Novice "yachtist" considering life's options

[WoodyP]

I sold my 30 ft twin keel to a chap who had no experience and he has lived aboard on a mooring all winter. He has been learning to sail by trial and error and l have been helping him at distance with various problems when they arose. His ability to cope has amazed me given the lack of home comforts.
If you are made of the same stuff, just get on with it.

 

[Wansworth]

I sold my 30 ft twin keel to a chap who had no experience and he has lived aboard on a mooring all winter. He has been learning to sail by trial and error and l have been helping him at distance with various problems when they arose. His ability to cope has amazed me given the lack of home comforts.
If you are made of the same stuff, just get on with it.

The human being thrives on struggle!

 

[blampied]

For my tuppence worth.
If you’re not an experienced sailer, forget a sail boat and look at a displacement or semi displacement motor boat, far easier to learn. You get far more usable internal space per foot of length than a sail boat.

We did the same thing in our 50’s (redundancy having forced into early retirement) a decade ago with an Aquastar 33 semi displacement motor boat, the 33 was plenty big enough for the 2 of us (me and my wife) to live on comfortably we spent 3.5 years travelling through the French canals to the Mediterranean then trundling around the Mediterranean.

It was the best years of our life, We’re now OAPs and we liked it so much this time next month will try to recreate the memories by redoing the trip, this time with a bigger 38 foot Aquastar.
The biggest difference this time apart from our advancing years is Brexit has left us with only 90 days at a time in the EU Schengen area. So we are hoping to get from the English Channel via laHavre, Paris and the French canals until we pop out into the Mediterranean, then port hopping down Spain until we reach Gibraltar (still British and outside Schengen) within 90 days.

 

[Thresher]

For my tuppence worth.
If you’re not an experienced sailer, forget a sail boat and look at a displacement or semi displacement motor boat, far easier to learn. You get far more usable internal space per foot of length than a sail boat.

We did the same thing in our 50’s (redundancy having forced into early retirement) a decade ago with an Aquastar 33 semi displacement motor boat, the 33 was plenty big enough for the 2 of us (me and my wife) to live on comfortably we spent 3.5 years travelling through the French canals to the Mediterranean then trundling around the Mediterranean.

It was the best years of our life, We’re now OAPs and we liked it so much this time next month will try to recreate the memories by redoing the trip, this time with a bigger 38 foot Aquastar.
The biggest difference this time apart from our advancing years is Brexit has left us with only 90 days at a time in the EU Schengen area. So we are hoping to get from the English Channel via laHavre, Paris and the French canals until we pop out into the Mediterranean, then port hopping down Spain until we reach Gibraltar (still British and outside Schengen) within 90 days.

Good plan but beware, for obvious reasons Gibraltar is usually fully booked.

 

[Graham376]

For my tuppence worth.
If you’re not an experienced sailer, forget a sail boat and look at a displacement or semi displacement motor boat, far easier to learn. You get far more usable internal space per foot of length than a sail boat.

We did the same thing in our 50’s (redundancy having forced into early retirement) a decade ago with an Aquastar 33 semi displacement motor boat, the 33 was plenty big enough for the 2 of us (me and my wife) to live on comfortably we spent 3.5 years travelling through the French canals to the Mediterranean then trundling around the Mediterranean.

It was the best years of our life, We’re now OAPs and we liked it so much this time next month will try to recreate the memories by redoing the trip, this time with a bigger 38 foot Aquastar.
The biggest difference this time apart from our advancing years is Brexit has left us with only 90 days at a time in the EU Schengen area. So we are hoping to get from the English Channel via laHavre, Paris and the French canals until we pop out into the Mediterranean, then port hopping down Spain until we reach Gibraltar (still British and outside Schengen) within 90 days.

What's the fuel consumption/hr in open water at cruising speed? Every time I've briefly looked at motorboats, the fuel costs have put me off.

 

[potentillaCO32]

What's the fuel consumption/hr in open water at cruising speed? Every time I've briefly looked at motorboats, the fuel costs have put me off.

Anything above 35ft you are looking at 1mpg ish ish, very very roughly, at planing speeds. It's why you.mostly see them in marinas and rarely on passage.

