On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:10:59 GMT, "Janet O'Leary"
wrote:

A small, bluewater boat, at the right price will leave me some odd
thousands to
get the stuff.. New sails, windvane [maybe], ground tackle, electric
generation
by wind or sun.. on and on.


All well and good but make sure there is lots left over for
maintenance and living expenses, both of which will cost more than you
might expect.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:10:59 GMT, "Janet O'Leary"
wrote:

A small, bluewater boat, at the right price will leave me some odd
thousands to
get the stuff.. New sails, windvane [maybe], ground tackle, electric
generation
by wind or sun.. on and on.


All well and good but make sure there is lots left over for
maintenance and living expenses, both of which will cost more than you
might expect.

Lots?? Depends upon how coddled she expects herself to be. 6-8000K per year
and she can live like a queen while cruising. But, no marinas except perhaps
a couple times a year for special occasions. She'll have to get used to
anchoring out. Maintenance, depending on the boat, could run more than that
if she pays somebody else to do her work. However, if she learns how and
does it herself (or trades favors - like doing brightwork - get your mind
outta the gutter) it might not be more than a couple of grand a year. Bottom
paint haulings are the most expensive routine maintenance. A gallon of
premium epoxy-based, scrubable, tropical bottom paint like Petit Trinidad SR
costs upwards of 400 bucks at most do-it-yourself yards. She'll probably
need two gallons to give a thirty-footer about four coats. But that can last
her three or four years if she doesn't mind getting in the water and
scrubbing every month or two after the first two years.

But, God help her if she has diesel troubles. Mechanics cost upwards of 200
bucks an hour for house calls and parts and filters are through the roof.
Diesel fuel got over five bucks a gallon this summer and I don't expect the
lower prices seen now to last much longer.

She should look into the exploits of one Rebecca Burg. Who cruises Florida
and the Bahamas on a similar-sized boat. Rebecca is my kind of woman. Just
look at the color of her fine Bayfield.

http://www.artoffshore.com/sailingpage.html

And, she's a hottie: swoon

http://www.artoffshore.com/images/60...stAtAnchor.jpg

But, she's got a little Skippy in her:

http://www.artoffshore.com/images/480_WEBagroundA.jpg

But, unlike Skippy, she knows how to anchor to stay put in a storm:

http://www.artoffshore.com/images/480_ScaryStorm.jpg

So, as you can see, Janet, women can cruise single-handed just fine.

Wilbur Hubbard

Wilbur Hubbard wrote:

But, God help her if she has diesel troubles. Mechanics cost upwards of 200
bucks an hour for house calls and parts and filters are through the roof.
Diesel fuel got over five bucks a gallon this summer and I don't expect the
lower prices seen now to last much longer.

There is mothing *magic* about working on a small sailboat diesel. All
you need is tools that fit, some basic supplies, the service manual and
basic knowlege of wrenching on the innards of small engines.

For the OP:- The parts you can have delivered but if there is a service
centre near your home port, its worth building up a face to face
relationship with them so you can ask them when you need advice. Its
really helpfull if you have a tame mechanic you trust who's willing to
keep an eye on what you are doing the first time you tackle a job.
Stuff like skimming heads, regrinding crankshafts and pressing in
bearings you farm out to a non-marine auto engineering shop. You *will*
get your hands dirty. Wont be long before you're up to changing an
exhaust valve on passage.

There's not much to be done about the cost of fuel though except sail
more and motor less. The flip side of that is you've got several grand
of sailcloth up the stick with an expected lifespan of about ten years
if looked after but if you leave them flapping or otherwise abuse them
you'll take years off their life so sometime it's cheaper to motor (and
cheapest to anchor and wait for a fair wind).