Hello from Central Mississippi

[Throggy]

Hello all.
Where to start?
My wife and I live in central Mississippi and are caring for my mom in our house. However we are looking at the idea of selling everything after mom goes to be with the Lord in the future. Whenever that will be. Then we would take the money get a sailboat, and go sailing.
The idea of some freedom sounds nice and seeing new places, doing some new things. But live aboard life does seem expensive, at least for the USA side of things.
We are 50's-ish in age. I'm an ex-smoker (2+years quit). Neither of us knows how to sail. We don't know how to scuba. Both can swim a little in theory, but its been over a decade. And we are just plain getting older and more creaky every day.

I have been on the lakes earlier in my life and at least know a tiny bit about small boats. Even worked for a small aluminum boat factory for a summer. (eons ago...wow)

We have no idea if we would like only ocean all around on the horizon, or if we would go green with sea sickness constantly. We know there are dangers and risks. We are not drinkers or party goers. No drugs, booze or tattoos for us.

I'm the one guilty of exploring the sailing idea, but my wife has shown much interest as well. We have both been looking at several options and looking through several sailboats for sale. I imagine the market will become full of storm damaged boats soon...

I'm handy and a good fixer upper.
We (wife helped) even rebuilt a transmission on a 1995 Infiniti and it ran great!

Without knowing a lot about tractors, we bought a ford 8N last year and got snookered. And got That running too! I do all maintenance, fixing, repairing, on everything it seems.

So we are up to some challenges and making do.

Have thought about building a boat also, but since we are so far from the gulf, how to get the boat moved (or even flipped over in the workshop after the hull bottom is built) are very large challenges.
We even have a nice workshop that I could build a smallish 28 ft long by 9 feet beam <---(Look, a nautical / boat word!)

I would prefer a catamaran, layout seems more comfortable, (less standing or leaning sideways in a good wind?) and cats seem safer. But the prices for cats are shocking compared to monohulls. But, we have in no way ruled out monohulls.

Anyway, that's us.

T

[iSaint]

Hello from the Mississippi Coast! I moved here from Columbus nine years ago and love it. I'm actually trying to sell my condo now so I can buy a sailboat to live on. Can't sail away, yet, but will live on her and travel during holidays (I'm a teacher).

Moved my mother down here so I can take care of her here!

The only way you'll learn about sailing is to do it! I've made one crossing across the Gulf and sailed all around the Mississippi Sound. No seasickness so far!

[skipmac]

Hi Throggy,

Another former MS resident here. I grew up outside Jackson about a mile from the Pearl River. First time I saw the ocean I was in high school. First time I went sailing I was out of college. Point, it's never too late.

BUT, with no prior sailing or ocean boating experience I highly recommend getting your toes wet before jumping into the deep end of the pool.

Maybe go on a crewed charter or do some lake sailing. I would guess there's at least some sailing on Barnett Reservoir.

[Throggy]

Originally Posted by iSaint

Hello from the Mississippi Coast! I moved here from Columbus nine years ago and love it. I'm actually trying to sell my condo now so I can buy a sailboat to live on. Can't sail away, yet, but will live on her and travel during holidays (I'm a teacher).

Moved my mother down here so I can take care of her here!

The only way you'll learn about sailing is to do it! I've made one crossing across the Gulf and sailed all around the Mississippi Sound. No seasickness so far!

It is my / our hope that maybe we will meet someone that could take us out for a few hours, probably in the gulf coast of Mississippi and see how or if we like it. We would share some of the cost should that happen.

Thank you for the hello back iSaint and skipmac both.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy and Welcome Aboard CF!

Good introduction post.

It sounds like you have a dream, and one many of us share. Learning from what you can read on this forum can help that dream become a reality.

Bon Voyage on the Forum and on the water too.

P. S. I started sailing on lakes in the South, and lived far from the sea.

Even if you do not go across oceans, you could spend years enjoying cruising the coast from the Gulf to Maine.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, T.

[thomm225]

Are there any lakes near you where folks sail?

You usually don't have to move to learn/enjoy sailing.

