Taking the Plunge

[AKTigger]

Hi everyone!

My husband has never lived more than an hour from the ocean in his entire life. He has been on boats or owned boats off and on all during that time. We have been married for almost 30 years and finally decided to stop dreaming and start making things happen. All his/our boating experience has been on power boats, but his dream has always been to go cruising. So, I got him (us) sailing lessons for Christmas. After we got certified, we started renting sailboats on the weekends and getting in as much tiller time as we could. Now, a mere 3 1/2 months later, we are 5 days from our first sea trial and marine survey on our first sailboat. It is scary and exciting at the same time. As soon as we started sailing, I began having questions. More often than not, Google searches for answers landed me here to what is obviously the deepest pool of boating knowledge and experience one could ask for! I hope to continue to find answers here as our journey begins.

Connie

[youngson]

Welcome to CF! and congratulations on taking the plunge!

[fjwiley1]

Welcome Aboard AKT.......tis a motley crew some times but you'll enjoy taking the plunge........

Life is Good if you keepa Smilin.....

[skipmac]

Hi Connie and welcome to the forum.

So tell us more. What kind of boat and where do you plan to start your cruising?

[Cap Erict3]

Lotsa nice and smart folks here. Welcome

[AKTigger]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Hi Connie and welcome to the forum.

So tell us more. What kind of boat and where do you plan to start your cruising?

Well, my husband is a go big, or go home kind of guy, so.....don't laugh....it's a Hunter 430! We aren't cruising right away, though. There's lots of sailing to be done here, close to home......Catalina Island, Baja, Sea of Cortez, etc. Realistically, we're thinking 2-3 years before we feel we might be ready to set off for distant shores. Caribbean bound, most likely.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by AKTigger

Well, my husband is a go big, or go home kind of guy, so.....don't laugh....it's a Hunter 430! We aren't cruising right away, though. There's lots of sailing to be done here, close to home......Catalina Island, Baja, Sea of Cortez, etc. Realistically, we're thinking 2-3 years before we feel we might be ready to set off for distant shores. Caribbean bound, most likely.

No laughter here. I chartered a forty something Hunter for a Bahamas trip when I was between boats and thought the layout and systems were excellent for cruising. Had one mechanical problem on the trip, broken shift cable which was a bad part from Teleflex and nothing to do with Hunter so I really had no complaints.

I assume yours has the B&R rig, that is no backstay? The one I chartered was set up that way.

Just coincidentally, I live about 10 miles from the Hunter factory. Drive by there often. If you have any questions or complaints let me know and I will stop by and relay them to the plant manger.

[AKTigger]

HI skipmac,

I just figured people would laugh at us because we went from never having sailed to buying a 43' yacht, essentially. However, we are no strangers to boats and living off-grid, so it's not as big of a leap as one might think.

Yes, it is B&R rigged, which does make for a spacious feel in the cockpit.

LOL! It's always nice to have an "in".

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by AKTigger

Well, my husband is a go big, or go home kind of guy, so.....don't laugh....it's a Hunter 430! We aren't cruising right away, though. There's lots of sailing to be done here, close to home......Catalina Island, Baja, Sea of Cortez, etc. Realistically, we're thinking 2-3 years before we feel we might be ready to set off for distant shores. Caribbean bound, most likely.

It sounds like you are in the same area as us, and on a similar schedule.

Many say that it is better to learn on a dinghy and then move up. Well, we have loved all of the time we have spent sailing our Precision 18, but I am not sure how much of what we learned is going to translate to the larger vessel. The tiller to wheel transition has been tough, we have no experience with winches...

[AKTigger]

Hi Greenhand,

We have done all our tiller time on a Catalina 250 that is sloop rigged just like this Hunter. And since my brain struggles with pushing the tiller the opposite direction from where you want to go, I am hoping the transition to the wheel will be much easier for me.

[Prairie Chicken]

Welcome to the crew Connie! And congrats on your new boat! Very exciting times!

I can't see your husband having a problem converting to sail. Also, he's a lucky man as his biggest asset is a willing partner. Enjoy the ride!

[AKTigger]

Thanks so much Prairie Chicken! I have the ultimate confidence in his abilities. I am the one doing all the learning. It's going to be quite a ride! I am looking forward to it with much anticipation!

[Stu Jackson]

Welcome & contratulations. Nice plans.

We started out with a Catalina 22, then a 25 and now this one. Two tillers, now a wheel, not an issue.

Have fun.

Many boat systems are not boat specific, so these might help, in addition to all the internet and book learnin'

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6437.0.html

[AKTigger]

Thanks for the info Stu!! The waiting is killing me. 3 days to sea trial/survey! It's just like Christmas....I can see it, touch it, but can't quite have it yet.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by AKTigger

HI skipmac,

I just figured people would laugh at us because we went from never having sailed to buying a 43' yacht, essentially. However, we are no strangers to boats and living off-grid, so it's not as big of a leap as one might think.

Some might consider going to 43' a big jump and like to start with 30' or less and work up. I did more like you. Total of 3 1/2 weeks experience as crew on two trips to the Bahamas and then took off for 2 years on a 36' boat as the captain.

A few glitches here and there but I managed to survive.

Originally Posted by AKTigger

Yes, it is B&R rigged, which does make for a spacious feel in the cockpit.

Spacious cockpit, no clutter on the stern, simpler rig. Several advantages but the trade off is sailing downwind you can't ease the main out very far before it starts chaffing against the shrouds. Even with a vang to flatten the main it's a issue. Also, results in a very large main and relatively small jib which balances a little different than a traditional rig. Reefing definitely starts with the main.

Originally Posted by AKTigger

LOL! It's always nice to have an "in".

Not sure how good that "in" might be. I'm in chemical sales and since they are local thought I would go by to see if there was any potential business there. Made and appointment, showed up on time and they made me sit in the lobby for almost 2 hours to tell me they weren't interested. &^$#@% !!!