Which boat to travel for a year?
Discussion
In a few years my daughter will go to Uni and I will probably retire, or at least take a few years out. A germ of an idea is to buy a boat and spend a year sailing around. I don't have any experience of sailing (but would obvously get some before going if the idea is feasible).
What sort of boat (at what sort of price) would be needed to travel in comfort (just the wife and I with daughter possibly joining us in her vacations?)
Any ideas on how much would be needed for running costs?
Clearly boat would have to be easier enough for an inexperienced couple to manage but also large enough not to feel like we were travelling in a floating sardine can.
What sort of boat (at what sort of price) would be needed to travel in comfort (just the wife and I with daughter possibly joining us in her vacations?)
Any ideas on how much would be needed for running costs?
Clearly boat would have to be easier enough for an inexperienced couple to manage but also large enough not to feel like we were travelling in a floating sardine can.
Where abouts would you like to sail?
A friend has just set off in the last 2 months and is currently in Spain and heading round the med for a few years.
http://viridiancruising.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1
We would sail his 50ft yacht 2 handed with ease. Although the cost is around the £225k mark for a second hand yacht of that size and model.
The yacht has 3 bedrooms (one is bunk beds) so space for him and the Mrs, space for his children if they come to visit and space for any of us who want to join him.
Realistically you’d probably get away with 40-45ft for something that does not feel too small.
As for learning to sail. If you have time available then it is very easy to rack up miles and experience for free.
Get a competent crew course under your belt then keep an eye on Facebook for crew wanted groups there is always people willing to take novice sailors with them. The more experience you gain the easier it becomes to get a ride.
I learnt to sail years ago but did nothing with it. In the last 2.5 years I’ve done over 3,000miles and that’s with hardly any sailing this year.
So how much has this cost me? I’ve paid £50 over 2 races and a jolly which covered food and fuel and that is it. The rest has been free and even fed for free. (I have done comp crew, vhf course, day skipper practical and Yachtmaster theory all through various employers)
A friend has just set off in the last 2 months and is currently in Spain and heading round the med for a few years.
http://viridiancruising.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1
We would sail his 50ft yacht 2 handed with ease. Although the cost is around the £225k mark for a second hand yacht of that size and model.
The yacht has 3 bedrooms (one is bunk beds) so space for him and the Mrs, space for his children if they come to visit and space for any of us who want to join him.
Realistically you’d probably get away with 40-45ft for something that does not feel too small.
As for learning to sail. If you have time available then it is very easy to rack up miles and experience for free.
Get a competent crew course under your belt then keep an eye on Facebook for crew wanted groups there is always people willing to take novice sailors with them. The more experience you gain the easier it becomes to get a ride.
I learnt to sail years ago but did nothing with it. In the last 2.5 years I’ve done over 3,000miles and that’s with hardly any sailing this year.
So how much has this cost me? I’ve paid £50 over 2 races and a jolly which covered food and fuel and that is it. The rest has been free and even fed for free. (I have done comp crew, vhf course, day skipper practical and Yachtmaster theory all through various employers)
Thanks for the above.
Although nothing planned we would probably do similar to your friends i.e. around the Med, perhaps across to the Canary Islands and possibly to the Carribean (not sure about the Atlantic Crossing).
I was hoping that quarter of a million would buy something reasonable.
The link is very useful.
It might be difficult to get sailing experience whilst I work - probably spend the first year retired learning and preparing for the trip.
Although nothing planned we would probably do similar to your friends i.e. around the Med, perhaps across to the Canary Islands and possibly to the Carribean (not sure about the Atlantic Crossing).
I was hoping that quarter of a million would buy something reasonable.
The link is very useful.
It might be difficult to get sailing experience whilst I work - probably spend the first year retired learning and preparing for the trip.
I think you'd hard pushed to spend either a weekend or 10k on a Sonata.
250k will get the OP a magnificent vessel. This site specializes in what the OP is looking for:
http://www.jryachts.com/yachts-for-sale
I could recommend a holiday with this lot as a thoroughly pleasant introduction to the sport:
http://www.sailingholidays.com
250k will get the OP a magnificent vessel. This site specializes in what the OP is looking for:
http://www.jryachts.com/yachts-for-sale
I could recommend a holiday with this lot as a thoroughly pleasant introduction to the sport:
http://www.sailingholidays.com
To 'see' the world outside of the boat structure, cost aside, it has to be a catamaran Shirley?
I couldn't live a year on a monohull myself. But I don't want to start the mono/multi argument here.
I have been looking at doing something similar, staying on the water for longer if it works out.
At the moment a Lagoon 400 or 440 is tempting me.
I couldn't live a year on a monohull myself. But I don't want to start the mono/multi argument here.
I have been looking at doing something similar, staying on the water for longer if it works out.
At the moment a Lagoon 400 or 440 is tempting me.
The general accepted convention is that if living aboard in the Med a monohull is the bettter choice as you spend more time in marinas or on town quays which cost money, if you are in the Caribbean you will be likely to spend most of your time at anchor which costs nothing so a catamaran is the best bet.
Of course it's considerably more complicated than that as you must factor in how many people will be on board and for how long, how much you value space and creature comforts, the running costs as cats usually have two engines and most importantly how each type of craft sails, monohulls lean over and cats sail fairly flat and level.
My wife and I have holidayed on both, we really like the space on a cat but I much prefer the sailing style of a mono and even she has to agree with me on that as cats have a strange rolly motion. For us no question about a mono in the Med but if we were going to live aboard in the Caribbean we would have to think very seriously about a cat.
Of course it's considerably more complicated than that as you must factor in how many people will be on board and for how long, how much you value space and creature comforts, the running costs as cats usually have two engines and most importantly how each type of craft sails, monohulls lean over and cats sail fairly flat and level.
My wife and I have holidayed on both, we really like the space on a cat but I much prefer the sailing style of a mono and even she has to agree with me on that as cats have a strange rolly motion. For us no question about a mono in the Med but if we were going to live aboard in the Caribbean we would have to think very seriously about a cat.
Take a look at Bavaria. You are unlikely to need anything as robust as a Nicholson if you're sticking to inshore areas and maybe hopping across the channel or around the med. Bavaria are mass produced so pretty reasonably priced but not really what I'd consider a 'blue water' boat.
You can easily pick up a 40 - 50 footer for £notalot
You can easily pick up a 40 - 50 footer for £notalot
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