Thanks for the Advice, Might as well say Hi!

[DuaneGraham]

Hello all, I've been reading through some of the different sailing forums over the past six months or so, but CF seems to offer up the best advice. I've been picking up little nuggets of information here and there so I figured I had might as well sign up and say thank you.

A bit about myself, I grew up in Nova Scotia but never really took in any time on the water, only in it. Now I'm living in Toronto, Ontario and am desperately seeking the freedom, peace, sense of adventure, and feeling of accomplishment I believe will come with mastering (for the time being, understanding) the art of sailing.

My plan is to purchase a sailboat, my first sailboat, in the 25-30' range in about 2 years or so, while spending around 15,000. I particularly like the C&C's price and availability, but am more keen on the Aloha's, however a bit fewer to choose from, though it is a little too early to settle on a boat. My hope is to buy ONE boat that I can learn on as a coastal sailor and eventually take to the deep of the Great Lakes, perhaps too unrealistic, but nothing is in stone as of yet.

Reading is a re-found hobby now as it's a truly interesting lifestyle. I've read the Sailing Bible by Evans, Manley, and Smith, it was a great book to start with. Based on the advice i've read on here, I also pre ordered and received the fourth edition of The Annapolis Book of Seamanship which has turned out be an exceptionally well written, informative, and hard book to put down.

If you've read this far, wow, but I do look forward to learning from you all, and in time, giving back to the community. Thanks again, and cheers.

[nigel1]

Thanks for the vote of confidence in CF, and welcome.
Wish you well in finding your boat. You will get lots of good advise here.

[chall]

Welcome. CF I have found is a great source for information. Also a good group of real nice people.

[Jim Cate]

Welcome to CF, Duane. As you have seen, there is a wealth of info available here. Some of it is good... your job is to sort out which bits fit that description! You will get the hang of it in time. Meanwhile, while your two year plan is germinating, try to get on as crew on other folks' boats. That will do you far more good than reading books, even if they are great ones.

Cheers,

Jim

[DuaneGraham]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Welcome to CF, Duane. As you have seen, there is a wealth of info available here. Some of it is good... your job is to sort out which bits fit that description! You will get the hang of it in time. Meanwhile, while your two year plan is germinating, try to get on as crew on other folks' boats. That will do you far more good than reading books, even if they are great ones.

Cheers,

Jim

Thanks all, wow didn't figure to get a reply at all, but yes, that's definitely in the plans to make my way to Toronto harbor and hop on a couple boats, but am hoping to get some of the terminology down first. Don't want to be dead weight on board. I've glanced over some of the posts for crew members needed and surely when the weather improves there'll be much more opportunity in my area, and i'll be much better prepared for what's expected.

[JPA Cate]

DuaneGraham,

Welcome aboard.

There are members here from your area. Soon they'll be chiming in, too.

All the best,

Ann

[Hudson Force]

Duane, welcome to the community. Keep us posted of your adventures!

[Waterway Guide]

Welcome aboard, Duane!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, DuaneGraham.

[captain58sailin]

Welcome to the forum.

[DuaneGraham]

Thank you all again for the support, can't wait to get started. Winter tires are coming off this week so definitely a good sign of decent weather on it's way!

[DuaneGraham]

Thanks CaptForce, I will. I will hopefully be on some interesting boats this Summer. I have been looking around on the site to see if there was a section for humorous stories taking place on or near the water and good stories of bad and perfect weather, but I guess everything is kind of mixed in together?

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!

It's good to have you here. I've owned lots of boats for the many years I've sailed and my advice is to buy a sailing boat (not project) for what you can afford to spend without financing and that will meet your needs for sailing now and not for bigger deeper water in the future. When you are ready to move to a larger boat you'll want to be able to sell what you have so don't modify it too much and get something popular.

Good luck in your sailing pursuits.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by DuaneGraham

Thanks CaptForce, I will. I will hopefully be on some interesting boats this Summer. I have been looking around on the site to see if there was a section for humorous stories taking place on or near the water and good stories of bad and perfect weather, but I guess everything is kind of mixed in together?

Humorous and strange stories vary with geography. We gasp in awe that people function north of Toronto. We're spending this summer in "north" Florida with hopes to stay cool.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by DuaneGraham

...but am hoping to get some of the terminology down first. ...

Welcome. My wife was from Toronto. Great city.

Simplify, simplify, simplify.

Standing rigging - easy. Bow, sterm port & starboard - easy. Sails - usually just two, easy.

The only more complicated stuff is the running rigging. OK, let's simplify:

halyards - only used twice a day to raise and lower sails - easy

jib sheets, only two and they're on the winches

mainsheet - only one - easy

All the rest are sail control lines that many boats may not even be equipped with. Just take 'em one at a time and you'll be fine. Remember, ask questions, most skippers I know love to answer them.

Good luck, look forward to seeing you around here.