Am I mental, is there a cure.

Nigeldownes

Nigeldownes

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Jan 2007
Messages
79
Location
london
Visit site
I have always loved to ponce a free ride on a yacht, I don’t know the first thing about sailing apart from it makes me grin and I love taking the helm. I recently holidayed in Antigua and whilst there I sailed every day all day single handed. I would be the first person in the morning to grab a hobbie cat a sports 16 or even a laser and usually the last to return. On the last day I realised I may well have become addicted. I had been warned to be careful but without sounding clichéd “I thought I could handle it“. I presumed it was something I could take or leave. I noticed I was hanging marinas and drooling over craft but thought it was just a holiday thing.

Since my return form Antigua things have gone from bad to worse, I have started to trawl the internet for cheap starter yachts. Colleagues have noticed and accused me of surfing yacht porn. My ex girlfriend found a copy of practical boat owner under my pillow the other day. Finally I pretended I was out for a stroll in Greenwich but some how ended up joining the yacht club. Remember this is all in the space of a few months, last but not least, this past Sunday I found my self on the deck of a Westerly GK24. It’s not been used in years and is a sort of green algae colour, I was muttering I can replace that, fix those and Roberts my mothers brother I will own a yacht that is somewhere in between my dinghy skills and cruising.

Worst still I love the GK24 because it looks superb when heeled over and it’s affordable and for some reason I seem to think I could fix it up.

That’s it I don’t know enough to make a judged opinion. Am I insane?

Please help. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
This is one place where your behavious seems terribly normal, perhaps with the emphasis on the terribly bit!

I think it is reassuring for the other inmates to know they are not alone.

Welcome!
 
Ah, the slippery slope (or slipway) ? Did the girlfriend become ex because of PBO? You sound youngish, so will probably need to replace GF (if not already done). My advice for a happy life is to try and find a GF with the same enthusiasm for algae green boats
 
Welcome to the forum of dreaming followed by spending lots of money !! Not sure about the price of your GK24 but a similar boat is the eboat (not biased of course). There is one for sale at Andy Seedhouse at Woodbridge for £5,500 but would probably take an offer on this (no it isn't mine !!). It appears to be in pretty good nick and does have a trailer.
 
The cure is something called Aversion Therapy.

For the dreaded Sailing Addiction, you have to take a boat out in calmish sunny weather, and find a number of thoings going wrong.

like
prop falls off
sail tears
Wind increases
sun goes down
chart plotter goes on blink
crew fall seasick
VLCC appears on horizon with lots of funny hooter noises
it starts raining
tide turns against the wind
lights on shore go out in rain squall
whisky runs out
you really meant to buy that liferaft didn't you ?
instrument lights go very very dark
crew drops remaining torch in bilge
Epirb falls from its mounting onto the deck and over the toe rail


Survive half a dozen days like that, and you might decide that you could really enjoy sailing.

Best of luck with the refurbishment /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Yes you are insane. The only treatment is aversion therapy, so buy this boat - or one in worse condition if you can find it. Then spend the next couple of years fixing this and replacing that until you reach the nirvana of a (nearly) sorted boat and bankruptcy.

With a bit of luck, it'll prove incurable...

It did with me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Oh dear.

Run..... Run very quickly.

It is a slippery slope, with no safe or sensible way back.

You will find many similar sad stories in this cess pit, hidden away in the dark corners of the interwebthingy....

Escape while you can.

PS.... enjoy the GK24...... you already know you are going to buy it don't you /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Obviously talking to the wrong (or right) sorts here.

I looked at the eboat it seem similar (like I would know) and the prices are the same.

One thing I really require is a flushing loo on account of I once had typhoid and every now and again it decides to come visit me for a day. I will of course need to make a cuppa and warm some food, I also want something to go off shore with because its cruising that gets me. Yes I am on a tight budget, but (sorry to say this) realised I am about 10K a year better off since I gave up smoking and the girlfriend left. So thats my annual budget, unless I give up red wine.

I used to prepare hand built commercial vehicles for motor shows including the art work, so recon I can do the paint work, osmosis and gel coats. I was also wondering if the yacht world fraternity swaps skills. Such as I Paint your boat in return for lessons on rigging or sailing.

Is it best to go and get a day skipper course under my belt? Or will it be years before I get a yacht in the water. And can any one recommend a good book on yacht maintenance.

Lastly can I do a yacht up sell her for a little more and climb the ladder. And is it wrong to find wooden boats beyond compare looks wise.

To date the best thing I believe I have done is to join this site in order to garner the collective knowledge base and of course to join a yacht club for the same reasons. Lastly my closest friend is skint but some what of a practical genius so I am sending him on a weekends introductory course in order to get him similarly addicted then use his skill sets (and tool kit) in return for a half owner ship if I pay the bills.

Have I left anything out????????????????????????. Well apart from trying my hand at the lottery cos you never know, then I could sail all the time.

And yes its been a fast fall and I do think I will purchase the GK24.

Cheers for the advice.
 
I like the eboat and the idea of trailing is cool but I prefer the GK24's interior. And I woul;d like an inboard. I just know if I have an out board I will drop it into 1000 feet of water.

Cheers.
 
Seems like you want the boat so a survey would be a good idea. This will confirm that the boat is worth the money and highlight any weaknesses. A good surveyor, suitably briefed should see through the green stuff .....
 
Agree with that. Make out you're giving him a special deal by not asking for sailing expenses.
..........and stop whingeing, get the bloody thing bought. There's bound to be loads wrong with it. But that's life.
It's character building and enjoyable. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Hello Incompetent
Go for it mate,wheres the GK? If you want a day out in the meantime contact me.My boats in the water and doesn't care if it's January!
 
Well sailor, I may like a day out with you, but I hardly know you.

(If you use the "quick reply" you reply to the last post. If you use the "reply" link on Incompetent's post you'll reply to him)
 
I was going to try to talk some sense into you, but see you're well past that stage

GK24 is a great choice and quite sparkling if handled well. Totally 200% agree with tcm - don't get involved in sharing boat ownership at any cost - it's a recipe for falling out and will take all the fun out of your adventure

Much better to get him along as part of your new crew, perhaps even asking him which bunk he'd prefer

Good luck and welcome to the madhouse

Nurse!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

geem
Atlantic crossing 2025
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
geem
geem
W
Downsizing to your boat.
2
Replies
28
Views
715
Wansworth
W
R
My boat trip hopefully in May Around Scotland
2 3
Replies
54
Views
1K
ProDave
ProDave
M
Adding radar - on pole or arch?
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
1K
lustyd
lustyd
Bouba
Port-Cros tomorrow
Replies
15
Views
387
markc
markc

Share this page

Top