a proffessional, not an online forum, to offer feedback. We're still here to converse with, offer comradery, but I'd urge you to care for yourself and seek councilling for yourself first and foremost. Especially before making these important life decisions.