nortada
Well-known member
Posting your current location and sailing experience may help. Do you have an ICC and a radio operators license?
Advice for a young potential Liveaboard
- Thread starter Sblaton113
- Start date
RupertW
Well-known member
I would also suggest buying something already there - and certainly steer clear of a big heavy engine which can't push the boat past its hull speed anyway.
If you were buying in the U.K. then plenty of sub 30 foot boats are being given away, especially in areas with more marinas than moorings with the next year's fees coming up.
Sleeping outside under a tent or sheet over the boom may work well with heat - but all depends on the boat layout - I'd go for , buying over there, it and see the only major possible problems as the state of the engine so do check that out and then what you do at the end of the year as a bargain boat to you will not sell easily or be possible to give away.
If you were buying in the U.K. then plenty of sub 30 foot boats are being given away, especially in areas with more marinas than moorings with the next year's fees coming up.
Sleeping outside under a tent or sheet over the boom may work well with heat - but all depends on the boat layout - I'd go for , buying over there, it and see the only major possible problems as the state of the engine so do check that out and then what you do at the end of the year as a bargain boat to you will not sell easily or be possible to give away.
OldBawley
Active member
As to capabilities of a small yacht :
https://nmmc.co.uk/object/boats/falmouth-quay-punt-curlew/
Just try that with a modern “ production “ yacht.
No shower, darn.
https://nmmc.co.uk/object/boats/falmouth-quay-punt-curlew/
Just try that with a modern “ production “ yacht.
No shower, darn.
tcm
...
I like this idea MUCH more than buying something in UK and wrestling it through the canals which is sometimes kinda serious stuff, several weeks, mast down/up etc.
Best strategy for loon yet safe and effective adventure (note: it’s an adventure if there is no clear schedule/fin made in advance, and there isn’t)
Pack rucsacs and cash, and head south to cheap med marinas where like lt suspects exist. Port St Louis near Marseilles comes to mind. Hitch or bus. Hitching sounds cheap but forces £road side food options. Bus gets you nearer boats sooner. Camp while boat hunting, maybe in the boat yard, free! Ask first of course. This plan means that if you do get a boat, it will ALREADY be in/near nice warm gentle summer med, not ooer x-channel first and then long drag thru sweaty canals. Speaking any french? If not, smile a lot and cell men M’sieur and all women Madame. Regardless, drag along nice gf during ALL negotiations for heartbreaking pitying price-lowering factor to show you aren’t a "dealer”.
Be flexible - you might be able to RENT an un-used boat for the season, who knows? Lots of people with boats get poorly or other stuff happens, hence unused boat occurs and yeah £3k alright £2k alright £1k alright pay the marina fees and bring it back September. Maybe?
Are you "sailing savvy"? Have you helmed Dad’s boat etc, fixed stuff on boats or just yerknow seen boats and think yeah, boats easy peasy? Hm. It’s not tough, but if the whole boat industry is new to you, then yerknow, learning curve etc. take it easy, practice anchoring, that stuff. Anchoring = free,. Marinas in summer= £££ ask price first. OR can fill up with fuel and get water at the same time! Put shampoo on head as coming alongside fuel dock, then bosh shower in under a minute. All small sailing boats in the med can reach the next marina or anchoring hole - mostly 10 miles apart all along coasts.
You are looking for a “oh fck this!” boat - where owner kinda lost interest and left the thing - NOT a stripped-out boat with hopeful FOR SALE empty thing with no cups, no cutlery, charts, tools etc etc cos all that will cost a bomb, see? Messy boat usually has lots of gear and CHEAP. Nice tidy boat inside - stripped of gear, no good.
If no boat appears... well then otherwise buy a van (cities cheap, countryside more expensive) under 2m high (for easy car park access) with matress in the back, same sort of adventure, likely get to more places e.g. Venice and overnight in campsites.showers dead cheap. Or side of road, like anchoring but less chain needed and no anchor type discussion.
Whatever your budget for whole trip (including bank ofMum andDad begging results), spend max half of all-summer total but better 1/3 total on the vessel/van. Hope this helps.
And welcome to loon gipsy lifestyle! I’m camping with a mate, flogging stuff don't want, going sailing in carib over winter and then loon adventures from May/June in camper van which is LHD 20year old don’t care if it gets whacked bit item... and since it was white i put cow spots on it for £300 and a large separate cow horn $75 and reg plate Nxxx MOO but none of this really needed. Oh and an inflated marigold glove for udder effect.
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BoyBlue49
Active member
I'm not sure if it has been mentioned but make sure the boat you purchase has a holding tank.
If you are inspected in EU you will be in trouble without one.
One of you will need an ICC with a CEVNI endorsement. (qualification)
If you are inspected in EU you will be in trouble without one.
