Hello all,

Man is the corporate filled with people lacking integrity, or what? I'm
fed up. After working in the corp world for over a decade, I'm working
on getting out.

I've been dragging my feet, but I started a company name for my
photography, and hope to start making money selling my photos. But I'm
not sure if I'll be able to make what I'm making now.

So question(s) #1:
- Will your overall expenses decrease by livingaboard, especially if
you don't tie up at a dock? Obviously rent/mortgage is decreased
drastically.
- Car, insurance, gas, repair, & inspection costs are gone. I have a
mountain bike and canoe if I need to hit the food market. Is it stupid
to have a small motocycle or scooter?
- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.
- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?
- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

But new costs - boat maintenance? Others? How much? So the main
questions is if overall expenses do decrease - by how much percentage
wise? By 50% - or even more. If by 50% than in essense my photography
could net me 1/2 what I currently making and I'll still be okay.

My experience: none.

I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club
- and will inquire about membership. I know they also instruct. If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now - I've been
thinking about this for a while and and I know myself well enough that
livingaboard would be the life for me. I don't know how many years it
will take to save for a boat and to learn the skills - but if I don't
start now, it will take even longer ot it will never happen.

4-5 years ago I slimmed down my possessions. I feel I need to slim them
down again. But what size boat would be a good size. Any
recommendations? Though I read 25-35 with 30' recommended. Correct?

My sailing needs/uses: I don't care about speed or racing - I'm a "stop
and smell the flowers" kind of guy. I would only need to sail to move
around to see a new place. Do not feel that I would ever need to be far
out to see but can see myself sailing from Florida to the Caribbean. I
would also use it to sail up and down the East Coast for photo
opportunities (fall foliage in Northeast in Sept/Oct., etc.) and to
attend art festivals where I could display my photography in Big
cities: Boston, New York, Philly, Washington DC, Baltimore, etc.

I might also sail around for contract work. I contacted well over 200
magazine publications and found ~ 50 that would be interested in my
photos and some of them hire you for a particular job - e.g. pics of
Sping hikers on the Applachian Trail in Virginia - whatever. That's it
- cruising around for fun and photos.

Any thoughts or advice.

Sorry for the looooong post - I'm normally not that gabby.
Jim

"Jim K." wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello all,

Man is the corporate filled with people lacking integrity, or what? I'm
fed up. After working in the corp world for over a decade, I'm working
on getting out.

Having been in the corporate world for 25+ years, I feel your pain.

I've been dragging my feet, but I started a company name for my
photography, and hope to start making money selling my photos. But I'm
not sure if I'll be able to make what I'm making now.

I know some photographers who make tons of money. Others are barely getting
by. I can't comment beyond that.


So question(s) #1:
- Will your overall expenses decrease by livingaboard, especially if
you don't tie up at a dock? Obviously rent/mortgage is decreased
drastically.

Possibly less.. certainly less if you put your mind to it.

- Car, insurance, gas, repair, & inspection costs are gone. I have a
mountain bike and canoe if I need to hit the food market. Is it stupid
to have a small motocycle or scooter?

Seems reasonable to me.

- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.

Yup.

- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?

Yup. Depends on the marina. Not much typically. Get solar panels, then you
won't have to charge the bats so often.

- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

I wouldn't bet on it. Much of the expense is all the other stuff besides the
main course.


But new costs - boat maintenance? Others? How much? So the main
questions is if overall expenses do decrease - by how much percentage
wise? By 50% - or even more. If by 50% than in essense my photography
could net me 1/2 what I currently making and I'll still be okay.

Yup.. depends on the boat, the issues. Figure $4-10K per year or more or
less in maintenance.

My experience: none.

Time to get some. Get out on the water. Take classes, hitch rides,
volunteer. You need to get experience sailing and on lots of different
boats.

I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club
- and will inquire about membership. I know they also instruct. If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now - I've been
thinking about this for a while and and I know myself well enough that
livingaboard would be the life for me. I don't know how many years it
will take to save for a boat and to learn the skills - but if I don't
start now, it will take even longer ot it will never happen.

4-5 years ago I slimmed down my possessions. I feel I need to slim them
down again. But what size boat would be a good size. Any
recommendations? Though I read 25-35 with 30' recommended. Correct?

30 seems about right. Of course, there are always people who jam into
something smaller, but why live in a cramped space.

