Posted on Nov 5, 2016
How many are living life or taking extended stays on a boat?
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I have been giving great consideration to buying a trawler/yacht and spending extended time traveling. I'm retired at a young age and want to explore while I still can. Where I live in Tennessee, the lakes connect to the rivers, in turn connect to the gulf. Maybe even do the Great Loop one day. What training classes would you recommend? Or books? In the research phase now but looks promising.
Boating
Retirement
Disabled Veterans
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 21
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Charter.
The two greatest days of a sailor's life are the day he buys his beautiful boat and the day he sells the damn thing.
I worked in a yacht factory and also owned several smaller boats. Several friends and coworkers lived aboard. Some folks have written books and websites detailing their day to day challenges and rewards.
Boats are projects. Constant maintenance and repair. You can't leave them sit. Only some ports are well equipped for giving you an enjoyable day ashore between moorings.
Of course, begin with the Coast Guard Auxiliary's safe boating courses. Practice on rentals. When you're competent, you can take charter a captain and a boat and learn from the masters. After a year or so of skippering other people's boats, you'll know exactly what you want to invest your mortgage money into.
The two greatest days of a sailor's life are the day he buys his beautiful boat and the day he sells the damn thing.
I worked in a yacht factory and also owned several smaller boats. Several friends and coworkers lived aboard. Some folks have written books and websites detailing their day to day challenges and rewards.
Boats are projects. Constant maintenance and repair. You can't leave them sit. Only some ports are well equipped for giving you an enjoyable day ashore between moorings.
Of course, begin with the Coast Guard Auxiliary's safe boating courses. Practice on rentals. When you're competent, you can take charter a captain and a boat and learn from the masters. After a year or so of skippering other people's boats, you'll know exactly what you want to invest your mortgage money into.
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MSgt Scott Azbell
Thanks. I have researched a lot of sites and your advice is spot on. One of my biggest worries is pulling the trigger on a boat before I fully understand what I need.
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MSG (Join to see)
Capt Michael Greene Re the buying and selling thing, I've heard that but it still calls to me. I'd hate to have to learn the hard way but I guess sometime down the line that will be my destiny.
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LTC Marc King
Well Captain Green after all this time I knew there was something that we could find to agree on. I have been a boat owner for almost my entire life... the military moving made it tough from time to time but boating on Puget Sound was terrific. Now its the Chesapeake Bay and extended summer cursing has become a passion fulfilled. That said you hit the nail on the head. In addition to all of the excellent insights and advice I would add that there is a $25K annual logistics tail, assuming nothing major happens like a blown diesel engine, associated with the hobby. Something to consider if your living on a fixed income. Other than that I say... anchors away!
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I lived on a sailboat in Marina del Rey(west of Los Angeles) for a year. It was like returning to the womb at a time in my life that was the pits. (It was a 23' sloop) It served me well. As for skills, I had been sailing since I was 13. Earned my Coast Guard license to operate small passenger vessels when I was 18. It can be pretty claustrophobic unless you can afford something really large (40' or more)
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MSgt Scott Azbell
I'm looking in the 40' range. Small places do not appeal to me very well. In short bursts it's ok, but not for extended time. I may just go down to Florida and do their Coast Guard training. Need to look more into it.
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I highly recommend you taking a shot at this. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. Cruisers Forum is a great place to have your questions answered. I purchased a 36' Sailboat last year and sailed her from Pensacola to Corpus Christi with an experienced crewman. She is now residing there while we do some maintenance, upgrades and learn to sail better. We hope to leave in Nov 2017 for a life changing cruise around the world.
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SSgt Chuck Pittman
I have a little website, still figuring it out, that shows the boat and a little history. Www.theollengroup.com check it out and let me know what you think. SGM Joe M. -
S/V Solar Blue | 50 and Shoving off on a Cape Dory 36
Sailing across Corpus Christi Bay on a beautiful day, we figured it was time to start heading back in. Winds were at 15 – 23 knots, which is pretty normal for this area. We gybed the boat, moved the staysail and jib from one side to another but didn’t pay attention to the main sail. I think I assumed it would just move from one side to the other…..and it did. As the car and traveler hit the end of the track, it kept going. Continue reading...
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MSgt Scott Azbell
That's awesome Chuck. I really do want to do this while I'm still young. It will be s couple years to get my ducks in a row but laying the ground work now. Good luck to your adventures.
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SSgt Chuck Pittman
Buying a boat is like standing at the edge of the Hell Hole, all the research, training and planning will take you only so far. At some point you just gotta jump. You're never the same afterwards.
Take your time, look around, plan and then jump.
This time next year we should be heading back to Florida and then out on the open ocean. We'll be broke, but we'll be broke in Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Dominica, Galapagos, Raritan and numerous atolls.
