New Here - So Much to Learn - Questions!

[ranger58sb]

I was just using the restaurant as an example where more planning amd sometimes more work is involved than would be the case by car, especially when you're moving your whole "house" at the same time. (Everything that can fall and break -- while underway in whatever seas Mother Nature grants you at the time -- must be secured.) There are boatloads of "waterside" (or near enough) restaurants around here, especially along the Annapolis harbor front. But there aren't that many nearby slips for a quick tie-up for boats over about 55', and the mooring field is sized for boats 42' LOA max... so calling ahead is useful or anchoring out is your other option. Neither is insurmountable, but the planning can affect your sense of sponteneity...

Another example: we just took a 10-day trip, involving three towns/three marinas (and would normally have included some anchoring, but circumstances and guests didn't let me work it out that way this time). Even though we only carry 48' LOA (counting the dinghy hanging off the stern), we had to call ahead -- about 2 months early in this case -- to sort out the slips/power details. That was slightly complicated by being partly over the Labor Day holiday, so there was more competition for available slips -- and higher rates, BTW -- and we also had to juggle The Admiral's vacation time against her colleague's calendars, but still, it took a bit of foresight.

And yep, dinghying in is often an option (sometimes assuming a suitable and strategically available dinghy dock -- since normal docks are often sized relative to the water for stepping off a normal boat). Water taxi can be another option, depending on harbor; some larger harbors might have one, but it depends on profitablity... so many don't.

Yep, storage on deck is possible, depending on mothership, dinghy, load weights, lifting tackle, and storage systems... and maybe strength to a certain extent (block and tackle stuff), although electric and hyrdraulic lifts can usually solve that -- when they work properly. Lots of variables involved, but it's an important sub-topic because when you're anchored out, your tender becomes your "station wagon" (or "soccer mom mini-van") as well as a play toy. It's probably worth a whole separate thread, but probably not until you've homed in on larger boat examples that might fit you evolving plan. In the meantime, you can probably just browse the Auxiliary propulsion and dinghy section and get enough info to tide you over for a while...

-Chris

[swabbmob]

GalaxyGirl - More power to you - we all understand the dream you are considering. Many of us would love to have the budget you appear to have!
The wonderful Winter sailing season is almost here. Book a charter catamaran with captain for the whole gang - book it for 3 or 4 weeks. You will love it of course, and you will solve many of the logistical questions you have (you will spend the rest of your life resolving the others).
Get new or used books on cruising and living aboard, navigation, weather, electrical and diesel maintenance. Get a book on painting and varnishing. Learn learn learn - no time for TV! Assign each child a department of maintenance. That high schooler just might realize diesel engines are amazing things (and they are).
Live life! Go girl!