How long did it take you to outfit for crossing/circumnavigation?

[iamwhatiam]

The goal is the buy boat on east coast, sailing across the Atlantic and spend a year or two on that side before returning back.

I'm interested to hear from those who have actually done ocean crossings and/or circumnavigations. What boat (year and make) did you buy and what preparations/changes on the boat did you make before starting out on the voyage?

And also, how long did this outfitting take? Did you do most of the work yourself or hire work at boatyards?

I know the length of time getting a boat ready for such a voyage will differ with the age and condition of a boat, and what a person feels are requirements to fix or have onboard....and of course, boat projects most always take longer than anticipated. I'm just trying to get a general consensus from folks who have done it.

[donradcliffe]

It took a year to shake down an 8 year old Beneteau First 456 to head out. Put in ham radio, watermaker, new traveler. crash bulkhead, blister job, revuilt rudder, reinforced autopilot, redid chain locker. Boat was in good shape when we bought it. Over half the year was spent sailing from Florida to Maine and back to N Carolina. Did 90% of the work myself.

[Pete7]

That's a very long piece of string. Don's approach is probably what most of us would do given the time and the budget.

Then there are people like Sam Holmes on YT, who buy a cheap 26 foot boat, top up the water tank. Buy a loaf of bread and some cheese and sail across the Atlantic. Spend a summer cruising NW Europe and leave it in the Baltic for the cold winter. Fly back to the US, buy another cheap yacht for sailing during the winter before returning to Europe in the Spring and sail the first yacht to the med. Oh to be young again

So there is no answer to your question. Time, budget and risk appetite will decide the path you take. There is a thread on here about go small and go now, worth a good read.

Good luck and fair winds