My sailing needs/uses: I don't care about speed or racing - I'm a "stop
and smell the flowers" kind of guy. I would only need to sail to move
around to see a new place. Do not feel that I would ever need to be far
out to see but can see myself sailing from Florida to the Caribbean. I
would also use it to sail up and down the East Coast for photo
opportunities (fall foliage in Northeast in Sept/Oct., etc.) and to
attend art festivals where I could display my photography in Big
cities: Boston, New York, Philly, Washington DC, Baltimore, etc.

I might also sail around for contract work. I contacted well over 200
magazine publications and found ~ 50 that would be interested in my
photos and some of them hire you for a particular job - e.g. pics of
Sping hikers on the Applachian Trail in Virginia - whatever. That's it
- cruising around for fun and photos.

Any thoughts or advice.

Ask more specific questions, you'll get more specific responses...

Jonathan

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Jim K. wrote:
Hello all,

Man is the corporate filled with people lacking integrity, or what? I'm
fed up. After working in the corp world for over a decade, I'm working
on getting out.

I've been dragging my feet, but I started a company name for my
photography, and hope to start making money selling my photos. But I'm
not sure if I'll be able to make what I'm making now.

So question(s) #1:
- Will your overall expenses decrease by livingaboard, especially if
you don't tie up at a dock? Obviously rent/mortgage is decreased
drastically.

It depends entirely on you. You can live for almost nothing on a
boat, or you can spend a fortune. Its very easy to say you don't need
much, but have you ever lived really cheap?


- Car, insurance, gas, repair, & inspection costs are gone. I have a
mountain bike and canoe if I need to hit the food market. Is it stupid
to have a small motocycle or scooter?

maybe. I've seen helicopters and cars on boats, but most cruisers get
by with a bicycle.

- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.
- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?
Dock space is 1 to 3 dollars a foot per night for transients. If you
go that route, your expenses will go way up. You should be able to
recharge batteries by running the engine - if you're traveling an hour
or so a day would be more than sufficient. Actually, if you don't
have a fridge, a small solar panel might be enough.

- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

I've never seen anyone make a serious dent in the food budget that
way, but it varies a lot with locale.


But new costs - boat maintenance? Others? How much? So the main
questions is if overall expenses do decrease - by how much percentage
wise? By 50% - or even more. If by 50% than in essense my photography
could net me 1/2 what I currently making and I'll still be okay.

There's no way to say. Can you do engine maintenance? Can you sew sails?



My experience: none.

Then get some experience so you can ask intelligent questions.


I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club
- and will inquire about membership. I know they also instruct. If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now - I've been
thinking about this for a while and and I know myself well enough that
livingaboard would be the life for me. I don't know how many years it
will take to save for a boat and to learn the skills - but if I don't
start now, it will take even longer ot it will never happen.

4-5 years ago I slimmed down my possessions. I feel I need to slim them
down again. But what size boat would be a good size. Any
recommendations? Though I read 25-35 with 30' recommended. Correct?

Yes, if you're alone. Is that how you plan to spend your life?



My sailing needs/uses: I don't care about speed or racing - I'm a "stop
and smell the flowers" kind of guy. I would only need to sail to move
around to see a new place. Do not feel that I would ever need to be far
out to see but can see myself sailing from Florida to the Caribbean. I
would also use it to sail up and down the East Coast for photo
opportunities (fall foliage in Northeast in Sept/Oct., etc.) and to
attend art festivals where I could display my photography in Big
cities: Boston, New York, Philly, Washington DC, Baltimore, etc.

I might also sail around for contract work. I contacted well over 200
magazine publications and found ~ 50 that would be interested in my
photos and some of them hire you for a particular job - e.g. pics of
Sping hikers on the Applachian Trail in Virginia - whatever. That's it
- cruising around for fun and photos.

Any thoughts or advice.

Sorry to be a bit pessimistic or sarcastic - every month or two
someone posts an almost identical post - "I don't know anything about
boats but I plan to learn and then move aboard and cruise the world.
What should I do first?" The truth is that most cruisers have some
experience before they take off, and most of the horror stories we
hear are from those who decided they could learn on the way. Spend a
couple of years learning to sail. Seek out the local live-aboard
marina and try to meet people there.

BTW, my closest sailing friends have lived aboard for 26 years on a
*very* low budget, so it can definitely be done. The real question is
whether you're suited for the life-style.

