Shoestring Sailors (Cruising on $500 per month - part II)

[svseachange]

Shoestring sailors rarely stay in marinas, and never for more than a few nights. Shucks, we have a modest income and cannot afford to stay in a marina more than one night each week. All this marina talk is moot in this thread.

Regardless of cost, marinas are generally a pain in the behind anyway. Dockhands trying to "help", maniacs in boats, impossible slips etc... and even armchair sailors. Better of dropping an anchor and blowing up the dink.

[Ocean Girl]

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

$2,000 boat and $400 dollar kitty

[boatman61]

Shows what can be done... with a little bit of luck..

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

$2,000 boat and $400 dollar kitty

Justin's face says it all.

[Gadagirl]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

$2,000 boat and $400 dollar kitty

Thanks! Kindles the hope!

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by Gadagirl

Thanks! Kindles the hope!

My husband (Rain Dog) found the article, he is always kindling my hope

[Travelnik]

They should have spent some time on CF first, then they would have found out that they couldn't do it.



















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[svseachange]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

$2,000 boat and $400 dollar kitty

My wife loved the article.

Twenty years ago I crossed Australia on $250 with a 125cc motorcycle. Ate canned peas, collected cans along side the road to pay for petrol, did odd jobs for home cooked meals (can still taste the steaks), caught fish and generally had a great time.

Can be done, but definitely a risky route. You tend to defer important maintenance when living on the cheap.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Travelnik

They should have spent some time on CF first, then they would have found out that they couldn't do it.




.

Everything works until it doesn't .

Can it be done? Sure - but the odds with that budget of doing so (and having enough fun to enjoy it) are less, but some will manage it.......just I wager that most will be on the road to broken dreams (and bank balance).

But I wish this couple well .

[captain58sailin]

The key is to not defer important maintenance, and maximize time spent on keeping things lubricated, chafe protected etc... Changing your engine oil on a regular basis is cheap insurance to keep your engine long lived. Using some salvaged material to prevent chafe on your lines helps greatly in the longevity in the lines, and that gives you time to shop for bargains, or work out a trade for what you need. It won't keep every thing cheap, but it will help stretch your cruising dollar.

[Dogfish]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

$2,000 boat and $400 dollar kitty

"Justin subsequently installed an Atomic 4 gasoline engine."

For the record, I'm guessing alot more money was spent on the boat after the fact, but it is an inspiring story.

[captain58sailin]

It is really good to see, I am glad that he was able to make it happen.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by Normanby

Hey Wrong,
What kind of kayak do you use and do you lay it on deck when underway?
I'm tossing up between a sit-on-top tandem plastic kayak and an inflatable. The plastic will be more durable and faster to deploy, but on-deck storage on my Compass 28 will be inconvenient, if not dangerous in the rough.
I'm moving aboard next month. I'll spend 3 months at a marina then move onto a swing mooring, and I'm wondering about my simplest and cheapest way to commute to shore, because I'll need to hold down a job for a while.
Eating out is my weakness too, and here in Melbourne the temptations are many...

My view the sit in Kiwi Kayak is the best. Seat back comes out so you can carry groceries or 6 gallon diesel jug. Hand hold is moulded into the kayak at both ends - providing strong point for locking securely to whatever with a cable or chain. They stand up very well to abuse and require no protection from the sun. Of course, protecting from the sun doesn't hurt. I have a very old kiwi with a crack in the bottom. Just used contact cement and pieces of bicycle inner tube to repair. Works great. The kayak you see in the photo is not a kiwi but Old Town.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by Travelnik

They should have spent some time on CF first, then they would have found out that they couldn't do it.



.

"Man who says something cannot be done, should not interfere with man doing it." Old Chinese Proverb.

[Ocean Girl]

Plus, adding to the great comments above , I think some people have a knack for it. And that knack is not just creating a cruising boat with very little money, but also knowing her limitations because of it.