I have binged watched your content since discovering it. I will say my wife isn’t a fan. She keeps saying your giving me bad ideas and teaching me how to pull them off. Keep this stuff coming please!
Honestly, if you’re a real beginner at sailing , I suggest to buy a small used cheap sailboat 22-24 ft and learn the ropes of sailing first then with that experience you can transpose it on a bigger boat in a safely manner . i’ve seen in my years of sailing and trips so many newbies not having the experience on a large boat getting in trouble . It’s the same as when you learned to drive a car easier to drive and park a small car than a big truck ! Need to learn to walk before learning to run …
The section on sleep amused me as, on my last voyage I learned I could sleep in the fore berth whilst underway with my legs leaving the mattress as we came off every wave. I was also thrown bodily from the settee in the saloon. Woke up in the air and managed to land on my feet and holding onto the galley rail!
Still don’t understand why your subscriber count is so low. The information given is outstanding and invaluable. I’d say this might be the most underrated channel in the YT sailing community.
I've never had any interest in boating or sailing but your channel is really intriguing. I never thought anything about keel types, motors, bathroom set up. Well done, very analytical!!! Never buy a boat in the water!
Hey Tim, we're currently in the process of buying a live-aboard, mainly due to the inspiration and info learned by watching Lady K and a few others. One thing I would have found VERY helpful, would be an explanation of some of the stats at Sailboat data, such as Comfort ratio, capsize formula, S3, and such. We looked closely to compare boats, but really assumed what they meant. That would be so cool! Thanks so much for all you do!
Any tips? Just picked up a Hurley 22 "poor man's oceangoer" for like $300. Plan on ripping all the interior out, re fitting to my personal tastes, and making it my fishing rig
As far as dockage I've never understood why some folks will come in full speed the put it in reverse when they get in or vise versa course it changed with wind and tide where you'll need a little more power. I forget who says this but I love the saying "Don't come in faster than your willing to hit something"
You're content is top-drawer! BZ! When I need a surveyor, you're the guy. I'm X-Navy and I've spent several years at sea and loved every minute of it. Ever since I moved back to cenn penn, the sea has been calling me back. One of my children has finished college and is moving abroad and the other is in the middle of college. Your knowledgeable and insightful content has lit the fires in my boilers and has me making preparations to get underway once again.
I single handed a 37 foot Hunter for about 35,000 miles all over the Caribbean, Bahamas and most of the South Pacific. I got married in Tonga and it was still big enough for the 2 of us, but once we had our boy, well, I wanted something bigger. I found a Whitby 55 for a good price and fell in love with it. It's big, fast, very comfortable, and one of the most safest boats ever made. We had a terible autopilot until about a month ago, so I needed my wife for steering at times, but for the most part, I do everything else. I think I can single handle it too. It's a ketch too. My Hunter had 2 sails and now I have 4 but still doable. Single handling is all about planning ahead. Also another reason to go big is the multiple births. That means you can bring crew for the long trips. It is so much better splitting the night shift with 4 or 5 then 1 or 2. You also have a lot more room for all the food and clothes and gear they bring or need. Sailing offshore in a big boat is a lot more enjoyable than a small one, as long as everybody gets along :)
You make a good point about keel depth. I've been thinking I want a shallow keel for less stress in the Caribbean but I probably want better stability everywhere else...
'shoal draft' boats usually at more weight to the keel to make up less leverage, so I wouldn't consider them any more or less safe. But they go more sideways than upwind, which is why I'm shooting for 6ft draft.
Conversely, it might be an idea to include what isn't needed onboard. IOW, what are the bare bones electronics needed to go coastal sailing, or offshore. Particularly with classic boats, which can be beautiful things to save, but more likely to have nav suites never or barely ever upgraded. Perhaps because the owner always sailed in the same waters. I keep seeing the old Decca nav equipment and radio telephones etc in older boats, which while charming, are the equivalent of bringing a baseball bat to a gun fight. Same goes for deck equipment. Whisker and spinnaker poles solely for cruising. Anchors. Needed fore and aft? Are different anchors for different sea beds a good idea? I'm NOT touching safety gear. IMO you want the right gear for where you're going and double or maybe even triple redundancy. Engine spares. What are the core spares and tools needed? I haven't seen one. But there must be a table somewhere showing which engine parts are most likely to fail, all other things being equal. Might be a whole other episode! 🙄
Clearly experienced advice but patience and solid ability to read the water will allow most of the Bahamas. Carried two different sail boats with 6.5 draft (rating, usually 6'8" with all the "necessary") with about 10 years in the islands. Did have to live by the tide chart and took two tries to get from Long Island to the Jamentos and spent an interesting evening sitting "somewhere" on the banks in the Turks in Caicos. Current side drift got us both times. Cold beer helped.
On race night the weather matters. An old heavy bluewater boat racing in rough weather offshore has a really good chance of winning because he can fly your sail, power through waves and have a much higher rating giving him an advantage.
In the side of age relating to upkeep, if you go through and fix everything in a well made old boat it will be cheaper to maintain than a new boat simply due to complexity in many cases, this also applies to old cars even more so than boats. Definitely go for a older well built unit especially if you can do all the work yourself it will drop cost dramatically, paid labor is expensive.
Getting an insurance survey is very important because your insurance will be cheaper, and you'll know what is wrong with the boat. It might take 6 weeks to get on a surveyor's schedule, so make friends with the person. If there are systems that you are not very familiar with, you need to learn more about those systems. Boats are expensive, so make sure you can afford all the costs associated with owning a boat.
