Quick poll

[madtam]

On a scale of 1-10 just how stupid is it for me to be very seriously considering buying a 30-40 foot boat to sail off into the sunset - single handed?
For a little further information, I am fast approaching 55 years old and will therefore have access to a small private pension that with drawdown (ie using up the capital for say 20 years) will allow me to both purchase a vessel and provide maybe £1000 each month to run it and live on.
I have some sailing experience but not a single piece of paper to my name. I dinghy sailed and raced to a reasonable level as a teenager and beyond. Then migrated to racing IOC yachts mostly coastal with a few longer trips. All of this was 20 years ago and apart from windsurfing and some motorboats I have not been afloat much in a long time.
Thoughts are to try and find something reasonable at the £20-35K level allowing a few £K to tidy up. Hopefully getting something over the winter with a view to actually departing these shores in the latter part of next year, after a few shakedown cruises.
Hopefully head South initially but then picking up the trades and heading West (for who knows where).
Would like genuine answers and interested in the scoring !

 

[greeny]

Not stupid at all so my score will be zero. If you really want to do then just get on with it. You may not get another chance as old age and health issues approach. I don't know anything about your fallback arrangements in the UK after you've finished cruising but I assume you have thought this through already.
Do it now before it's too late.

 

[GHA]

What was that Mark Twain quote about only regretting what you don't do.......


Sounds like one of the best ideas you'll ever have

 

[duncan99210]

Pretty much what we did, albeit as a couple. You might like to get an ICC before you set off, as some places will demand some sort of proof of competence. You'll also need a VHF certificate but neither of those are show stoppers.
The only note of caution I'd sound is that you may struggle on £1000 a month. Whilst you can survive on that it is very much dependant on not needing to pay for marina fees and the like, eminently possible in some places, near impossible in others.
Go for it and enjoy.

 

[Ludd]

I'd advise 35ft,keeps you in the cheaper band in most marinas and gives room for two if you find compatible crew.
Get the boat, keep it in the cheapest all tide marina you can find in UK while you practise and get your ICC and DSC radio certificate---- then head for somewhere warm.
Initially I'd advise the Algarve, year round good climate and plenty free anchoring and cheap marina rates in winter.

 

[Richard10002]

A great idea. Buy a good anchor and learn how to use it. It will save you a fortune in marina fees.

 

[capnsensible]

Tops! Our Moody 33 that we have lived on for nearly 19 years fits (just) on a 10m berth in the Canaries. Berth, water and electric thrown in costs about 50 quid a week if you front up 6 months.

Its sunny.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Sounds good to me, and with a similar background and financial arrangement.
I'll be doing the same in a couple years probably - and I'll be nicely in my eighth decade by then.
I don't want to live forever, but I do want to live until I die

 

[RupertW]

A great idea. Buy a good anchor and learn how to use it. It will save you a fortune in marina fees.

I'd go the other way round after decades with a cqr then a delta and perfect holding with both so far, but great advice

 

[Bobc]

Not stupid at all so my score will be zero. If you really want to do then just get on with it. You may not get another chance as old age and health issues approach. I don't know anything about your fallback arrangements in the UK after you've finished cruising but I assume you have thought this through already.
Do it now before it's too late.

+1

 

[Bobc]

A great idea. Buy a good anchor and learn how to use it. It will save you a fortune in marina fees.

+100

 

[nortada]

I'd advise 35ft,keeps you in the cheaper band in most marinas and gives room for two if you find compatible crew.
Get the boat, keep it in the cheapest all tide marina you can find in UK while you practise and get your ICC and DSC radio certificate---- then head for somewhere warm.
Initially I'd advise the Algarve, year round good climate and plenty free anchoring and cheap marina rates in winter.

+1

 

[ANDY_W]

While the boat advice is good, has anyone given any thought to the possibility that , in a little over a year, the UK may well be
a ' third country ' as far as the EU is concerned.

That means that UK citizens will only be allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for a maximum of 90 days in any period of
6 months. That means that if you stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days, you will have to leave for 6 months before returning.

For those in the Med, that means becoming familiar with Turkey or North Africa for 6 months at a time. For those in Europe, it will mean returning to the UK. ( or maybe Russia if you are in the Baltic )

My advice, for what it's worth, is to wait until Brexit happens before committing to a liveaboard lifestyle in Europe. At least you
will know what travel restrictions you will have to deal with.

I keep my boat in the Netherlands, where I am a summer liveaboard. Currently deciding whether or not to bring the boat back
next year or take the chance that there will be no problems with local bad feeling and bring it back in 2019. Either way, short of a miracle, the boat will have to come back to the UK.

Andy

 

[Tranona]

While the boat advice is good, has anyone given any thought to the possibility that , in a little over a year, the UK may well be
a ' third country ' as far as the EU is concerned.

That means that UK citizens will only be allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for a maximum of 90 days in any period of
6 months. That means that if you stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days, you will have to leave for 6 months before returning.

For those in the Med, that means becoming familiar with Turkey or North Africa for 6 months at a time. For those in Europe, it will mean returning to the UK. ( or maybe Russia if you are in the Baltic )

My advice, for what it's worth, is to wait until Brexit happens before committing to a liveaboard lifestyle in Europe. At least you
will know what travel restrictions you will have to deal with.

