Do I want to buy a boat?

[1Sunseeker]

Sometimes here in the NW Marinas will sell, to the highest bidder, boats they have seized due to not paying their moorage. For a few cents on the dollar. It might not hurt to check around there or other places to see if anything is available. Also a divorce leads to quick, inexpensive sales. If you are more interested in buying rather than renting try it. You can and should have the boat vetted by a good surveyor. I have heard San Diego is a great place to buy a boat as NW folks get that far on their round the world plans and one or both bail out. Don't hurry there are a lot of boats.

[Dinomontana63]

Bull shooter,
If you are asking, then no. Don't buy a boat. The only people that should buy boats are people that cannot live on land or those with lots of money they don't know what to do with.
Being a landlubber most of my life I bought a boat, like you thinking I am a good DIY'r and I'll just live on it and fix it up. Boats that are affordable are not. They are the ones that need tens of thousands to fix up, decks, rigging, sails, interior upgrades... I don't know, maybe I'm just spoiled and like nicer things like toilets that work, but I have to fix everything... so I am in a $15,000 boat that has now cost me about $60,000 in repairs and still not sailing.
I hate that it is this way. I wish everyone that wanted to sail could.. then there's the changing attitudes toward liveaboards and the lack of marinas in the modern world....
me? I can't live on land anymore. I'm hooked. Save yourself, your marriage, your money, rent.

[Time2Go]

Hi Bull Shooter
I'm in somewhat of a similar situation and the same age as you.
My Admiral doesn't like boats, gets horribly sea sick so
long range cruising as a couple is not going to work.
My solution is as follows,
I bought a small daysailer for the close by lake to
feed my addiction. Daysail, single handed a few times a week.
Then I also crew on much bigger boats owned and maintained
by others. Even though I live in NJ, I've sailed all over Europe
from Holland to Gibralter, up and down the East Coast of the US
from Massachusetts to Florida. In 2017 I plan on joining a boat
for the ARC.
Most of these crew opportunities are just about contributing for
a share of provisions and maybe fuel.
Airfares and land expenses were always on me.
That said I did a magnificent trip from Copenhagen to Gibralter
for 2,000 US plus 1,200 airfare.
Spent another 800 on shore.
Grand total of about 4,000 for a 50 day trip and visited
9 different countries. The Standing Mast route through Holland is
just plain breathtaking.
I plan on doing this until
my wife retires in a few years. Then the plan is moving to
Florida, and at that point I will purchase something around 30'
and spend the rest of my sailing career exploring the Bahamas
on a series of 1 to 3 week cruises.
Not to worried about the exact boat as there are many available on
the east coast in my price range of 15-20,000
(Catalina 30's are everywhere)
Definitely not going to get a project boat.
I've read a million posts on CF and this is definitely the collective wisdom.
I'm a fairly good DIY'ER but enjoy sailing more than sanding.
Cheers
Neil

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

It can nickle and dime you to utter exasperation...

Reading this reminded me of a call-in radio show that I heard many years back. It was a show about cars, and the caller was asking about buying a Jaguar, but the answer that the host gave applies equally well to boats. So, here is how the call went, translated into boat-speak...

Caller: I am thinking about buying a boat, but I have heard that they will nickel and dime you to death. Is that true?

Host: No. That is absolutely false. I can guarantee you that a boat will never nickel and dime you to death. For the very simple reason that when a boat reaches into your pocket it is going to be looking for fifties and hundreds, not nickels and dimes!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Reading this reminded me of a call-in radio show that I heard many years back. It was a show about cars, and the caller was asking about buying a Jaguar, but the answer that the host gave applies equally well to boats. So, here is how the call went, translated into boat-speak...

Caller: I am thinking about buying a boat, but I have heard that they will nickel and dime you to death. Is that true?

Host: No. That is absolutely false. I can guarantee you that a boat will never nickel and dime you to death. For the very simple reason that when a boat reaches into your pocket it is going to be looking for fifties and hundreds, not nickels and dimes!

Just need to remember that the nickels and dimes are relative to a "boat buck" ($1,000). 😆

[1Sunseeker]

B O A T =Bring on another thousand!

[Bullshooter]

Thanks to all who posted for their input. We have decided that we will go the bareboat charter route instead, although we may end up buying a boat to sail locally, mostly Lake Pontchartrain or at least northern Gulf of Mexico. We have already booked a 3 week trip in the Virgins for next year. But going all out and buying a boat to take on long voyages or liveaboard is not in the cards.

But this forum has been a great resource so thanks again.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by 1Sunseeker

B O A T =Bring on another thousand!

Once you get over 40' you have to spell it BOATT.

[Bullshooter]

We went on our 19 day charter out of Tortola with Captains Compass on the Chachaa, a 39' Beneteau. We had a great time, and my wife is a trooper- No A/C and some moderately rough seas without a complaint or a divorce! Already scheming on our next adventure. Thanks all, and see you on the Mediterranean page!

[Razoo]

If you're unsure you want to buy then take a 4-7 day off shore charter and you will be able to answer your own question without question.