What's your 5 top tips?

Thedreamoneday

Thedreamoneday

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I'm in the very early stages of sailing with the 'Dream one day' to live aboard and sail the
Mediterranean.

I'm keen to find out from the 'salty sailors' out there who are currently fulfilling their dreams, looking back on when you first set out, what are your 5 top tips you'd give to me the novice?


Thanks
 
1. Have a simple and robust boat with simple and robust systems.
2. Have enough money to live without working for the time you expect to be cruising.
3. Have an exit plan.
4. Have total confidence in your ground tackle.
5. Keep moving, cruise, and in particular don't fetch up on the mahogany reef.
 
With my time again, and time to plan, I'd want to have the following if possible:

Good anchor - Manson, Rocna, Spade.....
Generator - built in or portable, (Honda Eu20i)
A/C system
Water Maker
Selection of secure sea bunks plus comfortable double.
Good Bimini
Honda tender plus outboard - plus Salty Johns lifting gizmo.
Solar panels & wind generator
Good music and video/TV system
Mast steps
Plotter & Radar

More than 5, but there isn't a limit in real life.
 
1. Take half as many clothes as you think you will need - and twice as much money.

2. You are not going to lose all your 'problems', you will just generate different problems.

3. The thing most likely to kill you is contact with land - to avoid that buy the best ground tackle you can.

4. Don't drink alcohol to excess whilst on the water. I have lost count how many I know came to terminal grief on that one.

5. The strength of an army lies in its reserves; keep reserves - both material and psychological.
 
Don't 'camp' on the boat. If you like wine from a crystal glass take them on the boat.
Nothing beats a great anchor and plenty of scope for a peaceful nights sleep.
Take it easy, rushing from place to place is a common mistake in new cruisers. Take time to watch the clouds and smell the roses.
Revel in self-sufficiency. It's your key to long term satisfaction.
Keep it simple, less stuff to break means more time to enjoy.
 
a very wise Spanish friend told me 'If you take something out of the cupboard be sure to replace it,otherwise one day the cupboard will be bare'
he was mainly on about money
 
Gerry said:
Don't 'camp' on the boat. If you like wine from a crystal glass take them on the boat.
Nothing beats a great anchor and plenty of scope for a peaceful nights sleep.
Take it easy, rushing from place to place is a common mistake in new cruisers. Take time to watch the clouds and smell the roses.
Revel in self-sufficiency. It's your key to long term satisfaction.
Keep it simple, less stuff to break means more time to enjoy.
Click to expand...

Having been there, got the T shirt & hat. This is the most accurate so far :) Mind you he did forget the washing machine!!
 
True about the wine glass, I take wine a wine glass and a pint pot when I go camping with the lads each year, I take some stick for it but I know there is some envy when they are drinking from a plastic cup- it's the little things.

All mine and my wife's clothes will fit in a small bag- we do that now when we go abroad.

Taking time and not rushing- I like the sound of that!

Some great tips please keep them coming.
 
1. Decide if you are going because you want to sail or you want to live on board a boat in the Med - and do a bit of sailing.
2. The answer to No 1 determines how you kit out your boat. If you just want to sail keep it simple and use head torches - if you want a comfortable life spend time and money on extra kit and good power systems - AC and DC. Fit far more batteries and solar power than you ever think you'll need.
3. Eat out as little as possible to keep the budget low.
4. Take lots of spares and tools to fix everything yourself - don't rely on boatyards who will fix things that only last two weeks or 200 miles, so you are just too far away to go back and complain!
5. Don't believe this or any other postings that you see on these forums. There are lots of old wives tales and half truths that I'm sure you've read - which is probably why you have started this post anyway.
 
1, Don't wet shave and then jump into the sea because it bloody hurts!

2, When you and your partner are opening a locker make sure you know who is supposed to be holding it, that will bloody hurt.

3, If you have a top opening fridge that is held open by a spring, clean said spring once in a blue moon, because when that lid comes down on your head it bloody hurts.

4, To prepare yourself for life aboard take several long train journeys and walk the entire length of the train back and forth for the whole trip. When you have gained confidence repeat with scalding hot coffee in one hand and then slowly build up to 2 cups and no hands.

5, Remember if it doesn't bloody hurt you are not doing it right.
 
Learn how to look after your donk & it will look after you

Learn how to do your own weather forecasting.

Understand that you can make your liveaboard life as hard or easy as you want it to be.

Come to just accept other peoples whims & idiosyncrasies.

Read as many books as you can find so that you understand this lifestyle and see how you will adjust to it before committing yourself. If & when you do commit do so 100%.

If you have a partner make sure he/she has your same commitment.

Buy the heaviest & strongest gear you can afford & manage (remembering you will age !)

Do not make firm rigid plans that you expect to keep too.

Finally, its a great life so come & enjoy.
 
Last edited:
Decide from day 1 that you are going to berth stern-to. Set all the gear up before you leave and ensure it works.
Buy and install all your hot weather equipment, e.g. Bimini, awning, fly screens etc before you leave UK. Ensure it works.
Buy the best anchor you can afford, good chain and the best windlass you can afford. Ensure they work.
Install the best refrigerator you can, bearing in mind that Mediterranean temperatures are considerably higher than Uk ones. Ensure it works so far as possible.
Buy and install a self-sufficient electrical setup before you leave. Ensure it all works before leaving Uk.

The 'ensure it works' are because finding somebody in a foreign country to sort out problems is fraught with difficulty, expensive and frustrating.
 
vyv_cox said:
Decide from day 1 that you are going to berth stern-to. Set all the gear up before you leave and ensure it works.
Buy and install all your hot weather equipment, e.g. Bimini, awning, fly screens etc before you leave UK. Ensure it works.
Buy the best anchor you can afford, good chain and the best windlass you can afford. Ensure they work.
Install the best refrigerator you can, bearing in mind that Mediterranean temperatures are considerably higher than Uk ones. Ensure it works so far as possible.
Buy and install a self-sufficient electrical setup before you leave. Ensure it all works before leaving Uk.
Click to expand...

1) Don't buy a long keel then... you can't possibly stern to in mine IMHO as it wanders randomly and then does a 180 which never stops...
2) If you are leaving the UK of course. I quite like old blighty!
3) Totally agree - and lost n lots of chain
4) In blighty you can just put stuff outside and thaw it out again when you cook it? :o
5) Now, where on Earth is that 1Amp constant drain from the batteries going to... Hmph
 
Carmel2 said:
3, If you have a top opening fridge that is held open by a spring, clean said spring once in a blue moon, because when that lid comes down on your head it bloody hurts.
Click to expand...

Don't bother cleaning it, remove it and throw it very far away; those things are evil and exist solely to drop the generally heavy and sharp-edged lid onto your bonce or arm. That definitely hurts.
 
1. Sense of humor/the ridiculous.
2. Willing and keen partner.
3. You cannot have too big a battery bank.
4. Adequate funds.
5. Curiosity
 
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