Strewth - what's happened here?

[BrendanS]

Strewth - what\'s happened here?

Been logging in as normal all day, and instead of struggling through the hundreds of latest posts, all has gone quiet. Surely you raggies can get yourselves organised and elect a ringleader (or all head over to the stinkpots forum where Jeremy is remodellling his rag and strings thing into a proper boat, to create huge wakes, burn loads of fuel, and give off clouds of coloured emissions)

OK, here's one to get you going. Strangely enough, quite genuine. If a stinkpotter has been harbouring secret longings to buy a raggie type vessel, lets say a 40' blue water cruiser, and his missus were to make a comment whilst wandering round SBS regarding selling up and sailing round the world, where would he start? Stinkpotter can navigate (properly, without GPS), has some very limited sailing experience, is currently doing a yachtmaster theory course.

How much sailing experience and other skills do you need before you actually head off transatlantic?

I've picked up a lot of knowledge on what to look for in way of boat, but do like the ferro concrete thread, would a ferro concrete vessel be a better bet than something like Steve101's Moody?

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

Very very little.. many have headed off into the big blue with less than (is it?) you have interms of experience and training.. it's ok I wont tell the other stinkies you're here sssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhh <looks around furtively> lol

 

[Twister_Ken]

Wallet question

All gone quiet? No, just pausing for breath!

How much you got to spend on the 40 footer then?

As for experience, spend the first year punting it around familiar waters in nice weather, then start the round-the-world the next year by creeeping along the European coast. By then you'll have some experience and some confidence. Get an RYA ticket if you like, but I really think nothing beats getting some miles under the keel. You learn something with every mile that passes - I know I do.

 

[alanporter]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

Myles and Beryl Smeeton bought a sailboat and taught themselves to sail it while crossing the Atlantic on the first leg of their round the world cruise. Go for it.

Alan Porter

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

I have a friend who built a Folkboat from plans, in Birkenhead Docks. No sailing experience whatsoever, I knew him through slalom canoeing. Equipped the boat, launched and sailed the Atlantic. Now building boats in Canada. That must be the ultimate extreme, I guess most of us would be a little more cautious than that.

 

[Iota]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

How deep is your pocket? We know a few stinkies who made the switch but they had deep pockets. They had no problem picking up the rag bit. Boats that seemed popular Halberg-Rassy42, Bowman 40, Vancover 38 pilot. All had own boat tuition over a week or so then a couple of seasons cruising La Rochelle - Cherbourg.

 

[tcm]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

I too harbour secret sailing off ambitions!...eventuallee.

Good site to have a look at regarding suitable boat and kit is www.Shantooti.co.uk

I do not believe that you need more than yachtmaster and am sure that you'll get away with a lot less! Praps our regulated world leads one to believe that there is some kit/test/certificate that will g'tee success - and there isn't. First round the worldies had no gps or charts nor clocks.

I would *partly* go for it. Financial stuff is the killer - don't sell a UK house if u possibly can avoid it. Ask for 3/6 months off from work unpaid. Bumble acros the channel. Bumble coasthoppingshly down towards med. Learn funny foreign ways, living aboard ways and see if you can stand it/her/each other whilst in the med. You'll know what to do from there. Just 6 months wd be ok as a grand adventure.

If you can sail in the channel, that's a known "challenging place" around the world. After all, with generally westerly wind the waves simply can't be bigger than those in a sw off falmouth. mind you, that can be quite big. But not proportionally bigger if u see what i mean.

The ferrro-conceret sounds a total nightmare. Avioid imho. Needs special help if things go wrong. Even getting blank looks in lymington so god help you anywhere else. GRP or steel or wood. Forget the wood. GRP or steel. Squllions of peeps use GRP.

I understand that the main main main thing is the length of the hull. Longer the better. Everthing else secondary.

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

Before i invest i would take SWMBO on a charter boat for a week on the South coast. Or kill 2 birds with one stone ( no pun intended) send her one of these all women comp crew courses. that way she gets four days on a boat and is learning at the same time.
i harbour thoughts of sailing off into yonder, but the missuses is a much greater challenge than the money

Beer! Now there's a temporary solution.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

S'okay, many conversions going on at moment. Mr Max already up for sale, Jeremy has accomplished a great deal now he's got rid of mast and keel, and even tcm acknowledging vague dreams of sailing!!

