Retirement Question

[dlazenby]

My husband and I are looking to retire on a sailboat. We are currently looking at the Amel Maramu. We are probably 3 1/2 years off from retirement at this time. I would like suggestions as to how soon we should actually purchase the boat. Thanks!

[a64pilot]

I'd start looking, it may take longer than you think to find "the" boat. I retire this may and bought the boat three years ago, and it has take me three years to fit it out like I wanted, and I'm still not finished, but I wanted to get all the big ticket items I could while I still had a paycheck

[skipmac]

It took me two years to find the right boat and make the purchase.

How soon for you will depend on a number of factors.

- Are you ready financially to buy?
- Do you have place to keep the boat? This would mean a place that's close to where you live unless you're living on the boat and a place that won't break the budget.
- Are you experienced sailors or will you want to start slow and learn as you go?
- How much time and work will it take to get the boat ready? If you're looking at an Amel it's probably a few years old and will probably take some TLC before it's truly ready to go.

[robert sailor]

We bought our boat on the other side of the world about 4 months before we started cruising. It's our 4th offshore boat and we have a reasonable amount of experience but it's a 24/7 commitment to pull something like this off. My recommendation would be to allow a couple of years to refit and get to know the boat before you leave to head out, much easier than the mad rush we went thru.

[JPA Cate]

dlazenby,

It's not too soon. Once you find the right one, it takes a while to make it your own, plus you want to learn its sailing quirks as well. If you buy used, there will be things you guys will want to change. If you buy new, there will be teething problems. It's not like buying cars. Proper commissioning of a boat takes time, and *more* money.

Ann

[a64pilot]

Your not like a 1000 miles from where you will keep it are you?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, diazenby.

[mfotis]

I retire in 8 years and I just closed today on my "new to me" Lagoon 410 I'm out of the country at the moment but I will be meeting the delivery crew in Punta Cana on the 22nd/23rd ish and finish bringing her home. I also purchased now while I have a job so I can afford to get her the way I want and to be 100% familiar with her when I move on full time.

[toddster8]

I had considered retiring this year but good grief! It's going to take three years to get rid of all my impedimenta! Not to mention a year of home improvement before I can sell...

[chuckr]

We bought our boat new in 2003 and left in 2007 - spent some time learning her, how to really sail and getting her somewhat ready - it took another 3 years of cruising to really learn what she need if we wanted to extend our range - going on year 10 of full time cruising we look back and pat ourselves on the back for those decisions

as for the boat - it took us a while to find the right boat - a lot of boat shows, lists of what the boat should have or not, size , quality ect -- and we got lucky and met a great broker who taught us how to look at a boat and what make a boat a boat - all boats have pluses and minuses and are compromises in one way or the other -

[Navicula]

Great advice so far.... they have really nailed it for you

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by toddster8

I had considered retiring this year but good grief! It's going to take three years to get rid of all my impedimenta! Not to mention a year of home improvement before I can sell...

Getting out from under that house is step #1. It's been a little over a year since ours sold, we got lucky, but I have seen it take a long time to sell sometimes, you cannot schedule when your house sells.

[barnakiel]

If you can effortlessly (money, distances) keep the boat now, I would buy this or next season. It is a bigger boat and you may want some time to go thru the boat, get used to it, try it out some, adjust it some. A big boat is a bit like a new house, not all that much like a camper van.

If the cost of berthage / access make no financial sense now, I would still buy the boat no later than one year ahead of planned departure.

All the above assuming you are departing.

If you are not departing but rather retiring to a boat stationary, then buy in the last year before retiring.

I wish you happy shopping, fun owning and sailing, and retiring SOONEST!

Life is good.
b.