Rate my plan?

[doug748]

Nice sailing boats the 22 but (as mentioned above) I would prefer to look for a Hurley 24, here is one near you:

Hurley - 24/70 in , Conwy Marina | Boats and Outboards

This particular one is fin keel but others are available

You spend a lot of time below, standing headroom helps so much and the 22 is very snug in this respect.

.

 

[Stemar]

Look at Snapdragons as well as the other boats. They aren't the best boat to windward under sail - I describe mine as a motorsailer, but they're tough and seaworthy enough to look after you long after you were wishing you'd taken up golf instead, and a decent, but slightly scruffy one needn't cost the earth. Stubby bilge keels, drawing change from a metre, so less of an issue in the canals than some others. The 24/747 has an inboard diesel, a separate head, albeit a tiny one, and one of the better V berths I've seen in small boats. (I may be a bit biased...)

I would certainly second the recommendation for an inboard diesel for the canals - much cheaper to run and, with a bit of work on sound insulation, a good bit quieter than a smaller outboard working hard. Find one that started well from cold pushes the boat along properly and doesn't smoke significantly when warm and, chances are, as long as you change its oil on time and feed it clean fuel, it'll last at least as long as you need it to.

Alternatively you could sail down to southern Brittany and then on through the canal du midi. But don’t rush or you’ll miss all the nice places!

Or go across to St Malo, up the Rance and through the canal to the Vilaine and out at Arzal. It's always possible you'll fall in love with Brittany and never get any further!

 

[nortada]

Clausewitz said: no plan survives first contact with the enemy.

First rule: Research.
Second rule: Take your time.
Third rule: Go.

I have been through the canals; we were on a schedule, crossing the Atlantic, hurricane season etc., etc. ... I regret that now. Take your time.

When I did my first major voyage, we were among the youngest doing this (early thirties). On the way people would tell us that when they retire, they will do what we were doing. Those that were retired told us that they should have done it when they were young. Now it was too late.

"The years thunder by. The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. " Sterling Hayden.

Experience? You'll get that on the way. Things will go wrong; the only problem is not learning from when they do.

1930s - so you are nearing 100

Always thought you were rather old but not that old - an inspiration to us all.

 

[laika]

I've got my DS after doing a two-week intensive in Gib. Might do a refresher week but they're spendy.

Do be prepared to think you've forgotten everything. Intensive courses can work well but you need to carry on "doing" once the course finishes or it slips away as fast as it went in. I had a friend who did a 2 week DS in gib with no sailing background, passed, then didn't step on a boat again until a charter 18 months later which I was invited on. Long story short: He'd forgotten even the basics, though it came back as the week went on (or was re-learned?)

Rather than an expensive commercial refresher, perhaps try and convince an experienced acquaintance to come along, or if a seller is agreeable, don't bargain so hard on the condition that they come out with you a couple of times to "show you the ropes"?

 

[nortada]

just go for it. doesn't matter where or what happens - it's all part of the fun...

Yes but do try to avoid coming back in a body-bag or not coming back at all

 

[nortada]

Look at Snapdragons as well as the other boats. They aren't the best boat to windward under sail - I describe mine as a motorsailer, but they're tough and seaworthy enough to look after you long after you were wishing you'd taken up golf instead, and a decent, but slightly scruffy one needn't cost the earth. Stubby bilge keels, drawing change from a metre, so less of an issue in the canals than some others. The 24/747 has an inboard diesel, a separate head, albeit a tiny one, and one of the better V berths I've seen in small boats. (I may be a bit biased...)

I would certainly second the recommendation for an inboard diesel for the canals - much cheaper to run and, with a bit of work on sound insulation, a good bit quieter than a smaller outboard working hard. Find one that started well from cold pushes the boat along properly and doesn't smoke significantly when warm and, chances are, as long as you change its oil on time and feed it clean fuel, it'll last at least as long as you need it to.

Had a Snappy for years - great little boat and very roomy inside.

Standing headroom through-out, mine had the heads right in the bow, 2 coffins, a good galley and a palatial skipper's berth aft (could serve as a double if you are very friendly). Finally, an unbelievable amount of storage space.

Plenty around and you should get a reasonable one for about £2-3K.

Beating? Gentlemen don't beat. ‼

 

[mjcoon]

Had a Snappy for years - great little boat and very roomy inside.

Standing headroom through-out, mine had the heads right in the bow, 2 coffins, a good galley and a palatial skipper's berth aft (could serve as a double if you are very friendly). Finally, an unbelievable amount of storage space.

Plenty around and you should get a reasonable one for about £2-3K.

