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

[ccannan]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Unless you can absorb a total loss on the boat, be very careful of people telling you to only take out liability insurance.

Good, albeit probably unnecessary advice, as no one on CF so far has been “telling” the OP “to only take out liability insurance”. Also, as an adult near retirement it should be presumed that the OP understands the implications of liability insurance.

[Capn Jimbo]

With no experience, and no real knowledge - forgive me - you will come to greatly regret buying this as your first boat. The number of people who fall in love with sailing off into the sunset, around the world - but never do it - is legion to the handful that actually do it.


Consider that your first boat will - in general - be a mistake, as you will quickly learn. Your second boat is the one. My advice - please get out of this deal and plan to take some good lessons from a qualified school, and then charter a few boats. See if you can crew on a challenging delivery or two.


I really don't mean to burst your lovely and romantic bubble. But please, please don't...

[In Training]

I am retiring this year with plans to purchase next spring. Took 101, 102 and 103 sailing on 43 ft. monohull and then this year same plus ASA 110 on Catamaran. Soo glad we did. Catamaran pounded for days, sailing was aweful. Doesn't slice thru waves like the monohull and needed to motor sail so engine noise there. Took a lot of the enjoyment away. Took the sailing classes to help with insurance and get some experience. Take away: Will not buy a catamaran, did not enjoy sailing it as much as the monohull. It was worth the week on board and the cost just to save making the mistake of buying one. So, with no experience you might want to spend a few weeks on different boats before purchasing.

Just my thoughts, as it saved us from making a mistake.

[Group9]

Usually, I'm in the "just go and figure it out as you go", camp. But, a Lagoon 450 is not the boat to do that in. Go get some real sailing and boat handling lessons somewhere.

[250224]

Don't see a problem with a Lagoon 450 as the first boat. If you start boating in retirement age, the first boat can easily be the last. And plenty of people are happy with a Lagoon.

I agree with boat sailing courses. If the OP couple hasn't sailed before, some lessons on *small* boats are in order. But this could be done while living aboard a cat, why not?

[GreenWave]

For US owners, do NOT call Geico/BoatUS for insurance if you have less than 2 years of ownership/experience. It is a no go.

[alctel]

When I got my boat (with no experience) I could get it insured but wasn't allowed to take it out of the marina without a licensed captain until I got some lessons.

I took a week long sailing course, and then had a couple of sessions of private docking instruction on my boat and that was enough to get the restriction lifted.

That was for a 15,000 CAD boat though, I imagine the burden of proof would be a lot higher on a big cat (that's a lot of boat!)

As someone else said, maybe rent a bunch of boats first to find out if you like sailing, and if you do, then what you are looking for in a boat.

[zstine]

Forget about insurance for a moment. I believe Greece has specific licenses that the country requires like a drivers license here in the states. I don't know the specifics (The EU was talking about a standard boat license but not sure if that happened). Anyway, if you intend to sail your boat from Greece, you better learn what their laws are.

Here in the USA, most states require you to pass some sort of boating safety course typically put on by the coast guard auxiliary.

You need an FCC ship station license and radio operator assuming you are American.

Seems like you have the cart before the horse to buy a vehicle that you can't operate legally or safely any time soon. A 45ft Cat is like a Semi-truck compared to a car. Do you really want to learn to drive in a large advanced vehicle, vice starting with the car equivalent? Please realize you are putting other people and property at risk. Perhaps get the experience, certifications/training, then buy a boat... maybe do a few charters first..

[SuW]

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!...

Personally, I'd say wait a couple of years.

Move to a coastal town with a good all season boating community, rent a tiny apartment and join a yacht club to learn the ropes. Take some courses. (If you're in the USA, I'd say San Diego or Annapolis, but there are other places.)
Reasons?
1) The tiny apartment will be bigger than your future boat. If you only go shopping once or twice a month, you might be simulating cruising.
2) You might decide you don't like sailing, boating, or get seasick.
3) The coronavirus pandemic may mean that in practical terms sailboat cruising of the world will be a long time coming back.
4) Start small, buy something cheap, learn how to look after it and yourselves.

