Long term plans, realistic scenario for circumnavigation?

[Bobc]

A hell of a lot of money spent on a 2003 boat , what happened to the Engine , did all the rigging need replaced , and I always think to myself why throw away good Electronics if its not broken, and sea cocks , were they not Bronze.
Sorry I am amazed at the work needed on such a young boat.
I am updating my boat ot go in 2 years , keeping the 43 year old engine , no issues starts first time , only replaced parts of the rigging after a full inspection and keeping the old Nasa instruments , on board , they tell you a number the same as the ones 3 times the price
Had to replace the old auto pilot which was a shuddering corroded mess , but there is a boat on you tube still sailing with the old Navico one that I had
There is no reason to spend £10000+ on upgrading a boat plenty older boats out there doing just fine , it is about making sure you check and maintain a boat carefully she will outlast us all

The engine had done well over 5000hrs, had been used and abused by charterers, and had done a transatlantic, and was shot ( I'd been nursing it along for a few years now). The rigging I deemed prudent as it was 16 years old and I don't want the rig falling down half way across Biscay.

I upgraded the chartplotter because I only had one of the tiny Garmin ones, and because I wanted to fit radar, so needed a screen to display that on, so decided that a new MFD would be the best solution.

It's all about how lucky you feel and what risks you are prepared to take. I want the boat to be reliable and I don't want to be that person caught out in a gale with the rig in the water or an engine that won't work whilst being blown onto a lee shore, just because....

I bet you're the sort of person who never get's the cambelt changed on their car too...

 

[doug748]

..............The ability to know that we have the option to change things, and be able to go without significant financial burden - is a game changer. Now of course is the assumption that the boat (now 15 years old) will still be going in another 10 years.

FWIW (which is little enough) I think following Bobc's advice is by far the best plan.
My boat turns 40 this year but I am happy with it's condition because I have looked after it for a long time, you will be in the same position.

 

[FlyingGoose]

The engine had done well over 5000hrs, had been used and abused by charterers, and had done a transatlantic, and was shot ( I'd been nursing it along for a few years now). The rigging I deemed prudent as it was 16 years old and I don't want the rig falling down half way across Biscay.

I upgraded the chartplotter because I only had one of the tiny Garmin ones, and because I wanted to fit radar, so needed a screen to display that on, so decided that a new MFD would be the best solution.

It's all about how lucky you feel and what risks you are prepared to take. I want the boat to be reliable and I don't want to be that person caught out in a gale with the rig in the water or an engine that won't work whilst being blown onto a lee shore, just because....

I bet you're the sort of person who never get's the cambelt changed on their car too...

Just trying to add to the debate and show 2 sides to every discussion , nothing to do with a cam belt :encouragement:
My enginie has been chartered 43 years old 5700 hours and I expect it to last well over 10,000 hours as a good diesel well looked after should , it seems that they dont build them like they used to
Rigging is specualtive indeed 10 years is advisory but a good rigger will point you in the right direction ,
Intresting now that OPEN CPN can display radar from Navico on ethernet to a Computer , one less MFD
You think I was having a laugh at your expense , but forums are here to allow 2 or many opinions to be added to allow the OP and others to make their own mind up I just offer a diffrent outlook in life.:encouragement:
Fear can be a major driving force in questionnig ones ability, and the equipment they use , it is why some people are constantly upgrading the fear of breakage , injury loss of boat.
No matter just my opinion you can listen , not read , or what ever , but I did not make silly comments about your ability or tohugh process
Must make me a better person then eh:sleeping:

 

[geem]

Yes they are a damn nuisance you have to reef and set those distracting bits of cloth they call sails.

Haha, yes, balancing the boat to take load of the rudder and get the boat comfortable, way too much faf. I dont know why I bother ?

