On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 11:38:44 -0400, "Sink Or Sail"
wrote:


I am selling my house and buying a sailboat. I plan on living aboard around
South Florida for the first season to adjust to live aboard life and sailing
out come good weather next year. I have no sailing experience but quite a bit
of small power boating in the Keys.

Hi Alfred,

My wife and I sold our house and bought a motorsailer a year ago.
We'll still be working for a few years. around 2008 we'll be on our
way to the carib and maybe polynesia. We're both 49 and the kids are
independent.

Would a sailing course be best to start? or should I find someone with a
boat?
You can get a lot of info by reading. Try Bobby Schenk who has lived
for years on blue water. He recently schwitched from a steel one mast
SY to a catamaran. His books are fun to read and give lots of info. He
even has a website where he answers questions like yours.
http://www.yacht.de/schenk/index.shtml
And then there a the groups like I didn't get
the feeling this helps much but it's nice to log in from time to time.

I'm considering a catamaran for it's shallow depth and stability. Opinions?
Will a catamaran make South America safely?
Two schools: 1: very comfortable when sailing upright, fast(er), ok
for shallow bay's. 2: risky cause you'll never get her upright when
capsized. Some people think sailing a cat shorter then 12 meters on
open seas is a crime.

My wife will most likely spend more time with our son. How large a boat can
one man reasonably handle if properly rigged?

Our experience is that when living aboard (and even more with one and
perhaps in a few years 2 children) you you should not be afraid to
pick a 45 plus footer. We bought a 52 ft alu cutter rigged one mast
sy. I sail her and anchor her on my own with ease. Manouvres in the
harbour are best done with two but that applies to most yachts in my
opinion. Look for electrical winches, when the genua exceeds 100 m2
Look for all the space you can afford. In my experience on the present
second hand market: the bigger the cheaper. Take a lot of time and
look for the one that's meant for you.

I'm very skilled in PC and Internet technologies. How difficult is it to
find work in foreign countries? Will local authorities allow me to work for
provisions in the Caribbean or South America?
I realize this is difficult but, how much money does one need to live on
while sailing the Caribbean for one year?

I cant help you here. I'm curious what answers will be given here.

Lots of succes. I hope to meet you in a few years.
Len, the Netherlands