THE CRUISING BUG HAS BITTEN DEEP, But how? I need help.

[drewstwos]

Hi All

I have been an envious lurker on this Forum for a long time but now the time has come to see if it is possible for us, that is SWMBO and me to live the dream for a couple of years. We are not young bloods, I am well retired and SWMBO is about to retire a tad more early than really necessary. But if we wait much longer we will probably lose the will to do it.

I have been a boater all my life with some unfortunate lengthy times away from the sea, so I may say I have a vast amount of practical experience under my belt.
OK and so to the plan. Our plan would be to buy ''The Boat'' early spring next year that is 2014 not this year.. and then 'cruise'

As we live on the Isle of Man our cruising ground would be from the Western Isles to the Channel Islands. We are not yachties and at our age we like to turn the key and go. It is a given that the boat must have most of the creature comforts.

So how is it done? I see so many posts about the way the ones who liveaboard in the Mad just wander from place to place, and many of the liveaboards in theUK seem to be more static.

Is it now possible to visit places to just anchor and go ashore in the dinghy,, or possibly a visitor mooring buoy. Is there a list of very secure safe anchorages. I have Googled this and not found any really definitive answers as yet. Being somewhat careful with money I do not wish to just go along side anywhere and be faced with horrendous parking charges. Especially if the weather plays nasty and it stops you from moving on. My only real reason for going alongside would be to refuel. The boat would have to be a twin engine diesel shaft drive flybridge something. I am already looking for ''The One''
Another reason for anchoring rather than going alongside is that we would perforce be shorthanded. I have been on other peeps boats and they have just called up the harbour master and asked for someone to take the warps etc. Is this common practice?

I should say that my past cruising adventures were many years ago when you just went somewhere and arrived and life was easy..no marinas . I started without radio. Nor any Navaid except compass, charts and a set of Parallel Rulers. And a log that you towed behind to give you a rough idea of the mileage done. I did later invest in a depth gauge which was just a green screen with a flickering line giving a reading that you always took to be more or mainly less accurate than the actual depth. However, that said, I have moved into the 20th Century and used all the modern stuff so that is not a problem ie Chart Plotters, radar, auto pilot et al......

One of my passions is making videos and writing stories. So one of the hopes is to make a travelogue and Blog of the cruises.. maybe I could be of some help to those who come later into cruising, apart from a good read... (He said )

And so fellow forumites, can you please give me some pointers as I wish to spend a lot of time doing all the researching and planning necessary to accomplish this venture in both comfort and safety.

Regards

drewstwos.

 

[PlanB]

A few quick thoughts.
A twin shaft flybridge should indeed be comfortable to live on.
You´ve obviously already given some thought to fuel costs.
Anchoring may be something else altogether, as the hull shape means that most motor boats wallow like pigs when at rest and not tied up.
Mooring unaided when you are two up, in marinas on pontoons, alongside or stern to, is not a major drama. Just make you get plenty of practice in calm conditions early on.
We came late to boat ownership and managed to get as far as the Med without disaster due largely, we think, to loads of planning and practice.
Feel free to pm me with specific questions.

 

[ripvan1]

i think one of the great things about cruising is exploring at leisure different locations - going off for a day while boat anchored used to worry the krap out of me to the extent that i changed to marina or harbour berthing and asking about vacant buoys - if you want to explore a bit then you may want to reconsider only coming alongside for fuel - good luck and keep reading up on places you may visit

 

[Ludd]

Buy Reed's Almanac for info and a couple of cruising guides for the west coast----Clyde Cruising Club and the Irish equivalent for your area.
Looking at modern flybridge boats ,I wouldn't think they are the best of vesels for coming alongside shorthanded--- windage,difficulty of getting from the helm to the deck quickly,and the (apparently )curved decks with very little useable flat sidedeck. I'd be looking at a displacement twin diesel, for economy and ease of handling,as well as being more comfortable at anchor.

 

[TQA]

What about the French canals?

Consider the air draft of your purrchase?

 

[clyst]

one statement says you say you are careful with money then you plan to get a twin screw powerboat . I think the fuel costs alone will prevent you from being "careful" with expenses as a live aboard.

 

[Sandyman]

Not wishing to stunt your enthusiasm but I believe you need to completely rethink your plans.
Living the 'dream' on a mobo in the cruising grounds you're thinking of and living at anchor or on buoys is just not practical. Fine for the odd few weeks cruise but not more than that especially if your short on spondolies or a penny pincher not wishing to pay marina fees.
Take your chosen cruising grounds.....................have you seen or studied the weather
in these areas over the past few seasons ? This alone should make you re-think your intentions.
Suggest you forget a mobo and look at a solid long keel motor-sailor with plenty of room & comforts.

 

[ripvan1]

All what sandyman said + head south

 

[Sybarite]

All what sandyman said + head south

+1. A long keel motor sailor with a bow thruster should give you the same manouvrability as twin engines.

May I suggest you look at s/h Amel Sharki (39') or Santorin (46').

Advantages :

Top quality construction.
All manouvres are power assisted, no physical strength required.
Power assistance is electrical and not hydraulic - easier to service.
Weather protection in the cockpit.
Very good support network.
No exterior wood to minimize maintenance.
Simple solutions eg transparent tube with float to see fuel and water levels.
Unsinkable : water tight bulkheads.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/category/type/Amel/Sharki
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1991/AMEL-Santorin-2013849/Martinique-(FR)

 

[drewstwos]

A big thank you all

Hi

Many thanks fo all your help and suggestions. It gives me more avenues to research as time is not of the essence. Still a very long way to go, but that's the nearly fun part.

D

 

[TQA]

+1. A long keel motor sailor with a bow thruster should give you the same manouvrability as twin engines.

May I suggest you look at s/h Amel Sharki (39') or Santorin (46').


http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/category/type/Amel/Sharki
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1991/AMEL-Santorin-2013849/Martinique-(FR)

Henri Amel will be spinning in his grave to hear that his designs are thought of as motor sailors by some.

Fisher 37 = Motor sailor yes

 

[V1701]

How about a Nauticat, comfortable & practical, very good build quality - here's a 44 for just under £100k, or maybe a 38 or even a 33, something with a sensible diesel engine with a prop on a shaft, I would forget twin high powered engines & outdrives. More for sale here. Another suggestion, a Finnsailer - motorsailer again, there's a couple of 35s & a 38 for sale in UK at the moment, 35s at £25k, 38 looks good value at just over £30k on Boatshed...