G'day All, from Australia

[Golden Wattle]

G'day all.
I have been reading this site for a couple of months.
To the Administrators and moderators well done.
To all the generous people out there who freely give their advice keep up the good work.
To the serious postings, please, more smiley faces.

Now to me, I am 49 I live in Mt Waverley Melbourne Aust. I hope to retire in 5 ½ years
11 years ago I drove around this vast country and at this stage I plan to cruise around OZ and then depending on my ability and some other factors I would like to “do the globe”. I have been around power boats my whole life, and I have done minimal sailing. Obviously that will change, I will be looking to begin training courses and crew on some boats in the near future.

Before reading this forum I thought I knew what I wanted.
46’-50’ Steel bilge keel to live on (with wife) for about 10 years.
Now the options are anything goes, even a cat although they are expensive.
I am amazed at the polarized view some cruisers have, but good on you, it’s good to see passionate people.
At this stage I plan on the following:

Budget 150,000-200,000.
Pension income $40-$60pa
I would like a shallow draught for the cruising in the North of OZ.
At this stage I have a million questions But I will post these as I become more confident.


Cheers
Golden Wattle (Well at least I have the name)

[Ex-Calif]

Welcome aboard! I assume your numbers are in Aussie dollars. My basic pension will work out to something similar in a few (actually more than a few) years but in yankee dollars. Private investments will also contribute but I think $60k in retirement is easy cruising. It's amazing how much financial leakage we have just maintaining our land based stuff and lifestyles.

The waiting part for me is getting funds together to buy the boat with cash.

I would encourage you to get out and get sailing ASAP. It's a great way to "waste" your weekends...

[Golden Wattle]

Thanks,
Ex (What are you now)?
Yes Oz dollars.
Might be a bit more depends on investments.
I have been working shift for 11 years now so most of my days off have been in the middle of the week, I have now finished shiftwork.
Now I have my weekends back it's time to do the "hard yards".LOL.

Cheers

[sailor jim]

G'day Golden Wattle
I live in Brisbane and I have a Compass 29 which I bought for the same reason as you..To go around OZ.

I will be alone so the size for me is perfect.
Steel boats are great if you plan to hit the Barrier Reef AND if they are new.
Steel rusts and sometimes if the boat is lined it is difficult to survey to find the rust.
(Polarized view??)

Get your butt down to the local yacht club and get into the winter series of races.
Great place to learn and the advice is free.
Most skippers will have a space for 'gunnell meat' and you will have a good time.
That is how I started sailing and I haven't looked back.
Lessons are fine but it don't beat someone yelling at you when you are doing it wrong. Fast track to learning...

With going to New Zealand, I would shelve the bilge keels.
The Tasman takes no prisoners and a REAL keel is the only way to go.
Keep on researching and have fun.

Jim.

[Golden Wattle]

That is how I started sailing and I haven't looked back.
Lessons are fine but it don't beat someone yelling at you when you are doing it wrong.


I'm married.

[swagman]

G'day also.
Weclome to the site and look forward to seeing you live the dream.
Enjoy
JOHN

[sailor jim]

G'day John
I read your blog.
It is not that boring..

Jim.

[Oz_Steve]

G'day John,
We're in the same boat as you .. so to speak, although were a few years younger. We're from Adelaide, and are looking at taking a couple of years off work to sail through the south pacific with my wife and my 2 children. We currently sail an Austral 20 that we take out every opportunity we get, to log the hours and to learn as much as we can. It's a great, confortable and safe boat to learn on. I have to agree with some of the other comments though, getting into crewing on other boats is a great way to go. We do the twilight races in the summer evenings which are great, and very social. Sometimes not the pressure there is in the "full on" racing. All the best for your dream. You'll get there.

Cheers
Steve & Cheryl

[sailor jim]

Hi Steve & Cheryl
Thanks mate. I know I will do it.
It is the end of a five year plan and so far it is all coming together.

I hope you aren't planning to do your trip in the Austral!!
I think my boat, though a proven offshore boat, is at the limit for a solo sail.
An Austral would be pushing the envelope just a tad.

I enjoy my racing..I get to break someone elses boat AND the owner buys the beer!!!
If only I could get a job under those conditions.

Good luck on your plans. (It ain't all that hard to achieve).

Jim.

[Oz_Steve]

Haha ... I've heard of some people sailing around the world in 20-22' yachts, but that's not for me. The Austral, while great for coastal sailiing wouldn't be my preferred vessel for offshore work. We've pretty much settled on a catamaran due to the kinder motion and minimal heeling, as well as a couple of other "nice to have" reasons. We're currently looking at a 42' Lagoon TPI which seems to have a good pedigree and is well constructed.

All the best for your dream. If we see you out there, then I'll buy you the first beer ... and you can buy the second. <grin>

Have a good day
Steve & Cheryl

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Golden,
Welcome aboard! Good to have you here on the forum. You've gotten lots of replies so far and there isn't much I could add except that getting out and looking at boats is one of my favorite pastimes and I ask people lots of questions.
I like monohulls. I like fiberglass. I like boats with diesel engines. I like aft cockpits. I like cutter rigs. I don't want another boat over 36 feet LOD. Other than all that I don't have many opinions except if you give me the model of a boat I have experience with I'll be bruatally honest with an opinion.
Kind regards and good luck in your plan.
JohnL

[Golden Wattle]

Skiprjohn,
Thanks for the welcome.
I do have a question that will put the CAT amonst the monos.
I mentioned I was torn between mono and cat or compromise: Bilge keels. Sailorjim suggested I don't consider them for blue water cruising.
I would like to be able to go shallow as the top of OZ and the Pac Islands are my first couple of years, everything permitting.

Any ideas or comments from yourself or others as to the worthiness of Bilge keels for blue water or circ?


Cheers

[Wotname]

GW, while this doesn't directly answer your question re Bilge Keels, I can say that after cruising Brisbane to Cairns and return for 12 months (and also spending 12 months in Cape York / Torres Straits in a 30 footer with a 6 ft draft, I won't worry to much about going to bilge keels.

Yes, the shallow draft would have been nice at times but certainly wasn't essential. I would perfer a multihull and really get some shallow draft advantages (along with the other aspects) rather than bilge keels.
My 2 cents worth

[Golden Wattle]

Thanks for the input. I must admit since joining this forum I have had my opinion broadened as to the type of craft I need. My wife is in favour of a cat (at the moment.....sigh...subject to change). There are a lot of seemingly good vessels out there. What would you recommend as to the minimum size cat for blue water?

Cheers

[Wotname]

GW, as to a blue water sized cat, I will leave that to the multihull experts on this forum but I wold GUESS somewhere over mid 30's.