"Wear a hat" doesn't really work once you start developing
keratoses & basal cells. I've had sailing friends younger
than I am die of melamoma. It may get me too, but if so, I
want as many years as I can get beforehand!

If you've spent significant amounts of time out in the sun
over the past 30 years, the only answer is to keep out of it
as much as possible.


Wayne.B wrote:
I certainly qualify in the 30+ years department but I refuse to become
a total indoor recluse.

Cruising in a pilothouse vessel is "becoming a total indoor
recluse"?



.... I just enjoy being "out there" too much. At
age 61+ I've also gained the dubious distinction of being unable to
die young. :-)


Y'know, a few decades ago I'd have said, "Shucks what's the
point after you turn 40?" but one's perception of how old is
"too old" changes with time!


I do take reasonable precautions with big hats and grade 50 sunscreen
however.


Same here. In fact I make it a point to slather up several
times a day. But I have noticed a huge difference in the
amount of sun exposure I get on a 2 week cruise (basically
none) and the amount of sun that our friends who are very
cautious & diligent return with.... ranging from noticable
sunburn to being red as Indians.





We did the Champlain Canal in our old Bertram 33 flybridge sportfish
and found the clearance to be a tad over 15 ft at the Ft Edwards
bridge, which is the lowest one. We measured ourselves the day before
at 14 ft 9 inches and estimated that there was an additional 6 to 9
inches of clearance going under.

Sounds good... we plan to do that route but not immediately.
We've gone under some places that are marked 14' along the
ICW, and cleared the New Bern swing bridge (about 12' 6")
earlier this year with great caution & slowness.


... There were quite a few 40 something
flybridge trawlers along the way, running with their masts down of
course.

Practically everything has a flybridge. Most people like
them, I'm not trying to say they're terrible. Just answering
why *I* don't want one.

Anyway, all else being equal, a flying bridge will have
higher clearance than the same boat without (if there is
such a boat).


.... Unfortunately our GB49 is set up with a semi-permanent radar
arch on the flybridge, otherwise we could get down to 15 by dropping
the enclosure and mast.


A 49 is a pretty big boat for cruising in these little bitty
places...

DSK

On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:10:04 -0500, DSK wrote:

A 49 is a pretty big boat for cruising in these little bitty
places...

Sometimes but when you are living on it for 6 months of the year and
doing the north/south trip, it's just about right.

Cal Vanize wrote:


From early research, trawlers seem to have a lot of what we're looking
for. Comfort, reliability, economic operation... These are more
important than speed.


Don't eliminate tugs. I transported a tug which was wonderfully
comfortable inside.

Due to the fuel scare, the price on trawlers or any power boat is at
bottom. I'm astounded at the rapid drop. I know because my buddy is in
the market like you are, but for a larger boat.

A quick search on Yachtworld for trawlers ONLY returned 333 between $80k
and $120k. I'd say right there is indication that what you plan is
feasible.

Look, I don't want to make light of this, but there really isn't
anything to it. I've lived aboard for 7 years including having built a
boat and I knew nothing about it to start. You just do it if it sounds
good. There is NOTHING you can read or hear which will tell you if you
will like the on board life.

It's like blue water sailing. Nothing will predict if, when land falls
from sight, if you freak out or relax. You just need to try it.

I STRONGLY suggest you and wife start traveling to see some of the boats
listed for sale. Decide if you wish to live inside one.

If you try and decide it's not for you, it won't mean your deaths.
You'll sell the boat and try Plan B.

-paul

Budget max to buy is low $100k's. Annual budget would be in the
neighborhood of $25-30k.

Annual budget of 30K for a power boat isn't much unless you plan on not
going very far. If you juist tie it in a slip, that alone will probably
cost you 6K per annum. Low $100k's doesn't buy much of a power boat either.
Maybe an old 32' trawler.

Your "about to retire". I wouldn't try this on the cheap especially at age
60+. I am 60 and live on a 2003 Beneteau 473 sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay
with my dachshund Beaurgard. I actually cruise in my boat and my average
expenses per year, are a whole lot more that 30K. My boat insurance alone
is 3K and I'm a licensed master with over 40 years of experience who has
never filed a claim and has no hits on his license.

I think you really ought to rethink this.

I wish you the best.

Cap'n Ric

Wayne.B wrote:
opinion.

Also be aware that the cost of insurance is becoming a major expense,
especially for boats in southern states, and for older boats. Be sure
you have an insurance commitment at a price you can live with before
you finalize the deal on the boat.

All excellent advice. I'll add that you should have a commitment on a
home berth before buying.

-paul

Cal Vanize wrote:
As my wife and I approach retirement, we are considering the purchase of
a boat on which to live and to cruise (coastal cruising with some
Carribbean or Pac Northwest). We're looking for reaources for
researching options, needs and the kinds of boats that would fit our needs.

I'm requesting help in identifying these resources, preferably onlline,
that we coould use to figure out what fits our needs and budget.

Thanks in advance.

My favorite 80'x23'x13' Steel Gulf Shrimper
CAT 3412 at 540 HP continous

haul out, blast bottom and house to whitemetal, prime and topcoats ,
plus zinks and a few extras...............$10,000 at most northwest
yards

http://www.marcon.com/marcon2c.cfm?S...& PageID=1146

Lost for sale in the mid $100k and under 10 years old.
Think big............... think stout..................... think
commercial boats that cant fish anymore.

