Hello All!

[FATKID]

My name is Joshua and I'm currently located in the Monterey Bay area.
I have never owned my own boat but have always dreamed of the adventure of setting out on an epic cruise.
The thought of owning a boat at all seemed entirely out of reach until a friend recently offered to sell me his fixer upper because he upgraded. After doing the research it now doesn't seem so unattainable.
I have three young daughters that I hope to pass the adventure bug on to, eventually.
I didn't grow up sailing and I don't have a whole lot of experience to begin with but you gotta start somewhere.
I look foward to digging into the expansive knowledge held within this forum and hope to eventually find a way to give back in some small way.

-Joshua

[Meridian]

Hi, Joshua...welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of sailing.
Sailing on OPB's (other people's boats) is a great way to learn and gain experience. Maybe hit the marina to see when the casual race-night is, and show up with a six-pack, willing to crew.
Best of luck,
John

[skipmac]

Hi Joshua,

Sounds like you are bitten by the sailing bug. A fixer upper could be a good way to get into it cheaply but do make sure the basic structure of the boat: hull, deck, rig, engine is sound or the fixer upper could end up costing more than a ready to go.

A major factor will be your DIY skills, available time and equipment.

Good luck.

Skip

[James S]

Hey Joshua
Welcome to the forum...how about some pictures and details on your fixer-uper?

[FATKID]

Thank you for the greetings!!
I decided not to get that boat because it was a lot more of a fixer upper than I was lead to believe.
I am still in the research phase but keeping an I out for a "can't miss" deal.
I was given a little Hobie Cat for free but it has 3 holes in the pontoons. I am going to part it out and use the money for something along the lines of a Santana or Cal 22. A good learner that I can fit the whole family on
I'm definitely short on equipment but I'm willing to do the research and put in the work. My wife is not much of a hobby person so I am having to find the money balance between fixer-uppper and ready to go. I hope to have something in the water by next summer.

[Ashoreschool]

Welcome Joshua,
Good luck with your dreams. Adventure can be had with a low cost trailer sailer. Lots of bays to explore up and down the coast from you.
You may find some tips on buying fixer uppers in archive sections in the free online contained in the link after our signature.
Best wishes and have a great Thanksgiving.

[James S]

Back when I was poor-er I had a canoe that I made an outrigger for (out of PVC) and bungee cord.
It wasn’t a sail boat...but damn, 4 of us spent lots of weekends exploring and camping and generally having a blast on the water all over Florida.

It doesn’t take much to have great adventures on the water.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Joshua,
I think a lot of us started out like you are.
A fin keel Catalina 22 is a good choice. The trailerable version is a bit more tender but has the advantage of letting you store her next to the house. They are pretty inexpensive. It would be great to crew on other folks boats for a bit first to see what you might enjoy sailing in first.
regards,