Keep in mind when looking at the beds....how will you sleep when the boat is heeled over 20 degrees? Those island beds aren't so good for that unless they have a lee cloth. Also keep in mind the rolling. Beds that go sideways aren't good when a lot of rolling....downwind sailing.
Superb channel. Like That Guy, below, I have been binging on your vids, you're doing such a great job. Then, you posted a new vid just a few hours ago, cool. I just helped a totally non-sailing friend of mine find and buy a 25 foot boat. It is fun to watch somebody come new into the sailing world and get totally smitten by it. We had to move it up the Hudson River about 45 miles, and he learned why leaving the previous Sunday would have given us favorable winds and currents, vs this past sunday where we had to motor almost the whole way through the narrow sections of the River against the current and into the wind. Big lessons learned fast under real conditions. You have excellent advice, so practical. In this vid you quickly gave rationale for buying a boat for where you intend to sail it - big heavies for crossing the pond, and shallow draft for tidal areas and reefy places. Really fantastic.
Consider that smaller slips are often easier to find than slips for bigger boats. Many marinas I have seen have much shorter waiting lists for smaller slips than for big slips. In may places you could be waiting years for a slip for a 40-45 footer.
Thank you for your Beginners Guide. We are still looking for our future sailing yachts and are grateful for any information. Warm greetings from Germany from two future circumnavigators.
Hi Tim. I liked this video. I felt like it was taken from our talk. We were looking at a C380 but, after talking to you we are looking at the C42. There are a lot more of them for sale than the C380. I find it odd that Catalina waited until the middle of 2000 to start putting Yanmar's in the 380 yet the 42's had them from the start back in 1989.
Before getting in command of any watercraft, everyone should at least buy a current copy of Chapman's and read it from cover to cover, or better yet, take a Coast Guard auxiliary boating safety course. There are just too many out on the water that have NO idea of the rules of navigation or boating safety.
Thanks for your very informative videos. I am a newbie - just got a 1976, 24' C&C. Learn on it for a year or two and then look for a bigger boat. Cheers!
We just got a Chrysler Pirateer 13, to have some fun on small bodies of water. I used to sail lake scows in the Midwest, in local regattas, and looking forward to teaching my partner to sail. Your videos are well done and informative, thank.
It would be nice to have a video fairly soon on how much of this is applicable to motor yachts. It would also be nice to have side comments for motor yacht buyers
I gave up sailing back in my early 30’s at the trade of raising my family, house, private school, etc. but now in my later 50’s and have the itch for retirement. I’ve been in FL for 30 years and considering a cat in the 45’ range. I’ve always sailed mono hauls but thinking a cat would give me more cruising room for future grandchildren, etc. Shopping again is so stressful lol.
I agree with everything you say. But I would go one step further. What is an expectable living space is very different if you are coming from a 2100 sq foot house or bigger. We live in a 42 foot Spartan that 1/2 of it has been a construction zone. Living small takes work. Most people think that they can live in a small space and when they figure out that 35 feet is not enough room this is why the idea of sailing, van life, full time RVing comes to an end.
My first sailing yacht was a 42' blue water cruiser and I fount it to be way too small. It was a nice boat if you like being in a tea cup and thus sold. Get the biggest boat that you can afford and handle by yourself or as a couple. Should you desire to stay around the Caribbean, go with a cat. You get more real estate and less draft, perfect for the Bahama's and Caribbean.
I really appreciate your approach to your channel. I am considering a full time live aboard that will include passage making. I just returned from almost 1400 NM in the Pacific on an Oyster 485 with 3 other people. The 485 is a reasonably large and comfortable boat. During the 19 days on board, the boat seemed to shrink. It didn't actually get smaller. But my opinion of space changed as we spent more time aboard. Also, I drew the V-berth for a rather difficult passage. After about 3 days, I referred to it as the bouncy bed. Many nights, I would actually lift almost completely off the bed as the bow dropped off a wave. We were close-hauled almost the entire passage. When it got really bad, I would move to a settee in the saloon. I would appreciate your thoughts on boat shrinkage, comfort on passages, and how well dorade vents work to keep a boat well ventilated and dry during passages.
don't even think about buying a wing keel for shallow waters. I had one. You will touch bottom at some point no matter how deep your keel is, but if you have a wing keel, you are stuck really good. They tend to act like suction cups and there is a lot of friction. I once had my keel box cracked because the tow boat had to pull so hard to get the boat unstuck. Speaking of keels....some of the old boat makers did it best. They fiberglassed them in (encapsulated), made them wide off the bottom and put a lot of lead (not iron) inside the fiberglass at the bottom. This is a key point, all the weight of the keel is at the bottom foot of the keel giving it a lot more righting ability for the given weight. That also allows for a deep bilge which is critical for finding a leak if you ever get one. You can almost never find a leak if it's underwater. Boats with Keel boxes provide a impact absorbing structure which makes them stronger. When you have a keel that bolts up directly to the hull, it puts a lot of pressure on the hull where the bolts go through and doesn't provide any impact absorption. Because most production boat makers these days bolt the keel directly to the hull and I feel that is the reason it seems that keels falling off has risen. The keel is the most important part of a sailboat and because they built them the best in the 70s and 80s, I prefer older boats. Most Hunters though, at least in the 90s, have keel boxes which make them better than the hull bolt on, just stay away from anything that has a wing on it.
Love this channel and your history one too (I'm a geek for history and boats). Only thing I would have added when you talked of space to sleep is the good and bad of a centre cockpit verse a more traditional one. My dad was always a lover of the centre cockpit and as a kid I never got it. Now I am in the market top get a long term live aboard... if I don't get a catamaran I will get a centra concept monohull and yes around 42 feet. The other thing I would have added... I love the extra beam you get between many 38s and many 42s... a lot of older 38s (not all) are too narrow for me.
