Buy Big (and Cheap) - Go Now ?

[Pete7]

There is a French exchange officer with a family whose yacht is moored opposite me, its a large and very scruffy Jeanneau about 40 feet. The yacht looks like its been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, but most of it is purely cosmetic. Do they care, nope and more to the point is they use it every weekend. Over on the posh side of the marina there are dozens of newish white European yachts that never move whilst there owners are slaving away at work to pay for them.

I suspect the hard bit is making the final decision, but if you go then good luck and safe seas

Pete

[Wand]

Originally Posted by tonforty

Do i have the "bug" or what?

Don't forget the old saying that the problem with holidays is that you've got to take yourself along.

Same applies here I think with the proposed move south. Florida won't solve the problems you've outlined; no 'other place' can. You live in your head; get that right and the rest will fall into place.

Seems to me you're far too young to become a boat bum. I'd recommend getting into a line of work that interests you. If you're interested in boats, and you've got sales and mechanical background, look for work in the industry. There's always work for enthusiastic people, and there is a boating industry in most corners of your country.

Real pleasure comes from your interests and your achievements in your working life; sitting under a palm tree watching sunsets gets very boring very quickly.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by At sea

Real pleasures come from your interests and your achievements in your working life; sitting under a palm tree watching sunses gets very boring very quickly.

Wise words Buddha

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

errrrr, kids are 17 and 18? How them going getting jobs? either to chip into the "family dream" or to set up on there own. Can always get more education later, under there own dollar - if they value it enough they will.

If you are broke at the moment you are going to be broke on a boat. and unlike the rental house you will (highly likely) be married to your new home, and the bills that go with it.

Fair enough get out of your rut, maybe even move to Florida - but if you cant get sorted ashore then buying a boat (whether to sit on at the dock - or sail off into the sunset) ain't gonna provide a magical solution.

But we each tread our own path

As a retired (mostly) CPA who's done a bit of financial advising, I'm very much with DOJ here. I'm also concerned about two kids that should be getting ready to go off to college. Any plan there? With only $20K in net assets you are going to have a tough time looking for a boat for basically 4 adults to live on and still have something left for monthly expenses. If you were single it would be a different story, but have you sat down and tried to figure out how you are going to afford this, even for one year? Somebody has got to work and if sales is your field you are going to have to stay put somewhere which gets expensive. I hear a lot of frustration but not much of a concrete plan other than buy a cheap boat and sail off ...

[Feral Cement]

Originally Posted by SouthernHiker

if your whole family is into this liveaboard dream, go for it.....Just make sure you family wants to share in this dream......it's a question whether your family and you are willing to make them......it's just a question of what you and your family want and how badly you want it.

Key word: family

If they are on board (pun intended) with this idea, it could be the adventure of a lifetime. If not, I wouldn't bet on a happy outcome.

BTW, Southern hiker - you nailed it, You may be young, but you've got great vision for a pup.

John

[gettinthere]

so you have $40k in stock & $20k in debt.

You want to buy a boat big enough to accommodate 4 adults for $15k. Any boat over 35' will cost a lot more than $15k. A boat ready to go will run well over $50k and a boat selling for $15k will need a TON of work and not likely suitable for living until repaired.

Capt Force gave the most practical advice. Walk before you run.

[Liam Wald]

"What would you choose, richness of purse or richness of life?" Quote Sterling Hayden.

Someday we will all be lying on our death bed and breathing our last breath. When that day comes will you think, "I wish I would have worked more and earned more money for me and my boss." or will you think, "I wish I would have done more of what I wanted to do in my life and had more adventure".

Which do you think is most likely? For me, thinking either of those things would be a tragity.

If you feel trapped or imprisoned by your situation break free. Life holds an endless number of choices and opportunities. We all leave here with nothing except for our experiences and we live on in the memories of those who knew and loved us. Give them something grand to remember!

[Tia Bu]

Real pleasure comes from your interests and your achievements in your working life; sitting under a palm tree watching sunsets gets very boring very quickly.

Actually, neither of those sentiments rings true for me. At the age of fifty-two, I've settled into a new career teaching at a college (one of those dreams people sometimes have like sailing off into the sunset or finding high-paying work-- which I've also done in the past). The work part was fun at times and awful at others. The sailing into the sunset (cruising) was the same way. Neither really brought a strong sense of fulfillment for me-- although I still enjoy sailing very much and like my new job.

It seems to me that being a loving, patient, caring father and husband (hard as that is and as poorly as I did it) was the more worthwhile and important activity- in hindsight. You seem to still have that going on. If you can keep it up and still go sailing, then bon voyage. If not- then I say do what they want you to do.

