Boys (and probably a few girls)....I think the sea is calling me

[Matt300ZXT]

Yes, sailing is much more challenging than one might think. I used to live a very adventurous life. Been in some really hairy situations. But, one day, me (14 at the time) and 2 friends, took a 45 foot sailboat we “borrowed,” from the yacht club and took it out the golden gate. We all had a lot of experience sailing. As we went under the golden gate, the ocean became absolutely diabolical. It went from a sunny, lightly windy day, to winds gusting to 75 mph and 25 foot waves, and a wall of fog so thick, visibility was maybe 10 or 15 feet. My friend, who was going to Olympic trials for sailing, had a look on his face that indicated we were in mortal danger. The next few hours were spent fighting for our lives existing solely on adrenaline at that point. We were soaked and frozen, pure misery. The ocean is very cold in Northern California. If we were novices, we would have 100% died. If you are taking to the ocean, you better know EXACTLY what you are doing. You NEVER know what the ocean will do. Even if you have a yacht with a decent engine, you need to know the ocean. Things can turn in a second out there.

I suppose you could be a shore cruiser. Always stay super close to shore so if you have to abandon ship you might be able to swim in. As far as crossing an ocean, the greatest heights of madness.

One time I got wasted in France, met a girl, went down to the docks and hooked up in a row boat. She took the oars out to make room. Well, we passed out, and when I woke the next morning, we had drifted so far out I could barely see land. This was a slightly alarming development that turned into two days of dehydration and pure hell. Beware of large bodies of water.

That's a crazy story! No ocean crossing for me, I just wanna go down the coast line and island hop and live not toooooo far from land so I can hop in for supplies, but also be able to go out by myself and just anchor down for a while near an island but still be away from everyone.

 

[rsm]

He's in Maine, the wood boat capital. I'm sure he could get lessons or even just network and find someone willing to show him the ropes. Basic sailing isn't that difficult but bluewater sailing is a little more than a noob should bite off. You are actually safer further out in a lot of situations than if you are coastal cruising where you could get blown onshore and I ain't talking about a girlfriend at the marina....

@Matt300ZXT just don't buy a wood hulled boat. Most places won't rent a slip to a wooden boat unless you are carrying millionaire level insurance policies. Fiberglass all the way. And if you don't get suckered into teak decks and lots of woodwork you'll have less time spent sanding and varnishing. The plastic fantastics are a lot less maintenance.

people with larger boats often look for crew to help sail; good way to practice and learn, but I'd at least take the first ASA sailing class.

find a small sailboat with jib and mainsail, to learn and practice on; we have a small bay here that I go to practice; the only downside are the currents when the tide comes in or goes out, and the ever-present oyster beds that are closer than they look.

I often sail out with the tides, and chill on a sand bar until the tide comes back in, and ride it in; or practice figure-8 patterns in both directions to practice jibing and tacking, and dealing with wind direction until you can do it without thinking...imagine being undersail on the open ocean on a cloudy moonless night - nothing is darker - you need to know what to do without thinking too long

 

[VonBonfire]

That's a crazy story! No ocean crossing for me, I just wanna go down the coast line and island hop and live not toooooo far from land so I can hop in for supplies, but also be able to go out by myself and just anchor down for a while near an island but still be away from everyone.

Man you need to get to the gulf coast of Florida my man if this is your dream. Great weather, many sand bars and islands and mostly waters at a light chop. Plenty of waterfront bars and marinas to get supplies/fuel/drinks/etc. You can anchor out at the buoys at St. Pete Beach and row in and publix is right across the street. Gotta learn to read those seas though because every afternoon you get slammed with squalls for 15 minutes.

 

[rsm]

Beam costs money to park. A cat or trimaran has more initial stability and basically no reserve stability so once you go over, it's over. The Lagoon 380 looks pretty sweet though. I've always liked the Island Packet monohulls. Made in St. Pete Florida. Slow, but tough full keel boats with a lot of space inside for the size.

