Novice at a loss!! :)

[danlindley]

Well, i suppose you've all been here before, a bit like learner driver syndrome?
Well anyhow, my problem is i haven't got a clue.

Myself and my girlfriend are looking at buying a boat in couple of years when we have saved enough for at least a deposit, then we want to jet off around the world on the thing. So far i have read PBO and found it quite useful, and looked at the classifieds at the different types of boats that are available.

We obviously would like a liveaboard, but other than that we don't know what type of boat we'd like, only that it should have an engine and preferrably not sails (looks like too much like hard work). We know about the many different Sea School courses on offer, but its all the other stuff. Whats really involved in buying a boat? financing it? keeping it in water? taking it around the world? What insurance? etc etc etc.

Please if anyone has any experices, or practical advice on types of boat, legislation etc. Feel free to get in touch. danlindley@02.co.uk

Thank's

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[Dave_Snelson]

Well Dan, you need to define your purpose and goals first. To be honest, motor-boats are not the best thing to go round the world in due to a number of factors. Fuel and range being just two of them. You wont cross any seas or oceans in any thing less than a ship! You can go coastal cruising in a motor boat but think of the cost of running before embarking on a purchase.

To cruise comfortably for long distance and time (weeks) you would need something like a Fairline Targa 34 as a minimum, this will set you back about £100k for a second hand one. Then you would need to be able to afford the 20 gallons an hour it costs to run one (yep, I did say 20 gph)!!

Try your hand at a sea school where you can try both sailing and motor boats. Wind is free and it will carry you any distance you like, provided you have the skills to harness it and the skills use your boat correctly.

Read up on cruising - there are tons of books on this subject. Try Amazon.co.uk for the variety of books.

Oh, and by the way - welcome aboard!

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[gjgm]

Think some more experienced boaters than me will jump in, but although you dont legally need insurance and qualifications here, that isnt the same everywhere. And I can only guess how long it would take to build up experience to safely sail the world, but I'm sure its not a question of taking courses. Unless you meant, you ll buy the boat in a couple of years, and after several more gaining experience,set off? Otherwise I fear your subject should read "novice lost at sea...."

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[danlindley]

ye thats what we intend to do leave it a few years and get used to the boat and then set sail as it were. We dont want to do the world in a around the world trip but call off in several countries on the way around, maybe spend a lot of time in Greece. The RYA said something about needing a ICC before being able to go coastal.

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[hlb]

Bit of a pipe dream I fear. Many folk can manage to sail a MoBo to say, the Chanel Isles or France. Ireland if there based further north. Occasionaly one or two reach the med. But sailing round the world in anything less than a reasonable sized ship, is just not really posible. Or should I say desirable.
However it is quite posible with a rag boat and much more afordable.

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Haydn

 

[Trevethan]

Round the world in a motorboat? Check the exploits of Spirit of Cardiff.....

Unless you have a huge bank roll for fuel, you need free power.. which means you row.. or you use sails.

Sails are much easier! For the sort of thing you are planning I'd go for a sailing boat (I'd choose a ketch a boat with 2 masts) but then I like ketches. My thinking is that in a ketch you have a lot of versatility when it comes to which sails are up etc, and becuase each mast carries a smaller sail area than than a boat with just one mast, they might be a little stronger in a blow.

You'll want something at least 35 feet long, and it should have a reasonable engine, with worldwide parts availability.

I'd go for a boat with a long keel, and and have a centrecockpit ideally with pilothouse/doghouse. I'd also ensure it can be conned from an external position.

You could probably pick up something suitaable for around £30k, but then expect to spend another £10k to £15k and a year of your life getting it ready. The good thing about getting ti ready yourself is that you'll know every nut bolt screw and pipe and how to fix it.

The learning curve is steep so it could be worthwhile buying a small 20-22 foot boat to practice on and see if you the pair of you are cut out for life aboard -- cramped quarters.. my wife and I have a 44 foot motorsailer that we spend the summer aboard, though come the winter we live ashore.

reagrding hull material, steel is probably the most favoured, but it does need looking after. Consider ferro cement -- these boats are usually quite cheap compared to steel or grp, and if you get a properly built one it will serve you very well. its dead easy to repair.. you don't need welding gear and the know how to use it.. its strength to weight ratio is second only to steel so ignore prats who say its heavy -- a 12 tonne 40 footer weighs the same in steel, grp, ferro or wood!

Lastly take your time before buying. get it surveyed properly and then check all the systems yourself.

regards,

Nick



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[danlindley]

Nick;

Kind thanks, lot of info there to consider. Myself and the girlfriend aren't going around the world on one big trek, but we're just hoping to do a few countries of choice and live on the boat 90% of the time, stay at several countries like, Greece, Spain, France etc.

It's the other part of the sailing i am also at a loss with, do you need insurance, licences, qualifications to just jump in a boat and go to spain?

Is your boat concrete hull? Do you sail to other countries? is it easy to do?

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[Trevethan]

You might not go round none stop, but it still sounds like you want to go around... problem is there are lots of bit watery bits between here and north america, and north america and asia... that make motorboating impossible/impractical... look at saily boats if you are serious..

You can get insurance easily enough for UK waters.. insurance for extended cruising as you intend is very pricey... certificates will make it cheaper. A lot of countries demand an ICC certificate of competance.. apparently not too hard to get... probably look at goig for it after a couple of season's experience.

But you could buy a boat tomorrow and take it whereever you wanted/manages, with no idea of what you're doing.

Yes my boat if ferro, a sole bay ketch, which is anm older design. we are still in the doing up phase.. but she's been all round Europe under the previous owner. including western Ireland, Biscay, and the Irish Sea. Scotland and the westcountry

I went from dinghies to smaller sub 27 foot sailboats without too much difficulty. I found teh transition to this one tougher -- less responsive, wheel steering etc etc etc. Next spring I am hoping we'll cross to Holland or Belgium for a couple of weeks.

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[DepSol]

Spirit is up for sale actually and could be converted to go RTW in a bit more comfort.

Read Confronting Poseidon by Clive Tully to give you an idea of what you could be in for.

Best of luck with your choice

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

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