I doubt everyone else has that same opinion.

For what it's worth, I get the impression Florida is not a very friendly place for liveaboards these days. The Bahamas are prettier and more interesting. I've met some families and couples who seem to have a grand time moving back and forth between the Bahamas and the Northeast U.S. coast with the seasons.

[Kimarah]

Buying a boat to learn on sounds like a plan. Getting a job in Florida before buying the boat sounds like a realistic plan.

17 and 18 are tough ages to move kids unless they've both finished high school.

[kenny chaos]

If you're older and can't work much anymore then I guess a pension of sorts to live off of might help.
On the other hand, I remember a story about a couple who raised 11, yes, 11 kids in a van. They were all very well adjusted and HAPPY. Sure it wasn't easy or even fun often. So what?
When I bought this farm I wanted to use draft horses and all my new farming friends scoffed. One old timer I'll never forget told me if that's what I wanted to do, that I should do it because we don't have a lot of time here. He seemed to understand something that younger folks don't and he died a week later. I did farm using the horses, got a wife and two kids, never made a nickle, but oh what experiences. People called me a lucky man (?). Now I can sell the farm and finance my final chapter. Maybe my second final chapter.
Good luck-
Kenny

[tonforty]

I guess my thinking is really a rare opportunity to go for it with the timing and all.

Another point is that I just don't feel that just simply working harder and all that just won't necessarily get me ahead...maybe just more in debt.

Maybe it's just time to keep it simple for a bit. I'm 44.

However , I know I am beieng a little outta the box on my thinking right now.

Never know...My cash could be alot more than I think in a month or 2.

I could pull it off for a year and see what happens.

Daddy needs a break...A real one.

I need to find that cracker jack cool sales leader I use to be.

[tonforty]

Yep...You are exactly right Doodles...No concrete plan.
I think 20 -40 grand is chump change for what I need to do.

You are helping me with the great responses formulate one.

I am a get it done kind of guy...just not lately.

I have to fix "my part"...can't control anything else I guess.

[cabo_sailor]

I feel for you tonforty,

I too finally got so sick of my job that it was causing health problems but the difference was I was 58 and had saved for retirement since I was in my mid-20's. So while I have to watch my spending a bit, it is not a major pressure. But I think you might need to rethink what you will have to spend to achieve your desire.

There are several liveaboards at my marina, most are either single or just a couple. Only one boat I know of has kids and I'm uncertain of their age, they're off trying to make enough money to repair their boat. As others have suggested, not all marinas will allow liveaboards and most communities make liveaboard anchoring a very large hassle. Our marina has a definite limit on how many at any one time. A liveaboard slip for around a 40 ft boat goes for around $500-600/mo plus electricity.

There are a couple of boats here that might meet your requirements but they are definitely project boats. In their present condition they are not going anywhere. Two lack engines, several lack sails, all would need new running rigging, one came in with no dock lines. The marina supplied them and will charge the owner a premium. Also, the larger the boat the more expensive it will be to maintain. Sails will cost more, lines need to be larger and cost more, etc. A friend is on a 34 ft boat cruising the Bahamas right now on a boat he paid $7k for. He probably put another $3k-4k into it and none of that was for cosmetics. I helped him break down and splice 600 ft of 5/8 in nylon three strand into two anchor rodes and a set of dock lines. We also did additional repairs to his rudder that was seriously cracked. But that is just him and his dog.

Sorry to be so long winded but the point is, there is a lot more than the cost of the boat. Saltwater is a harsh environment and the more you use the boat the more repairs you will be making. Doing a lot of your own work will help but even so, the guys that came out to repair my refrigerator charge $90/hr plus parts.

I do wish you and your family well but perhaps in the interim move to Florida if that's your desire and see what kind of work you can find that's related to boating. Sales, repair perhaps.

Good luck,
Rich

[chris_gee]

Times are difficult. It sounds like you are down to it and have decided it is too hard. Much easier and more pleasant to think of boating. I guess some watch porn, and others buy lottery tickets or take drugs. Go cold turkey and start working to a future instead of looking for a quick fix.

[Doodles]

Here's another idea. Since it sounds like you are just burned out and looking for a break for a year or so, and would like it to be an adventure of sorts, why not just get an old RV and cruiser around North America for a while? The learning curve will be a lot shorter, the family might be more inclined, costs of maintenance, slips, etc. is less, you still get to see lots and enjoy the outdoors, its an adventure too, and well I could go on but you get the idea. Just a thought.

I feel your pain though. Life is short, so don't give up just keep planning and something will work out. Yea, don't give up ... never, never, never give up!