Why get a plastic wana be when ya can get the real thing!

BOb

Budget max to buy is low $100k's. Annual budget would be in the
neighborhood of $25-30k.


Cap'n Ric wrote:
Annual budget of 30K for a power boat isn't much unless you plan on not
going very far.

Or get a boat that is fuel efficient (ie not a speedboat)
From what I have read, and talking to a lot of different
cruiser in both power & sail bost, there isn't a whole lot
of difference in the cost of cruising (unless you are
burning fuel to make ten tons of boat & furniture plane).

DSK

DSK wrote:

Budget max to buy is low $100k's. Annual budget would be in the
neighborhood of $25-30k.



Cap'n Ric wrote:

Annual budget of 30K for a power boat isn't much unless you plan on
not going very far.


Or get a boat that is fuel efficient (ie not a speedboat)
From what I have read, and talking to a lot of different cruiser in
both power & sail bost, there isn't a whole lot of difference in the
cost of cruising (unless you are burning fuel to make ten tons of boat &
furniture plane).

DSK



Though one can never rely on manufacturer's claims, the range of boats
we're looking at are single engine or small twin trawlers that seem to
burn well under 10gph with most quoted in the 4 - 7gph range. We don't
expect to break any speed records - in fact, maybe the idea behind a
cruise, at least for us, is the journey as much as the destination.
That may change in the long-run, but for now, that's the vision.

However, some factors that have been brought to our attention include
insurance and home slip. We have not taken these fully into
consideration. So we do need to pay more attention to these fixed costs
in our annual operating budget. We have a great deal on our current
slip and our insurance broker has done a very effective job to minimize
our costs.

We have some time, plenty of time, before we commit. I just hope the
current prices stay depressed until AFTER we make the purchase.

DSK inscribed in red ink for all to know:
Budget max to buy is low $100k's. Annual budget would be in the
neighborhood of $25-30k.



Cap'n Ric wrote:

Annual budget of 30K for a power boat isn't much unless you plan on
not going very far.


Or get a boat that is fuel efficient (ie not a speedboat)
From what I have read, and talking to a lot of different cruiser in
both power & sail bost, there isn't a whole lot of difference in the
cost of cruising (unless you are burning fuel to make ten tons of boat &
furniture plane).

DSK


I can only offer this direct, real-world comparison. Two years ago, we
(and our 50' ketch, Perkins 4-236 4 cyl diesel) made a month-long trip
from Seattle to Desolation Sound and back. During the same time frame,
friends of ours down the dock made essentially the same trip in their
55' (?) trawler-style power boat. Not sure of the power plants, but
they are also diesel. We burned 95 gallons of diesel over the course of
the month. The power boat burned 895 gallons of diesel.

bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle

Cal Vanize wrote:
Though one can never rely on manufacturer's claims, the range of boats
we're looking at are single engine or small twin trawlers that seem to
burn well under 10gph with most quoted in the 4 - 7gph range.

We burn about 1 3/4 gph cruising about 7 to 7.5 knots. The
boat will (in theory) go 8.5 but fuel consumption starts
getting up into the 5gph range and we make a loke of wake
and foam and noise, for not a lot of speed gained.

http://sports.webshots.com/album/550708407IeSjaU

... We don't
expect to break any speed records - in fact, maybe the idea behind a
cruise, at least for us, is the journey as much as the destination. That
may change in the long-run, but for now, that's the vision.


Sure. There are too many great places, too close together,
to be worth rushing frantically from one to the next. We've
had cruises in NC and on the Chesapeake where we never went
more than 30 miles in a day and enjoyed beautiful anchorages
every night.


However, some factors that have been brought to our attention include
insurance and home slip. We have not taken these fully into
consideration. So we do need to pay more attention to these fixed costs
in our annual operating budget. We have a great deal on our current
slip and our insurance broker has done a very effective job to minimize
our costs.


And don't forget, cruising is best defined as "fixing your
boat in exotic & inconvenient locations." There will always
be unexpected expenses, but with good skills & foresight
they are not crippling.

IMHO 30K a year is do-able. People are out there cruising
for less.


We have some time, plenty of time, before we commit. I just hope the
current prices stay depressed until AFTER we make the purchase.


I think the price depression of the boat market is mostly a
matter of more realistic expectations on the part of sellers
who are trying to unload neglected boats. The top 10% of
boats in best condition seem to be selling readily. However,
I do think there are two long term factors (and they affect
more than just the boat market)

1- the golden age of retirement is over. Fewer & fewer
people are going to be able to afford to buy a boat and
cruise when they stop work (or just slow down).
1a- waterfront property is getting more & more expensive
driving up costs for marinas & facilities; boating expenses
are climb & it's going to be harder & harder to find
out-of-the-way Mom-N-Pop friendly marinas.

2- younger people are less & less interested in the outdoors
in general. The demand for boats (relative to the
population) is shrinking.

But hey, if it was all gonna be easy, it wouldn't be fun!

Fair Skies
Doug King