retirement on a sailboat.
| Getting started with retirement on a sailboat. |
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Please send any comments to me. |
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Often a lot of people new to the idea of cruising ask questions that really boil down to what is
the "right" way to cruise.
I think it is very important to understand there is no 'right' way, there are just lots of different ways. ... For each of us the right way will be different and change over time. The really important thing is to get started, try some form of cruising that is right for the moment and go from there. I see and talk to so many people, now in their mid-70's, who kept waiting for the perfect right moment to go cruising. Guess what? They never made it before their health failed. Sandy and I are just 9 weeks away from full-time cruising. It's incredible just how many things try to get in the way of our departure date. Our land friends, realizing we really are about to leave, are putting additional pressure on us to stay. Things KEEP BREAKING on the boat. But, except for a hurricane in the gulf we will depart over the Thanksgiving Weekend, even if we have to have someone tow us out into Tampa Bay. Even if everything gets screwed up and we become destitute and homeless, at least we tried it. Much better than never trying at all. |
Tips for living aboard:
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| ... No burning of bridges, because you will probably eventually return as all of us do. You must have something to come back to. |
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Make sure you have a good sense of the reality before you do anything major.
I had an acquaintance who had the dream. He spent three years building a boat from scratch.
He was an engineer and had done a marvelous job. With one year left until completion,
he figured it was time to try the cruising lifestyle -- and discovered he didn't like it.
He never finished his boat; just sold it for what he could get.
On the other hand, selling everything and going is the ultimate commitment. You will give it your all because you have nothing to go back to. There is really no truer test. What you will probably miss most are your friends, family, and other people in your life. But modern technology makes it easier to stay in touch and you will meet many new friends along the way. Although some people maintain a house/condo to return to upon occasion, that didn't work for me. I had rented out my house and it was trashed by the tenants. I ended up worse off financially than if I had just sold it and the problems of dealing with it both distracted me and undermined my enjoyment of the cruise. Presumably, my experience was atypical. But, if you go this route, it highlights the need for a good rental agent/caretaker while you are away. And remember, if you keep a house/condo that is rented out, you will not be able to return to it any time you want. That means you may need to rent shore-based accommodations anyway, which is the same situation you would be in if you had sold your house. Had I to do it over again (and I plan to), my current thinking is to sell everything but invest a portion of the proceeds. The principal amount will be a reserve which I can use to resume shore-based living when the cruise is over or for an extreme emergency while cruising. The income generated by the principal will add to the cruising kitty. The balance of the proceeds becomes the upper limit to the amount I will invest in a boat and equipment. If worst comes to worst, it is an amount I can afford to lose. And if I succumb to the desire for shore-based living while cruising, I will just rent someplace for a while in an interesting location I have never lived before, temporarily substituting one journey for another. |
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... Anyway, the thing that the guys didn't relate that I think is as important as the technical
information, is the emotional aspect of preparation for cruising.