Fountaine Pajot and Jaguar are two brands I like for cats; yes the marina fees, and reefing, maintenance, etc. is why I'll likely get a trailerable trimaran, I like the Corsair and Dragonfly trimarans, they can fold the amas so you can fit into a monohull slip

 

[JackBootedThug]

Bangor

He’s not to far away. I think he saw Pantera there awhile back.

 

[rsm]

This guy's channel is interesting. he sails small boats across oceans.


here's one on a 16' hobie cat from Miami to the Bahamas, not far but it's open ocean, 85 miles, and they left at night in the dark:

 

[VonBonfire]

Fountaine Pajot and Jaguar are two brands I like for cats; yes the marina fees, and reefing, maintenance, etc. is why I'll likely get a trailerable trimaran, I like the Corsair and Dragonfly trimarans, they can fold the amas so you can fit into a monohull slip

My buddiy's dad bought a 30 foot Irwin and has it on Leech Lake. I always thought the trailer was a smart part of his purchase cause he can basically have it hauled anywhere he wants to go and park it at his place during winter for servicing at home. He wound up with one of those sail maker sewing machines to do the recovering on cushions and new bimini top. Basically paid for itself.

 

[VonBonfire]

This guy's channel is interesting. he sails small boats across oceans.


here's one on a 16' hobie cat from Miami to the Bahamas, not far but it's open ocean, 85 miles, and they left at night in the dark:

Yeah he's got a great channel. Sailing Tritea is another good cruising channel. He's been everywhere. Cost him his wife though....

 

[rsm]

My buddiy's dad bought a 30 foot Irwin and has it on Leech Lake. I always thought the trailer was a smart part of his purchase cause he can basically have it hauled anywhere he wants to go and park it at his place during winter for servicing at home. He wound up with one of those sail maker sewing machines to do the recovering on cushions and new bimini top. Basically paid for itself.

Nice; same idea, I can park it in the yard and work on it if needed; and boats always need something.

For a cat to make sense for me it would have to be old, small, and inexpensive or I'd have to go all in, sell almost everything including my house and live on it; I'd have to find a marina that allows liveaboards, and provides an address for taxes, and other requirements of life in an eroding Constitutional republic. Going all in on a cat isn't cheap, like the Xquisite X5 Plus I posted. That's a floating apartment.

 

[rsm]

Cost him his wife though....

mine already left years ago, that's why I can sail; it was a childhood dream to sail and live on a boat that I put aside for decades; and now it's only a few years away if my health and finances keep going well

 

[Bad Brain]

@Floyd Eye where’d you learn to sail, aren’t you an Okie?

 

[Floyd Eye]

@Floyd Eye where’d you learn to sail, aren’t you an Okie?

Jesus no. I have a bunch of kin in Talequah and Muskogee ( Cherokee) but I never lived there. And I don't know how to sail. In fact I don't like being in any body of water deeper than 50'. Not even particularly happy flying over it.

 

[311boogieman]

Good luck either way, but yeah, I'd find a new friend or buddy or a bored old man to show you the ropes. Getting a job at a marina is a good place to start.

 

[JackBootedThug]

the ocean is scary bro. rogue waves and jaws...fuck that...

 

[Thumbpicker]

the ocean is scary bro. rogue waves and jaws...fuck that...

Y’know, the thing about a shark, he’s got lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eyes. When he comes after ya, he doesn’t seem to be livin’ until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white, and then – aww, then you hear that terrible high-pitch screamin’, the ocean turns red, and in spite of all the poundin’ and the hollerin’, they all come in and rip ya to pieces…

 

[rsm]

 

[VonBonfire]

He might've paid 2400 bucks but he has quite a bit more into the boat before it launched. Still lost his rudder on his first ocean crossing en route to Hawaii....that had to be fun. One of the few parts he didn't replace. Also got some solar panels and an electric stove donated by some company since he's such an active sailor. Apparently CA won't allow the sale of the alcohol for a traditional alcohol powered stove anymore.

