New Member Introduction

[NoviceIrish]

Thank you to the providers of this forum - a fantastic resource.

I am a mid-50's desk jockey. Textbook cliché....

Lots of experience on fishing boats (all recreational unless you count a day's work on a prawn trawler). Some small exposure in my youth to small sailing boats, but essentially a sailing novice. So far I and one of my children have had one day of sailing lessons and we came away with the knowledge that if the sail is flappy it's not happy (well, it's a start).

I plan to do more lessons, get the Competent Crew and other certifications, then maybe a holiday charter and then I might just buy a small-ish boat (and yes, the temptation is to just buy something and then figure it out; not gonna do it -but I won't pretend that I haven't been sorely tempted).

I already know that I will need to buy something which has been brought\kept up to spec. by the previous owner (or get the kid into an apprenticeship that will somehow turn him into a mechanic and marine engineer).

I will certainly consult the combined wisdom of this forum before pulling the trigger on any purchase.

[SeanPatrick]

Welcome aboard!

[TrentePieds]

Welcome aboard CF, NoviceIrish :-)

It's hardy possible to be more "centrally located" in Eire than in Longford :-)! So the question presents itself: What sort of sailing do you wish to do?

The reason the answer to that question is important is that the waters of Dublin Bay are very different from a skipper's point of view from the waters of Galway Bay and both of those waters are very different from the waters of Cork Harbour and the South Coast. Or indeed from Strangford Lough. Where you wish to sail determines to a large extent what sort of boat you should choose to buy.

So tell us more about your ambitions. Then we can give you better guidance.

Once again: Welcome :-)!

TrentePieds

[NoviceIrish]

I am originally from the West coast, but if I do get buying I may end up keeping the boat in Skerries. Or Donegal. Or Galway. So, -- too soon to know. Funny enough now you say it, I remember the guys on the prawn trawler (out of Skerries) telling me that the wave motion there would be quite different to what I would be used to in the West. They said that working trawlermen from the west expected the water to be easier going- but some could not take to it and left again. Plans change, but my half-formed plan is something safe and steady, old-ish, big enough (and no bigger- so maybe 30-32 ft.?) to tip down to France and Spain eventually. That's two years away at least, mind you.

[JPA Cate]

You have a sensible plan, and you can always get the boat sooner; I think you'll know if that's the best. It is that some of us learn easier and faster in structured situations, but there are also those who learn best by doing. Enough classes and you'll know which you want. It's your life and your kids, AND it will be almost too much fun!

Welcome aboard CF. In spite of all those initials before my last name, I am called Ann.

Lots of cruising miles under our keel, in previous boats and the one in my avatar. And, like Trente Pieds above, glad to be of any help I can.

Ann

[NoviceIrish]

Thanks Ann.

You never know what life holds: might yet end up sailing to Oz...

[Adelie]

Welcome to CruisersForum!

I would suggest updating your profile with your general location and your boat make & model or “Looking” in the "Boat" category. This info shows up under your UserName in every post in the web view. Many questions are boat and/or location dependent and having these tidbits under your UserName saves answering those questions repeatedly. If you need help setting up your profile then click on this link: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3308797

I would happily help more if the link above is not enough.