Before my mate and I left on our voyage, we took a very helpful course on compatibility, communication and relationship dynamics. Unfortunately, the course is only offered in Colorado right now, but you could probably find something similar in your area, or even a good relationship counselor. I'm talking "preventative relationship counseling" or call it - relationship prep! The difference for most couple between their regular lives and their cruising lives is huge. It's way different being together 24/7 in a small space with little privacy and less timeouts. Even if you get along great, you'll benefit from taking some time to access your relationship and discuss "what ifs", "what do we do when," and "how should we handle ... ?" The biggest surpise for me (and know that I have two degrees in Psychology and ran a counseling program!) was just how stressful it would get for my mate, and therefore, for me. The more stuff broke, (and things will always be breaking) the more stressed out he would get. Amazingly, he was able to fix just about everything that did break, but it all took it's toll. The more stress, the more arguments, lashing out, etc. I found out from cruising couples that men often have a harder time adapting to cruising life if their job was how they identified themselves in their "life before cruising." They simply had no new "identity" and felt a bit lost. Of course most of them become diesel mechanics and boat technicians! But, I guess it was easier for me since I had interest in many things. I brought along my jewelry/bead-making supplies and either traded or sold or just played with other cruising women along the way. I kept a journal and created and maintained a web site of our voyage, shopped for interesting provisions, took lots of pictures and just enjoyed the sun, water and touring. We sharing most tasks except for the "blue jobs/pink jobs." He changed the oil, I cooked! We both navigated, prepared the boat for departures, ran and monitored all the systems. He anchored, I steered. We both docked, ferried fuel and water. It's important to have some kind of hobby or craft or something for the long passages, rain days or to share with others. Last, but not least ... The very best part about cruising for me (and my mate too) was the incredible fellow cruisers we met along the way. Some of the best folks you'd find anywhere. Be sure to create some "boat cards" (like business cards, but with your boat name, make and your info on it. Maybe a picture of the boat or you two as well!) to give out to folks. |
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| I wondered how people managed to live aboard myself. When I asked people I got one of two answers, either have lots of money, or lots of sacrifice. ... I figured I would have to go the sacrifice route. The amazing thing I learned really fast: they are really good sacrifices. The one I realized the quickest, it is cheaper to do your own boatwork, rather than have someone else do it. Some would call this a sacrifice, I chalk it up to learning how to do new things. ... |
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Solutions:
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Yes, I have more open-ocean/blue water sailing experience than anyone I
know, and I consider myself the consummate world cruiser. But I must
confess something to all of you ... and please take me seriously ... I
would never, never, never consider going world cruising or undertake a
circumnavigation with a just a "couple of years" experience. That goes
for even if I were sailing in a full-time job getting that experience.
I am well aware that you are all adults and can do whatever you want ... and that you probably will, but if your experience level is as you describe it, I think you are thinking very dangerously. World cruising is not a cakewalk ... it is not even easy. It is very, very dangerous, and the only thing that makes it even remotely enjoyable is sailing with people who know what they are doing ... who give you a degree of comfort that if anything happens that you cannot handle, someone on board can ... I think dreams are wonderful ... everyone knows I have them myself, but I am quite proud of the fact that after over 70 ocean crossings of varying lengths, and four near-circumnavigations, I am still alive to tell about it. I am not trying to brag, but if you want to have a "come to Jesus" session on this medium, tell me, and I will participate. I will tell you stories, all true, about 80-foot waves hitting you head on the bow; I'll tell you about being lost at sea with no navigation equipment and clouds so thick you could not see stars if you wanted. I will tell you about being shot at while some modern-day psycho gets his jollies at trying to steal your boat. If I sound like I am over-reacting, maybe I am ... but I have found two boats in my life ... in mid-ocean ... with no crews ... each one a trip started by novices. And if you do decide to go, God be with you and be careful. I just ask that you re-think your ideas ... maybe modify them a little. Go with some experienced people first. |
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From Latitude 38:
for every boat that sinks underway, four go down at the dock. From McRory's Logbook: |  |
| I have been sailing for over 30 years. The last fifteen have been both across the Atlantic and Pacific. For pleasure and deliveries. I can without question say I have never seen a container, let alone bumped into one. |
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... Sailing is the easy part, the pleasant part, and -- get this! -- the SAFE part.
Take it from one who's been doing it more than thirty years, the safest thing you can
do in a boat is sail it far from land.