 

[rsm]

He might've paid 2400 bucks but he has quite a bit more into the boat before it launched. Still lost his rudder on his first ocean crossing en route to Hawaii....that had to be fun. One of the few parts he didn't replace. Also got some solar panels and an electric stove donated by some company since he's such an active sailor. Apparently CA won't allow the sale of the alcohol for a traditional alcohol powered stove anymore.

I've also been looking at solar and wind power generation, and storage batteries (heavy). Having something you need that can run out (fresh water, cooking fuels) isn't something I want.

An electric watermaker and cooktop are worth consideration IMO. I have a portable, folding rocket stove that can use wood, alcohol, sterno, etc. and an alcohol "large coffee mug" - for heating liquids, making a pot of coffee...but that would be when anchored on a deserted beach. I don't like the idea of open flames and flammable liquids on a sailboat.

There are also electric powered outboard motors, pricier than their gas counterparts, but if you have electric power generation and storage, and spare power cells, I think that's the way to go on a small sailboat.

FWIW, I'm looking at boats from about 28' - 38', depending if cat or tri. Anything smaller means it's risky to go far offshore (e.g., Florida - Bahamas), anything larger can be a handful for one person to manage, especially if caught out in bad weather - which is inevitable.

 

[VonBonfire]

I've also been looking at solar and wind power generation, and storage batteries (heavy). Having something you need that can run out (fresh water, cooking fuels) isn't something I want.

An electric watermaker and cooktop are worth consideration IMO. I have a portable, folding rocket stove that can use wood, alcohol, sterno, etc. and an alcohol "large coffee mug" - for heating liquids, making a pot of coffee...but that would be when anchored on a deserted beach. I don't like the idea of open flames and flammable liquids on a sailboat.

There are also electric powered outboard motors, pricier than their gas counterparts, but if you have electric power generation and storage, and spare power cells, I think that's the way to go on a small sailboat.

FWIW, I'm looking at boats from about 28' - 38', depending if cat or tri. Anything smaller means it's risky to go far offshore (e.g., Florida - Bahamas), anything larger can be a handful for one person to manage, especially if caught out in bad weather - which is inevitable.

I think the solar is good for stuff like electronics and electrical gear, a watermaker, etc. But if you are doing serious sailing a marine diesel is the only way to go for a powerplant. You get caught with low batteries in a fast flowing inlet or in a time when you are caught in an emergency bind and things could go south quick. Marine diesels are extremely reliable. I wouldn't worry about an alcohol stove either, those are proven pretty safe over decades and decades.

If I was planning on single handing I'd probably have roller furlings, at least in the front of the boat with spares as backup so everything could be controlled from the cockpit so you never have to go forward. I don't really like the added complexity of a furling system and it's potential for failure compared to a good ol' hank on sail setup but when the bow on small boat is pitching up and down in 5 and 10 foot waves it's a risk going forward. Yeah you can clip in and all that but there is still a lot of chance for injury just getting thrown around.

 

[rsm]

I think the solar is good for stuff like electronics and electrical gear, a watermaker, etc. But if you are doing serious sailing a marine diesel is the only way to go for a powerplant. You get caught with low batteries in a fast flowing inlet or in a time when you are caught in an emergency bind and things could go south quick. Marine diesels are extremely reliable. I wouldn't worry about an alcohol stove either, those are proven pretty safe over decades and decades.

If I was planning on single handing I'd probably have roller furlings, at least in the front of the boat with spares as backup so everything could be controlled from the cockpit so you never have to go forward. I don't really like the added complexity of a furling system and it's potential for failure compared to a good ol' hank on sail setup but when the bow on small boat is pitching up and down in 5 and 10 foot waves it's a risk going forward. Yeah you can clip in and all that but there is still a lot of chance for injury just getting thrown around.

good points. I don't plan any ocean crossings; down the Florida coast and around the keys; over to the Bahamas then island hopping, for a start.

Bahamas have over 700 islands. eventually I'd like to island hop down the Caribbean, but that's a long way off, if ever. Gotta stop buying music gear and save more for the boat!