Options for Cruising Three Months

[wlboyer]

Hi CF,

We are new to this site and have a lot of questions. We are a family of 5 dreaming of cruising for 1 year. However, reality (and finances) might just keep us from doing so. With all 3 of our kids in school. We are considering just a 3 month stint during the summer months. Any suggestions and/or advice on how to accomplish this (private renters etc) and where the best places to cruise June, July and August.

Thanks so much!
Wendy

[Nateman]

More info would help.

Have you sailed before, Do you own a boat, etc...

[wlboyer]

Of course....we have sailed on and off most of our lives - mostly small boats and would still consider ourselves beginners as far as cruising for a year. We had a 31 ft Hunter on a lake. We do not currently own a boat. The only non-lake sailing we have done is the San Juan Islands in Washington and Kemah, TX. We have taken many ASA courses and are certified.

[nautical62]

It sounds like you live in the States. Summer is a good time to cruise the Great Lakes.

I've often kept a sailboat in either Florida or Bahamas, mostly with early summer Bahamas sailing in mind but August is getting more into Hurricane/Tropical storm season there.

If this is something you want to do for a few years to come, charter management is something to look into, but you would likely be limited to 8 weeks or so each summer. However, once you factor in the time you'd normally be working on the boat, getting it launched, etc. that may be almost as much time as you'd actually be sailing anyways.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum Wendy

[skipmac]

I would be hesitant to plan three months in the Bahamas or Caribbean during the summer. Odds of a hurricane over that time period just too high.

New England would be my choice for a 3 month summer cruise. You have all of Long Island Sound from NY Harbor to Montauk and eastern CT, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod and even Maine if you want to go further.

Finding a boat for a full season is another matter. Since summer is off season in the Caribbean you might find some deals there, but that is the entire sailing season in New England and demand for boats will be at the max. Of course if you're willing to pay the going rate I'm sure you could find a charter company to charter you a boat for three months but the cost would be steep. Depending on the size, age and condition of the boat, charters can run a $600-$800/week to double that. Monthly discounts for the peak season would not be much. So for a +/- 40' boat you could spend $10-$20,000 for the season .

[Kettlewell]

My vote would either be New England or the Pacific Northwest for a great 3-month cruising experience. Right now it is a buyers market in smaller, older boats and it would probably be cheaper to buy something and then resell than to charter for three months. For three months a family of five could probably do it on a 30 footer, or be more comfortable on a 35-40 footer. You can still purchase boats in RI and NH and pay no sales tax, so you could avoid that hassle. Plus, I think all of New England is property tax free on boats. There of course would be fees, maintenance, and such but it would still end up being cheaper than chartering. Look for something this fall at the end of the season when people want to get rid of their boats before they haul out for the winter.

[skipmac]

Forgot to mention, finding a boat through a private renter would be difficult as standard boat insurance would not allow renting the boat. So any owner renting their boat would be exposed to the full cost of any loss or repairs or worse, liability in case of injury and lawsuit.

[sww914]

You sound like a perfect candidate for a partnership if the other party or parties don't plan to use the boat during summer.