Probably one of the most honest- and realistic review of refitting a boat of this size and $$ it takes to make it up to snuff with class and comfort. Great taste in Refit choices- I can see years of experience in your choices... So I have to ask- as a monohull owner- is there anything you miss about monohulls these days? Big or small...
SY Explorar Conmigo SY Explorar Conmigo first of all thank you very much. The trite answer would be that as full time liveaboards we don’t miss much about living on a monohull full time. There are times we’d much prefer a monohull. One would be lighter winds in a comparably rough sea as the sea state goes right into the rig on a cat. The slatting is much worse on a cat in these conditions and you end up dropping sail to save wear and tear or bearing away to set the spinnaker loose. Another time is when opening the bill from the inevitable marina stay. I’m sure I will own another monohull when we are done full time cruising. Our last boat was a Freedom 33, and I loved that particular boat and that size. 33 (she was more like 36) is more than big enough to live on for a stretch, has enough mass to be out in the ocean with, and is very easy to single hand offshore (which I have) and in tight spaces....heck I might even try to buy Either Way back! I also very much prefer small daysailor monohulls over beach cats. It’s a thought provoking question. Thanks again for the kind words.
I totally agree with you on the carpet thing. It's comfy, it helps keep noise down and if you vacuum every week it's good to go for a year or so. If you buy the leftovers, it's really cheap. A boat doesn't have much floor space so it's easy to find a piece large enough. After you do it a few times it gets to be a quick easy job to swap it out. We had a cardboard template & would roll the carpet out upside down, throw the template on, spray paint around the edges, then cut it out with a utility knife. You have a piece of carpet that fits perfectly in an hour. Another 2 hours or so for pad and install. It's gets easier and faster every time you do it. It doesn't last like it does in a house but it's quick, easy, and cheap to swap it out.
Right? The key (at least for us) is to see this as something you are going to replace every so often. For us that means keeping the cost down as if we went too nice and fancy, we'd feel obligated to nurse it along with crazy cleaning products, etc. Your method sounds pretty efficient too! Thanks for the comment! Nick O
I've been doing some research on possibly buying a catamaran once I retire in 3 years and move to the Caribbean. Glad to find your channel, new subscriber. What I love about your content is how much information you are able to share with your viewers about all that is involved in this lifestyle and the challenges you face. You don't just show the pretty drone shots of white sand beaches and that is appreciated. From a viewer who doesn't know anything really about sailing I'm grateful that you take the time to explain some of the more basic sailing jargon and processes. Not sure if my wife will let me turn this dream into a reality but till then I will life vicariously through you guys. Safe travels!
Wow... is all I can say. Thank you for all of the comments and suggestions. Glad this is useful info for you. We'll do a boat tour in a few days so you can see all that we are talking about here. If you want us to focus on or show something in particular, let me know and we will. Best, Nick and Megan and Sugar.
Hi, Nick I just found your channel I had a lego boat when I was a child and that was about it, I just like seeing different peoples lives on RUclips you present very well and are very watchable. You did a price comparison at the end but what would the price difference be if you were to buy a similar boat to what you have now but brand new? How long does it take to be competent on a boat before you can go off safely on your own? I bought a done a few months ago and am getting some fantastic video with it, with the locations you are going to you could get some amazing footage and they are fun to fly as well. All the best I look forward to seeing your boat tour.
Thank you for the comment. To buy this boat new or comparable today, I am guessing it would be somewhere in the $750K range, but the newer boats in this class from the same builder are very different beasts, so it is a little hard to compare. I would say the learning curve is definitely easier on a cat. I came up the old way...dinghies, little boat, bigger boat, bigger boat, slightly smaller boat, then this boat. I would say if you had formal instruction, you would be comfortable on this boat in a couple of months. The rest of it is getting used to the ocean...
@@TheOKellyslooking at present pricing on L46's I think you guys played a blinder (English soccer-speak for 'did really well') and have a stunning, virtually brand new boat. Kudos.
Hey Nick and crew. Just found this channel and thought "That guy looks familiar. " Long way from the Rockies and KUSA channel 9". Someday I'll fallow my dream and sail on down the line like youse guys.🦈 Mike from Aurora ⛵😉
@@TheOKellys excellent information and well done. Thanks for making my retirement research so much more informed and saving me from some expensive pitfalls.
A first class presentation. Your calm well modulated voice just enhanced the content of your video. The organization of your information made for easy comprehension. Your closing comments were clear and concise and seemed well considered. I would advise anyone thinking of making a video to watch one of yours to see how to approach the task as well as by their absence of some common mistakes like yelling at the microphone or mumbling or not organizing your thought before you speak or learning how to edit content for clarity. The last bit would be the respect for your audience your voice conveyed. That goes a long way to making a successful and well received sailing video blog especially in today’s crowded field with many fine examples of sailing videos (like RAN Sailing) and many almost unwatchable attempts at the art and no use naming names.