Jim K. wrote:
Man is the corporate filled with people lacking integrity, or what?

Yes.

.... I'm
fed up. After working in the corp world for over a decade, I'm working
on getting out.


What were you working on for the previous decade? Just
curious. I have been sucked into the "corporate world" twice
in my working career, both times by having a small company
that I was working for, and perfectly happy with, bought up.
Both times I said "You have to pay me a LOT more money to
both do the work and put up with your BS." They paid, up
until somebody who could do it (sort of) cheaper came along,
and I left with no regrets. The funny thing is that I have
gotten called back in many times for more money yet, to fix
what the cheap replacement did.



So question(s) #1:
- Will your overall expenses decrease by livingaboard, especially if
you don't tie up at a dock? Obviously rent/mortgage is decreased
drastically.

In general, dockage is cheaper than rent. Utlities are lower
too. But it can be a higher stress life style than you
imagine. Boats take more maintenance than houses, more work
goes into everyday living arrangements... for example, you
don't have to pump out your house's holding tank and you
don't have to dinghy your laundry ashore.

Lots of people try it and hate it.


- Car, insurance, gas, repair, & inspection costs are gone. I have a
mountain bike and canoe if I need to hit the food market. Is it stupid
to have a small motocycle or scooter?

Insurance, licenses? Theft? Can you take it with you on board?

- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.

Camping is fun as a change of pace... day after day after
day, as a way of life, it gets kinda old.

- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?

Yes. Varies very very widely, and all the cheapest places
are getting co-opted and prices raised.


- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught?

None.

.... So do food costs also decrease?


Not measurably, unless you have some gift for hydroponic
gardening.


But new costs - boat maintenance? Others? How much?

Ho much ya got? What are your standards? Boat stuff is very
expensive. If you are a skilled mechanic, electrician,
carpenter (and/or fiberglasser), canvas-worker, etc etc, you
can get by pretty cheap. These skills can also be learned on
the fly, and other cruisers are generally very helpful. But
if you are the type to want to hire work to be done for you,
you will not thrive.


So the main
questions is if overall expenses do decrease - by how much percentage
wise?

There is no way to tell without a lot more info.

I know of some people who live aboard, and basically make
ends meet either with tiny pensions, investment income,
and/or doing odd jobs... probably in the neighborhood of
$15k per year. They also don't live very high on the hog.
But they enjoy a wonderful live afloat... and cruising...

Cruising is very different from living aboard, tied to a job
(even a temp job). A cruising vessel is 90 different kinds
of machine rolled into one. It has to fulfill many
functions, all smoothly. No room for the clutter & useless
bric-a-brac most people fill their houses with. Conveniences
are costly in money, space, & power. You can't take the
basics for granted.

A live-aboard, rooted to one spot, is basically a tiny
apartment stuck in an inconvenient & potentially dangerous
environment.


My experience: none.

I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club

Philly?!? I thought you said you were in a WARM climate!


- and will inquire about membership. I know they also instruct.

This is a great idea, joining a club and learning from the
members as well as taking lessons.


If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now -

Good! Do it now! Unfortunately you seem to have missed the
summer, but you can still get in some sailing (try frostbite
racing!) and also take some classes in boat handling,
safety, navigation, etc etc.




4-5 years ago I slimmed down my possessions. I feel I need to slim them
down again. But what size boat would be a good size. Any
recommendations? Though I read 25-35 with 30' recommended. Correct?


The smallest boat that can safely be used for your purposes
is the right size. Nobody knows but you, and you are just
beginning to learn! But don't get carried away "slimming
down" possessions for the moment, is my advice.


My sailing needs/uses: I don't care about speed or racing - I'm a "stop
and smell the flowers" kind of guy.

A boat that sails well is safer than a slow tub.



I might also sail around for contract work. I contacted well over 200
magazine publications and found ~ 50 that would be interested in my
photos and some of them hire you for a particular job - e.g. pics of
Sping hikers on the Applachian Trail in Virginia - whatever. That's it
- cruising around for fun and photos.


The Appalachian Trail is a lng long way from navigable
water! A heck of a scooter ride! But it's good that you have
already found a potential market for your photos.


