What the Hell am I Thinking?

OK... so I know that these are uncertain financial times, I know that with the advent of the Sequestering caused by a dysfunctional congress it is likely that I, being a government civilian employee, I will more than likely be furloughed one day a week, reducing my disposable income by 20%, and so on.  So, how, with all of that going on, can I even be THINKING of buying a Sailboat?   My Uncle used to say that a boat is a hole in the water you throw your money into...  It isn't LOGICAL or PRACTICAL, but yet, I am pretty sure I am going to do it...  Is that what being a sailor is all about?

I am a bit new to this.  The only boat I ever owned thus far was a 14 foot Hobie Cat.... on a trailer... that I kept in my driveway.  This whole thing about Marina's, slips, engines, winches, hauling out, bottom coating, heads, galleys, berths, dinghys, radios, radar,mooring balls, and so on and so on is totally new to me...  I mean, some days I feel a bit overwhelmed.  Oh, and now I have started a Blog?  What the heck is wrong with me?

I think I am going crazy!

I am blaming all of this on my new good friends Mike and Melissa of s/v Moonrise... I started reading their blog, and then, stepped foot on my first honest to goodness mono-hull sailboat when they invited me to go along for a short sail aboard Moonrise...
Me, Driving s/v Moonrise as we are motoring back to the Marina.  Mike and I are trying to make sense of some of the names on the ships anchored in the sound.  Some of them are wierd, or oxymorons...
You know... it is like the Car Salesman who has you take the car you are almost wanting to buy for a test drive... No harm in that, right?  Riiiiiiiiiiiight!

Now it appears that all I do is look for sailboats for sale, read sailing related books, look for sailing related gear for sale... read sailing blogs... and so on...

   I have generated quite a list of possible boats.  after doing a lot of thinking about it, I am looking for a boat with the following characteristics

  • 30 to 32 feet
  • Set up for single-handing is a bonus
  • A furler
  • a Heater is a bonus
  • Dodger
  • A dinghy is a bonus
  • Autopilot and GPS is a bonus
  • under $20,000, less than that if I have to buy a dinghy or do serious repair work on it.
My thinking is that I want a boat that I can easily Singlehand, because, well, I am single, but large enough that I can take friends and family on for a weekend Sail without feeling TOOO cramped.  (I mean, it's a boat... you are GONNA be cramped.  I can't afford one in which you wouldn't.

If you have any advice for me.... I would love to hear it. I am all ears... well, eyes, in this case....


Comments

  1. DarthBunnyLoveMarch 29, 2013 at 8:30 PM

    Good luck on finding your perfect boat.

    Yes, owning a sailboat is illogical, impractical, immoral and fattening. But we spend so much of our lives being logical and practical that some balance is needed. A sailboat gives a kind of freedom from your rational, practical self and that freedom is exciting.

    All things in moderation; including moderation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 5, 2022 at 10:28 AM

    The King Casino | Ventureberg
    Discover the rise and casino-roll.com fall of the king casinosites.one casino, https://septcasino.com/review/merit-casino/ one of the ventureberg.com/ world's 1xbet login largest The Casino is operated by the King Casino Group. You can

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Rainstorm, then Sunshine and my Sister, oh MY!

Image
This is the third summer I have owned Dulcinea.  Every summer I have taken some sort of trip, each year doing it a little bigger, and this year I planned the longest trip I have ever taken... almost 3 weeks!  Now, I am aware of the Cruisers superstition of never starting a passage on a Friday, but I reasoned that this was a vacation , not a passage , so therefore it wouldn't apply to me.... WRONG!  Now, don't get me wrong, overall I had a great time, it is just that I went through some pretty rough times as well. Really?  Again? Looking at Quartermaster Harbor entrance...  2 boats or more so it must be a race! But I am getting ahead of myself...  This years trip was starting on Friday, August 14 and would go through Sept 2nd.  This year I planned well ahead of the trip, and had all of my provisioning and loading done by Thursday, a minor miracle!  Still, I didn't leave as early as I intended to (0800) and by the time I had fueled and left Foss Har
Read more

A "Sharp" solution!

Image
  So, my friends, this post is centered around the problem I have with this drawer, located in the Galley.  You see, I only have 2 drawers in the entire galley. Well.... that is because some of the drawers were removed so a refrigerator could be installed, but still, only TWO drawers.  This top drawer is my silverware/knives/wine and bottle openers/other kitchen gadgets drawer.  It is the second entry on this list that was my greatest concern.  I was worried that one day I would reach into that drawer to get something, and come out with a gash on my hand.     that is because the inside of that drawer looked like this:     yeah... what a mess.  the second issue is, of course it made it hard to find anything.   Enter Bodum.   What is that you ask? The hero of my Galley , of course!  Well, OK, if that is too vague, how about a picture?   Yup!  It is a knife rack!  I was first introduced to this little beauty by my good friends, Mike and Melissa on S/V Galap
Read more