7:06 yet conventional houses are subject to almost everything wanting to eat it and make nests in it, they also burn easily and are not watertight so even a minor flood is catastrophic, not to mention if a giant storm is coming the house can't outrun or get out of its way. Yes a boat has risk but it's not THAT much more than a house and it's less risky than a car.
My wife would probably be more upset finding out that I'm watching this than if she caught me with another woman! But I can't help myself: I just moved to Mallorca, I'm surrounded by sail boats and I want to learn....and eventually buy one. Thanks for helping to spark the interest.
Thank you, One of my goals is to sail across the Atlantic. Either myself (Solo) or with my brother. I was thinking of a westsail 32. I have little experience but I am willing to learn.
Normans Cay 8 feet no problem. In fact I have sailed extensively in the Bahamas with 8 ft. How do you think the sailing cargo ships got around; on pixie dust?
Seamanship isnt about sailing, or the boat you sail. Its about understanding the ocean, your goals, and the limits of the vessel you sail. You can sail a cobbled together raft across an ocean if you know those things :-) Unless you like racing, and have deep pockets, dont bother with a fin/bulb keel. Its full of potential heartache. Im assumng you want low maintenance, worry free cruising. To this, Secondly, the rudder MUST have a strong skeg, or be behind a full keel to avoid damage, kelp and line entanglement, etc. Preferably its also a balanced rudder, and has a structure beneath it to allow things to slide past it.Third, the hull needs to be stronger than gibraltar, and the deck needs the same...dont accept light layups or thin metal/wood with excuses of "modern". Fourth, the rig should be simple, and possible to jury rig, and use without electrical power. Fifth, the mast is a MAST...if it looks like an anime transformer, pass. Sixth, no crazy rigs. Staysail, jib and main is enough...big ballooners and genoas are great in light winds, but they shouldnt be necessary to make way. Also those big sails should be easily doused. Next, storage, storage, storage. Next, EASY engine, generator, battery, seacock, stuffing box and throughhull access. Next, if there isnt one huge winch that is both electric/manual in the cockpit, pass or install one. Points if you inspect the running gear for silly decisions, wear and quality. Next, running lights should be proof against an angry sperm whale looking for dinner. You get the picture. :-) Worry free means bulletproof, high quality including the thought that went into design. Sailing a lightly built condominum across an ocean is possible ( see Seamanship above) but isnt worry free. The fewer of these things you have, the more constrained are your choices. And thats the deal. The better the boat and captain, the more choices you have!
If you pay cash for say a boat from the 80’s, what is the cheapest bare bones insurance you can get. I would be sailing Puget Sound, Salish Sea, Juan de Fuca and Straight of Georgia. If I am feeling adventurous, I might go a hundred miles up the west coast of Vancouver Island. No racing, no ocean crossing, no Hawaii or Alaska. Just putzing around 50 miles or so a day, dropping an anchor, cooking dinner and few beers. Very casual.
Very informative. Thanks. Can you do an episode about issues/costs for Canadians buying a boat in US vs Canada. Do you have to register it in Canada and pay HST and tariffs - or can you keep it US flagged to cruise the Caribbean?
I couldn’t imagine a seven foot keel I’d be running aground every day. It’s hard to find water that deep close to shore. Because you need to come to shore a lot and you don’t want to anchor so far out.
Congratulations for the awesome channel! Do you have any comments on Whitby 42 yachts? I own a 1979 one but haven't sailed her far yet.... what can I expect? Thank you!!
How weird is it that you did this episode right around the time I was wondering if Tim had ever done or will do “A beginners guide to buying a sailboat!” Just so happens my goal is to be on a full time live aboard by summer/fall of 2024… I needed this info! Been binge watching you since I discovered your channel! And I will definitely check out “historsea!” Any blue water boats that are also race worthy? Thx bro!!!
Yeah I've been watching your videos and alot of other videos out there about sailboats. I believe I'm pretty educated about what I need verses what I want. I want to be able to travel around the world but reality says I will be spending most of my time around the islands. But of course my wants keep popping up. I like to think of those as lotto days. Because I'm gonna be doing this single handed so that means 35 to 45 footer. Plus I'm the guy that can fix anything so I'm leaning towards 45 footer. Because I will need room for tools. Plus I intend on working on other people's boats. Money money money! But one thing I will not budge upon and that is a sugar scoop. Got to get stuff onto and off the boat by myself. I don't want a full keel, slow moving. So basically I'm looking at a Catalina or Catalina Morgan boat. I know about Hunter but I'm not a big fan about the swept back spreaders. I really like the Catalina boats but I hate the price. But as you know you get what you pay for. I personally would like a center cockpit. I like the aft cabin deal. I know the Catalina has an aft cabin but the head room is shallow. Maybe my wants are getting in my way again. I guess I should keep on buying lotto tickets and keep on praying! Okay thanks for all your videos and information. See ya next week.
If it's "get as much weight, as far down as possible" could you use a hollow keel and fill it with water to add weight for ocean crossings, then pump it out to lift you higher out when cruising? Edit: a quick Google search later and I find out I just reinvented a wet keel.
Been looking at boats and have viewed a few Beneteau's 423 and today looked at a Halberg Rassey 352 (fantastic condition) as I don't intend crossing oceans which would you pick?
Tim, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work! I’m curious if you have any thoughts on Caliber Yachts, in particular the 40LRC. They seem to be very much in the mold of Island Packets, with a few nice improvements (such as exposed and easily visible chain plates!). We are in the PNW AND nearing retirement age, and looking for a solid boat for sailing up and down the west coast and probably into the Caribbean eventually. From what I’ve seen, Caliber seems to check the boxes for safety, interior space and relatively easy sailing. But I’m no expert! Thoughts? Possible subject for a video?