Sorry for the looooong post - I'm normally not that gabby.
Jim


S'OK this group has room for all types.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Capt. JG wrote:


I know some photographers who make tons of money. Others are barely getting
by. I can't comment beyond that.

Correct - that's the difference between a job with a boss and being
self-employed. I'm a competent photographer and have been honing my
writing skills for years - travel photog/writing is also a possibility.
And like I said I've already found my target mags that buy my type of
photog.



- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?

Yup. Depends on the marina. Not much typically. Get solar panels, then you
won't have to charge the bats so often.

Definitely though of solar panels. And the idea I had was this: car
batteries are constantly kept cvharged by a belt driven alternator. Why
can't a shaft driven alternator do the same for boat batteries? And
powering the shaft? The wind/breeze via a small windmill type thingie.
Put it on at night. You'd probably have to build it yourself or have an
engineer design and build it - but have a windmill that connects and
thus turns a shaft in the column - the shaft goes down through the boat
to a a gear or belt which runs the alternator(s) - what do you think?


- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

I wouldn't bet on it. Much of the expense is all the other stuff besides the
main course.


Got it.

But new costs - boat maintenance?

Yup.. depends on the boat, the issues. Figure $4-10K per year or more or
less in maintenance.


Got it.


My experience: none.

Time to get some. Get out on the water. Take classes, hitch rides,
volunteer. You need to get experience sailing and on lots of different
boats.


Already in the works - will join the Philadelphia Sailing Club and they
have a instruction class in 2 weeks in Maryland - and I will spend the
next "X" number of years learning and sailing as well. I am shooting
for a target of at best 4 years from now, but am prepared if it takes
longer - as long as it takes.

Ask more specific questions, you'll get more specific responses...

As I learn more I'll ask more - thanks!
Jim

Jeff wrote:
Its very easy to say you don't need
much, but have you ever lived really cheap?

Besides growing up poor - yes - just out of college - I was working as
a portrait phootographer making $6.50 an hour - I delevered pizza on my
days off - was working 7 days a week for ~ 6 months - ended up quitting
my Monday deliveries for one day off a week - then worked 6 days a week
for the next 6 months - then landed my first job - a QC inspector
making $22K per year - did that for almost 2 years then landed a
Production Planner job - $25K - got a raise to 30K a year later and my
salary has been increasing ever since - that Planner position was over
7 years ago and 2 companies later.

So out of college I lived real cheap for a # of years.

maybe. I've seen helicopters and cars on boats, but most cruisers get
by with a bicycle.

Got one - trek mountain bike.


Dock space is 1 to 3 dollars a foot per night for transients.

That's not cheap - anchor in bays instead?

You should be able to
recharge batteries by running the engine - if you're traveling an hour
or so a day would be more than sufficient.

Got it.

Actually, if you don't
have a fridge, a small solar panel might be enough.

SEe my idea about a wind powered alternator - don't see why that
wouldn't work for batteries and a fridge.


- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

I've never seen anyone make a serious dent in the food budget that
way, but it varies a lot with locale.


Yeah, already was told that - was just thinking it might help. I also
think that deer hunting would help as well.


There's no way to say. Can you do engine maintenance? Can you sew sails?

Now - no - but I'm a self tuaght photographer, self taught musician and
went to school for a technical biz degree as well as an Industrial
Engineering degree - there is nothing that I can't learn or figure out
- do you think thay are 2 important skills that I should start working
on?


My experience: none.

Then get some experience so you can ask intelligent questions.


Already working on it.

Yes, if you're alone. Is that how you plan to spend your life?

Would like a woman by my side - but I'm alone at the present, so I
guess the answer is yes. That's not so bad.


The truth is that most cruisers have some
experience before they take off, and most of the horror stories we
hear are from those who decided they could learn on the way. Spend a
couple of years learning to sail.

I'm planning on spending 4 years - that wwill give me enough time to
save money for the boat as well and build a photog biz - I'm not an
idiot - I'm not about to jump into something like this - my vision is
at least 4 years out but am prepared to wait longer if need be.

Seek out the local live-aboard
marina and try to meet people there.

Would love to - how do I find them? Wonder if there's one here in
Philly\.

BTW, my closest sailing friends have lived aboard for 26 years on a
*very* low budget, so it can definitely be done. The real question is
whether you're suited for the life-style.

