 |
|
24-06-2011, 11:57
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 35
|
What Would You Have Done Differently ?
As a sailor wannabe, I am very interested in the experiences of people that have been there done that (or still doing that). Since I am in just the planning stages of my switch to the liveaboard life I have this question. What one thing would you have done differently. Be it something you would've put on your boat, a skill you would've learned, place to anchor, etc. And no fair saying you would've done it earlier
Thanks ahead of time for any and all responses!
oh yeah, and apologies if you've seen this post on other liveaboard forums on other sites. I'm asking the question everywhere !
|
|
|
24-06-2011, 15:54
|
#2
|
cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 751
|
Re: What would you have done differently
1. I would have realized earlier to never make plans or schedules and just move when the weather is perfect and you want to go. We now happily wait a week or more for better weather and never, ever push. In the beginning we were so interested in seeing everything and getting to the next place. It's a bad way to cruise.
2. I would have learned much more about weather including places online to get good predictions and experience to know when the predictions are suspect.
3. I would have gotten a bigger and better anchor. We never had issues (except once) but having the bigger anchor made sleeping better.
4. I would have installed the most powerful saltwater washdown available. It took us 6 years to do it. Having it makes anchor retrieval more enjoyable.
5. I would have realized that there is an expense to anchoring and it's often the case that a monthly slip rental isn't much more than that baseline cost. Being at a marina for a month is a nice treat although I like keeping the marina-to-anchoring ratio near 50%.
6. I would have learned and practiced much more with epoxy, gelcoat, and other finish products.
...and I would have done it all earlier.
|
|
|
24-06-2011, 16:57
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 35
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Thanks Jeff!
That is just the kind of information I was hoping to get. Much appreciated, and don't let that stop all you other wise sailors from chiming in
|
|
|
24-06-2011, 17:12
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Virginia, USA & Krabi, Thailand
Boat: Wauquiez Pretorien 35
Posts: 2,819
|
Re: What would you have done differently
I would avoid like the plague getting a storage unit ashore. We got one for "just a few things" ... now the damn thing is full and we need to get rid of everything so we can finally move on. Once you have one, and sometimes they are unavoidable, the tendency is to hang on to stuff that you wouldn't otherwise.
__________________
Mundis Ex Igne Factus Est
|
|
|
24-06-2011, 18:22
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Boat: Ketch, Hardin 45
Posts: 440
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Seeing how I was heavily mentored in my early days in the Navy, is the reason I seem to do it right every time. And understand the old saw:
A Superior Captain,
Uses his Superior Judgement,
To keep him out of situations
Requiring his Superior Skills.
|
|
|
24-06-2011, 19:30
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 109
|
Re: What would you have done differently
1) Before leaving learn all you can about all your boat's systems.
2) Keep boat as simple as possible so you'll have better chance to fix those systems.
3)Carry large anchors but of different types as well (Danforth, CQR, even a Fisherman if in rocky area). Different designs work better in different bottom types. (During our 16 months cruise we spent one week at a dock)
4)Slow down; seeing "deeper" is often more rewarding than seeing more.
|
|
|
24-06-2011, 23:35
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: South East Asia
Boat: Hans Christian 48T
Posts: 381
|
Re: What would you have done differently
I have become more systematic with my approach to mechanical problem solving. Due to a distinct lack of time (I work for a living) many times I just bought services and repairs from people I assumed knew more than I did, subsequently having to do it again. Now I try to do the job myself first even if it takes time away from sailing. For this, I refer to the right chapter in the book and try to build a deep understanding of what the problem is and how to solve it. Then I ask around, including in this learned forum.
__________________
Capn Morgan
'If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds' worth of distance run...'
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 01:28
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Boat: CT 54... for our sins!
Posts: 2,083
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Quote:
Originally Posted by Capn Morgan
I have become more systematic with my approach to mechanical problem solving. Due to a distinct lack of time (I work for a living) many times I just bought services and repairs from people I assumed knew more than I did, subsequently having to do it again. Now I try to do the job myself first even if it takes time away from sailing. For this, I refer to the right chapter in the book and try to build a deep understanding of what the problem is and how to solve it. Then I ask around, including in this learned forum.
|
+
A long time ago I figured that most of the halfwits I was relying on to do stuff for me were not any brighter than me, they just had some training in areas I didn't.
I soon learned that most of the time your approach above worked just fine.
By the way... know of any more Hans Christian 48s going cheap?
We love the HCs, but the 48 is the only one I'd consider as a full time liveaboard because it's the only one with a decent owners cabin.
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 02:05
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 267
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Keep it simple
Get a smaller boat than you think you need
Do it now, not later.
Smile, your doing what many would love to do.
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 03:27
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Melbourne Australia
Boat: saga kan walker 31ft
Posts: 545
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Quote:
Originally Posted by ActiveCaptain
1.
5. I would have realized that there is an expense to anchoring and it's often the case that a monthly slip rental isn't much more than that baseline cost. Being at a marina for a month is a nice treat although I like keeping the marina-to-anchoring ratio near 50%.
|
JEFF whats the expense to anchoring?
I have a mooring for my boat and I could not think of a cheaper way to have a boat.
__________________
May there always be water under your boat,
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 03:40
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Durban South Africa
Boat: L 34
Posts: 284
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Artyif is right. Keep it SIMPLE. Any electronics are for fun, not necessity. Go NOW. You will learn on the way. Be observant and (silently) critical on other people's boats. Try not to have ANYTHING on your boat that you cannot fix yourself,- in mid ocean, you're the only repairperson. If you're going cruising, the fun is sailing and travelling, not repairing and trying to have spares shipped to exotic destinations. For me; no inflatables, they're all rubbish, and no windgenerators,- too noisy, use solar. Navigate celestially,- you'll get a far greater sense of achievement from your landfalls. Use the engine as little as possible, it will improve your sailing skills so that one day when you HAVE to sail out of a situation you are competant to do so. Read OLD books of cruisers,- they will illustrate just how simple a boat can be. GO. And have fun.!
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 03:49
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Muscat, Oman
Boat: Roberts, C45 Spray - EDM
Posts: 84
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Bought the Yacht in MY NAME ONLY
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 05:54
|
#13
|
cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 751
|
Re: What would you have done differently
Quote:
Originally Posted by sctpc
JEFF whats the expense to anchoring?
|
Power generation costs money. Some types are less expensive than others and some boats use more power than others. Since we run our business from the boat itself, we're power hogs. Running the generator for a few hours a day is the easiest expense to identify. But there's also more maintenance needed on the generator, more wear, dinghy expenses, and anchor chain wear/maintenance. Anything that touches fuel use is starting to cost real money!
We use a figure of $20/day of extra expense when anchored. It's a little high but it's not unrealistic when everything is considered. It's quite easy to find monthly slip rentals for $600 - $800 for our boat (53') making a break even point close to get to.
We also find that we have more free/work time when we're at a marina. That's usually offset by the extra things possible to do when at a marina - walking around town, etc. which you just tend to do more of when tied up.
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 06:14
|
#14
|
Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
|
Re: What would you have done differently
I wish I had started earlier.....MUCH EARLIER......i2f
|
|
|
25-06-2011, 12:21
|
#15
|
Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,820
|
Re: What would you have done differently
On the ballance, I think I have done ok.
Yes it would have been nicer to have much more money.
I doubt I could have done much better given all the considerations of who I am and what I had etc. By 'who I am" I mean my adilities, or lack, of doing things mechanical. I'm sure theres many more people better suited in that regard. I think there's also better people who would put more work into their boat than me. etc.
Just go do it and fix up the mistakes along the way
|
|
|
 |
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|