I learned to sail on Mississippi TVA Lakes (Arkabutla and Sardis) when I lived in Memphis. I also crewed on a Pearson 30 and a Beneteau First 35 at Pickwick Lake which is just above Corinth, MS

Arkabutla used to have a good size Lightning Fleet. A Lightning can teach you tons about sailing since it has a main, jib, and spinnaker.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ligh...=1508411282739

https://www.google.com/search?q=ligh...=1508411798029

https://www.google.com/search?q=ligh...=1508411885127

[belizesailor]

Welcome aboard ya'll. [emoji16]

Im originally from Natchez, grew up power boating around the Mississippi River. Got my first taste of sailing on Ross Barnett Reservoir. Spent a lot of my youth on the coast.

Youve got access to a good cruising ground all along the Mississippi coast into Florida.

[Throggy]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Are there any lakes near you where folks sail?

You usually don't have to move to learn/enjoy sailing.

I learned to sail on Mississippi TVA Lakes (Arkabutla and Sardis) when I lived in Memphis. I also crewed on a Pearson 30 and a Beneteau First 35 at Pickwick Lake which is just above Corinth, MS

Arkabutla used to have a good size Lightning Fleet. A Lightning can teach you tons about sailing since it has a main, jib, and spinnaker.

Those links were a 404 error, but I looked up the lightning. That is a small boat. One that my wife probably couldn't handle being on for long due to some arthritis. (We figure she would handle the tiller/rudder while I handle the lines for the most part.)

We both know we can handle lakes. It's the BIG water we are unsure of. Both of us have been on small boats on lakes when we were young.

Basically we need to get on a larger boat 22+ feet LOA or more, that has sails on BIG water and see how it goes.

Our plan is to Live aboard a sail boat when the time comes. (Please read the OP?)

Thanks for the greetings
GordMay
thomm225
belizesailor



T

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Throggy

We both know we can handle lakes. It's the BIG water we are unsure of. Both of us have been on small boats on lakes when we were young.

Basically we need to get on a larger boat 22+ feet LOA or more, that has sails on BIG water and see how it goes.

If you feel comfortable with your previous lake sailing then I highly recommend renting a small sailboat for a weekend or so. Something in the 22-25' range shouldn't be hard to find. Head down to the coast and try it out. Be sure to go out in the ocean enough that you can experience the open water wind and waves. Of course not when it's really nasty but at least enough to get a feel for it. Then anchor for the night to get a feel for living in a small space.

Shouldn't cost that much for a boat in this size range and will give you a small taste of what it's like. Be careful. It could be very addictive. I went out just once and was hooked for life.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Throggy

Those links were a 404 error, but I looked up the lightning. That is a small boat. One that my wife probably couldn't handle being on for long due to some arthritis. (We figure she would handle the tiller/rudder while I handle the lines for the most part.)

We both know we can handle lakes. It's the BIG water we are unsure of. Both of us have been on small boats on lakes when we were young.

Basically we need to get on a larger boat 22+ feet LOA or more, that has sails on BIG water and see how it goes.

Our plan is to Live aboard a sail boat when the time comes. (Please read the OP?)

Thanks for the greetings
GordMay
thomm225
belizesailor

Small boats on lakes are just a great way to learn.

If you can sail and be totally comfortable on a small boat on a lake in all conditions, you will be fine on the BIG water as long as you watch the weather.

I learned on 16' Beach Cats on Mississippi TVA Lakes then sailed/raced them along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Florida Gulf Coast for many years.

Two of my favorite races were off the Mississippi Coast to Horn Island and Ship Island. These islands are maybe 10-12 miles offshore. I usually sailed those races on my Nacra 17 Beach Cat w/spinnaker singlehanded. The races started near Ocean Springs and we would sail right in front of the casinos in Biloxi on the way out to the Gulf. On the sail back in, I used the Beau Rivage as a guide to keep me on course.

As far as your wife handling the tiller with some slight physically problems on the BIG water, this should work as long as you know how to handle the sails.

Example: I was sailing downwind here recently in maybe 22 knot winds on my Bristol 27 singlehanded. The waves were a mix of ocean and bay waves maybe 4'-5' close and steep. I was over canvased but didn't want to stop and change anything. so I was wraslin' with the tiller for maybe 20 miles.

It was quite the workout because of too much main being up. Had I dropped the main and sailed on jib alone it would have been very easy physically but slow.