One of you will need an ICC with a CEVNI endorsement. (qualification)
Tranona
Well-known member
On what basis do you think a holding tank is compulsory? There may well be specific local rules that forbid the discharge of waste in certain locations, but there is no legal requirement to fit a holding tank, except on new production yachts to comply with the latest RCD.
Suggest you read the material on the RYA site about holding tanks and waste discharge. This is a good summary of the latest position in Europe.
BoyBlue49
Active member
Holland and France get a bit shirty when you can not prove you do not empty your toilet into their canals.
Thanks for the so friendly reply in this season of good will.
Thanks for the so friendly reply in this season of good will.
Tranona
Well-known member
But the fact is that there is no legal requirement to have a holding tank. If there is an offence to be committed it is discharging waste.
Sorry if you think the reply unfriendly, but inaccurate advice to a novice is unhelpful.
BTW tens of thousands in Europe do not have holding tanks. Not sure there is any problem with the French canals as there is no alternative to disposing of waste into the canal as there are virtually no pumping stations so holding tanks are of limited value. Never heard of anybody getting into trouble for this. However if you do have evidence it would be good to share it.
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
An ICC on its own isn't quite good enough for inland water way , he would Ali's need to sit a written paper for inland water ways too.
BoyBlue49
Active member
SlowlyButSurely
Active member
I've done the trip you are planning three times, first time was when I was 23 on a very basic boat with no shower, no fridge and certainly nothing fancy like solar panels. Left London at the beginning of May, 6 weeks through the canals to the med, then a couple of months in the med and back up through the canals in time to go back to work at the end of October.
We have been cruising in the med for the last three years on our 30 footer. Our budget is £2000 per month and this has been pretty comfortable.
Your plan seems perfectly feasible to me. It is quite possible to day sail in good weather along the French and Italian coasts. It's what we have done this year. You need to bear in mind that when you emerge into the med from the canals you are in a very windy area with not many sheltered anchorages and if you (like us) want to avoid sailing in bad weather you will probably spend quite a few nights in marinas. We budgeted 800 euros per month for June, July and August for mooring fees for this reason and over the whole season we still ended up within our total budget.
I must say that I find the comments that two 22 year olds will struggle with the heat a bit bizarre. I thought that was what we were all here for!
Join the Cruising Association which will be able to provide you with all the information you need.
Good luck.
We have been cruising in the med for the last three years on our 30 footer. Our budget is £2000 per month and this has been pretty comfortable.
Your plan seems perfectly feasible to me. It is quite possible to day sail in good weather along the French and Italian coasts. It's what we have done this year. You need to bear in mind that when you emerge into the med from the canals you are in a very windy area with not many sheltered anchorages and if you (like us) want to avoid sailing in bad weather you will probably spend quite a few nights in marinas. We budgeted 800 euros per month for June, July and August for mooring fees for this reason and over the whole season we still ended up within our total budget.
I must say that I find the comments that two 22 year olds will struggle with the heat a bit bizarre. I thought that was what we were all here for!
Join the Cruising Association which will be able to provide you with all the information you need.
Good luck.
pandos
Well-known member
http://www.annoncesbateau.com/voilier/listing_bateaux.php?CATEGORIE=voilier
Plenty of bioats in south of france for less than your budget and as others have said go there quickly and cheaply, by bus makes it easier to brung along tools etc. Then look for fixerupper to enjoy... spend little and enjoy save yourselves the boring scenic route through france. put the boat on ssr and sail to Spain... Uk Reg boat with UK captain....have fun... 23ft is too small to be sure of some comfort, lack of confort makes iritability and lack of sleep makes dangerous....get 28 to 30 footer....
Plenty of bioats in south of france for less than your budget and as others have said go there quickly and cheaply, by bus makes it easier to brung along tools etc. Then look for fixerupper to enjoy... spend little and enjoy save yourselves the boring scenic route through france. put the boat on ssr and sail to Spain... Uk Reg boat with UK captain....have fun... 23ft is too small to be sure of some comfort, lack of confort makes iritability and lack of sleep makes dangerous....get 28 to 30 footer....
alexsailor
Active member
Just do it.
jordanbasset
Well-known member
I would look at what you can get in Greece, some here
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/core/li...age&cit=true&slim=quick&ybw=&sm=3&Ntk=boatsUK
I know people say you increasingly have to pay in Greece but most of not all anchorages are free and a lot of ports still are. You will have a big area to explore and if you want you can always move onto Turkey or back into the western med.
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/core/li...age&cit=true&slim=quick&ybw=&sm=3&Ntk=boatsUK
I know people say you increasingly have to pay in Greece but most of not all anchorages are free and a lot of ports still are. You will have a big area to explore and if you want you can always move onto Turkey or back into the western med.
