Water Access

[Papasail]

I am steadily inching my way toward cruising: Maine, down to the Caribbeans, to be exact. Like so many “dreaming the dream,” I’ve arrived at the calm before the storm…. in other words, there really are no more barriers toward me buying a great sailboat: I’m ready. I (am) still naggling over one detail that I could use (ALL) your collective experience on. I’m an absolute water bug…. I. Love. Getting. In.

So, sailing (sugarscoop vs. no sugarscoop)
Let me know what EASY looks like, and how it lives, for (your) water access. Getting in seems laughably like the easy part, so I suppose that means…. what really makes getting OUT of the water the easiest?

I’m 60, have one knee not-so-great, but am in generally good shape. Scuba/ snorkeling/ swimming, will be part of daily life…. like a cat wanting to go outside/ inside/ outside/ inside…
🤣🤣🤣. I wanna jump in a LOT.

I appreciate all experiences, especially how you navigate your own water access, sugarscoop or no. Big waves and all that…

⛵️B

[JPA Cate]

Our boat has fairly high freeboard. Jim made a plywood step that we hang from the toerail, so that I can easily board from the side of the boat, at the gate. Our boat has a sugar scoop, and it is not waste space. It is where we unload everything we bring to the boat (groceries, washed laundry, tools, supplies, etc., etc.). There is a built-in step on the transom, to help with getting up to the cockpit. [I have had total knee replacement and one revision surgeries on both knees, and am still managing, at 82 yrs. of age.]

Choose a boat, make changes necessary for reliability, and go sailing. No more spending time doing other stuff, unless it really is essential. Go as small as you are comfortable with.

Ann

[Manateeman]

Even with a sugar scoop you need a ladder you can pull into the water when you are in the water. You need a real stable boat for your dinghy.