New and lost...is the road to the happiness clinic?

[Don C L]

Welcome aboard! But lashing yourself to the bowsprit? Not quite the image of luxurious and blissful sailing, but, OK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSNbauxXcyY

[Escape Plan 11]

You're right, experience will help a lot.

Not sure how much I can get from Orlando but will check with some marinas and clubs on the coast. Only 45 minutes away. Sounds like a great way to spend a weekend.

Selecting a boat will largely be a math function for me. A weighted optimization model of criteria and individual factors. I do this for all major decisions, except 'will you marry me'...the first time. Once I've got it down to the final three or four, then I'll let the wife choose the one that she likes the best. Do the survey and see what happens.

I realize that it may be helpful to ask the hive mind here about things I find during the boat search. Will need to check with the boat sellers and the rules here but seems like posting a pic or two of something on a boat I'm looking at may be helpful.

Am willing to fix anything. Couldn't run big software projects once but I learned. Same mind set.

Fail--> Fail --> Fail --> Don't Fail.

Works every time.

[Escape Plan 11]

You've posted my inspiration for the idea. Not sirens but dangerous enough....hahaha.

Ever since I was a kid I thought that was such a good part of the story.

[Escape Plan 11]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

I shudder to look back at my early sailing days....they were frought with near misses with big objects, wild sleepness nights, broken gear, groundings, engine malfunctions, abandoning crew, and just general mayhem.

For the life of me, I didn't know how this could be considered a "gentleman's" sport and why I even chose to pursue this, I could not answer.

But then....that one perfect day arrived...when the stars aligned....the dolphins came out to play, the wind was right, ocean was smooth, beer was cold and nothing broke.

I had graduated from the "School of Hard Knocks" and had finally become a "sailor".....for most this training course may require several years...

I like your approach. Hard knocks...yep, pretty sure they are coming. Life doesn't happen without them. Just sucks when I do them to myself.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Escape Plan 11

Selecting a boat will largely be a math function for me. A weighted optimization model of criteria and individual factors. I do this for all major decisions, except 'will you marry me'...the first time. Once I've got it down to the final three or four, then I'll let the wife choose the one that she likes the best. Do the survey and see what happens.

If you're a numbers guy then you'll love this database/site: Sail Calculator Pro v3.54 - 3200+ boats You can spend hours comparing raw stats of various boats, and searching for boats with your specified criteria.

Let me just warn you, and this cannot be emphasized enough; a boat is always different from the sum of its stats. Sometimes it's more, sometimes less. The numbers can only tell a part of the tale. It's a fine way to start, this is why actual experience is essential. Only then will you start to understand the unknown-unknowns of this life.

[DMF Sailing]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

If you're a numbers guy then you'll love this database/site: Sail Calculator Pro v3.54 - 3200+ boats You can spend hours comparing raw stats of various boats, and searching for boats with your specified criteria.

Let me just warn you, and this cannot be emphasized enough; a boat is always different from the sum of its stats. Sometimes it's more, sometimes less. The numbers can only tell a part of the tale. It's a fine way to start, this is why actual experience is essential. Only then will you start to understand the unknown-unknowns of this life.

Oh Mike I can't believe you brought this thing back!!

[ finds shelter, gets , assembles list of every boat ever ]

By the way, Escape Plan, love your posts. Itsy-bitsy suggestion: Notice the little "quote" button to the lower right of this box. If you hit that when you want to reply to a post, we can all see to which message you are replying.

[sandy stone]

A sailboat that sank in Lake Pontchartrain? I don't remember that. About when was it?

[MicHughV]

The sailboat dream attacks many people.

I was a youngster, still in middle school, when for no particular reason at all, I got my hands on a Bruce Roberts " build your own boat " catalog. This was at a boarding school, 400 miles from the nearest ocean.

I flipped thru' the pages until I came to the BR38 ketch. And there it was, I fell in love, nay, I was smitten.

I didn't know a ketch from a stick in the ground...but this boat talked to me....it was a thing of beauty and I had to have it, nothing else mattered anymore.

Off course, I still had to finish school, etc...but I cut that page out, and kept it with me for all those years.
Not having a dime to my name, I realized that buying one was out of the question, so I had to build it, and build it I did.

Hope this inspires you. I wrote a book about the whole adventure. PM me if you're interested.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Escape Plan 11

You're right, experience will help a lot.

Not sure how much I can get from Orlando but will check with some marinas and clubs on the coast. Only 45 minutes away. Sounds like a great way to spend a weekend.

