Ahoy!

[David SW]

I'm new to sailing... new to the forum... just wanted to pop in and say Hello! A very Happy New Year to everyone!

[Hud3]

Welcome to CF, David. Hope you enjoy yourself here. You should be able to find a nice fixer-upper in SW Florida these days.

[David SW]

The boats are certainly out there... my problem is determining which type to buy. I am discovering that the more I learn, the more I realize there is to learn. I suppose at some point I will just have to jump in.

I am a passionate neophyte with very little 'real time' experience. I have exactly one week on a sailboat... bareboat charter course out of Ft. Lauderdale. Now I am hooked (pardon the pun).

I realize I should charter a while and get the feel for many different boats, but the cost to do so doesn't make sense. So I have decided instead to get a 'starter boat', a fixer, and go from there.

I know there must be a lot of ideas out there for starters??? Boats that is.

I plan on doing a lot of coastal cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, then venture out to the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, and Lesser Antilles. After some experience I'd like to make a crossing or two. I was thinking of starting out with a thirty to thirty-six footer... solid hull, I like the idea of a carbon fiber mast (but I haven't seen many older boats with them), not big on all the extras except GPS, large water tanks, reasonable sail size (single hand), really just a good 'shell' that I can add to and make my own.

I was a charter pilot (Gulfstream Jet) in my past life... On more than one occasion I looked down at the ocean and wished I were slowly sailing, fishing, reading, laughing, really enjoying the trip, experiencing the elements instead of being isolated from them. I'm more than excited about doing just that!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha David,
Welcome aboard! I'd say, unless you have a family sailing with you, that a 32 footer would be just as good to learn repair, maintenance and cruising on. They are plentiful and much less expensive than a 36.
regards,

[David SW]

Hello John,
Thank you for the great advice. Thank you also for the links, I'm sure they will be of great help. Tell me... Did you grow up in Hawaii? Has sailing always been a hobby? What was your first boat?