Think about what would happen to you, in this situation:
https://www.theguardian.com/environm...the-hurricanes

[patrickbarbary]

For insurance purpose but for your safety first, I would join an intensive 2 or 3 weeks captain license class. The ocean must be respected, it can kill you.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by alctel

When I got my boat (with no experience) I could get it insured but wasn't allowed to take it out of the marina without a licensed captain until I got some lessons.

I took a week long sailing course, and then had a couple of sessions of private docking instruction on my boat and that was enough to get the restriction lifted.

That was for a 15,000 CAD boat though, I imagine the burden of proof would be a lot higher on a big cat (that's a lot of boat!)

As someone else said, maybe rent a bunch of boats first to find out if you like sailing, and if you do, then what you are looking for in a boat.

This happened to a relative. He bought a 38' sailboat as his first boat ever. He did have some limited experience on charters (I think with a captain). His insurance would not cover him unless he was with a licensed captain. After six months or so the captain signed off and he was free to go out on his own.

[skipmac]

My first thought, if the OP has never sailed nor owned any boat before I highly recommend at least one charter in a similar boat before shelling out six figures for a boat. I know people that found out they were terminally sea sick and couldn't leave the dock without getting deathly ill. Some just plain don't like it.

The reality can be very different than what you see in the movies. Try before you buy,

[Stmurray62]

I’d contact Ms. Kerry Gonzalez at AMG Ins. They only do boats. Kerry@amginsuranceintl.com. 317 670 2112
She is very good and has a very good handle on USA, and international boat insurance issues, for both multihulls and monohulls. From Capt. Steve, stmurray62@gmail.com

[Bamboo1]

I am retired from the insurance industry, but was a yacht underwriter for a syndicate in Lloyd's. Without some basic information as previously explained, it's not easy to help.
As me and my wife did, everyone has to start somewhere and firstly let me welcome you to a truly amazing community.
The yacht insurance market has lost a huge amount of money over recent years and is currently in turmoil, underwriters are running scared and sticking to conventional business wherever possible. That said you should be able to find a solution to your question. Firstly I would suggest finding a broker that specialises in yacht insurance and one that is not tied to a single company. He will then be able to ask exactly what specific underwriters require in order to offer you cover.
My opinion is that a recognised qualification similar to the RYA coastal skipper, both the practical and navigation should be the absolute minimum. Preferably yacht master if the two of you intend to sail the world. A radio license is a must and I would also suggest the STCW95. Limiting your early navigation and hiring a captain in the early stages is also a must. It would also be a good idea to keep a comprehensive log of all your sailing experience.
I am sure I speak for every yacht owner when I say the exams do not teach you how to own and maintain a yacht. Again, electrical and mechanical courses are available to give you a basic knowledge, but we all learn from experience and by talking.
I hope you find my comments useful and understand the training will take time, but it will all be worth it in the long run.
Best regards and good luck,
John

[Wallaby]

Originally Posted by Capn Jimbo

With no experience, and no real knowledge - forgive me - you will come to greatly regret buying this as your first boat. The number of people who fall in love with sailing off into the sunset, around the world - but never do it - is legion to the handful that actually do it.


Consider that your first boat will - in general - be a mistake, as you will quickly learn. Your second boat is the one. My advice - please get out of this deal and plan to take some good lessons from a qualified school, and then charter a few boats. See if you can crew on a challenging delivery or two.


I really don't mean to burst your lovely and romantic bubble. But please, please don't...

Cap'n Jimbo gave you the best advice you can get.

1. Get out of the deal asap.
2. Find out what seasickness is like (kills sailing for a lot of people).

3. Go sail on someone else's boat first. If you want the fast track, not just how to sail, but how to handle the situations that arise every so often, get a ride on an ocean racer, assuming you can find one to take you. Somewhat slower, crew on a cruising boat. Taking a class does NOT give you experience, which is vital because when SHTF, those courses you took will be almost useless.
4. Once you know what you are doing, charter a boat of the type you want to buy.
5. when buying be careful of ex-charter boats unless you know how to fix things and have money for repairs.