Choosing a boat for a Lifetime of Cruising..

[westsail374]

Those who wish to go small, go now on a budget should consider Cape Dory boats. Very well built, traditional New England boats, many designed by Carl Alberg. Many full or mostly full keels, not so much in demand so kind of a drag on the market - owners loved them and babied them. Worth looking at on line. Many gems there. These boats have gone far safely.

I have no connection to this boat and have never owned a CD. Those who do swear by them.

This example is a 36 footer with lots of gear asking $65k. There are many much less expensive smaller CDs with the same rugged good looks and long legs.

[URL="http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1981/Cape-Dory-36-2678887/Deltaville/VA/United-States#.VKL4K8AAg"]

[El Pinguino]

I haven't circled the world endlessly but I met some one recently who had and was still out there, 84 yo, boat was maybe mid/high 40's. Ferro Hartley.

[JPA Cate]

robertsailor,

Some people who are low profile you won't have heard of, former circumnavigators in a Cal227, have now bought and refit an aluminum, shallow draft schooner! Their cruising grounds for this boat are FL and the Bahamas.

And now, there are a bunch of desirable aluminum boats out there. And yet, there's a lot to be said for fiberglass.

Another friend had an aluminum Carl Shumacher designed boat. He made all his guests remove the pennies from their pockets and wallets to eliminate the danger he perceived with interaction between a penny and his hull.

Ann

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

robertsailor,

Some people who are low profile you won't have heard of, former circumnavigators in a Cal227, have now bought and refit an aluminum, shallow draft schooner! Their cruising grounds for this boat are FL and the Bahamas.

And now, there are a bunch of desirable aluminum boats out there. And yet, there's a lot to be said for fiberglass.

Another friend had an aluminum Carl Shumacher designed boat. He made all his guests remove the pennies from their pockets and wallets to eliminate the danger he perceived with interaction between a penny and his hull.

Ann

Hi Anne,
I have heard this penny story and aluminium hulls for the last 30 years but tell me...is there anything to it or is it more of a myth? I know copper can react to aluminium but has a boat ever actually come to grief because of a penny in the bilge??

[Polux]

I think it was Steve? that put one of those coins on the hull somewhere to see what happened. Till now...nothing.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Polux

I think it was Steve? that put one of those coins on the hull somewhere to see what happened. Till now...nothing.

As in Dashew??

[Renasci]

Here's what I've learned after many years, there is no such boat. But in trying to get a suitable boat, first look at your budget, then where you will be sailing. When looking at your budget, it's not just how much you want to spend on buying one, but you have to realize that everything will rot or break, and it's always way sooner than you expect. Lightening can have you replacing everything electrical as well as electronic. Galvanic corrosion caused by a neighbor can ruin a lot of stuff. Storms and just time and wear and tear will take it's toll. Not to mention having to pull it every couple 3 to 5/6 years to do a bottom job. There will be things that you will want to buy, things that you don't have as well as new to the market bits and pieces. Besides cost, it's where you want to go also. In warmer climates, you want lots of ports and hatches, not so much in the cold climates. Shallow water sailing and you will want a shoal draft keel, like sailing in the Bahamas and Florida. Ocean passages, and you'll want a deep keel, or full keel. The best thing I can think of telling you, is buy a cheap boat, beat the **** out of it, keep talking with other boaters, learn-learn-learn, and let things evolve. If you try to make concrete and life long decisions, they'll get derailed for a multitude of reasons, and it'll frustrate you. Chartering boats is a great way to get more time and experience under your belt too. But, like they say, be sure to get out there, as soon as you can.

[robert sailor]

Thanks for your thoughts

[Polux]

Originally Posted by Renasci

...The best thing I can think of telling you, is buy a cheap boat, beat the **** out of it, keep talking with other boaters, learn-learn-learn, and let things evolve. ... Chartering boats is a great way to get more time and experience under your belt too. ...

I think the OP had done all that already

[annk]

We are now into our 16th year of living aboard and voyaging full time.Still on the same boat.

