On 2008-02-23 10:59:05 -0500, BeeRich said:

I wanted to get the opinion of the sailors in the group. I have an
option of getting back into sailing this summer full-time as I need to
sell a house and ... move somewhere. I'd like to be able to get onto
a sailboat and do what I need with my business, which is mobile (I
write software).

I used to sail Lasers up until the age of 16, and I grew up on an
Alberg 30 as a kid. Sailing doesn't intimidate me, and I want to be
able to eventually go there. Maybe this is my ticket to doing so.

What is the best way to catch up on sailing, especially on a boat
larger than a Laser? What services can I get in Toronto (where I
live) that might train me for sailing? I want to be able to be on a
boat singlehanded, which I can take down the Erie Canal system down to
Florida, etc.

If I took on crew, I would welcome a Laser sailor before someone
without that experience. If you can handle a Laser, you can sail pretty
much anything. If you raced Lasers, I'd remove the "pretty much"
qualification.

Frankly, the larger the boat, the easier it is to single-hand -- to a
point. Docking a big boat requires more patience and often more crew.
(Our 28 is still small enough that I do all docking solo; my wife will
accept or put the bow lines, but I do the spring lines that allow her
to take her time.)

Living aboard is a separate item. How much space and stowage do you require?

Our 28 is big enough for me for liveaboard, but a bit small for two of us.

A dockmate purchased a grand old Hinkley as he worked at a low-end job.
The mortgage was less than he would have paid for an apartment. When he
was laid off some years later, he and his current girlfriend headed off
to the the islands. He returned 5 or so years later. (I didn't hear
anything about the girlfriend.)

Similarly, one of my nephew's roommates bought a 5 year-old Beneteau
and lived on it in Miami, his base of operations. Again, the mortgage
was less than comparable rents. Additionally, he found there ain't no
better "line" than "would you like to come down to the yacht club to
see my boat?"

Last we heard, he and his new wife were moving the boat to somewhere in
the Carolinas.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

On Feb 24, 3:08*am, Jere Lull wrote:
On 2008-02-23 10:59:05 -0500, BeeRich said:

I wanted to get the opinion of the sailors in the group. *I have an
option of getting back into sailing this summer full-time as I need to
sell a house and ... move somewhere. *I'd like to be able to get onto
a sailboat and do what I need with my business, which is mobile (I
write software).

I used to sail Lasers up until the age of 16, and I grew up on an
Alberg 30 as a kid. *Sailing doesn't intimidate me, and I want to be
able to eventually go there. *Maybe this is my ticket to doing so.

What is the best way to catch up on sailing, especially on a boat
larger than a Laser? *What services can I get in Toronto (where I
live) that might train me for sailing? *I want to be able to be on a
boat singlehanded, which I can take down the Erie Canal system down to
Florida, etc.

If I took on crew, I would welcome a Laser sailor before someone
without that experience. If you can handle a Laser, you can sail pretty
much anything. If you raced Lasers, I'd remove the "pretty much"
qualification.

Frankly, the larger the boat, the easier it is to single-hand -- to a
point. Docking a big boat requires more patience and often more crew.
(Our 28 is still small enough that I do all docking solo; my wife will
accept or put the bow lines, but I do the spring lines that allow her
to take her time.)

Living aboard is a separate item. How much space and stowage do you require?

Our 28 is big enough for me for liveaboard, but a bit small for two of us.

A dockmate purchased a grand old Hinkley as he worked at a low-end job.
The mortgage was less than he would have paid for an apartment. When he
was laid off some years later, he and his current girlfriend headed off
to the the islands. He returned 5 or so years later. (I didn't hear
anything about the girlfriend.)

Similarly, one of my nephew's roommates bought a 5 year-old Beneteau
and lived on it in Miami, his base of operations. Again, the mortgage
was less than comparable rents. Additionally, he found there ain't no
better "line" than "would you like to come down to the yacht club to
see my boat?"

Last we heard, he and his new wife were moving the boat to somewhere in
the Carolinas.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages:http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips:http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Hi there. Sorry for the delayed reply. My world is spinning at the
moment with all kinds of stuff going on.

I am eyeing a Beneteau 35 foot sailboat, but I will have a condo as
well. Beyond that, I have my eye on an Elan 52' sailboat.

I'm looking forward to using that line. Heh.

Cheers