Sleeping with Oars

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound I have never owned a boat, not even a kayak. I am not even sure I can be a sailor, as the one time we took a catamaran sailing in Kauai I forgot to take Dramamine and was too sick to enjoy it (did not lose my lunch though). So, why is it that I always dream of having a sailboat?

I have the same dilemma, with the same problem (seasickness). For now, I am scratching the itch with a travel trailer. All the "fun" of living aboard without the problems that come with soaking your house in a corrosive liquid all the time. And no seasickness.

[BunsGettingFirm]

I'm more impressed with the fact that this guy is holding down a full time job while living on a boat. From the how stuff works section of the site, living aboard looks like a very labor-intensive lifestyle

[Brat]

Actually it isn't labor intensive. I know a political appointee who lived on a boat in a marina near DC. I assume is tenure is over, he can ship the boat back to the great lakes or sell it to a new arrival. It was a great situation for he and his wife, just like having a condo at a fraction of the cost.

[BunsGettingFirm]

OK, if you say so. I'm going to the New England Boat Show this weekend. Heck, it's held at the same place where I took the CFA. I gotta have some fun memories of the place besides those of craning my neck over a piece of paper and scribbling furiously for 6 hours.

Looks like all the big sail boat manufacturers are going to be there. Yeah, what a time to get started on an expensive hobby!

New England Boat Show

[Brat]

Because of the economy there are a LOT of used boats on the market. Go to the Boat Show to try to determine what your needs will be and pick up the cards of the Marine Surveyors at the show. Then start looking at re-sales because depreciation is the greatest in the first couple years. IMHO you should find a vessel that you can operate single handed. Don't consider a racing boat when you want to cruse. Don't buy a boat that was ever in a hurricane.

After the Show visit the Surveyors to find the person you want to use. Ask each, "If I find a boat what yard should I use for repairs and maintenance." If one yard is mentioned several times you know where to go. Once you have found your Surveyor ask for recommendations of boats to look for, and pay that person for their time at this stage of your search. Their expertise has value to you, they are experts in their field and deserve to be paid for their time.

Then start looking. I hear that there is an inventory of newer boats whose owners stopped making payments, find out where those boats went in your area.

Visit marinas to find out about the availability of slips and costs, get a copy of their rental agreements and read them. Often the marina office knows of boats that aren't listed with a broker but are available for purchase.

[BunsGettingFirm]

Brat, I went before I read your advice. Let's just say that it was like the first day in TKD class when I didn't know what a wide punch was. I made the mistake of getting on an Island Packet as my first boat tour. I thought, "Hey, this is very nice." Then I looked at the price tag: starting at $540,000.

My reason for looking at the boats is for living aboard in case I find a job downtown and don't want to commute 35 miles each way to work everyday, so, to all the real sailors out there, sorry, but I'm looking at these boats as floating studios.

I'm amazed by the keel on the Island Packet compared to those on a Hunter and Saber. Those latter boats' keels look like they were bolted on as an after thought. Other than that, I didn't learn much.

[Brat]

OK, you don't need a single hand sail set-up (but if you find one that meets your other needs re-sale will be easier).

See if you can get a list of vendors from the Boat Show. It should list the Surveyor exhibitors, lacking that check out your Yellow Pages. You can also do the reverse of the boat yard search.. visit boat yards and ask for the names of Surveyors in the area. After you write down their names ask them who they think is the most through.

Actually, the boat won't be your biggest challenge. Finding a marina that accepts a live aboard may prove difficult. You can always find a boat to fit the slip. There are some marinas that are condos where to buy the slip you need to buy the boat.

Be sure that the pump-out is convenient.