I keep my boat in the Netherlands, where I am a summer liveaboard. Currently deciding whether or not to bring the boat back
next year or take the chance that there will be no problems with local bad feeling and bring it back in 2019. Either way, short of a miracle, the boat will have to come back to the UK.

Andy

This is all guesswork and supposition.

Nobody knows what the situation with regard to movement of people and boats will be after March 2019. What you are suggesting is one possible scenario, but judging by the fudging that is going on at the moment and the extent to which certain member states rely on UK visitors and tourists your doom scenario is unlikely. A transition period, particularly for movement of people seems highly likely so doubt there will be any changes before 2021 - not least because nobody seems to have got down to the level of detail required to implement whatever regime is finally decided.

The OP is looking wider than just Europe so while Brexit may be a factor in his future plans, it is a minor one compared with what is involved in first making the decision, then buying and equipping a boat to cast off next year.

 

[guernseyman]

Go ahead.

35 foot is quite big enough for an inexperienced single-hander.

But I don't like your finance plans. You seem to end up at the age of 75 with no capital except the resale value of your boat.
Much better to invest your capital in funds and or bonds. You could have more like £2,000 a month to live on, and you should end up with all your capital. Or live on £1,500 and let your capital keep pace with inflation.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Go ahead.

35 foot is quite big enough for an inexperienced single-hander.

But I don't like your finance plans. You seem to end up at the age of 75 with no capital except the resale value of your boat.
Much better to invest your capital in funds and or bonds. You could have more like £2,000 a month to live on, and you should end up with all your capital. Or live on £1,500 and let your capital keep pace with inflation.

I accept what you say , but let's face it the Op may not live to his 75 ( hope for his sake he does and a heathy life at that )
Live for the moment I say , I can't tell you how many people we met that says , wish I did this years ago , now because of age or health reason I never going to be able to do it .
After being a very long term liveaboard , I say if you can afford to do it then do it , forget about Berxit ,
there always going to be a reason not to .
I will add one thing , I used the sentence { afford to do it } any one wishing to become a livaboard and the only way they can afford to do it is by sell all your assets i.e. A property, think carefully , if it don't work out and in May case it don't for long for lots of reasons you could have a problem returning to dry land , unless your young enough to start again .
The boat will never be worth what you pay for it and if you have to sell it quickly even less .
Good luck .

 

[AndersG]

While the boat advice is good, has anyone given any thought to the possibility that , in a little over a year, the UK may well be
a ' third country ' as far as the EU is concerned.

That means that UK citizens will only be allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for a maximum of 90 days in any period of
6 months. That means that if you stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days, you will have to leave for 6 months before returning.

For those in the Med, that means becoming familiar with Turkey or North Africa for 6 months at a time. For those in Europe, it will mean returning to the UK. ( or maybe Russia if you are in the Baltic )

My advice, for what it's worth, is to wait until Brexit happens before committing to a liveaboard lifestyle in Europe. At least you
will know what travel restrictions you will have to deal with.

I keep my boat in the Netherlands, where I am a summer liveaboard. Currently deciding whether or not to bring the boat back
next year or take the chance that there will be no problems with local bad feeling and bring it back in 2019. Either way, short of a miracle, the boat will have to come back to the UK.

Andy

This is very likeky to be correct but OP says he will be heading south and then West, not many Schengen countries there.

 

[25931]

I wasn't much younger than you when I became a live aboard without your sort of security. I'm in the top half of my ninth decade and, although I no longer live aboard I still enjoy boating.
In the words of Omar Khayyam " Ah, take the cash in hand and waive the Rest." In other words be happy (or at least content) now-you're a long time dead.

 

[GrahamM376]

While the boat advice is good, has anyone given any thought to the possibility that , in a little over a year, the UK may well be a ' third country ' as far as the EU is concerned.

Time to start worrying (or not) is when we have the details. In the meantime, it would make sense for many ex pats to hedge their bets and obtain residence in another state to retain free movement 12/12. Also, a boat purchased in the UK now is VAT paid within the EU and if within the EU at time of Brexit shouldn't have to pay it again there. Not all states are like Spain in requiring boats to be matriculated.

My advice to the OP is get on with it, I retired at 53 and my only regret is not having done it earlier. Think carefully though about cutting all UK ties by selling up and declaring non residence, many have found they have less rights than immigrants when ill health forces return. Better to keep a property or have your name on electoral role at a relative's address.

 

[greeny]

While the boat advice is good, has anyone given any thought to the possibility that , in a little over a year, the UK may well be
a ' third country ' as far as the EU is concerned.

That means that UK citizens will only be allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for a maximum of 90 days in any period of
6 months. That means that if you stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days, you will have to leave for 6 months before returning.

For those in the Med, that means becoming familiar with Turkey or North Africa for 6 months at a time. For those in Europe, it will mean returning to the UK. ( or maybe Russia if you are in the Baltic )

My advice, for what it's worth, is to wait until Brexit happens before committing to a liveaboard lifestyle in Europe. At least you
will know what travel restrictions you will have to deal with.

I keep my boat in the Netherlands, where I am a summer liveaboard. Currently deciding whether or not to bring the boat back
next year or take the chance that there will be no problems with local bad feeling and bring it back in 2019. Either way, short of a miracle, the boat will have to come back to the UK.

Andy

Why not get on with it and get a year or two with none of these worries. If you wait, you'll never go. You can always reassess the situation later and adjust your plans to suit.
Anyway............will we ever leave?