Am I nuts?

[newboater]

I have limited experience as a boater (14' aluminum fishing boat and I have bareboat chartered a sailboat 5 times in the Virgin Islands). Despite this I just purchased a 33' power boat. I intend to hire a captain/instructor to teach me the basics and I am super cautious but am I being realistic in being able to handle this boat. I'm having second thoughts about how sane I may be.

[rebel heart]

There's a line out there between self doubt and self analisys, and it can be hard to find sometimes. Anything more complicated than making a sandwich is going to have you second guessing yourself every now and then, but you just need to figure out (and indeed, you're the only one who can) if this is something you want to do.

If someone put a gun to your head and told you to make it work, you obviously could. So if it doesn't work, it's just a question of motivation and dedication more than anything else.

Good luck, and have fun :-)

[Pblais]

You could be nuts but probably not because you bought a bigger boat.

You learn a little then you do a little. You learn more and you do more. If you can tell you are getting in too deep then you'll be smart enough to avoid the really stupid mistakes. Number one rule of boating - don't hit anything. If you have gasoline power, not blowing yourself up would be the number one rule followed by the don't hit anything rule. After that it's just rules of the road and lots of money.

[Boracay]

If you have insurance and you answered all their questions truthfully then someone thinks that you are an acceptable risk.

[delmarrey]

You'll get use to it soon enough! Like Paul said above don't hit anything. Start out on those calm wind-less days, no current either and just practice and practice. When you get over confident, then you'll hit something.

If it's twin screws, it'll be fun. But if it has outdrive(s) then it'll take more practice.

Buying the fuel is the part I wouldn't like.

Enjoy the forum............................._/)

[swagman]

If you are nuts then you are in good company on this forum:-)

Just get out there and enjoy it...........we've all had worries at times, you'll be fine.

JOHN

[sneuman]

I think the photos pretty clearly show leaking from the deck. With a teak-decked boat of this era, you should ASSUME there are leaky decks - in this case, they've told you.

Having said that, Cheoy Lees are beautiful, seaworthy boats (though in this case, 30' seems a bit small for a ketch rig). I had a 28' Cheoy Lee copy (sloop) that made it through a category 2 typhoon in the South China Sea.

Enjoy!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Fellow Nut,
Welcome aboard!! Even with all there many leaky faults I like Cheoy Lees. Yes, the forum invites boat nuts,
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[rtbates]

As a professional ship's captain once told me, "Anyone who puts to sea for pleasure is surely nuts"...

Welcome to the madness...