 

[GHA]

My enginie has been chartered 43 years old 5700 hours and I expect it to last well over 10,000 hours as a good diesel well looked after should , it seems that they dont build them like they used to
Rigging is specualtive indeed 10 years is advisory but a good rigger will point you in the right direction ,

Well........ a hefty dose of 'dunno, might break' isn't a bad thing if you're heading beyond the Med/follow the arc

For instance anchored up having fun down in Brazil must have been about 30% or maybe more cruising boats sailed in from South Africa with no engine. Well maintained cruising boats with knowledgeable experienced crew, not a fling the tescos bags in the forepeak friday night and slip the lines in the solent type thing.

And when will you do the rigging? Prob OK for a few years yet, then how do you do it when just getting decent wire could be a challenge before trying to find someone to crimp it...

It's healthy IMHO to assume whatever it is, it will probably break and have a good think about how to get the basic bits as rock solid as you can so the boat can still sail so you're not stuck somewhere for weeks waiting for bits when it does

 

[Frank Holden]

A hell of a lot of money spent on a 2003 boat , what happened to the Engine , did all the rigging need replaced , and I always think to myself why throw away good Electronics if its not broken, and sea cocks , were they not Bronze.
Sorry I am amazed at the work needed on such a young boat.
I am updating my boat ot go in 2 years , keeping the 43 year old engine , no issues starts first time , only replaced parts of the rigging after a full inspection and keeping the old Nasa instruments , on board , they tell you a number the same as the ones 3 times the price
Had to replace the old auto pilot which was a shuddering corroded mess , but there is a boat on you tube still sailing with the old Navico one that I had
There is no reason to spend £10000+ on upgrading a boat plenty older boats out there doing just fine , it is about making sure you check and maintain a boat carefully she will outlast us all

Those two are contradictory....

About all that is left of the original in my 35 yo boat is the boom, one of my storm jibs, the MD17D ( two or three major overhauls ) the cabin joinery, and most of the GRP.... she had major osmosis treatment 4 years ago. Oh and a single Autohelm instrument that has outlived all the others.

That said, while most maintenance will come along in its own good time, any rigging with any age or sea miles on it should be replaced. I lost my mast and all that went with it -except the boom- when the rig was only 8 years old.
If doing a progressive rig change start with the lowers.... my last change-out extended over four years... only ended when my 4 yo lowers were modified ( from Tballs to tangs) after broken strands were found at the head of one..... had done about 15,000 miles.... Chile - NZ and back.
Sails over 10 years old with any miles on them are also a concern if a long sea voyage is in prospect....

This is/was a 2003 boat .. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12240944

 

[SiteSurfer]

Brilliant replies, great to have such differring views on the same subject - but all aligned to the same end goal. Truly a diverse and very encouraging response set.

Amusingly we saw a boat when pottering up Portsmouth Harbour recently which looked just like we would like, turned out to be an Oyster 46... so - one healthy dose of reality later, we are looking to do a slow refit on the current boat. I'm happy that the hull and structure will be fine for many years to come - so our list for the coming 5 years will be aimed at making gradual improvements and maintenance aimed towards the eventual goal.

One thing that I can take away from this is that by doing this - we reduce the potential of not going due to finances. I'm so very grateful for the wake up call.

 

[newtothis]

Slight thread hijack here, but vaguely related. Many of us here are the wrong side of 40 by the time we start looking at longer term cruising, which happens to coincide with onset of those middle-age ailments that tend to need ongoing medication.
But if you're off round the Med or beyond for longer than the maximum allowance for your prescriptions, how do you go about stocking up? Does being out of the loving arms of the NHS mean having to go private and pay for scripts/meds wherever you rock up around the world? I'm not sure many of the South Pacific islands would have some of that stuff in stock.
The boat might hold up, but I'm wondering how the body will.

 

[Bobc]

Slight thread hijack here, but vaguely related. Many of us here are the wrong side of 40 by the time we start looking at longer term cruising, which happens to coincide with onset of those middle-age ailments that tend to need ongoing medication.
But if you're off round the Med or beyond for longer than the maximum allowance for your prescriptions, how do you go about stocking up? Does being out of the loving arms of the NHS mean having to go private and pay for scripts/meds wherever you rock up around the world? I'm not sure many of the South Pacific islands would have some of that stuff in stock.
The boat might hold up, but I'm wondering how the body will.