Interesting to see the number of people who post on here, "I want to buy a boat and sail the world and live simply and cheaply", make a few posts and are then never heard from again. A small number clearly succeed but I think a fair number go off on other dreams

 

[Graham376]

Anything above 35ft you are looking at 1mpg ish ish, very very roughly, at planing speeds. It's why you.mostly see them in marinas and rarely on passage.

Interesting to see the number of people who post on here, "I want to buy a boat and sail the world and live simply and cheaply", make a few posts and are then never heard from again. A small number clearly succeed but I think a fair number go off on other dreams

44ft Trader mobo moored near us rarely moved, he said £50/hour at 8 kts and that was quite a few years ago when fuel was cheaper than today.

 

[mrtoomanytoys]

Thank you, its all great info and perspectives.. data gathering..

 

[mrtoomanytoys]

Well... As crazy as it seems, I have just agreed to buy a Westerly Conway, there is a list of stuff to address of course, from the survey, but generally nothing too major, but the rest of the boat is in such good condition.. I did manage to get a good bit off which will help...

Can't quite believe what I have got myself into really LOL.... but looking forward to learning a lot of new stuff, working on the yacht and learning to sail...

And the new adventures it will surely bring...

Thank you for all the opinions and suggestions, much appreciated...
Si

 

[potentillaCO32]

A lot of boat for the money, with great blue water potential. And room.

 

[Sea Change]

Nice boats, good support through the owners' association.

 

[Wansworth]

Portugal is not big enough to have its own Film industry so a lot of TV is UK & US programs subtitled in Portuguese. Combined with pop music most Portuguese have an understanding of English except the very old. English is taught at schools for everyone. We are embarrassed by the ability of the majority supermarket assistants etc to speak excellent english.

Portuguese drivers do have one of the highest accident rates in Europe in spite of having one of the best road networks in Europe. To me they appear impatient, tailgate and many drift over the road central line on bends!

Sailing on the Western coast normally involves greater day trips than say the S coast of UK. The whole of France, Portugal and Spanish Atlantic coast needs caution in bad weather due to inshore swells.

Surfing is good at Nazare…….aslong as your not wobbly on your feet

 

[KevinV]

Surfing is good at Nazare…….aslong as your not wobbly on your feet

Don't try to change the subject Wansie - this thread belongs to someone who thought about it and bought a boat within a month - take note!

 

[Wansworth]

Don't try to change the subject Wansie - this thread belongs to someone who thought about it and bought a boat within a month - take note!

Oh that I was so Desi I’ve

 

[ridgy]

Westerly conway...I remember sailing one 8 up from Poland to Finland in the tall ships race many years ago, some fairly tasty weather too. Pretty crowded and got a bit minging when seasickness took hold of a couple. Boat seemed to like it though.

 

[mrtoomanytoys]

Sounds like the boat didn't mind what was going on.. despite the fully loaded crew having a challenging time.

 

[potentillaCO32]

Sounds like the boat didn't mind what was going on.. despite the fully loaded crew having a challenging time.

Old big westerly s may not be vert fashionable but they are fecking good boats in a blow. Not that pointy to windward but will look after you in horrible conditions. Went on a friend's berwick in an easterly gale and very happy to dock. But the boat didn't bat an eyelid.

You will probably need to replace the headlining.

 

[TerryPlops]

I sold my 30 ft twin keel to a chap who had no experience and he has lived aboard on a mooring all winter. He has been learning to sail by trial and error and l have been helping him at distance with various problems when they arose. His ability to cope has amazed me given the lack of home comforts.
If you are made of the same stuff, just get on with it.

Hi, is this in West Wales? It's good to hear things like this. I hope he gets what he wants from it.

 

[WoodyP]

Hi, is this in West Wales? It's good to hear things like this. I hope he gets what he wants from it.

He left Pembroke and crossed to North Devon.

 

[mrtoomanytoys]

So...first day on the boat. Epic..
We had the sails up and had the engine running...
My friends had me pulling on this and that lines.. uncovering the sails and recovering..
The prev owner has left everything on board.. massive amount of tools but also all the living stuff too..
7 of us on board for a celebratory GnT (with ice) so much room..
Spending my first night on the new adventure...
Stoked..
It's been an epic day..