luckybeanz
Well-Known Member
Hi, I have been floating around these forums awhile and can tell that they are far more welcoming than the comparative one across the pond...
After living and travelling in a van for the last few years (http://luckybeanz.com/blog/) I have decided to take the next step and move onto a boat. After months of research I have come to the conclusion that my ideal boat would be a Southerly 115. As a surfer and windsurfer, I love the idea of the swing keel to access some more sheltered anchorages in places such as the South Pacific. Since I will be looking at it as a permanent liveaboard the interior layout is also very appealing.
I have found a very good priced Southerly in Europe but am currently located in South Africa and would need to travel to Europe to make the purchase. This is fine since starting my liveaboard life in the med seems like a good place, venturing to the UK and Ireland at some point then who knows. The boat appears to be well maintained and has spent much of its life on the hard. I do have a concern with the Keel maintenance as I don't know what has been done. I know the keel has been half painted but needs the top painted when it is in the lift and able to be dropped. My reading tells me that every 8 years new plastic spacers and special new kevlar pennants need to be replaced, can anyone elaborate on this?
Does anyone here have experience with Southerlies as liveaboards. Also for those who do liveaboard year round in the med, how does one handle this when it comes to visas? I am a UK and South African passport holder, though my reading tells me that one cannot stay more than 180 days in the Schengen states and since they are considered one country to do a visa run, one would need to travel to a non Schengen state. How do others handle this? There is the added complication of my girlfriend being from the USA and currently pregnant, due in Feb. This boat would be our home. My reading tells me that Portugal might actually be a good bet as the long stay visas seem more available.
What do people here thing of Southerly 115 as a first boat for a family of 3? She has a roller furling main which should make her a bit easier to single hand. I have my day skippers licence and have been trying to clock up miles with regular sailing as crew on an Endurance 37 in Cape Town, though this has been limited. I have also got a fair bit of dingy experience and am professional level windsurfer. So would like to spend sometime in the Med getting used to her before taking her further a field. As mentioned above this would be needed due to visa restrictions and I am wondering about the feasibility of buying the boat in the med and sailing around for a few months in the east before making way to the west and on to the UK.
Lots of questions I know and I am aware that there are many threads on these forums that cover some of these, I have read a lot of them and am trying to collect my thoughts here with the help of you experienced and friendly folk.
Happy sailing.
After living and travelling in a van for the last few years (http://luckybeanz.com/blog/) I have decided to take the next step and move onto a boat. After months of research I have come to the conclusion that my ideal boat would be a Southerly 115. As a surfer and windsurfer, I love the idea of the swing keel to access some more sheltered anchorages in places such as the South Pacific. Since I will be looking at it as a permanent liveaboard the interior layout is also very appealing.
I have found a very good priced Southerly in Europe but am currently located in South Africa and would need to travel to Europe to make the purchase. This is fine since starting my liveaboard life in the med seems like a good place, venturing to the UK and Ireland at some point then who knows. The boat appears to be well maintained and has spent much of its life on the hard. I do have a concern with the Keel maintenance as I don't know what has been done. I know the keel has been half painted but needs the top painted when it is in the lift and able to be dropped. My reading tells me that every 8 years new plastic spacers and special new kevlar pennants need to be replaced, can anyone elaborate on this?
Does anyone here have experience with Southerlies as liveaboards. Also for those who do liveaboard year round in the med, how does one handle this when it comes to visas? I am a UK and South African passport holder, though my reading tells me that one cannot stay more than 180 days in the Schengen states and since they are considered one country to do a visa run, one would need to travel to a non Schengen state. How do others handle this? There is the added complication of my girlfriend being from the USA and currently pregnant, due in Feb. This boat would be our home. My reading tells me that Portugal might actually be a good bet as the long stay visas seem more available.
What do people here thing of Southerly 115 as a first boat for a family of 3? She has a roller furling main which should make her a bit easier to single hand. I have my day skippers licence and have been trying to clock up miles with regular sailing as crew on an Endurance 37 in Cape Town, though this has been limited. I have also got a fair bit of dingy experience and am professional level windsurfer. So would like to spend sometime in the Med getting used to her before taking her further a field. As mentioned above this would be needed due to visa restrictions and I am wondering about the feasibility of buying the boat in the med and sailing around for a few months in the east before making way to the west and on to the UK.
Lots of questions I know and I am aware that there are many threads on these forums that cover some of these, I have read a lot of them and am trying to collect my thoughts here with the help of you experienced and friendly folk.
Happy sailing.