Is there anything dangerous about living aboard in harbor while learning to sail? Let me add a few words to your vocabulary: Anchor. Set. Rode. Chain. Rope. Scope. Tide. Swinging. Dragging. Bowsprit. Fending off. Coral head. Pounding. Hull breach. Grounding. Surf. And these words: Through-hull. Electrolysis. Corrosion. Leaking. Cabin sole. Bilge pump failure. Groping in bilge in darkness. Desperately pumping up dinghy. And here's a word you probably already know: hurricane. Have you ever experienced wind over 100 MPH? There is simply no way to imagine it, so you're probably right to refuse to think about it. ... |
Formula for Disaster:
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Factors in Human Error:
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| ... I generally have just one smart bit of advice to the folks that I've helped on their way: Crawl, before you Walk, before you Run! Those people who start off with the hard stuff first seldom get very far! Too frequently I see new cruisers here who want to prove something (usually to themselves) and do so by setting out [from Texas] straight across the Gulf of Mexico headed to Florida. And with little or no experience! And all too frequently in the winter! Now that's just plain insane! And typically those people quit after they get to Florida! Or get a divorce! ... |
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I think a useful exercise would be to produce a list of real threats that
blue water cruising crews face. Then get prepared to deal with those
threats. In my opinion, there are ways to minimize each danger. Also, in
my opinion, I've listed the most serious REALISTIC risks facing a cruising
boat. We've had all of these situations on our cruise.
(1) Grounding. Go slow, have primary and backup depth sounders, avoid transiting coral shallows when water colors are not visible. Have adequate gear for kedging off. Have at least 3/4 keel boat with skeg-hung rudder and protected prop to minimize possible grounding damage. Steel boat is nice. Don't panic. We grounded about 5 times on the year-long voyage, and towed 2 boats off sandbars along the way. Never any damage - even with exposed props/rudders. (2) Engine stops. Line around prop - make sure you are never dragging any of your own lines, watch for crab pots, filter your fuel, use biocide, change oil, change zincs, do an engine inspection daily (and hourly while underway). Don't shut down a running diesel in a crisis or near crisis. Install alarms. Always have mainsail ready to hoist. Always have anchor ready to drop. A bilge pump alarm saved us when an engine cooling hose blew, resulting in a minor $7 repair instead of an emergency rescue. (3) Anchor dragging. Have oversized anchor and chain, use proper scope, set two anchors when concerned about holding, always back down properly, carry CQR/Bruce and Danforth (for different bottoms) plus a backup anchor, never leave boat until at least 30 minutes of close observation, return if there is a significant wind shift, carry a handheld VHF when away monitoring 16. We also carried 250 feet of line for making boat fast to the shore if necessary (and used it several times). (4) Bad weather. Have SSB weather radio or weatherfax, use daily. Have everything secure on deck at all times. If coastal cruising there is no excuse to be caught out in bad weather - wait for good weather, be prepared to turn back or seek alternate harbors. If blue water cruising, have strong boat with positive righting moment capable of withstanding knockdowns. Smaller lexan windows, bombproof hatches, oversized rigging, storm sails, small cockpit, large drains, sufficent pumps. Get crew experienced gradually in heavy weather sailing. Reef early. Be sure to know how to heave to, lie ahull, or stream warps, at the appropriate times. Radar, GPS chartplotter are technical aids, but good seamanship comes first. Carry a knife, axe and bolt cutters capable of cutting your anchor chain. (5) Injury. It's easy to get cut, sick, bruised, or broken. Carry adequate first aid and medical supplies. Marine SSB or Ham radio can work wonders if a serious medical situation happens far from help. See your doctor before the trip and prepare a medical kit. (6) Getting Lost. Even in the world of GPS it's easy to do. Have adequate paper charts, acquire local knowledge. Don't overly depend on cruising guides at the expense of your better judgement. Double-check waypoints, it's easy to transpose digits, North versus South, 45 degrees 11 minutes instead of 46 degrees 11 minutes (I've done both). Getting lost will translate into threat (1) or (7). (7) Hitting something. Usually while docking, locking, or going under a bridge. It never happened to us but to several of our buddy boats. Not much you can do. Bow and stern thrusters would be nice (but unaffordable). Learn to use spring lines for maneuvering. Practice, practice, go slow. Even then a cross current will do you in sometime. Have liability insurance. Have an old boat that can stand a few dings and you