I have a silly "buy a yacht and bugger off dream"
Discussion
I've been thinking about posting a similar thread for a while now. I'm going through a bit of a bad patch in life and am tempted by either a boat or van for a year or so of travelling about and 'rediscovering' myself. I don't have much money at all, so would be something around 22ft, though I'd always wanted a Contessa 32, my money won't stretch that far.
My family all think I'm mad (well, I am, diagnosed last year as having bipolar) but it's something I've wanted to do for the last 20 years or so, so currently doing all the requisite research and planning. Will keep an eye on this thread.
My family all think I'm mad (well, I am, diagnosed last year as having bipolar) but it's something I've wanted to do for the last 20 years or so, so currently doing all the requisite research and planning. Will keep an eye on this thread.
Jonmx said:
I've been thinking about posting a similar thread for a while now. I'm going through a bit of a bad patch in life and am tempted by either a boat or van for a year or so of travelling about and 'rediscovering' myself. I don't have much money at all, so would be something around 22ft, though I'd always wanted a Contessa 32, my money won't stretch that far.
My family all think I'm mad (well, I am, diagnosed last year as having bipolar) but it's something I've wanted to do for the last 20 years or so, so currently doing all the requisite research and planning. Will keep an eye on this thread.
Jonmx, My family all think I'm mad (well, I am, diagnosed last year as having bipolar) but it's something I've wanted to do for the last 20 years or so, so currently doing all the requisite research and planning. Will keep an eye on this thread.
You aren't mad.
You want to escape all that drags you down. Bipolar is something you have to live with, don't let your family use it as an excuse to stop you doing what you want.
Do you want to sail away or drive away?
Sailing would be my dream, but a camper van would do the job on a smaller, more realistic budget.
I would not do it personally It sounds great. All that adventure. New places. Yet , if for instance you get sick or injured you have few resources and further the amount of funds you have will not go far after you buy and fit out a boat and your income goes to zero. First thing to do is sit down with a financial planner. You have a likely 20 years at least ahead to plan to support yourself.
Yacht Broker said:
Do it...
But then again, perhaps I am little biased as I specialise in blue water sailing yachts that are set up to head off in.
Yacht Broker - I suspect your vessels are somewhat out of my budget but we're at the stage of planning what we need and what the budget needs to be so would be great to get a bit of advice from you if you don't mind?But then again, perhaps I am little biased as I specialise in blue water sailing yachts that are set up to head off in.
Our current plan would be to buy something already in the 'Med, and then make our way back slowly. If that works for us, then we'd perhaps look to do something longer and bigger scaled at some point in the future but I'm thinking that for 2 of us, something like a 36-40 foot effort ought to be fine for that trip??
Can ping you a PM/email if easier?
TIA!
Sounds a nice plan OP, but:
1) selling your flat means you have nowhere to return to. Where are you going to live when you are 60/70/80? Why not rent it out (assuming rental income covers costs?) Presumably you have (up to) 15yrs to go on a mortgage as £60k isn't that much equity in the UK these days?
2) have you ever sailed a yacht solo? A good pal of mine had a 36ft-er and despite having sailed round the world twice as crew he always seemed to need someone to help him take it out. In the end a lack of available friends as crew on the days he wanted to take the thing out led to him selling it and buying a motorhome, which he gets far more use out of.
Maybe you just need to get away and do some travelling? A 'gap year' or something of that nature, albeit a little later in life, that doesn't burn all your financial bridges? Likewise I am pissed off about Brexit and the uncertainty ahead (but am also open to the possibility that it could improve this country, if only the people in charge had a scooby about what they were doing - but that's another discussion) so maybe some time away, with a bit of crewing chucked in, would help scratch this itch in a not-so-final way?
1) selling your flat means you have nowhere to return to. Where are you going to live when you are 60/70/80? Why not rent it out (assuming rental income covers costs?) Presumably you have (up to) 15yrs to go on a mortgage as £60k isn't that much equity in the UK these days?
2) have you ever sailed a yacht solo? A good pal of mine had a 36ft-er and despite having sailed round the world twice as crew he always seemed to need someone to help him take it out. In the end a lack of available friends as crew on the days he wanted to take the thing out led to him selling it and buying a motorhome, which he gets far more use out of.
Maybe you just need to get away and do some travelling? A 'gap year' or something of that nature, albeit a little later in life, that doesn't burn all your financial bridges? Likewise I am pissed off about Brexit and the uncertainty ahead (but am also open to the possibility that it could improve this country, if only the people in charge had a scooby about what they were doing - but that's another discussion) so maybe some time away, with a bit of crewing chucked in, would help scratch this itch in a not-so-final way?
A couple of interesting points there PurpleTurtle.
