Hello - I Am Addicted To Sailing

[fallingeggs]

Hello, Stephen, 28, from New York City here. And I am addicted to sailing.

My sailing background is short. First, my co-conspirator and love (and sabreuse, see below), Luiza, has filled my ears with childhood stories of her family sailing trips in Brazil. Sounded great, but I was busy focusing on mountain climbing. That was until my first sailing experiences on a trip to Belize two summers ago where there was nothing to do but for Luiza and me to sail around the tiny cay on a tiny Hobbie Cat.

I was hooked.

A hobby in nature that I can share my best friend (Luiza isn’t into the backpacking “vacations”…). Since that trip, we have been members of the local sailing club, paddling around the harbor on J24s. However, sharing a J24 between 5 people for 4 hours in the harbor, even one as beautiful as New York City’s, gets old. I thought about buying a small sailboat, but couldn’t justify the cost of keeping a weekender anywhere I would use it on the weekends.

I was in some sort hobby purgatory until the second week of May when I heard a certain story on a certain radio show about people needing help. My mind was blown that there we’re people like Rebel Heart that would attempt something surely insane as crossing the Pacific on a thirty-something foot sailboat. But he said there was a community of people out there doing just that. In my over the top response to my latest interest, I read the entire internet (yes, it’s true) to find out more. Turns out, with the right boat, preparation, and guts, doing such a trip across the Pacific can be a reality.

With my fantasy in mind, I’m on to step one of making it a reality: buying a boat. Now, now, I have saved everyone the trouble of me asking questions for which there are already answers for. With all the resources on this site, I narrowed down my search to a list of sailboat manufactures from the 1980s, between 34 and 39 feet. For me, this seemed to be the sweet spot of having the funds to support some additional space above a 32, but still small enough where it can be handled by two. I am aiming to make a costal cruiser for $40k. Once I’m there, I’d turn it into a passage maker for another $40k.

I’m excited to say that step 1 is nearly complete. A week ago I put in an offer, a day later it was accepted, yesterday the survey was conducted and today I wire transferred the payment. I am just waiting on insurance and the papering/documentation, which should be finished middle of next week.

The boat is a 1983 Sabre 38 centerboard. (Connection to above: a sabreuse is a female fencer that uses a sabre.) The boat has been well maintained over the years and it shows. She came out of the survey with very minor issues (ie, no blisters on the hull, but a small water/bubble area on the deck). The hull-to-deck joints look strong and the bulkhead tabbing feels solid. Engine is functioning like a champ, with some several newer parts and the standing rigging has been replace and still appears like new. Overall, the surveyor was very impressed. Needs some cosmetic TLC, but I have the elbow grease for that.

Thinking about documenting this adventure on a blog as our contribution back to the community for the endless amount of information we’re going to suck out of it. There, I will post more details about the boat and refit plans there. This forum will be my home for the hundreds of questions I have for members to opine on. That and answers for any questions asked of me. In the meantime, here are some pictures that I took on my first visit to the boat. I will take better ones soon day.

Now on to steps 2 through million. Around the top of the list is getting the boat from Kingston, NY to its future home in Brooklyn.

PS - The thoughts on the departure date is towards the end of 2017 or 2018 for between one year and whenever we get tired of sailing / run out of money.

[clownfishsydney]

Congratulations! I will take a lot more work than you think to clean and repair everything. This is from our experience with our new boat.

[gonesail]

you think crossing an ocean in 33' is something .. how about 24'

[Stu Jackson]

Very nice, congratulations. What engine? I ask because we can link you to some good info if we knew.

[fallingeggs]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Very nice, congratulations. What engine? I ask because we can link you to some good info if we knew.

Stu, it is a Westerbeke 33. I actually found the original engine manual and parts booklet, plus of a few boxes of engine repair kits (hoses and such). Hopefully I can shift through it all to figure out whats what and build a nice standby standby kit.

Originally Posted by clownfishsydney

Congratulations! I will take a lot more work than you think to clean and repair everything. This is from our experience with our new boat.

clownfishsydney, everyone keeps telling me this, but I'm already planning on every weekend and a few weeks for the next four years. How much more can I give?! I guess when a boat is never done, it will take everything I can give and more. I am hopeful I can keep the motto "perfect is the enemy of good" to heart.

[laika]

Congratulations man! Your plan sounds great. I sailed out of NYC for a couple years, and originally hail from the mountains. Can't imagine being anywhere other than on the water these days.

Best of luck

Ryan

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by fallingeggs

Hello, Stephen, 28, from New York City here. And I am addicted to sailing.

You need to be careful about addiction. Next thing you will be saying in front of the group and they will go "hi Stephen" before you tell your story

[fallingeggs]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

You need to be careful about addiction. Next thing you will be saying in front of the group and they will go "hi Stephen" before you tell your story

Ha, spending everyday in the tropics might leads to all kinds of addictions.


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[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Congratulations.

[s/v Beth]

Welcome to the opium den of sailing. Only in SA is the smoke thicker. Many adventures lie ahead, and lots of beautiful sunsets.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Congrats MAN!

Avoid therapy at all costs...

[s/vAngel]

Your plans are awesome And you're doing this at a good age. Keep us posted when you make a blog, will be a joy to read! Looks like you're doing the smart thing and carefully planning everything out. Nice boat too!

[shorebird]

That boat is just BEGGIN' to have a name change to "Sabreuse."
A female fencer who uses a Sabre. Get it? Got it? Good.
Welcome aboard, and hope to hear from you often.

[fallingeggs]

Thanks all!

Closed on the boat yesterday and got the insurance in place as well.

It is a beautiful day here today; however, it is raining all tomorrow. Might put a dent in the maidan voyage.


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[skipmac]

Hi Stephen and welcome to the addicts club forum.

I have an older Westerbeke on my boat and have found genuine Westerbeke parts to be VERY expensive. However Westerbeke did not build the blocks for their engines but purchased the basic block, added the marine parts, painted the whole thing red and called it theirs.

With a little research you can probably find out what block they used and look for cheaper parts. Also most of the marine parts like the water pump">raw water pump, heat exchangers and such are sourced from outside sources and can also be found for less money elsewhere.

If you're moving the boat to NY you will be close to a great cruising area. I have a friend that has been spending weekends and vacations sailing Long Island Sound for years and still has more places to go and see.

Good luck and have fun.