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Wallet question

Agreed, experience is everything, and yachtmaster is at present for my own amusement.

I guess my real question is, given that at the moment I don't really know how to sail, how long does it take on the water to really learn enough by practical experience to head off shore (assume pretty fast learner, level headed in emergencies - hang gliding, potholing type of sports when younger). Would you learn enough in one year sailing around GB and Europe to consider transatlantic type stuff, or is three years nearer the mark?

Re how much - difficult at this stage as still pipedream phase. Wouldn't sell house, but rent, so have to spend dosh on doing up, and keep cash reserve for ongoing maintenance and repairs. Then assume 5 years away, and living costs, repairs, replacement equipment, marinas etc - this is the bit I'm having difficulty getting a handle on, but I'll make some assumptions. so capital to spend on boat, hmm! Lets say 150 - 200k, to include all necessary equipment and fittings it doesn't come with as standard.

 

[Iota]

Re: Wallet question

2nd hand
HR39
Malo39
Bowman40
Vancover 38
Vancover 38 Pilot
Sweden Yachts 39
Najad391
HR42

 

[tome]

Re: Wallet question

With your previous experiences you'll be up to reasonable competence after a good season. Not meaning to patronise, but for the basics can't beat a good dinghy course to get you used to sailing and helming at different angles to the wind, maybe followed by a yacht practical course and then go for it! There isn't really a plateau as such, I can honestly say that I'm still learning lots after 25 years (which some may have learned much quicker).

I would happily sail my boat anywhere, although at 37ft some may consider her small for liveaboard. She's easily handled by self and wife and well within your budget, so assuming your not going much above 40ft I'd say you're looking good!

Go for it, perhaps even buy a s/h Mirror dinghy to have a play with whilst exploring options?

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Strewth - what\'s happened here?

You too! Blimey, it'll be a mad swap between raggies and stinkies soon!

Had a look at that site when it was first mentioned. Looks intruiging - wonder why it hasn't gone yet? maybe worth a call, but I'm a long way from actually doing anything yet.

Would def not sell house, but rent, with contingency funds for repairs etc and leave with letting agents who'll fleece me of 10-15%. Difficult bit is knowing how much to budget to survive on for 3 to 5 years - unexpected repairs, replacement equipment, marinas, back handers, etc, etc.

Foreign ways certainly not a problem, spent many years of my life travelling world with work, month or two at a time in different countries.

Biggest prob is SWMBO. Vague comments of interest at SBS re selling up and going. Gonna have to have really thought things through in detail before I gently broach subject and see how serious she was/is??

Thought ferro concrete might actually be repaired DIY, as many were built that way in first place. Certainly have to look into this more.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Wallet question

Yes, been looking at dinghy courses. There's a lake just 5 minutes away that has a sailing club. Not sure what sort of dinghies they have there, but I know that as well as courses,you can hire by hour, day etc.

Any idea where I can find out what a liveaboard couple would realistically spend per annum. That seems to be the most difficult bit to figure.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Wallet question

The HR, Malo, and Hajad makes I was already aware of. Not aware of the Vancover's - how do these compare?

Apart from blue water abilities, which of these are most 'liveable in' Could be a big factor in persuading SWMBO into taking to the idea. Difficult to judge without actually trying them out for a week or two.

 

[Jeremy_W]

Re: Wallet question

I'd go straight down to the local lake this weekend, try two hours' hire and see how much of what you knew about dinghy sailing is still there. The answer is probably an awful lot more than you thought.

 

[peterb]

Living costs

Try "Sell up and sail" By Bill and Laurel Cooper.

 

[Iota]

Re: Wallet question

Vancover are made by Northshore at Itchenor and are considered world girdling boats. Many Vancover have circumnavigated. They compare very favourably with HR Najad Malo. If you fancy a pilot house the Vancover 38 pilot is highly rated and I understand a number have crossed the oceans.

http://www.northshore.co.uk/

 

[Iota]

PS

All very liveable in. My running order would be

HR
Najad
Vancover 38 Pilot
Malo
Vancover 38

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Wallet question

Inlaws visiting this weekend (now maybe there was a subconcious reason why I've suddenly started taking sailing away seriously!), but we all went for walk round lake this morning (funny coincidence that) and got details of dinghy classes etc...however there was this safety boat there, nice rib, big outboard, and they are looking for more safety drivers! No, mustn't go there!