Thanks for the episode! One question - you mention "weight" of the boat. Is that the same as the displacement value given in specs or also should add extra weight on boat during a passage? I,e, you mentioned 18K pounds weight for coastal cruising/carribean - is this 18k pounds displacement only? thank you for the great info.
I can’t even afford the down payment on a pickup truck right now. What profession do you folks have that you can afford a $140,000 sailboat? Granted I’m supporting a family of 4 on a single income. Is sailing the islands mostly for singles and couples? Or are there entire families on your sailboats? What do sailors do for health insurance for their kids? Retirement savings? I suppose I just have so many questions regarding the transition from a 9-5 life supporting kids to a life at sea.
Hi Tim I would love to thank you for all the efforts you are putting in your both channels, it is really packed with solid information 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I been a power boating guy all my 40+ boating life, I owned a25 feet and 70feet and everything in between My question what shall I expect if I decide to convert to sail boats?
Hello, Not sure if you've touched on the topic, as I have just discovered your RUclips page but, what if I want to be able to cruise the Caribbean, Bahamas, and make a crossing?
I am brand new to Sailing - Do you have any opinion on a second hand 1986 Bruce Roberts Mauritius 45 at "25,242 USD"? will need another 10,500 USD to get it ocean ready + most likely another 10k for equipment. Is this a fair purchase to consider? OR is a 1988 Lavranos Vickers 41 for 49647,95 USD ocean sail ready a better option? I also have an option for a Angelo Lavranos L 36 PH for 40,240 USD ready to go. My budget is too tight to mention so I am careful not to spend too much on a cheaper bout that requires more investment, rather just purchasing a more for a ready to go boat for more.
Oh boy I’m so wanting to get into sailing. I’m a overlanding guy wanting to get overseas under my belt now. This gives me a good starting point on which direction to start thank you.
Hi Tim - I just bought a 38' Ericson and it seems that there is a significant gap in videos out there that talk about those few months after buying a boat. This video is a good example of what pops up on a search on "what to do after buying a sailboat." It's mostly what to do BEFORE buying a boat. But, now that I've bought a boat, I find that there are a number of things I think I should do just to provide myself a baseline: 1) thorough bottom job (currently being done,) 2) a thorough engine maintenance (e.g., oil, transmission, fuel filters, etc., including perhaps a compression check, and so on,) 3) ...and then I get a little stuck. On my boat, I need to add a dinghy, a life raft, and some basic accessories (e.g., I'll run jack lines on my boat.) Oh, and obviously, do some sailing. But, if you are ever looking for more/different topics, I think that this might be useful. Great channel. I look forward to each of your videos and have learned a lot along the way to finally fulfilling the dream of owning a boat.
Im still young but my dream is it someday to safe enough money as a programmer to buy my own boat to sail along the equator. I hope i achieve this sooner than later and maybe as a programmer i could work from boat. My absolute dream boat a sailing Katamaran but in the end i guess it depends on the opportunity and price if i someday have the money. Maybe i can come to an agreement with my sister but id rather not sell one of the houses and right now i have a solid 12k euro XD
Great content and production. Sometimes I see a boat for sale in Europe (I’m American). What is the process to buy a boat in a European country sail it there and then cross the Atlantic and breath it at home in the US. Thanks
I have binged watched your content since discovering it. I will say my wife isn’t a fan. She keeps saying your giving me bad ideas and teaching me how to pull them off. Keep this stuff coming please!
hahaha
Find a new wife? I’m just kidding good luck with your dream, I share the same dream brother.
@@nickcarroll5868 I think you were onto something there...
Find a better drag net.....
ha ha ha - good one - 😆😆😆
Honestly, if you’re a real beginner at sailing , I suggest to buy a small used cheap sailboat 22-24 ft and learn the ropes of sailing first then with that experience you can transpose it on a bigger boat in a safely manner . i’ve seen in my years of sailing and trips so many newbies not having the experience on a large boat getting in trouble . It’s the same as when you learned to drive a car easier to drive and park a small car than a big truck ! Need to learn to walk before learning to run …
I think your channel has been hacked…
CAPE DORY TYPHOOOOOON, LET'S GOOOO
The section on sleep amused me as, on my last voyage I learned I could sleep in the fore berth whilst underway with my legs leaving the mattress as we came off every wave. I was also thrown bodily from the settee in the saloon. Woke up in the air and managed to land on my feet and holding onto the galley rail!
Something to keep safe while sleeping should be in place when needed. Tie everything down on a boat.
Oh gosh 😂😂 hahah sounds like something I would do
I just got a catalina capri 16 with a trailer and brand new main sail for $750. Time to learn how to sail 😂
How much this run you?
Good gosh that's dirt cheap, you lucky duck! I've seen deals like that too & am gonna do the same thing you did
How's it going now😂
@@shakinbottles it's awesome 😎👍
@@monsterhog1118 nice homie
Still don’t understand why your subscriber count is so low. The information given is outstanding and invaluable. I’d say this might be the most underrated channel in the YT sailing community.
I've never had any interest in boating or sailing but your channel is really intriguing. I never thought anything about keel types, motors, bathroom set up. Well done, very analytical!!! Never buy a boat in the water!
Thanks for watching!