Put it this way - I am so friggin unhappy working in a corporate
environment where ass-kissing and being two-faced is rewarded with
promotions and where not being that kind of person is punished - I want
out - I need out - I have friends but I am a solitary person - I love
photog and playing guitar.

There is no IF about whether or not I can learn to sail or learn to fix
engines or sew sails - I will learn those things. There is no IF about
whether or not the lifestyle is for me or IF I will enjoy it - Come and
work in the ******** I work in and you'll do anythging to get out - and
my last 2 companies were not much different. There is not an issue
about whether or not I'll have enough space - I already have given away
a lot of my possessions and feel the need to do another "cleaning".

There is only one IF - or should I say "CAN" - CAN I make money as a
freelance photographer and if so how much or how little? That is the
only variable that needs to be addressed.

4-10K a year on boat maintenance and costs? A few years back I cut all
unnecessary spending andd recorded every dollar I spent. I cooked all
my own meals and I averaged $200 a month on groceries - that's on
average $2400 per year. So can I make $6400 - $12,400 a year? Even a
bad photographer makes that much. I gaurantee you I'm good enough to
make more than $1000 a month. An art gallery exhibit or an art festival
could make me that much in a few days. And most of my photogs will go
for at least $100 but more often $200 and up. And take mags like
Backpacker t hat pay $400 a day for a minimun of 5 days of backpacking
and photos - I slready contacted them - they just need to see my pics
before they hire me - so it jsut boils down to doing a few hikes a year
for them which will be hard work but so what. And that's just one mag
that does conttract work like that.


Thanks for your help.
Jim

DSK wrote:
What were you working on for the previous decade?

The last 7+ years I've been a forcast & inventory analysts / planner.
Before that a manufacturing plnner and Quality Control Inspector - all
experience in a field broadly known as Supply Chain Management -
answers to the 2 questions any biz with inventory has to answer - how
much do you need and when do you need it?

In general, dockage is cheaper than rent. Utlities are lower
too. But it can be a higher stress life style than you
imagine.

Stress - do you know that at my present company you get promoted by
being an ass-kisser - to the main boss whi is such an insecure bi-atch
that I actually heard him say "Just kiss my ass - you know I like that"
Can you believe that. The penalty for not being an ass-kisser and thus
a member of the clique - you get fired or shunned. One of my
predecessors was fired for challenging the head boss - I keep silent
but am shunned by the scumsuckers in the main clique - so when it comes
to stress - I'm under way more than you are. And I actually enjoy a
honest day of labor. There's always a feeling of accomplishment when
you do something with your hands.

Boats take more maintenance than houses, more work
goes into everyday living arrangements... for example, you
don't have to pump out your house's holding tank and you
don't have to dinghy your laundry ashore.

Well at present I ride my lauddry on myback with my mountain bike up a
hill almost 10 blocks away - I don't like it - but that is what I have
to do to do my laundry. I don't know what it takes to pump out a
holding tank but I'm sure it won't keill me.

Lots of people try it and hate it.

That may be me but I'll never know until I actually try it.



Insurance, licenses? Theft? Can you take it with you on board?

Doubt it - probably won't happen.


- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.

Camping is fun as a change of pace... day after day after
day, as a way of life, it gets kinda old.

looooooooove camping - I go at least once a year to Assateague Island
and camping on the beach - always a soul-cleansing and reflective
experience. Not sure how long I could do it before it got to be a drag
- although my first apt I did not have a bed so I slept in a tent in my
bedroom for a year :-) (...the thought of a bug crawling on me why I
slept was not appealing.)

- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?

Yes. Varies very very widely, and all the cheapest places
are getting co-opted and prices raised.


Ho much ya got? What are your standards? Boat stuff is very
expensive. If you are a skilled mechanic, electrician,
carpenter (and/or fiberglasser), canvas-worker, etc etc, you
can get by pretty cheap.

I'm sure I can work on my engine and so canvas work - my dad's a
mechanic and my uncle owns a boat - get some tips and help there. My
carpentry skills are not the best but I'm not all thumbs either.
Electrician, fiberglasser - no and no - could probably learn electrical
basics but no clue on fiberglass repair.


the fly, and other cruisers are generally very helpful. But
if you are the type to want to hire work to be done for you,


Like I said - I'm from a blue collar family and if I can do it myself,
I will do it myself



I know of some people who live aboard, and basically make
ends meet either with tiny pensions, investment income,
and/or doing odd jobs... probably in the neighborhood of
$15k per year. They also don't live very high on the hog.
But they enjoy a wonderful live afloat... and cruising...

