I'm Bored!

[scarlet]

.. with my boat, that is.

When we bought our little O'day 22, we had never even set foot on a sailboat, and knew little to nothing about them. But to our untrained eyes, this boat looked like a good boat to learn on, and it has been. It's relatively small which is good for lake sailing. It has just a tiller, 4hp outboard... and a very simple sail plan (mainsail, jib... mainsheet, jib sheet, and 2 halyards. ). No electronics at all. very small cabin with a tiny v-berth.

After 4 seasons.. we have pretty much mastered this boat, to the point that I am definitely bored. We chartered twice this year, on much larger boats with furling jibs, jib carts, reefing points.. oh, and THE TRAVELER!!! It was so much fun (and a bit unnerving) to play around with the more complicated sail plan. Then we go back to our little boat.. with 2 "ropes" for me to play with, and it's just not enough.. I want more!!

But here is our dilemma. We have at MOST 2 sailing seasons left before we buy a catamaran and take off to the Caribbean. We are saving pretty much every additional penny we have. To move up to a bigger boat means spending money that could go towards our bigger boat. But, the experience with the bigger, more complicated boat, would be wonderful way to take our learning to the next step.

What would you do? buy a bigger boat? or live with what we have so that we can save money for the catamaran?

[sailorboy1]

I would, and did, get the bigger boat and get comfortable and do it’s upgrades.

[senormechanico]

A boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money.
Keep being bored and know the money you are NOT spending on an intermediate boat is going directly to your goal, the big cat !

[Chotu]

Don't even think about it. Sell the oday now if you think you are getting turned off to boats by it being boring.

Keep your eyes on the prize.

[Mike OReilly]

If you really are within two years of cutting the dock lines, I would seriously consider getting THEE boat now. But in your case, where and how would you use it? Aren’t you on a small inland lake? That’s not very conducive to a big boat.

If you could use it now I recommend getting THEE boat. But if it’s just going to sit idle, then there’s not much point. So in your case, I think saving your shekels is a better option.

The challenge is that once you do get THEE boat, you will then go through the learning curve of getting to know it, improving it, and possibly learning what you really need and want in THE NEXT boat .

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by scarlet

What would you do? buy a bigger boat? or live with what we have so that we can save money for the catamaran?

Buy the catamaran now, if you can and if you can use it.

If not, keep doing what you're doing.

-Chris

[Pete7]

Can't see the point of buying an intermediate yacht only to sell it in 2 years. Might take a year to sell. I would keep sailing the O'Day and save every penny ready for the future long term yacht.

Pete

[senormechanico]

My next door neighbors raced Hobie's, sold real estate, saved every dime and drove an old pickup truck until they could buy their dream boat, a Tayana 52.

I met them in Barkley Sound just before they started their cruising life.


You may have heard about the Tayana 52 "Clambake", sunk in 90 seconds.

They went on to cruise with another boat and eventually went to power.

Recently they purchased an Offshore 62.
It barely makes it into the canal !


Dee wrote a book about their experiences, it's a good read.



https://www.amazon.com/Dee-Saunders/e/B006OO40GG

[Bean Counter]

Keep the boat you have. If you want it to be more exciting put a big second hand spinnaker on it and then go out in a decent breeze and see if you can handle it. Then you won't be too afraid to run the kite on the cat when you get it.

[Macblaze]

Or downsize. A hobie or laser can be the very definition of exciting, still give you some skills you can use and make the time pass quicker.

But no, don't spend money on anything not related to the plan.

[stormalong]

If you plan to leave in two years now is time to buy the boat. You need at least a year to set the boat up the way you want it and to learn how to sail it.

You do not want to be outfitting and learning while you are in transit - that makes it much harder.

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by Macblaze

Or downsize. A hobie or laser can be the very definition of exciting, still give you some skills you can use and make the time pass quicker.
But no, don't spend money on anything not related to the plan.

Totally agree with Macblaze, awesome skills to learn but there's still much you can do on your little trailer boat.
Without any idea of your skills level, this is very general.
Why not spend time learning and/or improving boating related skills:
Navigation
Compass/magnetism
Weather
Equipment Options
Mechanical/engineering systems
Maintenance skills
Tides
Ropes/Splicing
Ship handling/stability
etc etc
Also heaps of great books worth reading to improve your skills and knowledge.

Set yourself little boat projects to confirm you've mastered a skill, for example:
patch a hole
fit and use a spinnaker
splice a line
replace all the filters
make a compass card
leave and return to dock or trailer without motor use

[scarlet]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

My next door neighbors raced Hobie's, sold real estate, saved every dime and drove an old pickup truck until they could buy their dream boat, a Tayana 52.

I met them in Barkley Sound just before they started their cruising life.


You may have heard about the Tayana 52 "Clambake", sunk in 90 seconds.

They went on to cruise with another boat and eventually went to power.

Recently they purchased an Offshore 62.
It barely makes it into the canal !


Dee wrote a book about their experiences, it's a good read.



https://www.amazon.com/Dee-Saunders/e/B006OO40GG

Added it to my reading list!!

[scarlet]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Totally agree with Macblaze, awesome skills to learn but there's still much you can do on your little trailer boat.
Without any idea of your skills level, this is very general.
Why not spend time learning and/or improving boating related skills:
Navigation
Compass/magnetism
Weather
Equipment Options
Mechanical/engineering systems
Maintenance skills
Tides
Ropes/Splicing
Ship handling/stability
etc etc
Also heaps of great books worth reading to improve your skills and knowledge.

Set yourself little boat projects to confirm you've mastered a skill, for example:
patch a hole
fit and use a spinnaker
splice a line
replace all the filters
make a compass card
leave and return to dock or trailer without motor use

That is sort of how we've been using our "off season" time. took an Amazing 17 week weather class last year. This year I'm working on my Navigation certificate. I've also worked on single handling. So, I'm already on that...

I hear what everyone is saying... I would love to buy our cat now.. but we are landlocked and we have a long way to get to a place to sail it.

I think the argument for keeping the boat now is pretty good. I like the idea of getting a spinnaker. Never flew one, before... and we can only sail in lighter winds, so that would be a great way to pick up some more speed. Good advice!

[gamayun]

Sheez, go get a big spinnaker for it and go race. If you're bored now, that doesn't bode well for the cruising life. If you race, you'll also learn how to be an all-around better sailor including as a navigator, tactician, bow person, weather forecaster, tide planner, partner, etc.