Hey Tim, we're currently in the process of buying a live-aboard, mainly due to the inspiration and info learned by watching Lady K and a few others. One thing I would have found VERY helpful, would be an explanation of some of the stats at Sailboat data, such as Comfort ratio, capsize formula, S3, and such. We looked closely to compare boats, but really assumed what they meant. That would be so cool! Thanks so much for all you do!
I've seen lots of very helpful and clearly explained YT vids on this subject. Sorry, can't recall who by. They're definitely out there though 🙂
I always give my brother a thumbs up and a comment. I want to see you doing well! Hang in there, Tim.
scam, please report
I watched all your content and now I’m a proud Pearson 40 owner. This vessel really checked boxes and is my new liveaboard.
Any tips? Just picked up a Hurley 22 "poor man's oceangoer" for like $300. Plan on ripping all the interior out, re fitting to my personal tastes, and making it my fishing rig
As far as dockage I've never understood why some folks will come in full speed the put it in reverse when they get in or vise versa course it changed with wind and tide where you'll need a little more power. I forget who says this but I love the saying "Don't come in faster than your willing to hit something"
You're content is top-drawer! BZ! When I need a surveyor, you're the guy. I'm X-Navy and I've spent several years at sea and loved every minute of it. Ever since I moved back to cenn penn, the sea has been calling me back. One of my children has finished college and is moving abroad and the other is in the middle of college. Your knowledgeable and insightful content has lit the fires in my boilers and has me making preparations to get underway once again.
I single handed a 37 foot Hunter for about 35,000 miles all over the Caribbean, Bahamas and most of the South Pacific. I got married in Tonga and it was still big enough for the 2 of us, but once we had our boy, well, I wanted something bigger. I found a Whitby 55 for a good price and fell in love with it. It's big, fast, very comfortable, and one of the most safest boats ever made. We had a terible autopilot until about a month ago, so I needed my wife for steering at times, but for the most part, I do everything else. I think I can single handle it too. It's a ketch too. My Hunter had 2 sails and now I have 4 but still doable. Single handling is all about planning ahead.
Also another reason to go big is the multiple births. That means you can bring crew for the long trips. It is so much better splitting the night shift with 4 or 5 then 1 or 2. You also have a lot more room for all the food and clothes and gear they bring or need. Sailing offshore in a big boat is a lot more enjoyable than a small one, as long as everybody gets along :)
You make a good point about keel depth. I've been thinking I want a shallow keel for less stress in the Caribbean but I probably want better stability everywhere else...
Island Packets have a 4' draft with a swing keel to 7'7" on the 38'
'shoal draft' boats usually at more weight to the keel to make up less leverage, so I wouldn't consider them any more or less safe. But they go more sideways than upwind, which is why I'm shooting for 6ft draft.
Conversely, it might be an idea to include what isn't needed onboard.
IOW, what are the bare bones electronics needed to go coastal sailing, or offshore. Particularly with classic boats, which can be beautiful things to save, but more likely to have nav suites never or barely ever upgraded. Perhaps because the owner always sailed in the same waters. I keep seeing the old Decca nav equipment and radio telephones etc in older boats, which while charming, are the equivalent of bringing a baseball bat to a gun fight.
Same goes for deck equipment. Whisker and spinnaker poles solely for cruising. Anchors. Needed fore and aft? Are different anchors for different sea beds a good idea?
I'm NOT touching safety gear. IMO you want the right gear for where you're going and double or maybe even triple redundancy.
Engine spares. What are the core spares and tools needed? I haven't seen one. But there must be a table somewhere showing which engine parts are most likely to fail, all other things being equal.
Might be a whole other episode! 🙄
Clearly experienced advice but patience and solid ability to read the water will allow most of the Bahamas. Carried two different sail boats with 6.5 draft (rating, usually 6'8" with all the "necessary") with about 10 years in the islands. Did have to live by the tide chart and took two tries to get from Long Island to the Jamentos and spent an interesting evening sitting "somewhere" on the banks in the Turks in Caicos. Current side drift got us both times. Cold beer helped.
On race night the weather matters. An old heavy bluewater boat racing in rough weather offshore has a really good chance of winning because he can fly your sail, power through waves and have a much higher rating giving him an advantage.
In the side of age relating to upkeep, if you go through and fix everything in a well made old boat it will be cheaper to maintain than a new boat simply due to complexity in many cases, this also applies to old cars even more so than boats.
Definitely go for a older well built unit especially if you can do all the work yourself it will drop cost dramatically, paid labor is expensive.
Getting an insurance survey is very important because your insurance will be cheaper, and you'll know what is wrong with the boat. It might take 6 weeks to get on a surveyor's schedule, so make friends with the person.
If there are systems that you are not very familiar with, you need to learn more about those systems.
Boats are expensive, so make sure you can afford all the costs associated with owning a boat.
Keep in mind when looking at the beds....how will you sleep when the boat is heeled over 20 degrees? Those island beds aren't so good for that unless they have a lee cloth. Also keep in mind the rolling. Beds that go sideways aren't good when a lot of rolling....downwind sailing.
Superb channel. Like That Guy, below, I have been binging on your vids, you're doing such a great job. Then, you posted a new vid just a few hours ago, cool.
I just helped a totally non-sailing friend of mine find and buy a 25 foot boat. It is fun to watch somebody come new into the sailing world and get totally smitten by it. We had to move it up the Hudson River about 45 miles, and he learned why leaving the previous Sunday would have given us favorable winds and currents, vs this past sunday where we had to motor almost the whole way through the narrow sections of the River against the current and into the wind. Big lessons learned fast under real conditions. You have excellent advice, so practical. In this vid you quickly gave rationale for buying a boat for where you intend to sail it - big heavies for crossing the pond, and shallow draft for tidal areas and reefy places. Really fantastic.
