Starting out

There is nothing wrong with the plan per se ( and don’t worry about the size of boat whilst you do need to know what you are doing a big boat is no different to a smaller one after a few hours) but do make sure it is what you want.

Moving from work to no work / social interaction is a big deal and drifting around on a boat sounds idilic but the boat marketing image and reality are different. More toilet troubles than tuxedo in the casino.

I “ retired” early and used to spend single periods on board of 6-8 weeks. Frankly towards the end I could not wait to come home as whilst lovely 8 weeks of wake / swim / move / eat / sundowners / eventually looses its appeal and the local pub and a bed that does not move become highly attractive. Speaking personally I also have business interests to manage and whilst not impossible funding 5 years of boat / winter roaming without some sort of income generation would be tricky and some “work” is inevitable.

Buy a boat now. Spend time on it. If you like it great. If not there is time for plan b
 
If I can add to ^^^ ,
Life’s pressures mean you get called away , the max stint on board I have had is 4 weeks in between some event or other .
The internet obviously helps run business long range but there’s an inevitability of face to faces and travel *and basically you need to keep the goose or geese that are laying the golden eggs alive .

* Travel you will need to via sky scanner etc keep an eye on that , distance from airports etc .
 
Thanks all some very interesting replies.

Another option I have been considering is buying a small apartment for say £100k and spending the other £50k on a smaller boat for day trips. The only problem with that is it would tie us down to a much smaller area and we would then end up with twice the costs but might work for us. A lot to think about.

Our other options are travel full circle over 2-3 years. Full time motorhome round Europe with some long haul mixed in. Buy a house in the far east.
 
The answer is personal and if you like being on a boat or not

Apartment you can rent when you don’t want to use it - chartering put a boat is a pain and will make little money for the hassle.

This forum is good on boats but life choices are more personal.

Remember boats relative to other assets like cars are relatively slow to sell but if it is your dream and u can afford it buy one and see. That is how we all started. Just buy big enough for your needs - upgrading is slow and expensive
 
Kyle Reese said:
Thanks all some very interesting replies.

Another option I have been considering is buying a small apartment for say £100k and spending the other £50k on a smaller boat for day trips. The only problem with that is it would tie us down to a much smaller area and we would then end up with twice the costs but might work for us. A lot to think about.

Our other options are travel full circle over 2-3 years. Full time motorhome round Europe with some long haul mixed in. Buy a house in the far east.
Click to expand...

You need to do your research thoroughly before buying a house. I'm told that the buying costs in Spain for example are nearer 20% than 10% and of course when you want to sell it you'll have additional costs and potentially a long wait.

Why not motorhome around the Med in the Summer, perhaps with a Rib or similar on tow if you want to be on the water and take a long term let somewhere warm in the winter? for me that would be maximum freedom and minimum hassle.
 
petem said:
You need to do your research thoroughly before buying a house. I'm told that the buying costs in Spain for example are nearer 20% than 10% and of course when you want to sell it you'll have additional costs and potentially a long wait.

Why not motorhome around the Med in the Summer, perhaps with a Rib or similar on tow if you want to be on the water and take a long term let somewhere warm in the winter? for me that would be maximum freedom and minimum hassle.
Click to expand...

Why Spain ?
Choose somewhere without the hassle described ^^^
And boaty .
You can overnight on small boats too . Lots do .
 
Hi all.

Just some info that might help others in the future I found a youtube channel called Nick OKelly.

Here is one of his videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc1a4tgAors

A lot of very good info, its USA orientated but I guess a lot of it carries over. A lot of real world stories which are great. Some of the videos are quite long but worth a watch.
 
