Should I buy a trainer or a cruiser?

[Vronsky]

For what it's worth: I'd recommend to start with a mobo first, and learn about boat ownership, handling, maneuvering, etc. Compared to this, sailing is the easy part. The only difference between a mobo and a sailboat is a mast.
And once you're experienced with mobo's, it's a very small step to a sailer.

[thomm225]

You'd probably be surprised at how much you can learn being the Skipper on your own Hobie 16 .....especially while racing in traffic as a beginner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO0LkUDALNk

For you experienced racers/sailors, look how low the booms are. They are raking the mast to the max these days to try and make the thing point. I'm sure they can probably control mast rotation also which we didn't do back in the day


And btw, looks like they've sold a few of these (135,000) so parts shouldn't be hard to find.


http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=3852

[anapurna]

If you project to visit the mediterranean, is a very good place for sailing all year, I offered sailings close to barcelona area, one day trip, training and learn, some day sailing up to north coast catalonia, or sail in open sea and visit the balearics islands. I have references, foreigeners, turist and friends. Experience with familys and kids, big experience in regatas. My boat is 3 cabins and 2 toilets, normaly for 6-7 people, beatifully cruiser-racer very equipated.
If you projecting a training period only sail (per days or weeks), will try is cheap and it,s a contribution. I have yacth master (spanish qualifications) stcw, eng1, seaman book, specialisation first aids certificate, radio operator smss.gmdss, passenger ships, advanced fire figthing.

see you

Josep

[anapurna]

Other pictures

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...cture26548.jpg

[anapurna]

and other

[anapurna]

sorry, other picture...

[Cat36Mahalo]

my recommendation is a little different - Buy a cruiser in the 27 - 30 range - good for week long trips - to make sure you really want to cruise full time. Then buy something in the 12-14' range that is towable - use it to learn to sail. You can tow the smaller boat as a tender when cruising and a play toy when you reach the destination.


Les

[fursoc]

Originally Posted by Cat36Mahalo

... buy something in the 12-14' range that is towable - use it to learn to sail. You can tow the smaller boat as a tender when cruising and a play toy when you reach the destination.

Hadn't thought of this. Great idea!

[abmcdonald]

Hi Fursoc. I am in exactly the same situation as yourself. Our plan to leave is 5 years from now (unlike yourself in 2-3 years). We will have kids aged 10,7 and 5 when we decide to leave. I like you (and my wife), have done very little sailing.

I use to live in Melbourne but I am currently taking 3 months off to travel up to Darwin (I am in the military and am on posting there). I will join the sailing club and do as many twilights, crew, race events that my work and family commitments allow. The first thing I will be doing is completing a 5 year plan to ensure I stick to achieving this huge goal.

My plan consists of 3 parallel parts:

- Finance is one (investing strategy to attain goal and have a sailing kitty, also reason it is 5 year goal to save a bit in this time). Having a logical investment strategy is crucial for us. So we have something to come back to and ensure we don't have $$ issues during our trip.

- Experience is the next, both for myself and my wife. I recently conducted a RYA Competent crew (at flying fish in Middle Harbour, Sydney) and will conduct RYA Day skipper soon. My plan is for myself to get yacht master and wife to get day skipper before we leave. I will probably get a 20-30' boat in 2 years time to learn on. I will slowly ease my family into sailing. Day trips in calm conditions, spending weekends away. Racing I think is probably one of the best ways to learn how to sail. Read the wind, lay of the land, crew dynamics, seamanship etc.

- Lastly is knowledge. This includes anything to do with the circumnavigation, how to do distance ed/homeschool, how to sail, how to live as a family on route, first aid (patient care) at sea, electronics/maintenance (being a mechanical engineer I have a little head start here). So much to learn and know to minimise the chance of something going wrong.

To purchase the actual boat to circumnavigate on, I don't know how I will do it. Logical option is to purchase in Australia and leave from here after living and sailing Australia for 6-12 months. But there is far more choice and potential to save a lot if you purchase the boat overseas and sail from that port of call.

Anyway, if you are keen to chat to keep each other honest as we are starting on a very similar journey with similar set of circumstances. Please send me a message of your email address so we can get in touch.

[Olly75]

Can anyone point me in the direction of how to send a private massage, or is this option not avaliable from a mobile? Or anapurna if you have the option, could you send me your email address as I would be very interested in discussing some winter sailing with you.

Many thanks

Olly

[JPA Cate]

Olly75,

I read elsewhere on CF that you have to have 10 posts before you attain PM privileges.

Lots of people seem to be able to post from phones.

Ann

[fursoc]

Originally Posted by abmcdonald

To purchase the actual boat to circumnavigate on, I don't know how I will do it...

Have a look at my other thread for the answer to this.. Lots of suggestions.

Originally Posted by abmcdonald

Anyway, if you are keen to chat to keep each other honest as we are starting on a very similar journey with similar set of circumstances. Please send me a message of your email address so we can get in touch.

Good idea, I'll send you a PM. Thanks!

[JPA Cate]

Good on both of youse, guys.

A.