can repair yourself. Never insist on right-of-way. Be able to repair your longest piece of standing rigging. (8) Seasick. Not much you can do. It usually goes away after about 3 days at sea. If it doesn't, look into medications or sell the boat. The transderm patches work but cause hallucinations after a while. The rest never happened to us. (9) Bad People. Travel in a group. Avoid dangerous places. Keep the VHF on 16 at all times. Having a fast boat is a good thing. We never locked the door in 12 months and 5000 miles (except in New York City). (10) Leaks. Carry underwater sealant, plenty of 5200, wet suit, mask. Don't leave in the first place if your boat has serious leaks (ex. deck/hull joint). Know how to adjust your stuffing boxes. Have softwood plugs for the through hulls, and exercise the valves regularly. Call for help in a bad situation. Even in a remote anchorage, people will respond. We knew of a boat that hit rock or coral, had 3 feet of water in the bilge and more on the way, generator under water, battery and pumps out. Local people responded to their handheld VHF call for help, directed them to a place to beach the boat, and brought portable pumps out, patched the hull with underwater epoxy, towed them off, and sent them on their way to the nearest boatyard. If this happened mid-ocean it would have been time to call Mayday on the SSB/HAM, trigger the EPIRB, and step up into the lifeboat. (11) Crewperson is hating it. Change what you are doing. |
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Never forget in a lot of cruising venues
you are the rich AMERICAN sailor and the cost of the windlass is an annual
salary for many you come into contact with. There can be an overwhelming
amount of pressure to move some of your obvious riches from your pockets to
theirs. This can be in the form of offering you items for sale, trade,
theft, scams, solicitation for bribes, fees for everything from guides to
security for your vessel.
I one time had a Bahamian offer me fresh lobster for a dollar a piece, out of season. I rejected the offer being somewhat suspicious and heard later that some sailor had his vessel confiscated and was deported back to the states for violating Bahamian fishing regulations. Some three weeks and thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines and they were back on their vessel. I also heard that the informant was paid a "reward" for turning in this scofflaw. Five minutes of stupidity resulted in a ruined cruising season. Another couple took a "job" doing some remodeling and painting for a home owner on one of the islands. A local "informed" the authorities that these non-resident, without working permits, aliens were working and being paid. The authorities showed up at the residence and arrested the couple, give them the choice of being put into a Bahamian jail or being deported. The couple arrived in Fort Lauderdale with no more than the clothes they were wearing and their vessel was sitting un-locked in the anchorage. Fortunately they had friends both here and there and a couple of sailors actually sailed their boat to Fort Lauderdale. Their ordeal only cost them five hundred bucks for air tickets. Sailor beware. |
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Moving aboard is a big step for most. Cutting the ties
with a land-based home is often a traumatic and fearful experience at first ...
Boat type doesn't seem to matter much in the decision to move aboard or in the angst one goes through before the transition is complete. ... |
| The Basic Sail Repair class is a general overview of sail repairs and simple covers. We have a discussion and slide show in the morning and in the afternoon we do hands on work with people using our sewing machines to practice simple techniques. |
| Some advice from a long term cruiser: take a real multi-day SCUBA course. I have been a NAUI diver since 1966 and my wife since the early '80s. You have no idea how often you will need it and even more often use it as a very pleasurable pastime as a live aboard cruiser. The first time you have to retrieve your 85 lb. Bruce and 300 feet of half-inch chain you have paid for the course and all your gear (excluding compressor). Scrubbing the bottom, removing a line from the prop shaft, cleaning the log paddlewheel, finding your glasses, or inspecting the chunk you just took out of the keel while entering a harbour that was unmarked are all easily accomplished with a minimum of gear. Then there is the unmatched beauty of a coral reef at 10 meters. Sheer ecstasy. |
| Fort Lauderdale's show is geared toward power boats primarily. St Petersburg has a sailboat show in the fall, I believe. The Miami International Boat Show in February is the show with the greatest number of sailboats by far. |
| Learn everything you can about electrical systems [and] fuel systems. After living aboard since 1981 and about 4,500 miles I have found these two systems have demanded most of my engineering attention. |
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