Consider that smaller slips are often easier to find than slips for bigger boats. Many marinas I have seen have much shorter waiting lists for smaller slips than for big slips. In may places you could be waiting years for a slip for a 40-45 footer.
Thank you for your Beginners Guide. We are still looking for our future sailing yachts and are grateful for any information. Warm greetings from Germany from two future circumnavigators.
Hi Tim. I liked this video. I felt like it was taken from our talk. We were looking at a C380 but, after talking to you we are looking at the C42. There are a lot more of them for sale than the C380.
I find it odd that Catalina waited until the middle of 2000 to start putting Yanmar's in the 380 yet the 42's had them from the start back in 1989.
Before getting in command of any watercraft, everyone should at least buy a current copy of Chapman's and read it from cover to cover, or better yet, take a Coast Guard auxiliary boating safety course. There are just too many out on the water that have NO idea of the rules of navigation or boating safety.
Excellent video! My wife and are beginning the search now and this series is very timely. We can't wait til the next video!
scam, please report
Thanks for your very informative videos. I am a newbie - just got a 1976, 24' C&C. Learn on it for a year or two and then look for a bigger boat. Cheers!
We just got a Chrysler Pirateer 13, to have some fun on small bodies of water. I used to sail lake scows in the Midwest, in local regattas, and looking forward to teaching my partner to sail. Your videos are well done and informative, thank.
Thanks for watching!
It would be nice to have a video fairly soon on how much of this is applicable to motor yachts. It would also be nice to have side comments for motor yacht buyers
"I always need reverse but, that's my goal".
I gave up sailing back in my early 30’s at the trade of raising my family, house, private school, etc. but now in my later 50’s and have the itch for retirement. I’ve been in FL for 30 years and considering a cat in the 45’ range. I’ve always sailed mono hauls but thinking a cat would give me more cruising room for future grandchildren, etc. Shopping again is so stressful lol.
Thank you for keeping me grounded. We would love a 50ft.... but realistically a 40 to 45 would be better.
Oops. Too late I already registered my first boat a Hunter 23. I got it with the trailer for two grand.
And if you are going to buy a boat you should fall in love with it as it will take all of your time and all of your money.
I agree with everything you say. But I would go one step further. What is an expectable living space is very different if you are coming from a 2100 sq foot house or bigger. We live in a 42 foot Spartan that 1/2 of it has been a construction zone. Living small takes work. Most people think that they can live in a small space and when they figure out that 35 feet is not enough room this is why the idea of sailing, van life, full time RVing comes to an end.
My first sailing yacht was a 42' blue water cruiser and I fount it to be way too small. It was a nice boat if you like being in a tea cup and thus sold. Get the biggest boat that you can afford and handle by yourself or as a couple. Should you desire to stay around the Caribbean, go with a cat. You get more real estate and less draft, perfect for the Bahama's and Caribbean.
I really appreciate your approach to your channel. I am considering a full time live aboard that will include passage making. I just returned from almost 1400 NM in the Pacific on an Oyster 485 with 3 other people. The 485 is a reasonably large and comfortable boat. During the 19 days on board, the boat seemed to shrink. It didn't actually get smaller. But my opinion of space changed as we spent more time aboard. Also, I drew the V-berth for a rather difficult passage. After about 3 days, I referred to it as the bouncy bed. Many nights, I would actually lift almost completely off the bed as the bow dropped off a wave. We were close-hauled almost the entire passage. When it got really bad, I would move to a settee in the saloon.
I would appreciate your thoughts on boat shrinkage, comfort on passages, and how well dorade vents work to keep a boat well ventilated and dry during passages.
scam, please report
don't even think about buying a wing keel for shallow waters. I had one. You will touch bottom at some point no matter how deep your keel is, but if you have a wing keel, you are stuck really good. They tend to act like suction cups and there is a lot of friction. I once had my keel box cracked because the tow boat had to pull so hard to get the boat unstuck.
Speaking of keels....some of the old boat makers did it best. They fiberglassed them in (encapsulated), made them wide off the bottom and put a lot of lead (not iron) inside the fiberglass at the bottom. This is a key point, all the weight of the keel is at the bottom foot of the keel giving it a lot more righting ability for the given weight. That also allows for a deep bilge which is critical for finding a leak if you ever get one. You can almost never find a leak if it's underwater.
Boats with Keel boxes provide a impact absorbing structure which makes them stronger. When you have a keel that bolts up directly to the hull, it puts a lot of pressure on the hull where the bolts go through and doesn't provide any impact absorption. Because most production boat makers these days bolt the keel directly to the hull and I feel that is the reason it seems that keels falling off has risen.
The keel is the most important part of a sailboat and because they built them the best in the 70s and 80s, I prefer older boats. Most Hunters though, at least in the 90s, have keel boxes which make them better than the hull bolt on, just stay away from anything that has a wing on it.
Great video as always Tim. You keep teaching me all the things I need to know before getting out there and purchasing my own. ⛵️❤
Love this channel and your history one too (I'm a geek for history and boats). Only thing I would have added when you talked of space to sleep is the good and bad of a centre cockpit verse a more traditional one. My dad was always a lover of the centre cockpit and as a kid I never got it. Now I am in the market top get a long term live aboard... if I don't get a catamaran I will get a centra concept monohull and yes around 42 feet. The other thing I would have added... I love the extra beam you get between many 38s and many 42s... a lot of older 38s (not all) are too narrow for me.
scam, please report
Thanks Tim! Appreciate this video!
7:06 yet conventional houses are subject to almost everything wanting to eat it and make nests in it, they also burn easily and are not watertight so even a minor flood is catastrophic, not to mention if a giant storm is coming the house can't outrun or get out of its way.
