Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 13-06-2023, 04:57   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 1
Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

We just sold our house in Maine and are looking into at 40-ft-ish catamaran with the intention of a long term residence. We know very little, but I'd like to think we are smart enough to learn fast. Before we set sail, we are getting first aid training from a paramedic, are taking Spanish lessons, had medicines prescribed by our doctor ahead, scheduled all preventative care, and are taking lessons on sailing from the boat's owner. We plan to spend a lot of time along the coast locally to gain confidence. What else is recommended, within reason, to do in preparation?
UnderTheSheets is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-06-2023, 05:33   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Boat: Cal 33-2
Posts: 506
Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

Welcome! Sounds like you have a big adventure in front of you.

Is boat currently in Maine? Where do you plan to spend the winter?
__________________
S/V First Tracks
1985 Cal 33-2
JimsCAL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-06-2023, 05:43   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
boatman61's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 31,275
Images: 2
pirate Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

Sounds like your well ahead of the curve compared to many first timers so far...
Maybe some engine maintenance/trouble shooting education and Saildrive awareness with those two big holes in your hulls..
Welcome to CF..
__________________

You can't oppress a people for so many decades and have them say.. "I Love You.. ".
"It is better to die standing proud, than to live a lifetime on ones knees.."
Self Defence is no excuse for Genocide...
boatman61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-06-2023, 06:01   #4
Registered User
 
krid2000's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2020
Boat: Tartan 40
Posts: 135
Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

Quote:
Originally Posted by UnderTheSheets View Post
What else is recommended, within reason, to do in preparation?
Learn all boat systems and mechanics. Have the previous owner walk you through everything and take videos and photos of that.

You'd be surprised how relatively little sailing you will do and how much maintenance, repairs and related research and shopping you will do. Youtube is a great learning tool, so are "the usual" books on boat maintenance.

HTH & fair winds
Dirk
krid2000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-06-2023, 18:27   #5
Moderator
 
Adelie's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: La Ciudad de la Misión Didacus de Alcalá en Alta California, Virreinato de Nueva España
Boat: Cal 20
Posts: 21,614
Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

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.
__________________
Num Me Vexo?
For all of your celestial navigation questions: https://navlist.net/
A house is but a boat so poorly built and so firmly run aground no one would think to try and refloat it.
Adelie is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 16-06-2023, 22:04   #6
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,743
Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

A) Figure out your insurance. It’s hard for people with little experience to get insurance for a cat. You need insurance to tie up at many marinas. Use a broker who specializes in cruising sailboats.

B) Figure out where you will be this winter. If Florida, make reservations for a slip soon as they sell out. You’ll want to go to the Bahamas but maybe do that the 2nd winter.

C) Plan next summer location during hurricane season. It will be much cheaper and easier to get insurance if you are north of Florida. I go to Maine

D) Do some “shakedown” trips to figure out what upgrades you want to make. Ask the owner for recommendations of a boatyard to do the work you can’t do yourself.

E) Budget for after purchase expenses. There’s always more than you expect. Things like new foam for the mattresses because your back hurts sleeping. A better anchor. New dinghy. Most people go over $50,000 in the first 12 months of ownership.
CarlF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-06-2023, 00:02   #7
Marine Service Provider
 
boatpoker's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,579
Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

diesel maintenance course
Marine electrics course
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
boatpoker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-06-2023, 01:07   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Daytona Beach, FL, USA
Boat: Douglas 32, duh...32'
Posts: 176
Re: Our First Boat! (what have we done?)

Ahoy UnderTheSheets:


Much good advice already from the people who have replied to your post.
MY contribution is to the buy the book Advanced First Aid Afloat by Peter Eastman, MD.
(My recollection is that Eastman wrote it for his son and daughter-in-law who
were planning to cruise the Pacific.)


It saved me the cost of a visit to the ER in the USVI when I fell hard against the hatch edge as I came up from the galley with a cup of coffee in each hand. The medical advice was to bind the chest--for possible cracked ribs. Since I was just boat-sitting, ie: no activity/work ashore, I simply laid around until the pain subsided.
__________________
I must go down to the shore again
to the lonely shore and the sea
And all I ask is a small ship....and a frontal lobotomy
Enfant Du Vent is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
boat

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
After buying our first boat, we're now on our 4th episode - learning by doing Apocalyptism The Sailor's Confessional 3 21-05-2022 07:35
Buy with all the work done or pay to have it done? JohnParkerSJ Our Community 58 26-04-2021 18:15
Me and my dad bought our first boat, here's our second attempt at trying to sail it Apocalyptism The Sailor's Confessional 16 28-03-2021 17:54
Spending our First week on our Boat!! natraps116 Sailor Logs & Cruising Plans 1 09-11-2014 16:38
We've Just Done Our First Channel Crossing ! Mippy Europe & Mediterranean 15 19-05-2011 08:01

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 23:28.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.