For us simplicity paired with comfort are our guiding stars.Having lived in a comfortable and stylish home our reasoning was that we would not be happy 'long term' camping out. So we have china plates, cystal glasses, thick duvets, deep rugs etc....
Similarly, coming from an engineering and agricultural background, we valued simplicity of design.
certainly as the years and miles have passed we find ourselves ditching more and more technology and relying on the simple needs of a cruising life, paper charts,no autopilots etc.
That's not to say that we scorn all technology, we try and choose appropriate tech- wind vane steering, wind generator.

We bought the best boat we could afford at the time- Bowman 40. Many times over we have thanked the gods for guiding us to this well built, conservatively designed vessel. Cutter rigged, twin back stays, over size rigging, shallow draught.

We take pleasure in living right off the grid whenever we can, wind vane, low power useage, repairing stuff.We have the ability, and have lived for up to seven months without resorting to any outside service. Be that water, power, fuel or food.
In the last 12 years we have repaired EVERY breakage onboard, from ripped sails to engine malfunction to deck repairs.

We love our life but understand that it is most certainly not for everyone. We joke that we are not anti-social but rather socially independant! You have to be to live like this, dependent on each other for everything from conversation to medical help.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

As in Dashew??

If they have done that probably. I know that I read about it and that was a credible source but can't remember where.

[El Pinguino]

The Jacksons on Sunstone have being doing what the OP is talking about since the late 90's in an S&S 40 footer ..... backgrnd

Part of the problem with the original question is that many of these 'voyagers' who have logged 100k miles made their decisions 20, 30 or maybe ( in the case of the Hartley ) 40 years ago.

These very same people may choose a very different boat if they were making their descisions today.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by annk

We are now into our 16th year of living aboard and voyaging full time.Still on the same boat.

For us simplicity paired with comfort are our guiding stars.Having lived in a comfortable and stylish home our reasoning was that we would not be happy 'long term' camping out. So we have china plates, cystal glasses, thick duvets, deep rugs etc....
Similarly, coming from an engineering and agricultural background, we valued simplicity of design.
certainly as the years and miles have passed we find ourselves ditching more and more technology and relying on the simple needs of a cruising life, paper charts,no autopilots etc.
That's not to say that we scorn all technology, we try and choose appropriate tech- wind vane steering, wind generator.

We bought the best boat we could afford at the time- Bowman 40. Many times over we have thanked the gods for guiding us to this well built, conservatively designed vessel. Cutter rigged, twin back stays, over size rigging, shallow draught.

We take pleasure in living right off the grid whenever we can, wind vane, low power useage, repairing stuff.We have the ability, and have lived for up to seven months without resorting to any outside service. Be that water, power, fuel or food.
In the last 12 years we have repaired EVERY breakage onboard, from ripped sails to engine malfunction to deck repairs.

We love our life but understand that it is most certainly not for everyone. We joke that we are not anti-social but rather socially independant! You have to be to live like this, dependent on each other for everything from conversation to medical help.

Great description, you two seem to have got it figured out.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by annk

We are now into our 16th year of living aboard and voyaging full time.Still on the same boat.

......

We bought the best boat we could afford at the time- Bowman 40. Many times over we have thanked the gods for guiding us to this well built, conservatively designed vessel. Cutter rigged, twin back stays, over size rigging, shallow draught.

We take pleasure in living right off the grid whenever we can, wind vane, low power useage, repairing stuff.We have the ability, and have lived for up to seven months without resorting to any outside service. Be that water, power, fuel or food.
In the last 12 years we have repaired EVERY breakage onboard, from ripped sails to engine malfunction to deck repairs.

,,,,

I am reminded of the quip about this being a brilliant pickaxe , last for nearly 50 years , only 10 new handles and 5 new heads. !!!

[annk]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I am reminded of the quip about this being a brilliant pickaxe , last for nearly 50 years , only 10 new handles and 5 new heads. !!!

Sorry I don't understand your comment.
Of course we have bought new stuff when needed but also repaired things that break(without resorting to outside contractors)...is that what you meant?