Yes a boat has risk but it's not THAT much more than a house and it's less risky than a car.
Just fantastic info! Wish you had more on catamaran purchases...
Very nice overview how to choose a sailboat for your environment. Can you do video about practical size of different tanks, like water, fuel, gas .
Learn small, and as others say those skills can be taken forward
My wife would probably be more upset finding out that I'm watching this than if she caught me with another woman! But I can't help myself: I just moved to Mallorca, I'm surrounded by sail boats and I want to learn....and eventually buy one. Thanks for helping to spark the interest.
Thank you, One of my goals is to sail across the Atlantic. Either myself (Solo) or with my brother. I was thinking of a westsail 32. I have little experience but I am willing to learn.
Go for it!
Normans Cay 8 feet no problem. In fact I have sailed extensively in the Bahamas with 8 ft. How do you think the sailing cargo ships got around; on pixie dust?
Thanks for another great video.
Fixed keel weight at bottom, skeg protected rudder. No propane, cats are not blue water boats. Center cockpit rigging one person can handle
Well done, well done, content is superb!!
GREAT stuff as always!!
Thank you
Seamanship isnt about sailing, or the boat you sail. Its about understanding the ocean, your goals, and the limits of the vessel you sail. You can sail a cobbled together raft across an ocean if you know those things :-)
Unless you like racing, and have deep pockets, dont bother with a fin/bulb keel. Its full of potential heartache. Im assumng you want low maintenance, worry free cruising. To this, Secondly, the rudder MUST have a strong skeg, or be behind a full keel to avoid damage, kelp and line entanglement, etc. Preferably its also a balanced rudder, and has a structure beneath it to allow things to slide past it.Third, the hull needs to be stronger than gibraltar, and the deck needs the same...dont accept light layups or thin metal/wood with excuses of "modern". Fourth, the rig should be simple, and possible to jury rig, and use without electrical power. Fifth, the mast is a MAST...if it looks like an anime transformer, pass. Sixth, no crazy rigs. Staysail, jib and main is enough...big ballooners and genoas are great in light winds, but they shouldnt be necessary to make way. Also those big sails should be easily doused. Next, storage, storage, storage. Next, EASY engine, generator, battery, seacock, stuffing box and throughhull access. Next, if there isnt one huge winch that is both electric/manual in the cockpit, pass or install one. Points if you inspect the running gear for silly decisions, wear and quality. Next, running lights should be proof against an angry sperm whale looking for dinner.
You get the picture. :-) Worry free means bulletproof, high quality including the thought that went into design. Sailing a lightly built condominum across an ocean is possible ( see Seamanship above) but isnt worry free. The fewer of these things you have, the more constrained are your choices.
And thats the deal. The better the boat and captain, the more choices you have!
If you pay cash for say a boat from the 80’s, what is the cheapest bare bones insurance you can get. I would be sailing Puget Sound, Salish Sea, Juan de Fuca and Straight of Georgia. If I am feeling adventurous, I might go a hundred miles up the west coast of Vancouver Island. No racing, no ocean crossing, no Hawaii or Alaska. Just putzing around 50 miles or so a day, dropping an anchor, cooking dinner and few beers.
Very casual.
A depth gage comes in handy. Orcas probably don't like loud noises underwaterif they're a worry.
I am doing my RYA Sailing levels 1, 2 and 3 on reservoir. Planning to buy a liveaboard sailboat sometime in future.
nice!
Very informative. Thanks. Can you do an episode about issues/costs for Canadians buying a boat in US vs Canada. Do you have to register it in Canada and pay HST and tariffs - or can you keep it US flagged to cruise the Caribbean?
love the video thank you so much for it
Tim, you're videos are always appreciated. You've given me more information, than anyone else. Thanks!!!!
Great information!!!
Cheers.
Always good, thanks
Thanks for watching!
I couldn’t imagine a seven foot keel I’d be running aground every day. It’s hard to find water that deep close to shore. Because you need to come to shore a lot and you don’t want to anchor so far out.
Congratulations for the awesome channel! Do you have any comments on Whitby 42 yachts? I own a 1979 one but haven't sailed her far yet.... what can I expect? Thank you!!
How weird is it that you did this episode right around the time I was wondering if Tim had ever done or will do “A beginners guide to buying a sailboat!”
Just so happens my goal is to be on a full time live aboard by summer/fall of 2024…
I needed this info! Been binge watching you since I discovered your channel! And I will definitely check out “historsea!”
Any blue water boats that are also race worthy?
Thx bro!!!
Yeah I've been watching your videos and alot of other videos out there about sailboats. I believe I'm pretty educated about what I need verses what I want. I want to be able to travel around the world but reality says I will be spending most of my time around the islands. But of course my wants keep popping up. I like to think of those as lotto days. Because I'm gonna be doing this single handed so that means 35 to 45 footer. Plus I'm the guy that can fix anything so I'm leaning towards 45 footer. Because I will need room for tools. Plus I intend on working on other people's boats. Money money money! But one thing I will not budge upon and that is a sugar scoop. Got to get stuff onto and off the boat by myself. I don't want a full keel, slow moving. So basically I'm looking at a Catalina or Catalina Morgan boat. I know about Hunter but I'm not a big fan about the swept back spreaders. I really like the Catalina boats but I hate the price. But as you know you get what you pay for. I personally would like a center cockpit. I like the aft cabin deal. I know the Catalina has an aft cabin but the head room is shallow. Maybe my wants are getting in my way again. I guess I should keep on buying lotto tickets and keep on praying! Okay thanks for all your videos and information. See ya next week.
