Couple with No Sailing Experience Buying Catamaran and In Need of Insurance Advice

[LauraleeG]

I am all for grabbing dreams and being courageous and taking risks. Without our dreams we are nothing. Note the despair that the current world situation offers...
But! I think it’s also wise to have a Plan B. What if you hate it? What if it doesn’t highlight all the good stuff you have got going on now as a couple but starts to erode away your relationship? Plan B.
What if ....?? Plan B.
Always have a plan B.
My two cents.

[Group9]

And, don't forget to watch the best documentary ever made about cruising on a sailboat: Captain Ron.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alNxLjCBJc

[iEMH]

Congratulations on this dream.
Without going through all 10 pages (maybe someone already mentioned it), I just wanted to say thinking about the big picture, If you are not an EU citizen or resident, you will need to leave the EU after 6 months. you will need to gather some serious offshore cruising experience in the first six months. And do not think about crossing the Atlantic yet
I know a great greek RYA school that will teach you on your own boat. PM me if needed.
Good Luck!

[dalemann]

Hi


I have been insured with Pantaenius in Hamburg Germany. I don't recall them asking about experience. They have been very professional and excellent to deal with. Others have recommended the RYA course which seems to be the best out there. Good luck

[jalmberg]

Originally Posted by LauraleeG

The book is written by a young sailor called Tania Abei. She was just 17( I think? Or 18?) and planned to solo circumnavigate in her sailboat, due to the fact that she was a bit of a lost soul and her father wanted her to have some direction. She knew little and learned as she went.
Her lack of knowledge and the fact that she literally found Bermuda by tuning into a radio signal off of the coast of New York City was inspiring to me a novice sailor at the time and scared shitless when the boat heeled.
She also did a complete rollover.
Easy reading, inspiring and a page turner.
The book is Maiden Voyage.
Happy reading!
Lauralee

Tania Abei is a good reminder that youth makes up for a lot of other deficiencies.

She had also already crossed the Atlantic crewing for her father.

She also sailed off on a very seaworthy, easy to handle small 26’ boat.

It was a long time ago, when the insurance environment was very different.

Personally, I think buying too much boat is the most common rookie mistake there is. That’s just One of the reasons insurance companies have gotten so strict: they have to assume new clients are complete duffers who are a danger to themselves and everyone around them.

Some dreams need to be earned. Start by crewing for other sailors. Figure out what parts of sailing you like, what kind of boats you like, where you like to sail, what percent of time you like to be on the water, and answer a hundred other questions that you can’t even imagine yet. Future you will thank you!

Good luck 👍

— John

[a1jacktar]

Am I the only one seeing this? "My wife and I are NEW TO CRUISERS FORUM and this our first post" New as of May 2015? first post of the 65 posts?

SV Blown Away
Registered User
Join Date: May 2015 <-------
Location: Qingdao, China <-------
Posts: 65 <------

[Jerryreliable]

Originally Posted by SV Blown Away

Hello Everyone!

My wife and I are new to Cruisers Forum and this our first post : ). We desperately need your wise advice because we are thoroughly confused and are also humbled that we don't even know what we don't know.

We have had the life-long dream of retiring on a sailboat and sailing the world and now is the time! We are retiring this year from teaching and are two days away from signing a prepurchase memorandum of agreement (MOA) on a used Lagoon 450 sailing catamaran in Greece which is just the one we have been looking for and then hopefully traveling to Greece June 20th if the foreigner travel ban has been lifted.

(please try and hold your laughter) With all of that said, we are now searching for yacht insurance and they are all asking for experience and we have none, but we are ready to gain any certification and experience needed to procure it.

Has anyone been in this situation or known someone else who has and would you please give some constructive advice along with insurance company, sailing certification, and experience suggestions? We would really appreciate it!

Hi,

You may qualify for a USCG Captains License. If you have spent some time on the water, even on a rowboat or a kayak, during your entire life, that qualifies you for time towards a license. Check with Sea School for that. You may take the BoatUS online safety course for free, and both these items would help with insurance. Stateside it is not a question of who will insure you, as much as who will pay in a time of loss. GEICO and Progressive, in that order are the two best pays. Companies that link to your home or auto insurance not advertising marine insurance, are tough pays. Insurance abroad may be quite difficult, and for the best advice there, or perhaps to insure with, call CJ Malstead, Island Wide Marine Agency 800-659-6651 I think is the number, from memory. I am the owner founder of Reliable Salvage and Towing, in business for over thirty years, but sailing myself since 1962. I confess I haven’t been out on my cat since last Saturday. Good luck with yours. By the way, several are available from the charter fleets in the Bahamas, at drop dead low prices since hurricane Dorian.