Thank you for the kind words Steve. Happy to be of any service to this group. Amazing we live in times when sharing is so easy! Appreciate the note immensely! Best, Nick
I learn so much from you guys. I'm watching this for at least the third time. As a noob, every time I watch a video like this I'm a completely different person - sailor. Ah, $11,000 for all new electronics that is good and I know the same amount will apply to the monohull I want to sail for the next two years waiting for my cat. Those refrigerator seals. They do get stiff. Here's a trick that's always worked ('cause I've done it for over 40 years). When you flip a 'fridge door hinges the seals absolutely will not seal, but pour near boiling water over them and they soften right up and will re-form to the new door swing. Maybe your seals were completely shot - saltwater, sun... but I'd always try hot water first. And it's good to occasionally hold your hand under the door seals to check if they're getting stiff and no longer sealing. Needed to do that to my old fridge a couple of years ago.
Having the budget was really compelling. You rarely get this kind of information and it’s really interesting to compare your charter boat plus upgrades to the new factory price of a Leopard.
If you saw the earlier video, you'll see original budget was to be 300k. Well over that! Goes to show you, we're always trying to be "optimistic." No regrets! She's a good boat. Thanks, Nick O.
Finally someone willing to share honest and openly about the costs... A lot of people wonder around the issue, nice to have someone give exact numbers.
Thanks to my wife's record keeping. Lol. I'd have hoped to forget. :) Seriously though, these numbers seem to be in line with what other Leopard owners have spent. We might be on the low side actually.
Nick, great job! Fun to see an honest take of this endeavor and it’s amazing how quickly the costs escalate! Keep it up, love to see more of your videos!
Nick just discovered your channel. As others have commented thanks to you and your wife for breaking down these costs. These costs are helpful to understand for anyone considering a refit of a charter or even older owner catamaran. The lithium batteries and latest electronics package must make you smile every day! Thanks for the well produced sharing!
Hey thanks Dave. Yeh man, these batteries do make me smile everyday. I swear it's one of those things you get used to worrying about on a boat when you are out full time and lithium removes that worry. Of course you have to have enough generation to keep up, but at least it is easier. Electronics these days are pretty amazing. Back in my day..... thanks for the note.
Wow! We are not boat owners, however, we've been watching a LOT of yachting channels and then came across the Catamarans and fell in love! Our issues would be #1, We don't know anything about sailing! Don't laugh! #2 I don't have the time to learn, so I would have to either hire a captain and deckhands or wait until we retire and learn myself. I imagine a younger man who is fit such as yourself would have an easier time keeping up with a boat and sailing. This is probably more of a pipe dream for me. Your boat is a beauty and your wife did a fabulous job with the upholstering! Looking forward to seeing the tour! Also, have to commend you both for giving your dog such a wonderful life. We are animal lovers and they would be included in anything we decide to do with our lives of course. Seeing your dog on the paddle board was a great moment! What a lucky dog!
Hey thanks for the note Tim. We are lucky lucky people for sure and really happy to be able to share a bit of our life on youtube. Much gratitude! As for learning to sail and hiring an experienced captain, that is a HIGHLY advisable thing to do. Two years ago we met a husband and wife with a young daughter on a catamaran they had recently purchased. Even though they had quite a bit of experience on monohulls in the med, they hired an experienced catamaran sailor to sail up from the Caribbean over a couple of months. The tips and hints and tricks you learn will save a lifetime of mis-steps. I find myself learning something new on just about every other sail and this is after four boats and a lot of miles! Finding the right person for the task is the tough part, because not only does this person have to be trustworthy and knowledgeable, but they need a compatible personality! But I say go for it! If you have the interest, I don't see how someone couldn't go from zero experience to quite competent in just a few months. The hardest part of it all, to be honest, is learning all of the systems on the boat as you often are called upon to fix this or that. Sailing, navigating, landfalls, watches....those are not that difficult to learn. Please do keep in touch as you pursue this. I want to hear how it is going. Hope to see you out here soon! Nick
Thanks for all of the valuable information. I am new to watching sailing videos and was thinking about buying a boat. I grew up with being on a freshwater lake, bayou, river, marsh land almost all of my life. I am 62 years old and don’t see how I could ever get a sea worthy vessel that I could handle. Years ago a person drove their vehicle into my Postal Truck and knocked it over 1/10 of a mile from the point of impact leaving me with numerous broken bones, tendon, ligament, nerve damage, but a person has to have a dream. I am limited on the amount of weight I can lift and physical activities and I guess this might be an impossibility to sail the ocean. I can’t afford any more than $185,000.00 max with everything sea worthy. It seems like everyone has one thing in common, they all are constantly making repairs and spending money on their boats. I know saltwater is tough on everything. Everything cost, I just got out of church, went to the Postal Office to mail a letter and my electric window regulator has broke with just 19,195 miles on my truck, it is always something. GOD has really blessed you two, after all the money ya’ll have spent, all the labor on repairs, subbing out repairs, and you two can still smile and be nice to each other, makes me believe miracles still happen. LOL 😂 Can you do a video on how much it cost for fuel, insurance, mooring, storing, dry docking, etc. cost ? Thank you. Be safe and Happy Sailing !!!