Take your time, look around, plan and then jump.
This time next year we should be heading back to Florida and then out on the open ocean. We'll be broke, but we'll be broke in Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Dominica, Galapagos, Raritan and numerous atolls.
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Amazing turn of events over the past couple months. I am now dating a woman with a 43' Hyatt aft cabin yacht and things are going great! We met on Match.com (40, never married, and no kids). She has managed the boat well but needs a mechanically inclined helping hand. That's me. ;) The ladies, twin turbocharged Cummins diesels, need constant TLC. We both want to get our Captains licence next fall. I'm considering diesel mechanics school as well. A great friend of mine and former sailor sent me a Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 67th Edition that is chock full of information and few other great books read. If things continue well, we plan on upgrading to a larger boat and enjoy each others company. Wish me luck!
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Also, consider this. My first big boat was a 36 foot ocean capable sailboat. Two years later went cruising. The best time was 6 years of no docks, no marinas, no car, no phone, no internet. Learning is easy if you have the aptitude for it. My son is 40 and has little memory of ever living on land. Has never owned a car or got a DL. But is probably one of the best real mariners I know. Living on the hook in out of the way places has incredible rewards if you like the life. Living attached to docks for many of us is boring as all get out and a necessary evil only when a good anchorage isn't available.
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Been living aboard around 30 years. Wife and I will never voluntarily live on land again! You can explore the US for years there is so much to see. The Bahama's are also very good. In a year or so we will be headed half way around the world. Piece of advice, never buy without a good survey. Never set your heart on a boat before the survey. Never buy the biggest boat you can afford. The happiest cruisers usually have the smallest, simplest boat the can stand. Learn to fix as much as you can because it all breaks down eventually.
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MSgt Scott Azbell
SSgt Eric Lamoray - I'm considering boat surveying. My gal says that I would be good at it. I just want to get a year under my belt I think. She says the market is ripe for the picking.
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SSgt Eric Lamoray
MSgt Scott Azbell - I did surveying work for a while. It's a world where when you finish the job oftentimes someone is going to be mad. Keep that in mind! Either buyer, seller, broker, insured, insurance company etc. I've been screamed at, threatened, cussed out, called the proverbial village idiot etc. You will also have to occasionally deal with lawyers as well. All because I knew what I was looking at, provided rock solid documentation and proof of it and called a piece of junk a, well, piece of junk.
It takes considerable general marine knowledge and you also have to play some politics at times. Then you will need a certification and membership from one of the two agencies who have managed to convince the marine insurance agency that without their stamp of approval you don't know what you're doing. There's politics involved with them which really soured me. You will also have to work under one of their approved people for a length of time to get their stamp of approval. It will also require membership in a few professional organizations to keep current on all the regulations, changes and engineering requirements. Also pays to be comfortable with wading through CFR's (Combined Federal Regulations) and ABYC regs.
You will have to know fiberglass (solid and cored), steel, aluminum and wood construction and repair basics at a minimum. Pays to have a bit of welding inspection ability. Have a solid basis in marine electrical and electrolysis systems (this is much bigger than you imagine and many quite frankly don't understand it) as well as plumbing and some basics in hydraulics. I was also certified in ultrasonic thickness inspection of metals and the operation of a few brands of moisture meters. Sailboat rigging basics and knowing when to bring in a full on rigger. It will also help to have a good web of experts you know for when you need extra advice. Some people tend to just do commercial and fishing boats and others yachts. They are rather different worlds.
Now as for marine mechanics, a good mechanic rarely is hurting for work. Factory certs are a big plus. Having a Captains ticket is OK if you are going to earn a living with it. Otherwise it's a lot to keep up with to stay current.
As for size think hard! Every five feet of length you go up will surprise you at the cost increases of everything from dockage, haulouts and insurance to anchors, chain, line bottom paint and fenders. They burn more fuel, take more maintenance and care. Always weigh that out realistically before you jump in! I'm running a 114'er through a rebuilding/repurposing job right now and it can really make you with for the days of something around 35' again some days.
Good luck!
It takes considerable general marine knowledge and you also have to play some politics at times. Then you will need a certification and membership from one of the two agencies who have managed to convince the marine insurance agency that without their stamp of approval you don't know what you're doing. There's politics involved with them which really soured me. You will also have to work under one of their approved people for a length of time to get their stamp of approval. It will also require membership in a few professional organizations to keep current on all the regulations, changes and engineering requirements. Also pays to be comfortable with wading through CFR's (Combined Federal Regulations) and ABYC regs.