If it's "get as much weight, as far down as possible" could you use a hollow keel and fill it with water to add weight for ocean crossings, then pump it out to lift you higher out when cruising?
Edit: a quick Google search later and I find out I just reinvented a wet keel.
Enjoy your site! Can you delve into what it takes to get your 'Captain's' certificate? Thank you
Thanks
18,000lbs floor dry, or loaded?
Since you suggest a shorter keel for island hopping, what do you think of the twin keel boats more common in England?
If you have a deeper keel, can't you still visit these shallow places by anchoring offshore and taking your dinghy onto shore?
For a first time sailboat and also a solo sailor. What are your thoughts on steel boats good or bad. ???
Nice video
For me it's headroom. I'm almost 6'4" tall. A hull were I'm constantly hunched over below deck is a non starter.
Been looking at boats and have viewed a few Beneteau's 423 and today looked at a Halberg Rassey 352 (fantastic condition) as I don't intend crossing oceans which would you pick?
Tim, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work!
I’m curious if you have any thoughts on Caliber Yachts, in particular the 40LRC. They seem to be very much in the mold of Island Packets, with a few nice improvements (such as exposed and easily visible chain plates!). We are in the PNW AND nearing retirement age, and looking for a solid boat for sailing up and down the west coast and probably into the Caribbean eventually. From what I’ve seen, Caliber seems to check the boxes for safety, interior space and relatively easy sailing. But I’m no expert! Thoughts? Possible subject for a video?
Hey can you look at or review Bruckmann 50 pilothouse cruising sloop, or the mk 2
Merci. ( a french man)
Thanks for the episode! One question - you mention "weight" of the boat. Is that the same as the displacement value given in specs or also should add extra weight on boat during a passage? I,e, you mentioned 18K pounds weight for coastal cruising/carribean - is this 18k pounds displacement only? thank you for the great info.
I can’t even afford the down payment on a pickup truck right now. What profession do you folks have that you can afford a $140,000 sailboat?
Granted I’m supporting a family of 4 on a single income. Is sailing the islands mostly for singles and couples? Or are there entire families on your sailboats? What do sailors do for health insurance for their kids? Retirement savings?
I suppose I just have so many questions regarding the transition from a 9-5 life supporting kids to a life at sea.
I’m in the same boat as you 😂
Hi Tim
I would love to thank you for all the efforts you are putting in your both channels, it is really packed with solid information 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I been a power boating guy all my 40+ boating life, I owned a25 feet and 70feet and everything in between
My question what shall I expect if I decide to convert to sail boats?
Radar is important.
Hello,
Not sure if you've touched on the topic, as I have just discovered your RUclips page but, what if I want to be able to cruise the Caribbean, Bahamas, and make a crossing?
So .... most boats over 20 years old are not insured because of the investment required?
No no. We have insurance on them. Just usually not Geiko.
I am brand new to Sailing - Do you have any opinion on a second hand 1986 Bruce Roberts Mauritius 45 at "25,242 USD"? will need another 10,500 USD to get it ocean ready + most likely another 10k for equipment. Is this a fair purchase to consider? OR is a 1988 Lavranos Vickers 41 for 49647,95 USD ocean sail ready a better option? I also have an option for a Angelo Lavranos L 36 PH for 40,240 USD ready to go. My budget is too tight to mention so I am careful not to spend too much on a cheaper bout that requires more investment, rather just purchasing a more for a ready to go boat for more.
Oh boy I’m so wanting to get into sailing. I’m a overlanding guy wanting to get overseas under my belt now. This gives me a good starting point on which direction to start thank you.
Did you have to include, "what you can afford"!😂
Hi Tim - I just bought a 38' Ericson and it seems that there is a significant gap in videos out there that talk about those few months after buying a boat. This video is a good example of what pops up on a search on "what to do after buying a sailboat." It's mostly what to do BEFORE buying a boat. But, now that I've bought a boat, I find that there are a number of things I think I should do just to provide myself a baseline: 1) thorough bottom job (currently being done,) 2) a thorough engine maintenance (e.g., oil, transmission, fuel filters, etc., including perhaps a compression check, and so on,) 3) ...and then I get a little stuck. On my boat, I need to add a dinghy, a life raft, and some basic accessories (e.g., I'll run jack lines on my boat.)
Oh, and obviously, do some sailing. But, if you are ever looking for more/different topics, I think that this might be useful.
Great channel. I look forward to each of your videos and have learned a lot along the way to finally fulfilling the dream of owning a boat.
I knock it out of gear 3 slips before mine, 94 Benny oceanis 400. Then berth like a woman God!
What about an adjustable center board keel?
Why there aren't foiling keels that drag the boat down whitout adding weight
I’m more into comfort as oppose to speed…
It be nice to hear catamaran vs boat?
When you talk about keel depth limiting places you could reach, isn't it draft you mean?
Yes
Im still young but my dream is it someday to safe enough money as a programmer to buy my own boat to sail along the equator. I hope i achieve this sooner than later and maybe as a programmer i could work from boat. My absolute dream boat a sailing Katamaran but in the end i guess it depends on the opportunity and price if i someday have the money. Maybe i can come to an agreement with my sister but id rather not sell one of the houses and right now i have a solid 12k euro XD
How about an episode about 5 things that should make you walk away from a boat.
That was right
We had a 43' But with family of 6 it was small.
Great content and production. Sometimes I see a boat for sale in Europe (I’m American). What is the process to buy a boat in a European country sail it there and then cross the Atlantic and breath it at home in the US. Thanks
Tim, it seems like you have a very active scammer impersonating your account.