Hi all,

Have been lurking here for a while and you seem to be a knowledgeable
lot!

Anyway, I have a life-long desire to cruise the islands of the
Caribbean.

I have taken a basic safety and boat-knowledge course, and have had some
experience in small (17') motor boats. Of course I'd rather learn to
sail and do it that way but it doesn't seem do-able due to a bypass op
four years ago, I have little upper body strength, so have decided to
try a 40'+ diesel trawler/cruiser-type boat..

I live in New Orleans.

The boat would have to cope with two people (Me and the wife).

I have read about the need for hard-copy charts and flares here - thanks
a lot - have that all in the memory banks.

Does a boat have to be in perfect condition to be able to island hop? I
read that such and such boat 'needs some soft spots addressed' and,
without actually going to look at the boat, am a little put off by
something less than perfect condition! But my car runs even tho there
are things that need to be addressed etc..

The thing is, do I need years of experience to simply buy a suitable
boat and just 'do it'? Or am I being a bit simple?

I am resourceful, relatively intelligent, an engineer by trade and want
another adventure - as if Katrina wasn't enough!

All advice gratefully received.

Molesworth.

Molesworth wrote:
Hi all,

Have been lurking here for a while and you seem to be a knowledgeable
lot!

Anyway, I have a life-long desire to cruise the islands of the
Caribbean.

I have taken a basic safety and boat-knowledge course, and have had some
experience in small (17') motor boats. Of course I'd rather learn to
sail and do it that way but it doesn't seem do-able due to a bypass op
four years ago, I have little upper body strength, so have decided to
try a 40'+ diesel trawler/cruiser-type boat..

I live in New Orleans.

The boat would have to cope with two people (Me and the wife).

I have read about the need for hard-copy charts and flares here - thanks
a lot - have that all in the memory banks.

Does a boat have to be in perfect condition to be able to island hop? I
read that such and such boat 'needs some soft spots addressed' and,
without actually going to look at the boat, am a little put off by
something less than perfect condition! But my car runs even tho there
are things that need to be addressed etc..

The thing is, do I need years of experience to simply buy a suitable
boat and just 'do it'? Or am I being a bit simple?

I am resourceful, relatively intelligent, an engineer by trade and want
another adventure - as if Katrina wasn't enough!

All advice gratefully received.

Molesworth.

Lots of people charter a boat down there...either with a captain or bare.

In article ,
Don White wrote:

Molesworth wrote:
Hi all,

Have been lurking here for a while and you seem to be a knowledgeable
lot!

Anyway, I have a life-long desire to cruise the islands of the
Caribbean.

I have taken a basic safety and boat-knowledge course, and have had some
experience in small (17') motor boats. Of course I'd rather learn to
sail and do it that way but it doesn't seem do-able due to a bypass op
four years ago, I have little upper body strength, so have decided to
try a 40'+ diesel trawler/cruiser-type boat..

I live in New Orleans.

The boat would have to cope with two people (Me and the wife).

I have read about the need for hard-copy charts and flares here - thanks
a lot - have that all in the memory banks.

Does a boat have to be in perfect condition to be able to island hop? I
read that such and such boat 'needs some soft spots addressed' and,
without actually going to look at the boat, am a little put off by
something less than perfect condition! But my car runs even tho there
are things that need to be addressed etc..

The thing is, do I need years of experience to simply buy a suitable
boat and just 'do it'? Or am I being a bit simple?

I am resourceful, relatively intelligent, an engineer by trade and want
another adventure - as if Katrina wasn't enough!

All advice gratefully received.

Molesworth.

Lots of people charter a boat down there...either with a captain or bare.

That might do for a 'taster' as it were, but I was thinking of 1-2 years
cruising..

Thanks tho'

Molesworth

It's probably worth the cost to charter for a couple weeks as a vacation to
find out more. The last thing you want to do is get a couple hundred grand
tied up in liveaboard crusier and equipment and then have you or your wife
decide it's not your cup of tea.

"Molesworth" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Don White wrote:

Molesworth wrote:
Hi all,

Have been lurking here for a while and you seem to be a knowledgeable
lot!

Anyway, I have a life-long desire to cruise the islands of the
Caribbean.

I have taken a basic safety and boat-knowledge course, and have had
some
experience in small (17') motor boats. Of course I'd rather learn to
sail and do it that way but it doesn't seem do-able due to a bypass op
four years ago, I have little upper body strength, so have decided to
try a 40'+ diesel trawler/cruiser-type boat..

I live in New Orleans.

The boat would have to cope with two people (Me and the wife).

I have read about the need for hard-copy charts and flares here -
thanks
a lot - have that all in the memory banks.

Does a boat have to be in perfect condition to be able to island hop? I
read that such and such boat 'needs some soft spots addressed' and,
without actually going to look at the boat, am a little put off by
something less than perfect condition! But my car runs even tho there
are things that need to be addressed etc..

The thing is, do I need years of experience to simply buy a suitable
boat and just 'do it'? Or am I being a bit simple?

I am resourceful, relatively intelligent, an engineer by trade and want
another adventure - as if Katrina wasn't enough!

All advice gratefully received.

Molesworth.

Lots of people charter a boat down there...either with a captain or bare.

That might do for a 'taster' as it were, but I was thinking of 1-2 years
cruising..

Thanks tho'

Molesworth