You will have to know fiberglass (solid and cored), steel, aluminum and wood construction and repair basics at a minimum. Pays to have a bit of welding inspection ability. Have a solid basis in marine electrical and electrolysis systems (this is much bigger than you imagine and many quite frankly don't understand it) as well as plumbing and some basics in hydraulics. I was also certified in ultrasonic thickness inspection of metals and the operation of a few brands of moisture meters. Sailboat rigging basics and knowing when to bring in a full on rigger. It will also help to have a good web of experts you know for when you need extra advice. Some people tend to just do commercial and fishing boats and others yachts. They are rather different worlds.
Now as for marine mechanics, a good mechanic rarely is hurting for work. Factory certs are a big plus. Having a Captains ticket is OK if you are going to earn a living with it. Otherwise it's a lot to keep up with to stay current.
As for size think hard! Every five feet of length you go up will surprise you at the cost increases of everything from dockage, haulouts and insurance to anchors, chain, line bottom paint and fenders. They burn more fuel, take more maintenance and care. Always weigh that out realistically before you jump in! I'm running a 114'er through a rebuilding/repurposing job right now and it can really make you with for the days of something around 35' again some days.
Good luck!
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SSgt Eric Lamoray
The current project and home. Our blog is here: http://islandmissionsupport.blogspot.com/
For charitable support of Christian missionary endeavors, Christian humanitarian and disaster relief support in the South Pacific and Asian island regions. This support will primarily be by providing maritime transport resources.
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This is exactly how I would love to spend my retirement if I have the necessary funds to do it. Take some Coast Guard Auxiliary boating and navigation courses. The sea is very unforgiving of mistakes. Have your wife take them too. She needs to be able to take over should you become incapacitated. You'll also want her to be able to maneuver the boat to recover your ass if you fall overboard. Good luck.
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It's long been a dream of mine to retire on a large lake system, ideally with riverway connections to the Mississippi. And, yes, the Great Loop factors into this as well (http://www.greatloop.org/). Having said that, though, heed what the other guys are saying about boats being a full time job and the maintenance never stops. I'm 51 and getting closer to retirement - I think I'd be a lot happier living on a large lake and having something to spend time on the water vs. sinking (ha ha!) all of my money into a nice live aboard. While the call of the wild is calling, I'm thinking that I'm gonna have something like a nice pontoon boat where I can go get out on the water, fish, swim, read, drink, whatever. And while I'll probably have days where the wanderlust kicks in, I won't be in my sinking/stuck/broken home somewhere far from home. I try to deal with the wanderlust by seeing the country on two wheels. And when I'm home, go relax on my boat. If there's a problem, I won't have to go far for help and I also won't have to spend a huge number fixing my boat and getting home. I ramble a bit, I know. But your post sounded like it could have been written by me. :)
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MSgt Scott Azbell
I'm 43 and hoping to get my boat by 45. I am retired but just waiting for few debts to be squared away in a year. I think at first I'll hang around the lakes for a couple years but would eventually get the balls to go to the keys and Bahamas. The loop would be a great journey after I'm well traveled. It's good to hear from people with like dreams. Cheers
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SSG Daniel Brewster
This would be a cool spot to visit on a boot. But I'd need a lot more money to have the kind of boat that would make it there and back.. :)
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SSgt Eric Lamoray
For the Keys, the Bahamas, the loop and the Caribbean you can buy a solid smaller boat, live simply and really enjoy it for far less than you imagine. Been doing it for 30 years now. My son has never known anything else and his full annual living and cruising budget is less than what most people think they need for maintenance simply because he has a simple boat and can fix everything himself. Don't listen to magazines and internet hype. It can be very misleading.
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SSgt Chuck Pittman
Listen to the ones actually doing it or have done it. Every one else is playing armchair quarterback.....sailor.
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I suggest getting out and doing it. Study and read. Get a Coast Guard License. If your life partner can get into it, so much better. If not, it may ruin your relationship.
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I have made my living in the recreational Marine industry for just shy of 30 years now ( Jack of All Trades, Master of 100 Ton ).
The best advice I can give is to simply get out there and go boating, and the best way I've found of doing that is by joining a local boat club.
I work for a local Carefree Oak Club here in Tidewater Virginia, and I've found it's probably the best approach. It's cheaper than owning and maintaining a boat yourself, it provides free instruction, and it allows you to try a variety of boats to learn your tastes and preferences.
There's also Freedom Boat Club a similar operation and I'm sure there are similar other clubs in your area. What books and learning the subject are valuable nothing beats time behind the wheel.
The best advice I can give is to simply get out there and go boating, and the best way I've found of doing that is by joining a local boat club.
I work for a local Carefree Oak Club here in Tidewater Virginia, and I've found it's probably the best approach. It's cheaper than owning and maintaining a boat yourself, it provides free instruction, and it allows you to try a variety of boats to learn your tastes and preferences.
There's also Freedom Boat Club a similar operation and I'm sure there are similar other clubs in your area. What books and learning the subject are valuable nothing beats time behind the wheel.
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