Cruising Boats (Another Lesson)

[thomm225]

So I was talking to one of my dock mates this evening and he was telling me about all the stuff he planned to buy at the boat show in Annapolis that's coming up (and I thought the $10,000 I have spent on my boat over the last 8 years was a lot. He might spend that at the boat show)

But that isn't the point.

We were talking boats and about his boat that I had never been on. So he invited me to come aboard

His boat is a Formosa 46! (disp 33,000, 13' beam) I loved this boat and couldn't believe the space, large sleeping areas, big engine, 11' dinghy, and the amounts of water (160 gallons) and fuel it can carry.

If I was blind folded and the boat's deck was equal to the dock, I wouldn't have known I was on a boat!

So as I'm walking back to my boat I'm trying to grasp/understand this.

Then I get on my boat to close it up (I was there in the first place to put the sail cover on from yesterday's sail, etc)and it rolls a bit. I entered the cockpit and ……...well I was home

Bristol 27 (6600 lbs disp, 8' beam)

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/formosa-46

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-27

[Cheechako]

yeah, big boats do make for a stable platform. Warning: once you get one it's hard going back.

[Reefmagnet]

Whenever 3 footitis strikes, just stop for a moment and imagine yourself anti-fouling your new object of affection.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Whenever 3 footitis strikes, just stop for a moment and imagine yourself anti-fouling your new object of affection.

Yes but this is still sinking in.

I'm thinking I could actually get some sleep on a boat like this since it definitely will not toss, turn, roll etc like my boat does at anchor or at the dock

But that doesn't mean I have to buy a Formosa 46 or Westsail 32 but a Tartan 37 might be a good compromise and have a bit of performance

[KimSails]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Whenever 3 footitis strikes, just stop for a moment and imagine yourself anti-fouling your new object of affection.

I've done exactly that! Thinking of waxing the topsides or buying new sails also works!

[Cheechako]

Yeah, sometimes I force myself to think; "ok how bad do you really want this new $3000 item? If you use it 12 times a year, 50 times in 4 years, that's $60 every time you use it." That helps to put it in perspective for me.

[Halien]

I went from dinghies to a Lightning, to a Capri 25, and then to a Tartan 33. I want eventually to go up to about 46 feet, but the cost of sails, rigging, moorage, haulouts, and every other expense puts me off. I'm pretty happy with my Tartan for the foreseeable future.

[sailorboy1]

If you can't afford the accessories you can't afford the boat to cruise on! In the cruising world where your boat is your home ALL THE TIME it is IMO foolish to let being cheap* override being comfortable and happy.




* being difference between being cheap and being frugal

[MJH]

Originally Posted by thomm225

So I was talking to one of my dock mates this evening and he was telling me about all the stuff he planned to buy at the boat show in Annapolis that's coming up (and I thought the $10,000 I have spent on my boat over the last 8 years was a lot. He might spend that at the boat show)

But that isn't the point.

We were talking boats and about his boat that I had never been on. So he invited me to come aboard

His boat is a Formosa 46! (disp 33,000, 13' beam) I loved this boat and couldn't believe the space, large sleeping areas, big engine, 11' dinghy, and the amounts of water (160 gallons) and fuel it can carry.

If I was blind folded and the boat's deck was equal to the dock, I wouldn't have known I was on a boat!

So as I'm walking back to my boat I'm trying to grasp/understand this.

Then I get on my boat to close it up (I was there in the first place to put the sail cover on from yesterday's sail, etc)and it rolls a bit. I entered the cockpit and ……...well I was home

Bristol 27 (6600 lbs disp, 8' beam)

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/formosa-46

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-27

My move from a Tanzer 22 to a San Jan 28 was very easy. But the move from the San Juan 28 to the Tayana 42 was difficult. Not only is everything larger and more expensive there is so much more of it and so many other systems as well that were new to me and never concerned me on the smaller boats. After 12 years of ownership there are still things I haven't gotten to and just learning about.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Yes but this is still sinking in.

I'm thinking I could actually get some sleep on a boat like this since it definitely will not toss, turn, roll etc like my boat does at anchor or at the dock

But that doesn't mean I have to buy a Formosa 46 or Westsail 32 but a Tartan 37 might be a good compromise and have a bit of performance

You may not get the sleep worrying about your bank account. I might.

[Greg K]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

yeah, big boats do make for a stable platform. Warning: once you get one it's hard going back.

Not necessarily true. Went from our Alberg 30 trainer in the PNW to a Cape Dory 36 which we sailed to the islands, across the pond and all over the Med for about ten years, only to recently go back to a 28 footer as our summer cruiser here in Med Spain.

Loved the Cape Dory 36, and in all respects she was a wonderful boat, but just a bit too much expense for dockage and maintenance considering we weren't planning to go back to full-time, liveaboard cruising any time soon.

The smaller Shannon 28 cutter that we now own is a perfect size for our needs. She is incredibly simple, with no air-con, shore power, fridge or pressure water or any of the numerous complexities of charging systems to run all that stuff. The windlass is manual, and even the Yanmar 2GM engine can be started with a hand crank if need be.

Absolutely love the simplicity and low cost of having gone back to small.

[jhulmer]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yeah, sometimes I force myself to think; "ok how bad do you really want this new $3000 item? If you use it 12 times a year, 50 times in 4 years, that's $60 every time you use it." That helps to put it in perspective for me.

NOW that's (Another Lesson). I will use this method to put things into perspective. hummm how often will I use a Mizzen staysail? Ok OK I'm cheating already. But, I will make this work ... after the Annapolis Boat Show! Damn that Gin Barge!

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by Greg K

Absolutely love the simplicity and low cost of having gone back to small.

There's something real to be said for that too. It's smart to find your own niche in money outlay and comfort. The guy in the Catalina 22, and the guy in the 45 footer - both experience the exact same sun and spray and location. I find with a simple rig, the background worries are less. If you can be happy with less, you can have more. A good night's sleep is important though as a bottom line, however you find it.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Whenever 3 footitis strikes, just stop for a moment and imagine yourself anti-fouling your new object of affection.

I have always found it far easier and more cost effective to pay someone to do the dirty relatively unskilled jobs while I do the less messy but need to be done right jobs.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

If you can't afford the accessories you can't afford the boat to cruise on! In the cruising world where your boat is your home ALL THE TIME it is IMO foolish to let being cheap* override being comfortable and happy.




* big difference between being cheap and being frugal[

Totally agree