Beating? Gentlemen don't beat. ‼

Snappies ("747", but not jumbo!) made up the first flotilla I went on. Four of us for a fortnight, and we all survived...

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Never try long distance cruising with a 2 stroke petrol outboard. Done it, got the teeshirt, and the costs and bother simply not worth it. Diesel reigns

Indeed avoid going any distance in a 22ft unless you are an acrobatic midget. Its up to you but if you want to go cruising any distance then 24ft or 26ft is much much better. As others have said an old Snappy might do. I sold a Macwester 26 for £3k and plenty of boats in that price range if you ferret around

 

[lustyd]

P.S. Other option is buying in the Med and learning there (better weather and sailing it back! But cheap boats mostly seem to be concentrated in the UK. (Not sure what impact Brexit has on any of this?)

You mentioned working, don't forget you'll need a work visa if you leave the UK and work on the boat. Lockdown has resulted in a lot of clarity around remote working and we've been told at work (global org) in no uncertain terms that we're not allowed to work from elsewhere without a proper visa. Depending where you work this may also impact how they end up paying you and where you pay taxes which becomes very dull very quickly.
Needless to say you don't have to tell people where you're working from, but it's worth being aware of if you intend to do it for a longer period of time.

 

[Babylon]

Buy the biggest boat for single-handing you can afford, ideally 25-30ft, and be prepared to get to know and sort out a lot more than you anticipate.

Double your time estimates for every phase of your plan.

Have a Plan B for every phase of your plan.

BTW it was von Moltke, not von Clausewitz, who famously stated "No plan of operations reaches with any certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main force" usually quoted as "No plan survives contact with the enemy". Bill Tilman was fond of quoting him.

 

[TernVI]

Seems to me there is always a risk of a fair sized bill when you own a cruising boat.
Most people I know, who've prepped an already fairly sorted boat for a trip of several months, have spent several grand on odds and ends.
Most people I know who've gone on trips of more than a couple of months have ended up with unplanned trips back home for all sorts of reasons.

When you own a cheap old boat and use it fairly intensely, stuff breaks. The first year you own a boat, you find stuff doesn't work or things that are needed.
You break stuff while based at home, you can find sensible fixes. Abroad, it can get pricey.

How does singlehanding in the canals work? are you expecting to just stop every time you want a cuppa, the loo etc? I would think it might get really tedious quite quickly. I personally would not go on the canals without a decent engine.

I think you could do a lot of sailing in your first year without going beyond Brest.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

When you own a cheap old boat and use it fairly intensely, stuff breaks. The first year you own a boat, you find stuff doesn't work or things that are needed.
You break stuff while based at home, you can find sensible fixes. Abroad, it can get pricey.

That's exactly what happened to the couple taking the old Prout through the French canals I posted a link to in post number 17. The Silette Sonic drive leg gave them many headaches. Fortunately Dev seems handy with a spanner and they both had the cheerfulness to keep going.

I think if I was attempting to take a boat on an extended trip like the Hurley 22 the OP linked to I'd work the extra (or sell a kidney or something) to get the money needed to buy a new outboard engine for £1200.

 

[Laminar Flow]

1930s - so you are nearing 100

Always thought you were rather old but not that old - an inspiration to us all.

Its not the age, its the mileage.

 

[LadyInBed]

How does singlehanding in the canals work? are you expecting to just stop every time you want a cuppa, the loo etc?

I managed it ok, some locks had waiting pontoons else drift and put kettle on whilst waiting for the lock to open, on straight bit I put the AH on for short periods to put kettle on etc. Further South cold drinks were preferable. Pee into a milk container, anything more is done in the morning before leaving or evening. Also locks shut for lunch, so you can have up to an hour to make something to eat.

 

[deadeyedick]

Experience:

Limited really. I've got my DS after doing a two-week intensive in Gib. Might do a refresher week but they're spendy. What I lack in experience I make up for in determination and ability to forgo normal luxuries.

Timeframe:

I have most of Apirl, all of May and half of June free whereafter I work until end of August (online). September to Xmas free.

The boat:

I'm planning on buying something in the 2-3k range, can stretch to 4k. Looking for something solid, small, cheap and preferably with bilge keels (becasue of route through France, better able to explore shallow waters, which I like the idea of, but also because I'll inevitably ground it at some point). Bookmarked a Hurly 20 (bilge with outboard), a Ruster 23 (re-engined inboard), a Hurley 23 (fin and ouboard) and some other things (Elizibethan 29, Samphire 26, A Tident 24 if it's still for sale). Basically, cheap, small, strong and seaworthy seems to the order. Cheap enough that I won't be terrified of sailing it in case I sink my life savings (the long-game would be to buy a Sadler 32 or something like that further down the line). I saw a Vega for 8k, but I'm mosty not confident of my ability and also found it hard to get full-comp insurnace last time I checked. I'd be really anxious about crashing an 8k boat or worse.