1/ If you spend much time cruising, or working in other countries/areas, you are usually so changed that you are unlikely to want to go back to your point of origan/departure. Most cruisers I know, never went "home" for more than a short visit. They ultimately moved ashore, but usually somewhere entirely different than where they left from.
2/ An interesting point. Many people can't handle being alone. I know many men who sailed extensively with a lady who was totally useless in helping with the boat. However those men would never go single handed. I have done 13,000 nautical miles or so single handed, & have no problem with it. I still preferred sailing with a lady, no matter how useless or other wise she may be.
Interestingly my wife, who could happily take the helm in a 40 knot gale, while I got the main lashed down & set a trysail, is terrified if I drive a car over about 100 Km/H.
1/ If you spend much time cruising, or working in other countries/areas, you are usually so changed that you are unlikely to want to go back to your point of origan/departure. Most cruisers I know, never went "home" for more than a short visit. They ultimately moved ashore, but usually somewhere entirely different than where they left from.
2/ An interesting point. Many people can't handle being alone. I know many men who sailed extensively with a lady who was totally useless in helping with the boat. However those men would never go single handed. I have done 13,000 nautical miles or so single handed, & have no problem with it. I still preferred sailing with a lady, no matter how useless or other wise she may be.
Interestingly my wife, who could happily take the helm in a 40 knot gale, while I got the main lashed down & set a trysail, is terrified if I drive a car over about 100 Km/H.
Hasbeen said:
A couple of interesting points there PurpleTurtle.
1/ If you spend much time cruising, or working in other countries/areas, you are usually so changed that you are unlikely to want to go back to your point of origan/departure. Most cruisers I know, never went "home" for more than a short visit. They ultimately moved ashore, but usually somewhere entirely different than where they left from.
2/ An interesting point. Many people can't handle being alone. I know many men who sailed extensively with a lady who was totally useless in helping with the boat. However those men would never go single handed. I have done 13,000 nautical miles or so single handed, & have no problem with it. I still preferred sailing with a lady, no matter how useless or other wise she may be.
Interestingly my wife, who could happily take the helm in a 40 knot gale, while I got the main lashed down & set a trysail, is terrified if I drive a car over about 100 Km/H.
I suspect having a lady on board has certain benefits other than having help actually sailing 1/ If you spend much time cruising, or working in other countries/areas, you are usually so changed that you are unlikely to want to go back to your point of origan/departure. Most cruisers I know, never went "home" for more than a short visit. They ultimately moved ashore, but usually somewhere entirely different than where they left from.
2/ An interesting point. Many people can't handle being alone. I know many men who sailed extensively with a lady who was totally useless in helping with the boat. However those men would never go single handed. I have done 13,000 nautical miles or so single handed, & have no problem with it. I still preferred sailing with a lady, no matter how useless or other wise she may be.
Interestingly my wife, who could happily take the helm in a 40 knot gale, while I got the main lashed down & set a trysail, is terrified if I drive a car over about 100 Km/H.
PurpleTurtle said:
Sounds a nice plan OP, but:
1) selling your flat means you have nowhere to return to. Where are you going to live when you are 60/70/80? Why not rent it out (assuming rental income covers costs?) Presumably you have (up to) 15yrs to go on a mortgage as £60k isn't that much equity in the UK these days?
2) have you ever sailed a yacht solo? A good pal of mine had a 36ft-er and despite having sailed round the world twice as crew he always seemed to need someone to help him take it out. In the end a lack of available friends as crew on the days he wanted to take the thing out led to him selling it and buying a motorhome, which he gets far more use out of.
Maybe you just need to get away and do some travelling? A 'gap year' or something of that nature, albeit a little later in life, that doesn't burn all your financial bridges? Likewise I am pissed off about Brexit and the uncertainty ahead (but am also open to the possibility that it could improve this country, if only the people in charge had a scooby about what they were doing - but that's another discussion) so maybe some time away, with a bit of crewing chucked in, would help scratch this itch in a not-so-final way?
Not so much a plan as a dream.1) selling your flat means you have nowhere to return to. Where are you going to live when you are 60/70/80? Why not rent it out (assuming rental income covers costs?) Presumably you have (up to) 15yrs to go on a mortgage as £60k isn't that much equity in the UK these days?
2) have you ever sailed a yacht solo? A good pal of mine had a 36ft-er and despite having sailed round the world twice as crew he always seemed to need someone to help him take it out. In the end a lack of available friends as crew on the days he wanted to take the thing out led to him selling it and buying a motorhome, which he gets far more use out of.
Maybe you just need to get away and do some travelling? A 'gap year' or something of that nature, albeit a little later in life, that doesn't burn all your financial bridges? Likewise I am pissed off about Brexit and the uncertainty ahead (but am also open to the possibility that it could improve this country, if only the people in charge had a scooby about what they were doing - but that's another discussion) so maybe some time away, with a bit of crewing chucked in, would help scratch this itch in a not-so-final way?
