Wanna-be Cruisers

[Dream Chaser]

We are Jen and John, and we are preparing to leave Louisiana in 21 months and embark on our new lives as Cruisers. We have been working on our boat "Dream Chaser" for about a year now getting her sea worthy and we are very excited and anxious to get going...we are both finding it very hard to continue to go to work and deal with everyday stuff...our minds are on the boat, out to sea...I am new to sailing but John is a capt and has much experience sailing. I guess I am looking for advice from others who have been smitten with the cruising bug...kindred spirits if you will...

[Sunspot Baby]

You are absolutely crazy and among others similarly afflicted on this forum

Welcome aboard. :-)

George

[Dream Chaser]

Birds of a feather and all...

[imagine2frolic]

GOOD FOR YOU! I am hoping you take well to this addiction. Once it is in your blood THAT'S IT FOR LIFE!

[clausont]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Once it is in your blood THAT'S IT FOR LIFE!

Welcome aboard! Imagine2Frolic said it all.

[mickmul]

Welcome Jen and John! That's a fine big boat you have! Looking forward to hearing the "getting her ready" updates as the clock ticks down to freedom. . . make sure you keep enough freedom vouchers in reserve for the big trip and best of luck!!

[Dream Chaser]

We are thinking of selling everything and setting sail...can anyone that has done this offer some words of advice...also wondering about transportation once we cpme to port in different locations...how do ya'll go about getting groceries and stuff when you get to a new location?? Thinking about an electric scooter or something??

[Dream Chaser]

I've heard that the folding bikes leave alot to be desired...

[Hud3]

Transportation is generally not a problem, at least in the eastern Caribbean where we've cruised.

The cruising guides have information about where the various stores are for provisioning in the places you'll be visiting, and locals will be happy to help guide you. Depending on the island, you can walk to some, catch the "Dollar Bus" (the 15 passenger mini-vans that roar around many islands), or if worst comes to worst, a taxi.

In my opinion, a scooter or bicycles would be more of a pain to deal with (storage and maintenance in a salty environment) than they would be worth.

Soft-sided insulated coolers with shoulder straps are handy for getting the frozen food back to the boat before it melts. Use canvas boat bags for the rest.

[imagine2frolic]

Forget the bikes, and scooter. Been there, and done that...what a pain. I would give a thought to the little motorized skateboards though. I have found from St. Maarten to north Florida that getting groceries is usually a simple walk. Get a cart with wheels that folds. Handy for laundry day too.

Never miss out on the local transportation. It can be a real HOOT to ride with the locals. In Mexico it was probably some of the most fun I had in 5 months while sailing there.

[Vasco]

Get a good luggage cart. Not one of those flimsy ones that fall apart but a good sturdy one with fair sized wheels. We used to carry folding bikes but they take a lot of space and we were using them less and less.

[Therapy]

My thinking is that grocery shopping would be the biggest PIA next to laundry.
I don't know though since I live in a suburb and am "armchairing" till I either go or die.
Boat projects have got to be better than lawn care!

[stevensc]

I live in Thibodaux, Louisiana and am planning to make a trip to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the VI's. about 18 from now. I'll be doing it in a trawler 36-40'. I have a lot to do between now and then sell my Camano 31 trawler, buy a larger one etc, etc. I get over to to the Norh Shore a couple of times per year, check your Pvt. messages I'll send you my contact information maybe we can exchange ideas and other information.
Steve Willett
Camano 31
Thibodaux, Louisiana

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha,
Welcome aboard! I'd get a couple used folding bikes to take along and if you end up not using them it won't be such a big loss to pass them on to locals. They might be a pain but you have lots of room in that big ole ketch to store things even if they have to go in bags on deck. Bikes are good exercise and you can cover a lot of ground if you find yourself a bit of a distance from shopping or laundromat.
Kind Regards,
JohnL