Thank you for the heartfelt note. I narrated a book for a sailor by the name James Baldwin, and he sailed his 27ft Atom further than I probably ever will sail a boat. His adventures are amazing. Another man I met, Webb Chile’s, just finished up nearly circumnavigating a Moore 24. That’s basically a daysailor. Webb is almost completely blind, I believe. And do a RUclips search for The Single Handed Sailor. The guy is a double amputee! Well built, well cared for, and well sailed is much more important than size when it comes to boats. I always say get the smallest boat that will do what you want it to do. If your strength is limited, then you are limited by the size of sails you can hoist and trim and by the size anchor you can haul, but that’s about it. The rest of it is headsmarts, grit, and perseverance. Navigating, reading the weather, provisioning, etc...that’s all logistics and judgement. The maintenance? You’re going to have to make peace with that because that is a big part of what this cruising thing is all about. Constant maintenance. Another benefit to going small is that you don’t need to spend all that money on a boat. For 50k you could have something fully outfitted and capable of going around the world....and think of how good it would feel to have that extra cash earning for you in an investment. Sounds like you are a man of faith, so you’ll understand that that’s what it takes more than anything, god or no god. You’ve got to have faith in the adventure and faith in yourself. Don’t let sailing channels (like ours) convince you that you need a half million dollar catamaran to be happy and comfortable on the sea. It’s just not true.
Nick O'Kelly Thank you for one of the best replies I have ever gotten on RUclips. I hope to watch all of your videos and adventures in the near future. I just dosed off and realized church starts in a few minutes. I got to go so I can get my batteries recharged for the week. LOL Thanks again you seem like a very nice interesting person and I wish the best for you. Take care and Happy Sailing.
Very well done video. I have renovted a 35' English built wooden sloop out of Pelican Harbour in Sausalito some years ago, after sailing it down to Santa Barbara where I now reside, I had it on a mooring for about 10 years. One day during the recession the boat got nearly completely submerged on the mooring. The coast guard was able to pump out the water and raise it, but given my financial situation at the time I was forced to let the boat go. I loved one of your other videos where you described your anchor debacle exiting the golden gate. I could really relate having a similar experience exiting the gate on our way to Santa barbara, a truly "ass-puckering" experience. I have been considering getting a Cat for my next boat. your videos are very helpful, keep it up!
Ah yes, Pelican. We kept Either Way next door at Sausalito Yacht Harbor. Santa Barbara is another favorite but impossible to get a slip unless you know someone. Wooden boats, wooden boats....a labor of love, always. Thanks for the note.
Very, very nicely done you two. Excellent presentation, and stunning vessel. This is how it's done. My suggestion is to keep it up, this video was so organized and well made I've already subscribed. Top shelf work.
Wow! Thanks for this. Hope we can keep the standard high. We just sailed up to the Abacos day before yesterday and tomorrow's video about the trip is going to be both more technical and more "freewheeling" in the presentation. Good to have your feedback so we can tweak this and that. Best, Nick
Brilliant Nick, very, very interesting. I owned a 62 foot sloop, bought in a mess and worked it up to fair standard; that was tough and expensive. A cat like this is the ideal boat for cruising. Looks lovely. Happy sailing.
Russell Hicks thanks Russell. Yeh big sloops still tug at my heartstrings, but for livability you just can’t do better than a cat. That being said, this much money buys a very nice monohull as well. Best, Nick
@@TheOKellys My plans are to just cruise the Caribbean and Bahamas, two of us. A cat is easier and safer for a couple to handle. I've sailed on a few cats but never sailed one myself. Seems to me that shallow draft, not rolling around in anchorages, loads of space, two engines, room for solar panels are pluses against a knot or two. And my lady would love room for a washing machine!!