Reasonably healthy at the moment, but smoke too much, drink too much, don't do exercise, would be (maybe pleasantly) surprised to see 60's,doesn't make me think I'll see 70's let alone 80's.
Which is probably reason enough to drop the dream.
Mortgage is tiny and paid off in a year or so (therfor not much equity in it) just didn't move out of my first flat. It's someplace to eat and sleep, didn't need anything more.
Never sailed solo, but neither daft enough to believe it would be easy, nor stupid enough for it to be beyond me.
Travelling is something I've not done enough of, but I want to do more of.
As mentioned previously, I don't think I have transferable skills so travelling/gap year is an end to reasonable income. A year out is a start from scratch as I see it.
Perhaps a tentative first step might be to crew on a yacht which is being ferried between locations. Starting with being a member of a crew of several people and if that works out maybe moving to a situation where you're the sole crew for the owner/skipper.
Of course being at sea on a longer trip puts interpersonal relationships under stress - so I can see how it's not exactly getting away from it in the same way as sailing single-handed, but it might be a sensible first toe in the water (pardon the pun).
You could rent your flat while you're out there getting your sea legs.
Of course being at sea on a longer trip puts interpersonal relationships under stress - so I can see how it's not exactly getting away from it in the same way as sailing single-handed, but it might be a sensible first toe in the water (pardon the pun).
You could rent your flat while you're out there getting your sea legs.
Have you got some sort of regular income do you have ? You'll need something coming in to top up funds. Maybe keep the flat and rent it out ?
I've been told boat maintenance is better gauged at 10% of the boats value - not 1)2%.
I've met lots of people circumnavigating who have done it for years. None regret it. Some do it on a shoe string, some are wealthy, all are free and happy !!
I want to get my own boat eventually but realistically I'm might have to wait until I'm 60 and my first pension kicks in There again I could be dead by then or restricted in my ability to move/function.
I'm living a bit of a nomadic lifestyle at the moment, you certainly learn to realise what's important in life and how much unnecessary crap you have accumulated over time.
I've been told boat maintenance is better gauged at 10% of the boats value - not 1)2%.
I've met lots of people circumnavigating who have done it for years. None regret it. Some do it on a shoe string, some are wealthy, all are free and happy !!
I want to get my own boat eventually but realistically I'm might have to wait until I'm 60 and my first pension kicks in There again I could be dead by then or restricted in my ability to move/function.
I'm living a bit of a nomadic lifestyle at the moment, you certainly learn to realise what's important in life and how much unnecessary crap you have accumulated over time.
I don't do boats, would love to but they make me very ill, but love the idea, what alternatives are out there?
I don't have the funds for a fancy motorhome but was thinking of converting one of those library vans etc as you can pick one up for a couple of k and I am very mechanically minded. Then if it gives up the ghost in deepest Kazikstan or wherever then I could leave it by the side of the road and get a cheap flight home.
I guess that getting through europe is still easy enough for now, I imagine the red tape starts getting difficult after that, is it the same on the sea or can you basically go anywhere in the ocean?
Any other working holiday alternatives? that are similar to crewing?
I don't have the funds for a fancy motorhome but was thinking of converting one of those library vans etc as you can pick one up for a couple of k and I am very mechanically minded. Then if it gives up the ghost in deepest Kazikstan or wherever then I could leave it by the side of the road and get a cheap flight home.
I guess that getting through europe is still easy enough for now, I imagine the red tape starts getting difficult after that, is it the same on the sea or can you basically go anywhere in the ocean?
Any other working holiday alternatives? that are similar to crewing?
PAUL500 said:
Any other working holiday alternatives? that are similar to crewing?
A couple of years ago I met a middle-aged Australian couple in a hotel in the Lake District. They'd given up work as soon as their mortgage was paid off in Australia, put the house up for rent and headed off . They were working their way around the world, working mostly in hotels doing minor jobs,waiting tables, night porter,cleaning, anything at all as long as accommodation was thrown in, moving on again at the end of the peak season. The jobs they were doing weren't the best paid in the world, but with food and accommodation thrown in, their living costs weren't too big either and they had enough time of their own to enjoy the places they stayed. When I met them, they'd been 'on the road' for around six years, had had a couple of 'holidays' back home, but had no plans to give up for a good few years yet. They'd 'done' the USA and were just finishing off Europe when I met them, rest of the world still to see.As regards being a flotilla skipper - thats really left for the youngsters !!
The young'uns who have just finished their fast track yachtmaster course normally do this for a season or two. The company owners know that they don't have to pay much as lots of people want to do it - so they don't !
You look after a few boats, repair damage/problems, socialise/get pissed with them every night, and then after half a days rest meet the next group for the following weeks piss up !!