The route:

Most boats I'm looking at are in N.Wales, closer to the NW is better but not essential. I'd spend April going on day sails and getting to know the boat, and May doing a longer trip, maybe around Wales/Ireland or the Scillies? I might park it somewhere and then work over the summer. In September I would like to take it either through the french canals or maybe down across Biscay (bit risky but possible?) then into the med or to Canaries. I'll get as far as I can and either sell it or give it away, but bank the experience. By that point I'll know if I want to spend 25-30k on a larger, more livable yacht, and presuambly have the confidence to sail her. I should have Spanish residency in check by then so thankfully I can travel freely in Europe.

Essential equipment:

Autohelm, got GPS and can spend a bit on some useful gadgets but can't afford a winevane and reluctant to buy something that costs more than the boat. I'd presumably have to add some jackstays, a harness, and essential safety equipment (maybe a liferaft in case of Biscay?)

Budget:

Overall, I'd be willing to outlay around 6 all in.

Any helpful suggestions or potential problems? I.e. would be doing the canal route with an outboard be a daft idea? etc. I'm sure there's loads that will go wrong and probably the biggest task is buying a cheap boat that isn't going to start drinking money the moment I buy it. The outboard engines are attractive in this sense at least since they won't cost a fourtune to place, though I understand they can't compare to a solid inboard. In terms of sails etc., I'd be happy if the boat gets me to the Med and can go six months without the big ticket items being replaced. If I'm able to sell it after, I'd just see that as beer money.

I know there are dangers associated it with this plan, but people like Shane Acton and other various budget sailors who took such boats around the world inspire me. I've been wanting to achieve my dream of sailing now for ages and want to get started.

Cheers,
Ross

P.S. Other option is buying in the Med and learning there (better weather and sailing it back! But cheap boats mostly seem to be concentrated in the UK. (Not sure what impact Brexit has on any of this?)

I used to have dreams like this as a teenager 45 years ago, read every book going, confused the hell out of me as to which boat to go for, I still haven't decided.
But if I were me telling me how to get started on the wandering life cheaply there's only one class of boat to go for and I speak from 45 years worth of global wandering in everything from 4 masted barques to 12ft Swallows & Amazons clinker dinghies. The cheap boat to get me started would be a Westerly bilge keeler with standing headroom, I'm rather fond of the Pageant and they can be got incredibly cheaply fully equipped with all the latest toys, likewise the slightly larger Centaur one of which I helped deliver overnight from Falmouth to Barry Docks in bit of blow! Well impressed!
Stop dreaming, decide on which boat, put the blinkers on and go find one!

 

[Blueboatman]

Do NOT buy the biggest boat you can afford
IMO ?
Small, bilge keel, outboard , the rest is just details

keep it smart and if you’re a friendly, willing sort of bloke you will meet lots of nice people in nice places who will relate to your humble exciting brave adventure - which opens all sorts of doors along the way including work!
Best of luck, don’t rush , play the weather /season odds in your favour for the offshore bits ..
( I did pretty much this in my 30s too, it worked out just great ?

 

[Bajansailor]

Little Westerly bilge keelers are capable of grand adventures - read this, and you will be inspired.
'Voyage to America': Young Tiger, part two

Here is an update re Young Tiger -
'A friend in a field'

And an iconic photo of her at anchor in Admiralty Bay, Bequia, in the Grenadines, in the 60's.

 

[capnsensible]

I managed it ok, some locks had waiting pontoons else drift and put kettle on whilst waiting for the lock to open, on straight bit I put the AH on for short periods to put kettle on etc. Further South cold drinks were preferable. Pee into a milk container, anything more is done in the morning before leaving or evening. Also locks shut for lunch, so you can have up to an hour to make something to eat.

Does that make the milk taste funny?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Shane Acton circumnavigated in an 18 foot Caprice, so most things are possible the only question to ask is would you want to? Most of us are too used to our comfort to a greater or lesser degree. However if you are in your 20s and fit it's the sort of thing that you may do.

 

[nortada]

Shane Acton circumnavigated in an 18 foot Caprice, so most things are possible the only question to ask is would you want to? Most of us are too used to our comfort to a greater or lesser degree. However if you are in your 20s and fit it's the sort of thing that you may do.

Then write a book.