Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 03-03-2019, 17:04   #1
Registered User
 
Jmarch's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reading, PA (soon to be Orlando, FL)
Posts: 1
Cool Another aspiring coastal cruiser.

Greetings! Just joined the forum.

My wife and I spend a lot time on the water in the warmer months (swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding) in nearby lakes & rivers or if we have time - the bay in NJ. Getting an itch to get into cruising, specifically in the ocean. Problem is that we currently live in Reading, PA (west of Philadelphia) - and this is not a thing here. I will have no issues moving as I have an office in Orlando. There is a lot of work there for us and I have been there a lot. We talked things through and agreed to do the move next year. Not for sailing of course (that would be foolish at this point!), but just for the warmer/hotter weather. We are sick of the winters here! I think I may also have an early midlife crisis going on.

Taking ASA101 in May and ASA103 in July in Philadelphia off the Delaware River. Trying to squeeze time in to crew on weekends, or take my wife out by splitting a charter with another couple. Please private message me if you are in the area and may be interested.

Then - driving to Florida by end of year and buying a pocket cruiser that I will leave on a slip in Titusville or Harbortown Marina OR a marina on Tampa Bay. I was thinking of airBNBing some nights (near work in Orlando) and spend some nights on the boat to get a feel. Next - Flying the wife down on weekends to cruise with me, and get a better feel for the area before we make the move.

That is the plan. Let's see how things pan out, but I'm optimistic right now. After doing a lot of reading on this forum and several books on sailing, living aboard a boat, cruising, and how-to books - I have a feeling in my gut that I may be taking on a very expensive hobby that I will enjoy.

Please reach out if you live in the nearby area and need crew. Want to put theory to the test and get some practice and get a feel for different boats.

After doing a lot of research on different boats (without any on-deck experience) I have been eyeing a Oday 25, or Catalina 25 or 27 as a starter boat. Most experience to date has been on HobieCats, with a few times on board sailboats ~25ft in Caribbean or local (once on Lake Nockamixon).
Enjoy the heel when sailing close hauled on a mono-hull, and want a stable boat so I don't make a very expensive mistake. Open to everyone's thoughts, but will have a better feel by the end of the year either way.
Jmarch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2019, 22:44   #2
Moderator
 
Don C L's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
Posts: 14,305
Images: 66
Re: Another aspiring coastal cruiser.

Welcome aboard jmarch! Good luck in your plans! Of the boats you mentioned I'd probably go with the Catalina 27. They sail well, easy to sail, easy to handle, good resale value and they are plenty roomy when you get to where you want to do overnighters along the coast.
__________________
DL
Pythagoras
1962 Columbia 29 MKI #37
Don C L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2019, 03:48   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
GordMay's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,138
Images: 241
Re: Another aspiring coastal cruiser.

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jmarch.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"



GordMay is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cruise, cruiser

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Aspiring coastal cruiser soliton Meets & Greets 18 11-03-2019 11:34
Hello from an Aspiring Cruiser SF to Annapolis theerwagen Meets & Greets 6 16-05-2015 04:13
Gulfstar 37, Coastal Cruiser, Offshore Cruiser or Circumnavigator? Havsund Monohull Sailboats 7 15-01-2014 11:52
Greetings From An Aspiring Young Cruiser Flinthawk Meets & Greets 7 28-09-2013 12:10
questions from a novice aspiring coastal cruiser.. HernandoMauro Powered Boats 15 04-05-2012 04:17

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:43.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.