Im new to Sailing and would like to become a Liveabord

[Blake G]

Hello All,

I have been fascinated with sailing since childhood. My wife has wanted to live in a tiny home for quite awhile, so we decided to work towards becoming liveaboards. We are only just starting in sailing (I will be attending ASA 101/103 in the spring time to get a better knowledge on sailing) I grew up on a lake but never had the funds to get into sailing. (Not knowing how cheap it "can" be.) We are starting to look for smaller trailerable cursing sailboat (~20') . I'm simply looking for any and all advice to help us to get into the life style needed to become liveaboards.

Thank you in advance,
-Blake

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Blake.

Originally Posted by Blake G

... We are starting to look for smaller trailerable cursing sailboat (~20') ...

You might take note that we a a CRUISING Forum, not a cursing forum.

[Blake G]

I guess I should make know the ~20' boat is just to learn to sail and get comfortable with it. I plan to buy a 30'+ sail boat to live aboard and coastal cruising on the east coast..


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Blake.


You might take note that we a a CRUISING Forum, not a cursing forum.

The two go hand in hand so often, though!

Welcome Blake. Too bad you are on the other coast, we are trying to sell our small pocket cruiser that we bought for exactly the purpose of learning to sail well while we worked up to our bigger boat.

[Tllee]

Just get a thirty footer and learn the boat. It will seem large at first but you will tame her in no time.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[jwing]

JWing's 5-Step plan for Sailing Newbies (do them in order):

1) If possible, join a nearby sailing club and sail their boats - a lot. Skip Steps 2-4.

If Step 1 is not doable, do Steps 2-5.

2) Buy and read: Your First Sailboat: How to Find and Sail the Right Boat for You, by Daniel Spurr

3) Buy and read one or both: Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers and Owners, by Henry Mustin

Inspecting the Aging Sailboat, by Don Casey

4) Buy and sail: a simply rigged, sailable sloop.

5) Ask specific questions pertaining to your boat and/or sailing experiences.

[raybobsky]

where are you located currently?


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Blake G]

Originally Posted by raybobsky

where are you located currently?


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Currently, I live in Virginia.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[SeaDreamer]

welcome aboard!

My opinion for what's worth(and you know what they say about Free advice)...is that buying a small boat to learn on is a waste of time and money...unless you can't afford to go right into the bigger live aboard right off.

Sailing is not complicated! Finding a boat that is appropriate for the lifestyle you are seeking is the hard part. So, read, read, read and go out and look at as many boats as you can. But buy the right boat the first time if you can because boats are hard to sell and chances are you will get bored with a little tight pocket cruiser...which may ruin your entire opinion of sailing.

Joining a sailing club and crewing is an excellent way to get a feel for the opportunities that await you in the wonderful world of sailing.

Good luck and smooth Sailing!

[Greenhand]

We recently purchased an older boat (1987). It wasn't in bad shape, but it has had a few surprises. Tearing the pedestal apart to fix the brake and gear selector took us three full weekends. Installing the new batteries took two, because we discovered cables that needed to be updated. If we were new sailors on top of that, I can't even imagine.

However, it may be wiser financially to start off with a sailing club with good prices small cruisers, rather than buying.

[raybobsky]

I purchased a hunter 27 on eBay that was a donation boat, it was on the chesapeake bay. I actually went and moved it the same day I saw it, what a great ride. yes it does need some tlc but everything actually worked well enough and I safely made the trip. as captain Ron said, "if anything is going to happen it gonna happen out there"

if your handy and are not going to pay someone to do all the work then jump right in, especially if you plan on living on it. the big thing is to find a marina that you can afford and live with, unless you have a nice piece of waterfront.

best of luck


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[a64pilot]

If you have any boating experience at all, I'd say skip the small boat too, go 30ish and live on it, it will be your tiny home. Usually every time you trade up on a boat, you lose money doing so.
My first sailboat ever is a 38' and an older boat, assuming your a decent mechanic with some electrical background etc, it's just not that hard.

[Hudson Force]

Blake, welcome to the community. There are many good starting places in Virginia that allow for easy learning in the Bay. Keep us posted of your progress!

[Blake G]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

If you have any boating experience at all, I'd say skip the small boat too, go 30ish and live on it, it will be your tiny home. Usually every time you trade up on a boat, you lose money doing so.
My first sailboat ever is a 38' and an older boat, assuming your a decent mechanic with some electrical background etc, it's just not that hard.

I still need to save for a nest egg before we just jump into a "big" boat. (I tend to over think and/or prepare) We are going to try to buy a ~32+ft boat for around $25k and seeings how I'm not what you would call wealthy, this will take a few years. Also a couple years to pay off dept. However, I understand that unless I buy a really cheap boat and do a lot of the work myself, I'll lose money. I'm quite good (if I don't say so myself) at finding a good deal to minimalize the amount I stand to lose. A new paint job and upholstery (I can do both myself thanks auto body and homeeck) can go along way in making any boat look better and I can sell it at the lake. Time will tell, I'd like to have a ~20ft swing keel but I'm open to any suggestions on a trailerable cruiser. I'm not full sure about weights and what size SUV or tuck I'll need to use to transport it.

Thank you all for kindly greeting and helping me with all your suggestions!

-Blake


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Hudson Force]

Blake, I believe in the Southeast US with patience and searching you can find a safe and well functioning boat for under $15,000. If you keep the boat for a long term, then there will be no "loss". I've had my current boat for thirty years,- how can I lose?