A youngpup's Caribbean dream? Advice!!

[youngpup]

I havn't learned to sail yet, but will spend the summer with my Grandfather learning to sail, hopefully. I have a dream of spending a few months sailing the caribbean. I'm hoping my budget is under 10k. I'm in my late 20s and very athletic with no shortage of people to come along. However I'm hoping to get any advice you are willing to give.

Is my budet rediculous?

what boat?

what about the caribbean islands?

do's or don'ts?

Any advice is very appreciated.

[MarkJ]

Save the $10k for beer. Go racing on some of the big boats and do a few years as pro racing crew

[Hampus]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Save the $10k for beer. Go racing on some of the big boats and do a few years as pro racing crew

But that's nowhere nere what he obviously wants to do. It's like giving the advice to go become a professional formula one driver when someone asks how to go trailer camp in the Rockies

youngpup: Search the forum. Your question has come up before and there are numeroust threads that probably holds all the answers you need.
Good Luck!

/Hampus

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Hampus

But that's nowhere nere what he obviously wants to do.

Yes, you are right. It must be my own attitude of the day showing thorugh Like running away and joinging the circuis but having $10,000 clowning money



Mark

[Pathfinder]

Here are some boats I have seen for sale for less than 10K on the east coast of the us in the past 6 months: <br>C&amp;C 24<br>Dockrell 27<br>Seafarer Tahiti Tripp 30<br>Cape Dory 25<br>Seafarer 26<br>Bristol 27<br>Dufour 27<br>Morgan 27<br>Tartan 27<br>Contessa 26<br>Bristol 30<br>Islander 28<br>Ranger 33<br>Sabre 28<br>Pearson 30<br>Ranger 26<br>Solna Marine Scampi 30<br>Tartan 30<br>Morgan 28 Out Island<br>Tanzer 27<br>Albin Cumulus 28<br>Albin Vega 27<br><br>Granted, some of them may have needed too much work to be worth the trouble, but not all of them. I bought a Ranger 33 for 8K, and it is in quite good condition. So, look around and make a low offer and be ready to move on. Leave some cash to fix a few things, so if you have 10K, spend 7K on the boat. Smaller is cheaper to maintain.<br>Best - P<br>

[dw5055]

Like Nike says, "Just do it". And what's wrong with the Circus. He should be so lucky to get a job with the economy that way it is.

[BadFish]

Hmm... Depending how long a "few months" turns out to be, and how many bills ya gotta pay while doing it, 10k could just be your living expenses.

I'm in the process of planning a 2 month trip of my own, and I think I need about 8-10k to do it (gas, bills, gas, food, gas, etc..). The difference between my boat and a sailboat, though, is my boat needs lots of gas... about half my budget.

Anyway, pending all your other expenses, I'd say it's possible if you finance your boat. Definitely not the financially "smart" solution, but it may get ya where you want to be.

Cheers

Bill

[witzgall]

Or find a position or positions crewing on other people's boats. Cheaper, and you can always buy your boat when you are ready, but have a much better idea what you want vs. need. This will change as you learn more about boats and sailing.

Chris

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Save the $10k for beer. Go racing on some of the big boats and do a few years as pro racing crew

[cdennyb]

buy the boat for 7K, invite all the friends you can haul safely and charge a cover! LoL

start up your own undercover charter....


I couldn't resist that... sorry

[cdennyb]

You should save as much as you can... go learn everything you can from pops and then while doing that, rub elbows with the crowd that he knows, do some networking with them and you'd probably be surprised what can come up.
Maybe one of those strangers that just hasn't become a friend yet, has or knows someone who has a smaller vessel for sale that they aren't using, then you step in and mention, "Gee, if I had a bit more money pops I could get that really nice 32' boat and sail with you down in the carib." Maybe, maybe not.
Worth a thought or two.
Also, is pops in the carib or somewhere else more north and more mainland? That makes a difference. One thing I suggest is get close to that stuff, the boats, sailing, the people, etc. and when the time comes, (and you'll know it when it happens) YOU CAN GET WHAT YOU WANT.
Remember, It isn't a destination, it's a lifestyle and a journey...

Just my old thoughts on it from a 53 yr old Dad of three.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by BadFish

"few months" 10k could just be your living expenses.



Bill

OK seriouser now.....

Bill is right!

Our expenses when we bought our boat in the Caribbean and say, the next 3 months, were something like this:

EPIRB $700
Spare bit of rope $100
Sundry chandelry items $500
Yacht Registration $800 (For Australia - yours may be cheaper)
Provisions 2x$600; 1 X $126 3 x $50 say $1,000 for 3 months
Water $15 per fill every 2 weeks
Port clearences etc say $20 per new country.

Total: $3290

This doesnt count for all the young peoples expenses of beer, beer, beer, eating out and (hopefully) condoms.

Consequent total to buy boat $6,700

Thats not enough to buy a boat that will not sink on the way there.

Now divi up $10,000 for 3 months:
$830 per week; $119 per day.

6 x Beer @ $4 = $24
2 x $16 cocktails for saucy chic = $32
Lunch at Maccas 2 x Big Macs and 1 Shake $12
Dinner with saucy chic buy she has to pay her own way $50

Total per day $118 per day = $10,000 for 3 months.


i.e. go have a vacation you will hapilly remember instead of a 3month impoverished trip to boat owning hell.



Mark

[dw5055]

Do the boat trip and don't let anyone talk you out of it. You will have a memory -good or bad you will never forget!
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by dw5055

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.

LOL The listener can filter what is good for them. But unless he has a range of opinions he may miss an important viewpoint.

I think anyone who is trying to buy a boat and cruise it internationally for 3 months on US$10,000 is a tad foolish unless quite experienced.

If I am a fool for saying what I believe then I don't mind being called a fool!


Mark

[dw5055]

My comment concerning foolishness is pointed towards telling a young man in his twenty's to go buy beer instead of going on an adventure of his life. You and I both know $10,000.00 will not work. An exciting part of a journey like this is the planning which he'll figure out 10k won't work.

[Boracay]

A young pup's Caribbean dream? Advice!!


Q:-"I havn't learned to sail yet, but will spend the summer with my Grandfather learning to sail, hopefully."
A:-Good idea. Pay careful attention and be as charming and helpful as possible. A large inheritance may come your way eventually. Try to get it in writing.

Q:- "I have a dream of spending a few months sailing the Caribbean. I'm hoping to keep my budget under 10k."
A:- Sounds really nice. Go for it.

Q:- "I'm in my late 20s and very athletic with no shortage of people to come along. However I'm hoping to get any advice you are willing to give."
A:- Unless they are very rich and/or look good in a bikini give this one a miss.

Q:- "Is my budget ridiculous?"
A:- No.

Q:- "What boat?"
A:- Some one else's. Using your own boat will have you lying head down in the bilge fixing things that other people have broken using makeshift tools while slicing your fingers open. You probably won't go anywhere.


Q:- "What about the Caribbean islands?"
A:- These are located in the Caribbean Sea. There are many, many references to them on the web, your local library, even this Forum.

Q:- "Do's or don'ts?"
A:- Do have a good time. Don't buy a boat.