Man oh man - yes - yes oh yes - I'm sure that I can make at least that
much selling my photos - also understand that web design pays well and
all I have to do is learn C+ and Java and xml. I already know SAS, SQL
and VBA - so what's a few more languages. I'll have a better idea in a
few years.


No room for the clutter & useless
bric-a-brac most people fill their houses with.

I was hoping to move to Brussles Belgium in my last job - they were
based out of there. As a result I threw out, sold or gave away a lot of
my shtuff - I am due to trim what I have now down even further =
guitar, clothes, photo equip, basic kitche ware and maybe a few books.

Conveniences
are costly in money, space, & power. You can't take the
basics for granted.

The basics/necessities to live:

1st: Water - can't live more than 3 days without it - so I need that
and a spigot of some sort.
2nd: food - if you have water you can live without food for only 10
days or so - so I need at least a cooler but a small fridge and canned
food would be better.
3rd: clothing/warmth - I already have the basics from camping in cold
weather
4th: Shelter - that wiould be the boat
5th and final: fuel - to cook and and keep warm if need be - not sure
what the best method is here but I'd prefer to be in the south in the
Winter time.

All other things - would be ranked according to my preferences - my
photo equip and laptop for my business - my guitar for my pleasure - a
radio - after that - dunno?

A live-aboard, rooted to one spot, is basically a tiny
apartment stuck in an inconvenient & potentially dangerous
environment.

Yo ushould see me in a traffic jam - I'm type A - I prefer to keep
moving - I would only stay in one spot long enough to photograph the
helll out of the area.


I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club

Philly?!? I thought you said you were in a WARM climate!

No - I never said that - I'll be in a warmer climate during the cold
months when I do this.

This is a great idea, joining a club and learning from the
members as well as taking lessons.

They have a training class in a couple of weeks.

If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now -

Good! Do it now! Unfortunately you seem to have missed the
summer,

I'm shooting for 4 years from now.

The Appalachian Trail is a lng long way from navigable
water! A heck of a scooter ride! But it's good that you have
already found a potential market for your photos.

True - not sure what to do there. If I make enough money I'll rent a
car? I have a few years to work out all the details.

Jim

Charlie Morgan wrote:
Oh, oh....time for the Liveaboard Simulator, again....(c;

The Liveaboard Simulator -.......(c;

Just for fun, park your cars in the lot of the convenience store
at least 2 blocks from your house.


I live in Manayunk Philadelphia - my car is always a block or two away
- this is the only line I'll respond to.

So what are you saying? You did it. And there is nothing that will stop
me. I'm more focused and deteremined about this than I have been for
anyhting else in my life. See you on the docks.

And I really hope you had that in a word doc and just copied and pasted
it - 'cause that was a lot of dribble and I didn't read more than the
1st few paragraphs - sorry - but posts that long tend to be skipped.

"Jim K." wrote in message
oups.com...

Capt. JG wrote:
- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?

Yup. Depends on the marina. Not much typically. Get solar panels, then
you
won't have to charge the bats so often.

Definitely though of solar panels. And the idea I had was this: car
batteries are constantly kept cvharged by a belt driven alternator. Why
can't a shaft driven alternator do the same for boat batteries? And
powering the shaft? The wind/breeze via a small windmill type thingie.
Put it on at night. You'd probably have to build it yourself or have an
engineer design and build it - but have a windmill that connects and
thus turns a shaft in the column - the shaft goes down through the boat
to a a gear or belt which runs the alternator(s) - what do you think?

I think you'll not get enough current to do much beyond trickle charging,
but I don't know. Not my area.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Jim K. wrote:
Like I said - I'm from a blue collar family and if I can do it myself,
I will do it myself


The "I can fix it myself" attitude is priceless. Also the
ability to do some study & learning beforehand so you avoid
the big mistakes.




This is a great idea, joining a club and learning from the
members as well as taking lessons.


They have a training class in a couple of weeks.


Don't forget the public library. I bet they have huge piles
of sailing books, an excellent learning resource.

Being part of the local sailing community is a huge plus.
You can crew for others, learn from different skippers; also
with winter coming on you might consider volunteering to
help some people do work on their boats.

DSK