As has been mentioned you could go crewing on other peoples boats. Some people spend the summer in the med, or they are sailing long term further afield. Sometimes you pay a fixed agreed contribution to cover food & drink, sometimes it might get covered in exchange for your services, sometimes your flights might get covered if you are lucky. The best thing about all this is you don't have to buy a boat !! (and risk high running costs).
After a while though you might feel like you want something thats yours and want your own private space all the time. This is a good start though.
Don't sell the flat.
The young'uns who have just finished their fast track yachtmaster course normally do this for a season or two. The company owners know that they don't have to pay much as lots of people want to do it - so they don't !
You look after a few boats, repair damage/problems, socialise/get pissed with them every night, and then after half a days rest meet the next group for the following weeks piss up !!
As has been mentioned you could go crewing on other peoples boats. Some people spend the summer in the med, or they are sailing long term further afield. Sometimes you pay a fixed agreed contribution to cover food & drink, sometimes it might get covered in exchange for your services, sometimes your flights might get covered if you are lucky. The best thing about all this is you don't have to buy a boat !! (and risk high running costs).
After a while though you might feel like you want something thats yours and want your own private space all the time. This is a good start though.
Don't sell the flat.
Oh and personally I wouldn't start in the UK and buy a boat here. Plenty of boats for sail in Asia. Thats what I'm thinking about doing. Buy a boat in Malaysia/Thailand, sail around the islands, you can get to most places day hopping around. Food/diesel/living is cheap, weather can always be good. When the rainy season is coming on the west coast, go to the east coast. When it returns to the east coast, go back to the west. When you've done that a couple of times drop down to Indonesia, hundreds of islands around there !! Theres the sail Indonesia rally that lasts 3 months and the sail Malaysia rally too, thats a good few weeks of being around others having fun, having some back up, do as much or as little of it as you want.
My thoughts...
If you want to do it, do it. Don't sell anything. You can buy a boat for under 10k. Have a look at Albin Vegas, Van de Stadt Pioneers and the like. Go for 30 feet with good kit (ask for help here if you need to identify what that looks like). If you're bright you'll be able to read some books and head off into the sunset. You'll learn on the way. If not duffers won't drown etc. Buy an EPIRB and get some comms fitted. Read some defining books. Many people set of on a small journey and return a couple of years later.
Any mechanical/electrical skills? Sell your services on the way. Good at fixing electronics? Ditto. Take fishing gear. Barter.
If I were in your position I would go for it. What's the worst that can happen? (Don't answer that!)
Fair winds.
If you want to do it, do it. Don't sell anything. You can buy a boat for under 10k. Have a look at Albin Vegas, Van de Stadt Pioneers and the like. Go for 30 feet with good kit (ask for help here if you need to identify what that looks like). If you're bright you'll be able to read some books and head off into the sunset. You'll learn on the way. If not duffers won't drown etc. Buy an EPIRB and get some comms fitted. Read some defining books. Many people set of on a small journey and return a couple of years later.
Any mechanical/electrical skills? Sell your services on the way. Good at fixing electronics? Ditto. Take fishing gear. Barter.
If I were in your position I would go for it. What's the worst that can happen? (Don't answer that!)
Fair winds.
SimonThe Sailor and w1bbles (amongst others) thank you, but you're thoughts are not really helping me to "sleep on it"
Keeping the flat is a sensible option, removed that from the list.
Next is quitting the silly expenses like smokes and boose and random frippery.
I think some time out to give serious thought to what I want, and what I don't want, is over-due.
Keeping the flat is a sensible option, removed that from the list.
Next is quitting the silly expenses like smokes and boose and random frippery.
I think some time out to give serious thought to what I want, and what I don't want, is over-due.
Anyone asked if you have tried the local sailing clubs to see if they need some crew for you to try it out a few times on a boat of the size you are looking (more likely 40ft).
I know over here (Asia/Australia) when Im in Singapore I can quite easily help out on friends or friends or friends racing yachts for the weekend as they are always looking for crew to boss around... they do it for fun as cars over there are bloody expensive, so quite a lot of people get their kicks out of sailing.
Then you can do stuff like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=114...
(XJSJohn on the thread is who I meet up with when Im in SG)
costs are from 5 years ago, if you would like I can ask the guys on the cost of ownership now?
I know over here (Asia/Australia) when Im in Singapore I can quite easily help out on friends or friends or friends racing yachts for the weekend as they are always looking for crew to boss around... they do it for fun as cars over there are bloody expensive, so quite a lot of people get their kicks out of sailing.
Then you can do stuff like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=114...
(XJSJohn on the thread is who I meet up with when Im in SG)
costs are from 5 years ago, if you would like I can ask the guys on the cost of ownership now?
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