TSC - Home

I know a guy actively involved with this group. You join as a member, and have access to the boats. They have a Catalina 22. This isn't far from Orlando and would seem like a good way to get introduced to it.

[Escape Plan 11]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

If you're a numbers guy then you'll love this database/site: Sail Calculator Pro v3.54 - 3200+ boats You can spend hours comparing raw stats of various boats, and searching for boats with your specified criteria.

Let me just warn you, and this cannot be emphasized enough; a boat is always different from the sum of its stats. Sometimes it's more, sometimes less. The numbers can only tell a part of the tale. It's a fine way to start, this is why actual experience is essential. Only then will you start to understand the unknown-unknowns of this life.

Thank you very much for the tool...it will provide hours of geeky pleasure and will help too!

Ah unknown-unknowns or unknown squared as my favorite professor called it. Learn them at someone else's expense if I can...but sooner or later, I'll hit the dock, run aground. regret not reefing before dark. The list of my upcoming screwups is long...but finite and I look forward to learning from each of them. Might even have to do some of them more than once before it makes sense.

[Escape Plan 11]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

Welcome aboard, Escape!

Here's something you might try:

Sailing Opportunities - Hank Schmitt
https://www.sailopo.com/Home_OPO_History.aspx?rd=1

One Forum Member I know did a delivery this Spring (May 2021) with SailOpo (look under their "Swan Program") - 52' Swan from Antigua - Newport, RI. He had an absolutely fantastic time, said he learned tons aboard while on passage (he's an experienced club racer, but had never been offshore, so watchkeeping, hourly navigation and logkeeping, setting watch scheds, offshore cooking and chores, etc. were all new to him). He's now on the hunt for his own boat.

As the above posters have emphasised, ensure you get some ASA training or some solid experience - and **get the Admiral (your wife) onboard** before coming to loggerheads with the actual reality of cruising life.

Here's one of the Forum's favourite and most entertaining threads started by a guy who jumped in without any sailing knowledge. He did have a whale of a time for a while, but ultimately, his wife made him sell the boat and he hasn't been heard from since:

Attempted Trip to Bermuda
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...uda-91566.html

Fair winds and good luck,
LittleWing77

Thank you very much for this. I wouldn't mind crewing on a boat for some trips. My wife will help me get the boat organized and come for a few weekends. I'll be on the boat six months a year. I'll come home, put it on the hard, and fix things six months a year. A simple life of never-ending diy.

We moved to Orlando so my wife can be near our daughter and our new grandbaby. I'll sail while she plays grandma.

[Escape Plan 11]

Originally Posted by sandy stone

A sailboat that sank in Lake Pontchartrain? I don't remember that. About when was it?

25 years ago about...maybe more

[Tonali99]

Originally Posted by Escape Plan 11

Sorry...Peg Leg stole the grog, Captain. This sailor doesn't drink that poison.

Yeah, I might need to build up to the wave crashing.

I like to do things that scare the hell outta me. I've jumped out of a plane and did bungee jumping because of this. Will never do either of those again unless lives depend on it. Hated both of them!

Wave crashing is one of the few activities that may permit a build up to it.

Planning on going up one meter a day in a boson's chair until I reach the top of the mast. Fear of heights is a pain in the butt but once I'm up there it will be fine.

'Fear is a mind-killer' to quote the Litany of Fear.

Wave crashing might require a helmet...don't wanna die from a cleat to the head if it slams me onto the deck.

I'm sure there will be more than a few scarey moments. Also sure that 'perfect' boat will take you a few years to accomplish as nothing really is.
And didn't Paul Attriedes say that about fear? Just let it pass through you.

[jerrypeters]

FWIW, I agree/sympathize with most of the comments above. But ... as far as your itinerary ... the Caribbean is lovely and vast. You have left many phenomenal places off your short list. You'll find magic in many places. But your short list??? Jamaica and Haiti are both borderline hostile although beautiful in their own right. Unfortunately, Venezuela is truly "no go".

Good luck and much fun.

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by Tonali99

And didn't Paul Attriedes say that about fear? Just let it pass through you.

I hope nobody goes to sea thinking this happens.

There are two types of fear: illogical and logical. One fears ghosts with no reason and is born of ignorance; the other knows the real danger. If anything, illogical fear is stronger, as it has not the knowledge of positive outcome. Neither pass through anyone with sanity.

One should respect the sea, as at one time of another they will feel fear. The only question is if they are mentally equipped to do so.