Head to the area you are thinking of sailing in and charter a few times
first. Also make sure your seamanship and navigational skills are up to
scratch by sitting the recommended exams in your area.

Once you buy the boat you will realise, for all sorts of reasons, that you
aren't exactly happy with her so expect to spend a serious amount of money
on things the boat needs and changes your wife wants.

The kids will get seriously board unless you have perfect angels.So you
will have to make certain they have plenty of activities and plenty of
opportunity to mix with other kids of similar age.

There are a lot of people that want to earn money on the way. If you have a
trade you should advertise it on the side of your boat or off the boom-
remembering that at some marinas you may have to remove any signage if it
conflicts with other tenants of the marina.


hope this helps

DP
"Naiveandready" wrote in message
...

Can anyone offer any advice on how to get started.

My wife , kids and I have a dream to cash out, buy a boat and sail the
Carribean for a year. Obviously its not quite that simple, and so I
need advice on how
much sailing experience I should get first,
how much of a problem are pirates,
how to deal with them,
ways to earn some income during the trek
must see destinations
any other advice you can think of.

If any of you can offer any advice on where to start, please do.
Thanks
Shawn


--
Naiveandready