Sailing - Anybody know their main sheet from their jibstay?

Serious thread about yachting to parachuting unicyclist in 20 comments.

I don't think you lot take me seriously sometimes.....

It's like you've never been away.

boltonbonce wrote:

scottjames30 wrote:I suppose it's like buying an aeroplane and not knowing how to fly?

Another no no for me. I land with style though.

That's a good landing!!!

Breadman wrote:I still think it'll be a fairly inexpensive option.

On a serious note,I reckon Nat has summed it up nicely.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Breadman wrote:I still think it'll be a fairly inexpensive option.

If we were selling up completely and moving over there, then yeah, £150 grand+ on bricks and mortar would make sense but as things stand that's not the plan.

This way we keep the house over here while we have a mooch round until we find something that we can easily afford and which will leave us enough of the savings to live on.

So if the boat lasts 2 years and the falls apart that's fine.

£15 grand now plus 2 years' worth of marina fees and maintenance is affordable.

Selling our house over here and going all in isn't. Yet.

That's the spirit. Don't listen to the negative ones. There's no way you can look like a twat. If it all goes well, you can come on here in two years time and say how great it is. If it doesn't go well you can still come on here in two years time and say how great it is, and nobody will be any the wiser.

I agree with Nat that the notion of owning a boat over there and the reality are likely to be 2 different things, particularly if that's the kind of budget you're working with. Very soon you could be in that horrible dilemma where money needs spending on it and you have to make decisions whether you stick or twist.
In my opinion the money would be better spent on a motorhome where you can take it where you want when you want.
If you do decide to go for it though I wish you the best of luck.

How much is it to under seal the boat and how much are the mooring fees where you wish it to reside?

I have to say that I'm a bit sceptical at the condition and kind of boat it is for £15k.

Not sure what price you are looking at diesel to fill the tank every time?

Not trying to be negative btw.

karlypants wrote:How much is it to under seal the boat and how much are the mooring fees where you wish it to reside?

I have to say that I'm a bit sceptical at the condition and kind of boat it is for £15k.

Not sure what price you are looking at diesel to fill the tank every time?

Not trying to be negative btw.

Me neither but the point of the thread is to get different perspectives and someone may throw up something he hadn't considered.
I'm sure he'll make his own mind up and if he goes for it I'm sure everyone on here will wish him well.

karlypants wrote:How much is it to under seal the boat and how much are the mooring fees where you wish it to reside?

I have to say that I'm a bit sceptical at the condition and kind of boat it is for £15k.

Not sure what price you are looking at diesel to fill the tank every time?

Not trying to be negative btw.

Costing everything would be a good start. Can one person sail it or do you need others? Poodling around with diesel isn't cheap even around the Greek Islands where the distances are not as prohibitive. Sailing with sails is a weird business and involves lots of skill and a fair bit of planning so I'd try that asap. There's a sailing club at Belmont and others around south Bolton I guess. The Med is another kettle of fish though so I reckon you've got a lot of checking out to do.
In principle, sound idea but clearly needs some serious research as it would be shit if you die.

Breadman wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Breadman wrote:I still think it'll be a fairly inexpensive option.

If we were selling up completely and moving over there, then yeah, £150 grand+ on bricks and mortar would make sense but as things stand that's not the plan.

This way we keep the house over here while we have a mooch round until we find something that we can easily afford and which will leave us enough of the savings to live on.

So if the boat lasts 2 years and the falls apart that's fine.

£15 grand now plus 2 years' worth of marina fees and maintenance is affordable.

Selling our house over here and going all in isn't. Yet.

I am in a pickle.
On the one hand Natasha's advice sounds very, erm, sound.
But on the other hand you should know never to trust her.

I think you should toss a coin.

whatsgoingon wrote:I agree with Nat

Second time this week.

I think you're in love with me.

Check the survey certificate, mooring charges, sails condition and any spares (sails). Motored and when last serviced.
Navigation. You need at least an inshore/coastal certificate. Are there any electronic depth and wayfinders? Can you read a chart, take a running fix, know when to tack and when to Gybe (Jibe), when to reef up the sails, run a spinnaker, haul sheets and let all sheets fly. And learn all points of the compass. Google "Boxing the compass", it's one of the best references you can learn.
Radio. You need a licence to operate on the VHF band, and a course to know how to do it.
Safety of crew. Self explanatory as elf and safety covers all our jobs.
Pilotage from moorings to sea, coastal pilotage, lighthouse/buoy recognition, type and how to pass them. Suddenly out of sight of land, get back using charts, compasses and compass.
Rule of the road so you know how to act while in shipping lanes, harbour approaches, restricted waterways.
Knots and splices, rigging a yacht, caulking and waterproofing and general ships husbandry.
Coupla links below should give you further ideas. My certificates are quite advanced and I took a good two years to learn how to do things half properly.

http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/professional/courses/Pages/Dayskipper.aspx
http://www.lovesailing.net/sailing-theory/sailing-basics/rules-of-the-road/rules-of-sailing.php

Oh, aye. You drive on the right hand side on rivers and harbours unless those tricky bouys make you deviate in order to miss the rocks, sandbanks, wrecks.

Sounds straightforward.

BoltonTillIDie wrote:Sounds straightforward.

Just what I was thinking. Piece of piss.

Don't forget to watch out for pirates too!

Natasha Whittam wrote:

whatsgoingon wrote:I agree with Nat

Second time this week.

I think you're in love with me.

You could be right 

I think he'll be looking at holiday homes after that last post Tom.