On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 02:11:54 GMT, "John Cairns"
wrote:


Sounds like a good plan, especially have to agree with the bit about doing
it now when you're able to. Met a fair number of older cruisers last spring
in Trinidad that were giving up the sea cruising lifestyle for land
cruising, the common reason given was advancing age, I also suspect that the
wives were getting sick of living aboard full time.

Were my wife not fully behind this (and quite aware of the Spartan
elements of living aboard), I wouldn't pursue this dream by myself,
particularly as it involves a large financial commitment. But she's a
sailor in her own right, and understands the nature of odyssey.

Also, she's just 31 (I am 44). In 20 years time, *I* might not want to
go, either!

R.

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:05:03 GMT, (Mic) wrote:

http://www.sailorgirl.com/

"If you're sitting in front of a screen, cruising through this site
thinking to yourself, "boy, I wish I were there", I have a question
for you. Why aren't you? You know all those cliches like, life is
short, there's no dress rehearsal in life? Well guess what, they're
true. It doesn't take a million dollars to live well, it just takes a
little motivation. (although if you'd like to send a million dollars
Sailorgirl's way, it wouldn't be turned down!)"

"Sailorgirl Attitude: You cannot discover new oceans unless you're
willing to lose sight of the shore."

You make a good point.
One thing that sticks in my mind is something a (long ago) French girl
friend told me,,,"You only do what you *really* want to do in
life....seldom what you *think* you want to do."

Me? I retired,,I bought the boat...I spent the boat fund rebuilding
her...I took a contract, and went back to work. Just so you know..the
boat had to stand on it's own...no money from savings nor retirement
income nor credit cards goes towards the boat. Hmmm I wonder if that
should tell me something..
Norm B

Know a young couple who put 100k into building their own world cruiser. Had
a couple kids while doing the building. Big day arrived and they left Puget
Sound on the world cruise. Got as far as Oregon and decided cruising was not
their bag!
Boat has been on the hard the past 10 years. But someday...........
Gordon
"Mic" wrote in message
...
http://www.sailorgirl.com/

"If you're sitting in front of a screen, cruising through this site
thinking to yourself, "boy, I wish I were there", I have a question
for you. Why aren't you? You know all those cliches like, life is
short, there's no dress rehearsal in life? Well guess what, they're
true. It doesn't take a million dollars to live well, it just takes a
little motivation. (although if you'd like to send a million dollars
Sailorgirl's way, it wouldn't be turned down!)"

"Sailorgirl Attitude: You cannot discover new oceans unless you're
willing to lose sight of the shore."

There ought to be some way for people to see if they like this
lifestyle before they spend years planning just to find they hate it.
Chartering doesnt do it cuz you do not have the same cares or
pressures. Maybe it is best to go now and go smaller. I mean go now
with a smaller boat like Sailorgirl on a 27'. I decided that I couldnt
justify getting a larger boat than my 28' S2 because this size is just
what I can handle and she isnt a financial burden when I am not using
her. Besides, she's paid for long ago. If she gets destroyed somehow,
it's no major deal and wont break me.
Somebody ought to get a fleet of old mid-size boats together in a cheap
place in FL and lease (option to buy with part of lease payments going
toward purchase) them to people who want to try the cruising life
without spending yrs planning.
Gordon wrote:
Know a young couple who put 100k into building their own world cruiser. Had
a couple kids while doing the building. Big day arrived and they left Puget
Sound on the world cruise. Got as far as Oregon and decided cruising was not
their bag!
Boat has been on the hard the past 10 years. But someday...........
Gordon
"Mic" wrote in message
...
http://www.sailorgirl.com/

"If you're sitting in front of a screen, cruising through this site
thinking to yourself, "boy, I wish I were there", I have a question
for you. Why aren't you? You know all those cliches like, life is
short, there's no dress rehearsal in life? Well guess what, they're
true. It doesn't take a million dollars to live well, it just takes a
little motivation. (although if you'd like to send a million dollars
Sailorgirl's way, it wouldn't be turned down!)"

"Sailorgirl Attitude: You cannot discover new oceans unless you're
willing to lose sight of the shore."

On 12 Aug 2005 21:02:56 -0700, wrote:

Somebody ought to get a fleet of old mid-size boats together in a cheap
place in FL and lease (option to buy with part of lease payments going
toward purchase) them to people who want to try the cruising life
without spending yrs planning.

That's a very good idea, although I bet the insurance companies would
have a field day on the liability front.