Sailing doesn't have to be physically hard if you learn to sail

http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/mapbiloxi.html

[SVRocinante]

First, welcome to the Cruisers Forum!

Originally Posted by Throggy

The idea of some freedom sounds nice and seeing new places, doing some new things. But live aboard life does seem expensive, at least for the USA side of things.

You will find a ton of info and opinions on cost, but the one consistent and most accurate answer you will find is that "it costs as much as you have". It's simply a matter of choice - Our first year living aboard we spent a fortune! Stayed at marinas more often than we had planned, ate out constantly, rented cars, etc., etc., etc.

Originally Posted by Throggy

We are 50's-ish in age. I'm an ex-smoker (2+years quit). Neither of us knows how to sail. We don't know how to scuba. Both can swim a little in theory, but its been over a decade. And we are just plain getting older and more creaky every day.

We started this process in our 40's - life had other plans for us and here we are in our 50's starting out again also a bit more creaky every day!

Neither of us had ever sailed before - city kids... I can barely swim, but am not afraid of the water - simply never learned. I got SCUBA certified while we were down in the Keys and my wife has done a couple of "resort dives" not her thing, but we both enjoy snorkeling, so all good!

Originally Posted by Throggy

We have no idea if we would like only ocean all around on the horizon, or if we would go green with sea sickness constantly. We know there are dangers and risks. We are not drinkers or party goers. No drugs, booze or tattoos for us.

As others have mentioned, there really is only one way to find out and that's to do it. I'm not sure what is around you, but perhaps you can crew for someone or take an ASA 100 course somewhere. While I have done an Atlantic crossing, my wife is a bit more timid - our first year out we joked that we would only sail when the forecast was for 2' or less - needless to say, we stayed in port A LOT! By the time we were heading north, we were doing outside runs on the Atlantic in 7' seas (big deal for her) - Plenty of adventure to be had along the coasts and inland waterways, so don't let fear dissuade you.

Originally Posted by Throggy

I'm the one guilty of exploring the sailing idea, but my wife has shown much interest as well. We have both been looking at several options and looking through several sailboats for sale.

Ditto - so we bought a 30' Catalina that simply needed cosmetic work as our first sailboat (hold value incredibly well) & spent 3yrs learning to sail with her while I was still working full time. First day sails, then weekends out, then a couple of 1 & 2 week trips, then a month long trip and finally a 1 yr long trip to make sure it was what we both really wanted - then we sold her and bought a new boat that better met our needs (now that we knew what they were)

Originally Posted by Throggy

So we are up to some challenges and making do.

In my opinion, by far the most important attributes!

Originally Posted by Throggy

Have thought about building a boat also, but since we are so far from the gulf,

Yep, same here, but won't even get into that part of our story!

Originally Posted by Throggy

I would prefer a catamaran, layout seems more comfortable, (less standing or leaning sideways in a good wind?) and cats seem safer. But the prices for cats are shocking compared to monohulls. But, we have in no way ruled out monohulls.

Can't help you there - we went the monohull route and are quite happy with our decision.

All the best,

[Group9]

Welcome! Another Mississippi resident here. I grew up in the Mississippi Delta, dreaming of the ocean. I moved to the gulf coast as soon as I could. I later lived in Miami and Annapolis before moving back to atheists Mississippi gulf coast. I retired in 2010 and we have been cruising on and off to the Bahamas ever since.

Nothing wrong with building your own boat, but just be advised that there are bargains galore in the used boat market. Not too mention, Marina slip rates down here that are cheaper than moorings in most places (we pay $245 a month for a slip for a 42 foot boat in one of the most beautiful marinas you ever saw (Bay Saint Louis).

It's a less expensive venture than you probably think. They don't even charge extra for live aboards. Good luck!

[Throggy]

Steady Hand (sorry I missed a thank you earlier)
SVRocinante
Group9

Thank you all as well for the greetings.

To everyone else who has commented thus far. Thank you for all the input. So far you have all helped me feel welcome.

Group9. I'd love the name of that Marina in Ocean Springs! Sounds like the best rate I've heard yet.

[danielamartindm]

Hey Throggy,

Welcome to CF. Dreams are what sailing and cruising are all about. May yours come true!