alwaysawayround
New member
Hello folks, my first post here so give it your worse! No really, I need telling off because I woke up this morning with a Yacht bought from ebay and I haven't sailed in years:encouragement:
So I guess a brief history before my questions I have might help out with this, I was working abroad, went and broke my knee in the Bahamas that ended that career as 2out of 3 operations went wrong over 2 years, a week after giving the all clear on the third operation I got hit and ran over by a car, what luck! Fast forward another few years with a repaired ankle, shin, knee and a case of PTSD with my brain working what is normal for me, I've been reading about becoming a Liveaboard an getting real, and getting gone on a Sailboat, Sailing or at least reading and watching tons of hours on the yTube, learning knots, and having some refresher lessons is a huge part in overcoming the post effect of a small mental illness and also as an (ex) beach Lifeguard and Surfer the ocean has always been something I care for and attracted to.
So I thought i'd just do it and surprise my partner, use the money I have and become a liveaboard and learn to sail what I've potentially bought and start the dream otherwise we would never do it (is there ever a right time? (Probably after seeing the yacht, having a sea trial, survey and doing a RYA course would be better I know, ) but we have that yet to come.
So my questions for anyone here that could offer some advice are, can we just turn up and complete this transaction and start living on it without any formal qualifications if the boat is good or do I need to have it hauled out first? I am waiting on a reply to whether it is on the hard or on the slip currently but we know that we can take it over where it currently is.
I have worked on cruise ships, got my STCW95, I have been trained on a small commercial 38 seater vessel for a few weeks but left that position before I become 'qualified' but I do have motoring experience on a vessel, and done some dinghy sailing and my girlfriend has only been on a dinghy with me but loved it.
The boat is a Colvic Sailor 29.6 '85 that is apparently well maintained and looked after, is a safe heavy boat with an encapsulated long keel and lines are leading back to the cockpit. The sails are new in 2015 and has been wintered ashore every year. I've used some books that have aided me in finding a Yacht suitable and isn't too much for a first timer which I think I have done correctly. It isn't a massive amount of money, but we intend to learn to sail it, and head over to the Med sometime and maybe further but for now, one step at a time.
Any thoughts or advice welcome, we're all ears! Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong section:nonchalance: and wishing everyone a happy new year!
So I guess a brief history before my questions I have might help out with this, I was working abroad, went and broke my knee in the Bahamas that ended that career as 2out of 3 operations went wrong over 2 years, a week after giving the all clear on the third operation I got hit and ran over by a car, what luck! Fast forward another few years with a repaired ankle, shin, knee and a case of PTSD with my brain working what is normal for me, I've been reading about becoming a Liveaboard an getting real, and getting gone on a Sailboat, Sailing or at least reading and watching tons of hours on the yTube, learning knots, and having some refresher lessons is a huge part in overcoming the post effect of a small mental illness and also as an (ex) beach Lifeguard and Surfer the ocean has always been something I care for and attracted to.
So I thought i'd just do it and surprise my partner, use the money I have and become a liveaboard and learn to sail what I've potentially bought and start the dream otherwise we would never do it (is there ever a right time? (Probably after seeing the yacht, having a sea trial, survey and doing a RYA course would be better I know, ) but we have that yet to come.
So my questions for anyone here that could offer some advice are, can we just turn up and complete this transaction and start living on it without any formal qualifications if the boat is good or do I need to have it hauled out first? I am waiting on a reply to whether it is on the hard or on the slip currently but we know that we can take it over where it currently is.
I have worked on cruise ships, got my STCW95, I have been trained on a small commercial 38 seater vessel for a few weeks but left that position before I become 'qualified' but I do have motoring experience on a vessel, and done some dinghy sailing and my girlfriend has only been on a dinghy with me but loved it.
The boat is a Colvic Sailor 29.6 '85 that is apparently well maintained and looked after, is a safe heavy boat with an encapsulated long keel and lines are leading back to the cockpit. The sails are new in 2015 and has been wintered ashore every year. I've used some books that have aided me in finding a Yacht suitable and isn't too much for a first timer which I think I have done correctly. It isn't a massive amount of money, but we intend to learn to sail it, and head over to the Med sometime and maybe further but for now, one step at a time.
Any thoughts or advice welcome, we're all ears! Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong section:nonchalance: and wishing everyone a happy new year!