Oh, and I liked the first paragraph of your post, ala Donald Rumsfeld, “don’t know what we don’t know.” Jerry

[Carlisle Spirit]

forget all the quibblers - just do it !

my first ever boat was a 58 foot monohull - still loving it

best insurance broker in the asia region is in HKG

let me know if you need details ?

[Schapera]

If you have no experience, you will get stung buying ANY boat unless you engage an expert independent advisor. Insurance is the least of your problems. If it helps, contact Mike Hulbert at Pantaenius Insurance UK Office. Hes an honest bloke, one of the very few.

[bbellie]

Congratulations guys,

I can help if you still need. Is it for the mediterranean?

Regards,

BB

[davidarandall]

We have been happy with Teri Chamberlain at Novamar

teri@novamar.net

[markyelen]

So it looks like you guys are on the right path first thing you will need to register the boat in the US if that’s your final goal is a boating safety course in the ASA offers a number of certifications basic your boating cruising bareboat skipper etc. that will give you the certification many of the schools like the one in Ft Lauderdale will give you hands on as well
Prices are reasonable.

[woc]

Originally Posted by SV Blown Away

Hello Everyone!

My wife and I are new to Cruisers Forum and this our first post : ). We desperately need your wise advice because we are thoroughly confused and are also humbled that we don't even know what we don't know.

We have had the life-long dream of retiring on a sailboat and sailing the world and now is the time! We are retiring this year from teaching and are two days away from signing a prepurchase memorandum of agreement (MOA) on a used Lagoon 450 sailing catamaran in Greece which is just the one we have been looking for and then hopefully traveling to Greece June 20th if the foreigner travel ban has been lifted.

(please try and hold your laughter) With all of that said, we are now searching for yacht insurance and they are all asking for experience and we have none, but we are ready to gain any certification and experience needed to procure it.

Has anyone been in this situation or known someone else who has and would you please give some constructive advice along with insurance company, sailing certification, and experience suggestions? We would really appreciate it!

Congratulations on your purchase. I bought my Lagoon 450
7 years ago with no previous sailing experience.....and just completed my circumnavigation .
Your nationality and country of boat registry matters and so does experience. I hired a certified instructor from the American sailing Association and experienced with Lagoons to give me one on one training on “ my” boat for one week sailing around the Florida keys. Not much in the way of experience but enough to flaunt training from a recognized institution to be able to purchase insurance.
Similar to a drivers license you gain experience driving “ after” you are certified. People with 20 years of weekend sailing “ experience” are as qualified as you will be after a week of hands on personal training on your boat.
Check with your broker about insurance companies that are willing to take you on. Be specific about when and where you plan on sailing and keep the boat when not in use or out of season. Bottom line, take it in small steps. Get personal training, limit your trips to day sailing only in a familiar area until you are comfortable handling your boat by yourself. I did this for one year before I reached the “ hold my beer” level of confidence and then set off and sailed around the world.
Your boat is more than capable to do it in comfort and safety.
Best of luck

[rick bertram]

Wow congratulations but I’ll be honest. Start by learning how to sail. Not knowing anything about sailing can lead to big disasters in buying a boat. You have no idea what you really want or more important, need. This only comes with experience. Sure a big cat catches your eye but is it best for blue water Crusing? Is it a past charter boat that has been abused? Is it a hurricane damaged boat? Sunk? Do you have any idea what it is going to need immediately and 2-5 years out along with the costs? Engines condition? Man I just worry for you. I would get into a formal sailing school, sail a couple times a week and take all the classes you can for a year or so and then make the jump to buying a boat. A 3 week live aboard class won’t give you much. Take your time and do it right. Enjoy, it’s beautiful out there.

[Dave9111]

HUGE MISTAKE! DON"T DO IT!



Both my parents were school teachers in the US and they were probably some of the best paid teachers in one of the best school districts in the US. They aren't rich. Unless you have inherited some serious cash, you will only do this once and it will be a mistake which will follow you the rest of your life.


My analogy to this is that you and your wife have decided to buy a Semi Truck and Trailer and travel the USA hauling freight. You found a great deal on a $500K truck and trailer and now you need to know how to drive it and run a trucking business?!?!?



This makes zero sense. You have no business being behind the wheel in the crowded ports in the Med. I sure wouldn't insure you.



Buy a 30-35 ft sloop (no bigger) and start there. Take some lessons and get a slip that is easy to get in and out of and sail it!



How are you and your wife even going to dock that Cat by yourselves? It will need fuel from time to time.


You are really over your head. It sounds like you are also buying this boat sight unseen.. yet another mistake... in a Pandemic ??? yet another mistake. Wait for 6 months and that boat will be a lot cheaper. Thousands of businesses will be bankrupt in the US in 6 months.



I do some crazy stuff from time to time, but this is way over the top!