Want to Live Aboard

[wally05]

Hello,
I am new to cruising and am taking a course with my girlfriend in April to get our keel boat cruising designation. We eventually want to do some good trips to different places in the world. Is there any courses or any information that people can share with us to guide us in the right direction? We would like to become live-aboards eventually and travel around the world. Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Paul
P.S. I know these are loaded questions and may seem silly to the more experienced sailors out there, but, any information would be helpful.

[skipmac]

Taking a course is a good start. Joining Cruisers Forum another good idea.

Now beg, borrow, buy (don't steal), check out from the library or any other method to read every book, magazine, article and publication about every aspect of boats, boating, sailing and seamanship you can find. Initially a lot of what you read will not make sense but read it anyway. After you learn a little more go reread the stuff you didn't get the first time.

In between reading go boating. Small boats are good. Actually learning and practicing sail handling and trim on a small boat can be a better teacher than on a large one. Small boats you feel immediately the effects of every adjustment you make, every puff of wind, any change in wind speed or direction. Bigger boats are so big and so heavy these effects are not as easy to feel.

Charter a boat. Start small and local if budget is a concern. If you have deep pockets maybe charter a larger boat with a captain and ask him or her a LOT questions.

By the way, don't forget to have fun.

[Hudson Force]

wally05, We are pretty much of the "learning while doing" philosophy. You don't mention your area,- are you in a place where you can begin local cruising before setting sail for the far horizons. Do you have the boat already?,-if not, are you at a stage of shopping? Are you planning on employment while cruising? If so, what locations and time spans of cruising fit into your emplyment. We've been retired live aboards and fulltime cruising for the last eight years, but lived aboard and seasonally cruised for 31 years while employed. 'tell us more, Aythya crew

..good advice from Skipmac re: learning on a small boat!

[boatman61]

Welcome 2 CF.... search your questions and browse the liveaboard/smallboats posts on here.. you'll find most of your questions have already been covered as..
1/ We've all started from the same place...
2/ This is a never ending learning cycle... no one here knows it all... but between us all we cover a lot...
3/ Theory is great but hands on is better...

Have fun folks....

[zeehag]

once you have the boat--sail sail sail---go to places like catalina from lost angeles and to islands not far from where ever you live--i bought my first boat in 1990 --i moved right in--have resided aboard since then--now i have a formosa 41--lol-i learned to sail at age 7 in new york in a river ..lol....the boat you reside aboard isnt as important as the one in which ye sail the world--is a world of difference between merely residing aboard and taking that boat out to sail a long distance--many have tried with a live aboard boat and found the problems after leaving--make the boat on which you reside as cruiseworthy as possible--and then moreso---donot believe a liveaboard boat is automatically ready to cruise---learn by doing and reading--be prepared isnt just a boyscout motto----have fun and welcome to the water world!!!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
You're getting quite a lot of good advice so I won't add my two cents. Just look at some of the links after my signature if you have questions.
regards,

[SkiprJohn]

P. S. Lots of clubs offer classes. Check locally.
regards,

[Ocean Girl]

Also look into joining SSCA, they are geared towards cruising too. I can't add the link on this computer but the full name is The Seven Seas Cruising Association.
Welcome to the forum
Erika

[Bash]

First things first. CF has a special forum just for liveaboards, and about half the folk who wander in there are wannabes just like you. The other half have a great deal of expertise on the subject. Click on "Discussion Board" up on top, and scroll down a good ten inches to find it.

And welcome to the forum.

[emmo]

Hi,
Go for it, do not lose the dream. You may[probably] buy the wrong yacht,
been there, but it is all a learning curve.
Any time at sea is good time.
Read, read about repairs and maintenance, as well as sailing, navigation etc.
Keep the dream above all,
Emmo

[cheryfee]

I have been living aboard the past year and a half and love it! I left a horse ranch and all my lawn tools behind. Try a sunsail bareboat charter or a flotilla maybe with another couple or a captain, would be a great start. Happy Sailing!