I did a double take when I saw the (original) name of your boat. We actually chartered Star Eyes way back in 2013 as we were trying out different boats we were considering buying. Love the L46 and so glad to see she she's moved on to a new adventure!
Well hello there! We know you guys and enjoy your videos! That is a crazy coincidence. Your ride is pretty darn nice as well! We met Ryan and Tasha down there at Nanny Cay aboard their Helia 44. Your (their) boat felt much much larger than this one. After cruising monohulls for years, I feel that all of these mid-40s production cats are pretty darn nice for extended cruising. Some excel a little more in this way or that, but it's just such an amazing platform! Keep on keepin on and we will be following...when we have good data! Best, Nick
You have a very beautiful floating home. I have often considered what would be involved in outfitting a catamaran of that size. Grew up sailing an Irwin 32 and have always wanted a 42+ catamaran. Thanks for all the tips and general information. x
Hi Nick, Megan and Sugar Many folks who have never cruised need to think about anchors and ground tackle too. To me these items are super important in the "make it safe" category..... Have a wonderful cruising life! Hasta, makomarkos
Yes, I somehow forgot to mention the new Rocna Vulcan 33 and 250' of new chain we added. It was another $2k that I forgot I spent. An oversight on my part as these charterboats often come with completely inadequate ground tackle. Thank you for the comment, Nick
Hi Nick & ?Crew mate/Roommate/Mate, Very good video, very informative and nice presentation. Thanks! its great to get first hand experience like this as most sailors are usually a little tight on capital for wants and big on ideas/dreams, and even if your not, and funding is relatively free, its great to have a real first hand idea of costs, sweat equity and to see the finished product. Looking forward to other topics like real first hand performance numbers speed on crossings, easy of handling systems, and show us more of your boats interior. Cheers
Mark, thanks for this. All good ideas. We were thinking a boat tour was in order. Gonna have to clean up first! Megan is my wife. She'll be a bigger part of the video(s) as she is a better lookin! Cheers mate, Nick
THANK YOU! Even with all the people doing this, no one likes to talk about the real costs! This is good to know from a budgeting standpoint regardless of whether you're leaving your job or working remotely.
Excellent vid; I enjoyed the grown-up tone! Lots of useful information, you just got a new subscriber! My wife and I are catamaran fans, we have a Labrador Retriever, she is a seamstress and my professional background is as Navigator in the Merchant Navy. It looks like all you do is relevant to us. Thanks!
Bjorn, thank you for the compliment. I can assure you we are goofy grownups sometimes too. We have a lot in common! I can imagine your skills will serve you well aboard. The catamaran, for us is a game changer. We have lived in apartments smaller than this boat. The luxury of dedicated spaces for each of us....it is amazing. Sugar, our American Bulldog/lab mix is very confident on this boat. As she's gotten older (soon to be 14), being on a stable platform has become essential. We were just now out in 8-10 foot confused seas and Sugar was walking around, looking for food like she always does. Thanks again for the kind words. Best, Nick and Megan and Sugar
Thank You for the clarity and review. My brother is a live-aboard, I have toyed with the idea; however, my wife does not seem to be into it, yet! I have been curious about the cost involved; you bring up a point I have not pondered, Labor vs Purchase. After watching your video, I believe I would fall in the middle. As a novice, it was easy for me to follow your presentation, I will continue to watch and look forward to viewing your other videos! Best Regards!
You are an excellent commentator. Better than our small town TV news guys who stumble through our nightly newscast. Maybe you were a TV meteorologist! Great video and you guys are amazingly handy!
Thank you so much for this video. I have started saving and working a bit more so that I could one day actually rent my flat and live on a boat... At this moment I am living on a friend's mono and I have realised it needs some repairs... So I just might repair some stuff for him since he is giving it for free to me and my boyfriend... He uses the boat just as a holiday house in a marina and actually lives on a catamaran in another country.. . He is a really, really great guy honestly... So, since I will hardly get that kind of money any time soon, I might start with something small, and this video has shown me some stuff I have thought about... I am in no rush, and I really appreciate your insight guys ❤️
This was a good watch. I have recently decided that this is my retirement plan in about 20 years. Once I pay off my house and sell it I can buy one of these in cash. I like the DIY mentality. Making it yours without over paying. Great job
Using cash is the right mentality for making this happen. For me personally, I do think that waiting for all the stars to align so that you can finally do this when you are retired for good is a bit of a risk as you're assuming it's still possible in 20 years. Life happens. I am a fan of taking what you've got and going when you want to with whatever you can afford. You can always make more money. You cannot make more time. Good on ya though...the DIY approach to any of this is going to set you far ahead over the long haul...or at least maximize your potential. Thanks for the note Grant. BEst, NIck
Thanks for the comment David. We are going to do one soon. As it was, I thought I was being a bit long-winded so cut it off at 20 minutes or whatever it is.
