Getting closer to being a real cruiser

[PJHoffnet]

My wife and I are in the final count the down (<14 months) until full retirement. While we live in Nebraska, we already have our retirement home all set and waiting in Viera FL (about 15 miles south of Cape Canaveral, on the ICW). We 'practice' being retired down there for 7-10 days every other month or so.

Part of our plan is to have a 35-45 ft cruiser for ICW and eventually (after building up the skills) Caribbean island hopping. We've developed this 'thought' list after reading a lot of material on what to think about prior to buying a boat. Hopefully not too much - I don't want to get kicked off the first day for over posting.

We plan on doing a lot of forum reading and learning.

- Pat & Paul

Cruising Area
Indian River
Florida Keys
Florida Gulf Coast
Intercoastal (entire east coast)
Bahamas
Caribbean

Type of cruising
Recreational travel
Day long runs, port hopping, moored/on the hook each night (with a few long haul exceptions when necessary)

Expected weather
Night lows of 40s, Day highs of low 90s (Heater and AC a must)
All sea conditions, though will strive to always seek shelter vice trying to navigate in weather

Hull Type: Motor Yacht, aft cabin. Currently looking at Carvers & Maxums

Quarters
Master aft cabin suite (with private head, separate shower)
Standard shape bed vice round (sheet availability? $$)
Guest v-berth bow cabin for two
Drop down table for two in salon, or fold out couch good to have
One common head. Separate shower stall good, but not necessary
Chart work area

Crew
One 55 yo male w/ 27+ years US Navy (navigation, rules of the road, radar, radio, qualified submarines and Craft Master (100 ft twin diesel vessel)
One slightly older female w/ freshwater novice skills - no formal training
No major medical or mobility issues
Both have completed the Florida State Boater's Safety Course

Budget
~$115K and down. Expect almost full price of boat to be covered by recent sale of our house, if not financing is already secured.

General
More fiberglass less wood interior
Full sized refrig/freezer
Davit, RHIB
Safe to walk around stern to bow - high rails, wide deck
Reverse osmosis system (great if it's there, add if needed)
Generator
Radar
Chart table
VSat
VHF
External speakers/hailing speakers
EPIRB
Digital Charts (how do you do updates?)
Voyage Planning system (The Captain)

Training Plan
Basic Coast Guard
Six pack

Training Float Plan
Year One
Indian River Lagoon between the bridges
Indian River Lagoon Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet
Atlantic Ocean Port Canaveral to sight of land lost
Atlantic Ocean Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet

Year Two
Indian River - St Lucie River - Lake Okeechobee - Tampa - Key West
Key West - Bahamas

Year Three
Bahamas - Turks and Caicos - BVI - USVI

Year Four
Anguilla- St Kitts & Nevis - Antigua & Barbuda

[Hudson Force]

PJHoffnet, Welcome to the community. I do admire organized planning, especially when it's coupled with the ability to adapt to change. I'm looking forward to hearing of your successes and adventures.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Pat & Paul.

[PJHoffnet]

Wow, it's been a while since I made that first post ... 'course things have changed.

We bought our 'new to us' 1999 Maxum 4100 SCA in March of 2017. Since we didn't retire until October 2017 the boat didn't get much use until the beginning of 2018.

We're well on our way with the 'training' plan I envisioned. We've only been doing day trips - longest a 45 nm round trip. We've become proficient in underways/docking, fueling, pump outs, haul outs, locking and anchoring. Because there aren't many mooring fields in our area, we haven't knocked out that skill yet, but it is planned in the near future. Waiting (next few months) to install an inverter which will allow overnight on the hook practice.

Voyage planning already in progress for first multi-day trip down to Key West in early spring 2019.

Keeping up with the preventive maintenance and knocking out the little jobs as they come up. So far nothing I haven't been able to handle myself - but I've got to tell ya, I should have taken up yoga years ago to afford me the flexibility to reach most of the work areas I've had to visit.

This place continues to be a wealth of knowledge that is making our cruising experience really fun.

[Lowcountry]

It would be easier (and more fun) to go to the Abacos than it would be to go to Key West.
You can drive your car to Key West. Go somewhere in your boat that you can't go in your car.

[PJHoffnet]

Originally Posted by Lowcountry

It would be easier (and more fun) to go to the Abacos than it would be to go to Key West.
You can drive your car to Key West. Go somewhere in your boat that you can't go in your car.

A good point - the Bahamas are our 2019 cruise with Cape Cod on the agenda for 2020.

We've been to Key West many times, and the trip is more of a 'graduation' exercise for us. Ensuring are skills are up to speed in the 'safe' environment of the AICW.

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by PJHoffnet

We've been to Key West many times, and the trip is more of a 'graduation' exercise for us. Ensuring are skills are up to speed in the 'safe' environment of the AICW.

Can't fault anyone for progressing cautiously to ensure safety.

[spacebladder]

It is a good thing I think. Hope you succeed!

[Boosted]

Did the craft meet your requirements, did your requirements change, and what’s the layout of a maxum?

[PJHoffnet]

Originally Posted by Boosted

Did the craft meet your requirements, did your requirements change, and what’s the layout of a maxum?

While we were initially focusing in on a Carver aft cabin with a cockpit (we looked at a couple and surveyed one - it was way over priced once we 'found' all the work needed to be done) we found that the Maxum 4100 SCA really hit all the things on our 'must have' checklist and a few on the nice to have, so we're very happy with the boat. Use/cruising plans have not changed.
Here's a look at the 4100's layout. We have twin Cummins 330HP 6BTA 5.9 M-3 engines.