Want to Cruise!

[denmanislander]

Hey all,
My name is Steve and my wife Elaine and I have been looking at 35-50 ft used slow power cruisers for over a year now and just figured out we could afford to buy one. I know, I know "buying is the cheap part" but we're determined! Nice group of forums and threads here so I thought I could pick some brains on the other forums and see what the folks with wet feet have to say as opposed to brokers, sellers and ads! Have had a small 19 foot Larson for 25 years but we would like a bigger getaway boat in prep for possible liveaboard on retiring (not for a few years yet ). I live on an island off the west coast of BC so am always "crossing the Pacific" when I take my 15 minute ferry ride to Vancouver Island.
Cheers!

[GordMay]

Greetings, and WELCOME aboard, Steve (& Elaine).

Are you one of Denman’s famous artisan/craftsmen, or is your ferry ride a daily commute to work?

[denmanislander]

Elaine is the stained glass artiste - I am a self employed groundwater consultant so I'm not on the ferry every day anymore - maybe twice a week if I can work it! But there ARE lots of artists here, galleries, shows, studios etc. have you visited?

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Steve and Elaine,
Welcome aboard! With fuel costs these days wouldn't a motor sailer be an option? Just a thought. You live in a beautiful area. My experience with Vancouver Island has only been Victoria but the sailing/motoring options look great.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[denmanislander]

SkiprJohn:
Good idea! My wife and I contemplated this (I have a wee bit of sailing under my belt) but have also talked to two couples who have had motor-sailers around here and apparently, the winds are very fickle in the Georgia Straight in the summer months (read that - used motor all the time anyway!). Both of them sold their M-S and bought power only boats. It does sound cheaper than motoring all the time but....

Steve