I would have thought chartering although costly would be a good thing to do to acquaint yourselves with the reality of motorboating before spending cash also will help in understanding comments of fellow yachtsmen
 
PlanB said:
I don't agree. We bought a Princess 435 as our retirement project. No previous experience and it was our first boat and so we had to have instruction from Day 1. We did our Day Skipper practical on our own boat, and then followed that up by months and months of boat handling practice in and around the marina, often with an experienced pal with us for confidence. Driving a 13m boat on twin shafts is quite logical, but with the air draft and a breeze there is a lot that can go wrong quite quickly and you do need to get some experience early on. I cannot emphasise enough the need for knowledge, research and experience if you are going to sea.
We spent three years preparing for our Med trip, delaying by a year at one point as we felt we were not ready. When we set off, it was our retirement trip so we took a whole summer, stopping wherevever we wanted and not moving if we were not happy with the weather or sea state. An experienced and confident skipper could do it in a couple of weeks, but it wouldn’t be much fun, in my view.
We then lived happily aboard in Spain for 12 years.
Portofino's post above has a lot of very valid info.
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The fact that you had to have instruction and needed months and months of practice nd three years of preparation backs up my point that 45ft is enormous for a first boat.
Most people start smaller and build experience. Upgrading to a bigger boat then becomes an easier process in terms of boat handling.
 
I think a charter is something we would consider before we purchase or fully commit to this idea as I am sure the reality is different to what we think it is, as with most things. I am not really concerned about my own comfort as I am used to roughing it but the wife is defo more used to her home comforts.

Boat handling, I think I will be ok but I would certainly be realistic and expect some indoc.
 
MartynG said:
The fact that you had to have instruction and needed months and months of practice nd three years of preparation backs up my point that 45ft is enormous for a first boat.
Most people start smaller and build experience. Upgrading to a bigger boat then becomes an easier process in terms of boat handling.
Click to expand...


I sort of agree and sort of don't.

I went 33 / 40 / 65

The 65 I was frankly terrified of, but after probably less than an hour you realise there is no practical difference. Indeed with bow and stern thrusters on shafts the think is simpler to park.

You need instruction on anything ( in my view) but the size of the thing is simply what you are used to. To competently use a boat ( even in the med with no tides) regardless of size you need to be able to enter and leave a marina, navigate safely, anchor up, know your emergency drills and none of those have much relevance to boat size.

What you do need to be is ahead of the boat, especially in close quarters manoeuvring. I used to fly and someone who is behind the plane stands out a mile. I flew with many people and if they were ahead or behind it usually was down to their attitude to flying, not their flying experience. Are the two completely disconnected - no of course not, but I would not put anyone off getting the boat they want.
 
jrudge said:
I sort of agree and sort of don't.

I went 33 / 40 / 65

The 65 I was frankly terrified of, but after probably less than an hour you realise there is no practical difference. Indeed with bow and stern thrusters on shafts the think is simpler to park.

You need instruction on anything ( in my view) but the size of the thing is simply what you are used to. To competently use a boat ( even in the med with no tides) regardless of size you need to be able to enter and leave a marina, navigate safely, anchor up, know your emergency drills and none of those have much relevance to boat size.

What you do need to be is ahead of the boat, especially in close quarters manoeuvring. I used to fly and someone who is behind the plane stands out a mile. I flew with many people and if they were ahead or behind it usually was down to their attitude to flying, not their flying experience. Are the two completely disconnected - no of course not, but I would not put anyone off getting the boat they want.
Click to expand...

Agree with all that.

Have taught in all sorts of boats from 17ft fletchers to squaddies.....much of it is about developing a “feel” (or being in front of the boat as you put it)and an understanding of the forces acting on the boat at a particular moment before parking it. Bigger boats often give you more reaction time depending on the forces involved.

The main difference with a large boat when starting out is the need to have others onboard who know what to do. I have been saved from a messy docking by experienced crew....often! If this is going to be family....have them do the training with you. Much easier for the instructor to tell your wife/husband/ teenager they are doing something wrong in my experience:):):)

The most difficult boat I ever taught on for mooring was a Formula 242. Combination of it getting blown around for fun and gas happy student. Got it sorted in the end and it highlights....small doesn’t always mean easier.

BTW....make sure you learn how to moor without thrusts first. See them as a nice to have...not must have.
 
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