Long time lurker, I will be
purchasing my first sailboat this early spring. I have lurked here for a long time but I just recently registered but I have been a
member over at livingaboard forum since 07. I have been lurking here so long and have spend literally hours pouring over every
single topic. I already feel like I know you all so well because of reading all of your posts.
I have been chasing this dream for years, and it always has been elusive until the last few years of steady
work and finally after paying off my last debt (new truck) in may. Ever since I have been banking almost all of my extra cash. Finding a new job has never been very difficult for me, I am
single and I like to live simply. I just turned 27 so I would enjoy a
boat that would be utilitarian and no frills. I have seriously been eying that
alberg 30' that is
for sale on
Annapolis craigslist, I don't have that much
money yet but I will have the kitty full come spring time. I am deeply fascinated with the early pocket cruisers with the traditional lines and stout build.
I am really in the market for a sturdy well maintained
full keel boat with good
sails and decent ground tackle. I would prefer a
diesel engine but I don't think I can be too picky since the boat has to be on the Chesapeake as it is about 8-9 hours from here and makes the transition and inspecting phase easier versus going all the way to
Florida and back. I don't or wouldn't object to small and cozy because that is exactly my style. I am looking in the 26-30 range with the maximum asking
price of 15,000, of course I am setting a nice chunk of
money for expenses for at least 6 months on top of the
purchase price of the boat. To me smaller is better because I can get a better boat for my money if I stay 25-27, I would enjoy the
Cape Dory 25D but I wouldn't go any shorter. There is a nice one
for sale (25D/Yanmar 3GM) on the Chesapeake for 13,000, a bit high if you ask me, its a bare bones boat without any extras. I would pay a max of 8,000 for that specific one though.
Even though I have never worked on boats, I know I would enjoy the labor. I have done some
fiberglass body
repair and I used to be a
diesel mechanic for almost four years before I figured out there are much easier ways to make money. I am well versed in;
electrical, air, hydraulic,
engine and all related systems. I would feel confident and content working at a boatyard for a while, I just love boats of all kinds and would happily
work on any of them. But I learned much from working on heavy
equipment and road trucks and I am sure I could ply that
trade if I had to. I am currently in human resources, I am great with people and have honed my interpersonal skills as well. I also have a basic dive
certification that I would love to turn into something besides a hobby. But who knows, this is going to be an incredible life journey.
I already made it to
florida and lived there for almost a year, I worked at a small hotel/campground on long key. At that time I could have kept a cruising boat in the marina for FREE since I worked there. My neighbor would let me borrow his 14' pram to go sailing on Florida bay and I enjoyed every moment of it, nothing has ever made me feel more content and happy as I was then.
I actually ended up looking at an
alberg 29' or 30' with a swing
keel, anyways it was on grassy key. The boat was nicely outfitted for cruising many upgrades and extras, they were asking 11,000. I talked to a few banks but unsurprisingly nobody would loan money for a boat that old and for such a small amount of money. I ended up losing my job there after the property was
sold to a development company a few months later, (the original company was underwater on the mortgage for several months.) I moved back home to
Ohio where I have been wanting to move back to the coast since.
Going back even before then I looked at a Watkins 27 in Graysonville MD two separate times, almost a year apart because of a significant price drop. I found out why, she had been neglected since I last saw her and more or less "sank on land". There was lots of
mold and
water damage also had extensive soft decks. They should have
sold it to me for what I offered them the first time, wow the boat market has changed considerably since then!
I apologize for the winded post but I wanted to make it count for my first. Thank you for such an intelligent civil forum, where I have much to be taught, so I will listen humbly and take notes.
Thanks again,
-Dan