Your Home On The Water

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

must be a pretty complex math equation to go along with this

All quite simple. No complex equations at all.

The sluggish 42' is a Hunter and the fast 37' is a Pearson.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by skipmac

All quite simple. No complex equations at all.

The sluggish 42' is a Hunter and the fast 37' is a Pearson.

must not apply to all models of a brand as I have heard of a Pearson 422 that hasn't been able to move for years , but then maybe it is the owner

[Jimbo485]

I was wondering what size houses/apartments you live aboard full time, and in comfort, and just how much maintaining your building for living, costs you per year. It would also be good to know how often you replace roofs and guttering on a live aboard building. I'm asking because I have my eye on a few 150 m2 houses and apartments and one 400 m2 McMansion. A nice big McMansion at a realistic price sound good but...I have no wish to buy something I would not be able to maintain in good order.

[banyandah]

Guess I'd better add my few words to this discussion - especially as our lady has the lovely name of BANYANDAH, which for the aboriginal people of Australia means Home On The Water.

Banyandah has been our Home on the Water since 1973. She was our first home and we raised our two children aboard her while sailing the world for 16 years.

Banyandah is 38' loa, and 11'-3" wide, she weighs about 13 tonnes as she is ferrocement.

What makes Banyandah such a superb Home on the Water is she is roomy with two separate accommodations, fore and aft, split by a roomy well protected centre cockpit. She has now tracked about 150,000 NM in all seas except Antarctica.

A Very important consideration when choosing your ideal vessel is it's weight. Imagine fending 25 tonnes off a jetty by only two crew and you can see what problems you can have. If the vessel is well equipped with a bow thruster then the size can be upped if you can afford to support a larger vessel. The larger the boat, the bigger the costs.

Personally, 38' is ideal for us. But we have seen many sail the world on board smaller craft of 30'. Below that, you'd better love pain.

We've published a report on Banyandah recent refit here.

And we have a comprehensive website filled with photos dating back to her construction, with plenty of helpful hints on systems that have proved reliable and easy to implement.

Hope that helps

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by BillAU

- what size sail-boats/power-boats you live aboard full time, and in comfort,
- and just how much maintaining your boat for cruising costs you per year,
- good to know how often you replace sails on a cruising sail-boat.

G'day, mate,

- 26', sailboat,
- roughly 5% of purchase price, up to 10% before crossings,
- depending on how much they are used, UV is the limit.

(I believe a good sail may last some 20k Nm but may not last 40k. Nm)

Cheers,
b.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Bash

Well, there you have it! If I had to wait 42000 miles between new sails, I'd be changing hobbies.

Bash, for some it isn't a hobby... it's our life!

We average around 6K miles per year and buying new sails every other year or so would be hurtful to our economy.

YMMV, and if the finances are not a problem, well, new sails are (usually) a joyful thing.

Cheers,

Jim

[barnakiel]

The equation is actually simpler yet, the formula is: SPACE = BEAM.

Barges fit in best.

b.

[barnakiel]

Bash did say 'at least'. What's the fuss? Mind the nick ;-)

b.

[bobconnie]

Ive sailed some 40 ft + boats a lot, and in our own 42 ftr for 25+ yrs, and days runs of 200 NMs were common !! These were mono hulls! there were also 100 NM or less sometimes but Ive sailed past lots of shorter boats!! no way can anyone state that 40+ ft boats are slower then 33 ft or 36 ft or what ever!! it depends on the boat and the sails and the wind ! and the abilty of the sailor!! Better try sailing on a 40 ft boat sometime before ya make a statement like that one LOL cus thats called a BROAD Statement!! LOL

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

Better try sailing on a 40 ft boat sometime before ya make a statement like that one LOL cus thats called a BROAD Statement!! LOL

Broad=ignorant!

Jim

[BillAU]

Thanks for all the advice, lots of good info', looks like a 38'er is the most suitable choice for one man + his dog, most times, with an extra 4 mates at most, occasional, on holliday fishing trips.

[AfterHoursNLCT]

I live quite comfortably from April to November on a 34 ft Convertible...LL

[Hudson Force]

I think that the boat size, length, beam, etc. that one has adapted to tends to be the best!

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

I think that the boat size, length, beam, etc. that one has adapted to tends to be the best!

+1

I think when you arbitrarily set yourself size limits, you miss the opportunity to test what matters the most in your life choices. (Privacy, seaworthiness, comfort)

I chose a boat size that I knew I would never wish was bigger and at the same time, knew I could still manage both economically and physically.

It is more than a home, it is also my Ark.