Two-footitis is rampant: you can get a Shark or a small '70s cruiser
(Mirage, Edel, Kelt, Tanzer) for very few dollars because the original
owners are retiring or moving up to trawlers or Beneteaus/Hunters and
nobody seems to want a boat that just sleeps three and has perhaps an
"exposed" head and a butane ring for a galley.

But they sail just fine up to 25 knots.

R.

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 21:28:56 -0400, rhys wrote:

On 12 Aug 2005 21:02:56 -0700, wrote:

Somebody ought to get a fleet of old mid-size boats together in a cheap
place in FL and lease (option to buy with part of lease payments going
toward purchase) them to people who want to try the cruising life
without spending yrs planning.

That's a very good idea, although I bet the insurance companies would
have a field day on the liability front.

Two-footitis is rampant: you can get a Shark or a small '70s cruiser
(Mirage, Edel, Kelt, Tanzer) for very few dollars because the original
owners are retiring or moving up to trawlers or Beneteaus/Hunters and
nobody seems to want a boat that just sleeps three and has perhaps an
"exposed" head and a butane ring for a galley.

But they sail just fine up to 25 knots.

I agree. One benefit of spending family vacations for several years
on a small boat is that it later makes the 35-footer seem huge and
extravagantly comfortable. Another advantage is that it kind of
focuses your mind on what amenities you really need and which are just
bonuses.

Unfortunately, some people who might be quite comfortable on the
35-footer might not be willing to try it if their first experiences
are too uncomfortable, or if too much of their childhood was spent
outgrowing a v-berth. There's some tradeoff there, I guess.

I also suspect that fairly small boats are more forgiving to learn on,
giving various family members the chance to get comfortable with
different chores and positions, and giving at least the skipper in the
family the opportunity to develop skill and confidence to single-hand.
Anchors are lighter. Loads on sails and sheets are smaller because
sails are smaller. Flaking the main on the boom is easier. If the
docking job isn't perfect or the wind makes it tricky to get out of
the harbour, the crew can fend off usefully without breaking limbs.
This also means that the consequences for a new helm learning to dock
are limited.

Beginning boat-maintainers/improvers might also find it easier to
drill their first holes and make their first mistakes on the $5,000
boat than on the retirement-dream boat.

Depending where you live, boats which draw less than four feet can
safely visit more nearby places than boats which draw 6 feet. Having
nearby places to go, and going to them frequently, is also good
preparation for longer cruising life - if you and your crew enjoy
getting up on a fine Saturday, throwing a few things in a bag,
stopping at the grocery store or gourmet takeout, heading downwind for
a few hours and spending Saturday night relaxing at anchor, you've got
a start at becoming comfortable with the pace and compromises of
longer vacations. You'll learn that it's always worth taking your
foul weather gear and warm socks and that it's always worth putting on
sunscreen the first day. You might learn that family talking and
listening come so much easier once you've rounded the corner into the
river and turned off the engine, compared to in the living room with
the television on and the kids' friends calling and the pile of bills
to pay sitting on the table. You'll learn to keep the boat stocked
with more paperback books than you need right now, and also more
toilet paper and Knorr soup mix and sunglasses and tools for
tinkering.


Louise,
who could go on, except that I want to wait to charge the computer on
the inverter until the engine is running

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 20:34:09 -0700, "Gordon"
wrote:

Know a young couple who put 100k into building their own world cruiser. Had
a couple kids while doing the building. Big day arrived and they left Puget
Sound on the world cruise. Got as far as Oregon and decided cruising was not
their bag!
Boat has been on the hard the past 10 years. But someday...........
Gordon

I don't wish to seem as if I am waiting to pounce on such situations,
but that's how I fully expect to find our boat: someone who turned
back, or started too late, and now has a 90-99% ocean-ready vessel on
the hard eating yard fees.

R.

I've heard it rumored that good deals can be had in Papeete Tahiti F.P. from time
to time. Cash, as is, where is.

ymmv,

Don W.

rhys wrote:


I don't wish to seem as if I am waiting to pounce on such situations,
but that's how I fully expect to find our boat: someone who turned
back, or started too late, and now has a 90-99% ocean-ready vessel on
the hard eating yard fees.

R.

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 03:56:12 GMT, Don W
wrote:

I've heard it rumored that good deals can be had in Papeete Tahiti F.P. from time
to time. Cash, as is, where is.

ymmv,

Don W.

Panama is another "end of the line" hot spot. Brokers' listings, if
read incisively, tell a lot of unhappy stories.

R.