Gin

and rum

 

[RupertW]

Slight thread hijack here, but vaguely related. Many of us here are the wrong side of 40 by the time we start looking at longer term cruising, which happens to coincide with onset of those middle-age ailments that tend to need ongoing medication.
But if you're off round the Med or beyond for longer than the maximum allowance for your prescriptions, how do you go about stocking up? Does being out of the loving arms of the NHS mean having to go private and pay for scripts/meds wherever you rock up around the world? I'm not sure many of the South Pacific islands would have some of that stuff in stock.
The boat might hold up, but I'm wondering how the body will.

it’s a good point. We are still working but my medications are all easy to build led up 6 months supply of and I’d hope to get home every few months to get more - except for insulin which needs to be fridges. Fine in Europe, and I’ve found in the US and Australia but more far flung parts is a risk.

 

[FlyingGoose]

Slight thread hijack here, but vaguely related. Many of us here are the wrong side of 40 by the time we start looking at longer term cruising, which happens to coincide with onset of those middle-age ailments that tend to need ongoing medication.
But if you're off round the Med or beyond for longer than the maximum allowance for your prescriptions, how do you go about stocking up? Does being out of the loving arms of the NHS mean having to go private and pay for scripts/meds wherever you rock up around the world? I'm not sure many of the South Pacific islands would have some of that stuff in stock.
The boat might hold up, but I'm wondering how the body will.

You will need your GP to give you a certain amount to last , if in an EU country I think there is no issues , out with you will need a Private prescription form your Dr and then you can use it around the world , but you will have to pay for you meds:ambivalence:

 

[FlyingGoose]

Well........ a hefty dose of 'dunno, might break' isn't a bad thing if you're heading beyond the Med/follow the arc

For instance anchored up having fun down in Brazil must have been about 30% or maybe more cruising boats sailed in from South Africa with no engine. Well maintained cruising boats with knowledgeable experienced crew, not a fling the tescos bags in the forepeak friday night and slip the lines in the solent type thing.

And when will you do the rigging? Prob OK for a few years yet, then how do you do it when just getting decent wire could be a challenge before trying to find someone to crimp it...

It's healthy IMHO to assume whatever it is, it will probably break and have a good think about how to get the basic bits as rock solid as you can so the boat can still sail so you're not stuck somewhere for weeks waiting for bits when it does

It seems saildrives do not have the longivity of the older Engines built in the 70's as this is the second thread were some one replaced their sail dirve engine on a boat from the 21 st Century ,
I had an old VW camper 40 years old on that engine stil going strong took it all over Europe Surfing from Portugal to Rome in 3 months took it over the Alps , no maintenance , some oil and a hammer :encouragement:
Maybe Im just a lucky wee soul with engines , and boats and Vans
I always look at this thought process it will break eventually as a negative, again preventive maintance can stop so many problems , a daily check of all rigging , Engine , bolts oil, water ,coolant, etc, when long term cruising , will stop so many issues happening in the first place.
Also buy the best you can, fit it yourself and be happy in the knowledge it will do the Job.
I am a Guy with the Glass half full never worry , always thinking where the next problem will be, I will send out all my luck to those that are having a hard time

 

[nicappotamus 2]

I read the first few pages, and then skipped to the end

can't add much except one observation that having watched a few sailing channels, it seems to me that it's fairly important to have also a boat that can sail and point sensibly as well as being fairly sea kindly in a funny lumpy sea. Watching the old sea dog, his bullet proof steel van de stadt is very sloow and seems to average about 3kts on passage which means that distances stretch hugely.

 

[LadyInBed]

But if you're off round the Med or beyond for longer than the maximum allowance for your prescriptions, how do you go about stocking up?

My Doc knows that I go away sailing for the summer. I get 8 week repeat scripts and in the previous few months before leaving I put in a request for meds every 4 weeks to build up a stock to last over the period.

PS Requests are done online and Pharmacist delivers to home address. I've never done it but if I was likely to run out due to prolonged absence I could get wife to mail supply to me.