Very well explained and detailed! I wondered if this former charter service boat had any issues because it Was perhaps used & abused by the many renters. Being from Southern California myself, the ac work would have been a very high priority for us as well. That humidity is a fun killer! Your finished “home” looks to be almost perfect and like new. Bravo!
Thanks Edward. Yeh, credit card captains use these boat pretty hard, but nothing on a glass boat is unfixable. It just depends on how much money is required. This boat had had one engine replaced and both saildrives replaced (SD60s from the original SD50s - this is a good thing), prior to our purchase. There we also some dock dings, but as long as you figure in the cost of repair, it's not a big deal. Now if there had been evidence of a dismasting or hard grounding or something, we wouldn't have pursued this boat...I don't need to deal with structural problems. Glad you like the video! We will be back to SoCal one day. SD holds a special place for us.
Nie deal - I like how you fixed/upgraded many things yourself. One thing I have been told over and over, esp for a solo sailor, is you must be totally self sufficient while at sea and (try) to know every nut and bolt on your craft. Awesome videos O'Kelly's!
I greatly appreciate this video. My wife and I are planning on buying a boat soon and this video helped us determine how much boat we can afford. Thanks
Hey Nick...Jean here. We met when you were in SF on a freedom boat. Well my girlfriend was looking threw my extensive book collection and found your book "get her on board" and she gave me the "LOOK" that only a relationship can explain. So l looked you up and found your channel. Glad you have one. So my previous boats did not cut it and I had to upgrade to a Freya 39. And she got on board. LOL. Thanks for the book. Jean
Jean, I remember! That is really friggin cool I like Freyas. THat's a go-anywhere kind of boat! Glad that any of my words of hard-won wisdom might have helped. Thanks for looking me up. I don't post a lot of videos, or I should say that I haven't, but hoping to change that. Keep in touch an Fb me or whatever, or let me know if you start youtubing. Later, Nick O.
@@TheOKellys I'm not big on FB and haven't posted much videos but i think i will start to change that. Everyone is curios so its time to embrace the new media. Looks like your in the Bahamas. I was there last year. And plan to return soon. Yes the Freya is a tank. Its a very safe feeling ship. I can say enough about it.
yep, we are getting addicted. pretty much everything we like about sailing/cruising is right here. We are going to head up to Maine for the summer, but will likely be swinging back through here on the way to ?? so I hope we see you at anchor somewhere. Nick O.
Hi Nick. Really enjoyed watching that. I was a skipper for Moorings in Thailand for 2 seasons and the Leopard 4600 was my main yacht. It was by far my favorite to sail even next to their newer models. Heavy, strong and really spacious. I now manage our families yacht charter company in the south of Portugal. We don't have any Leopard cats in our fleer nor is it common to see one in our waters, so every time I spot those steps on the front window I smile and point it out to guests. If you ever sail to Europe and stop in the south of Portugal, let us know!
What a cool job you have! Pretty much living the dream! L46/4600 really is a great boat, isn't it? Sailing it is a lot of fun! Now that I've talked to a few Lagoon, Privilege, Voyage, etc. owners, I wouldn't call it heavy, but I get what you mean....it's no Catana or Outremer. I have no idea if we will get over there, but certainly will say high if we do. What boats do you charter?
I am glad your videos show up before others. I enjoy yours immensely. I guess most of us landlubbers somehow identify with you because you explain things so well.
Something Ive learned as I got older. No matter how smart you are, if you have little experience, all the books in the world wont stop you having to redo stuff you didn't anticipate. I've crewed for races but never lived aboard or spent more than a couple days aboard. If I bought a boat, for any amount I'd still choose a boat that's been lived-aboard a couple years, and get them to leave everything non-sentimenal and explain their storage, systems, cleaning schedule, etc, someone figured out a system that works and if it aint broke dont fix it.
well, our dog is almost 14, so she barely wants to get off the boat as it is. But basically to answer your question, if it is a country that is not friendly to dogs, like T&C, then I'm not friendly to them and I sail right by... My dog is never going into a quarantine.
Thanks. I didn't realize that. I actually thought people would be a little bored with all these details. It was my wife Megan who said people really want to know and I should do the video. Smart woman!
A professional presentation ....thanks. Love your updated cruiser. Great camera work. Upgrading a boat can be expensive but the end results will make the owners proud.
This is a really great and enlightening video. I totally agree with your logic - having bought a "Fixer-upper" of my own. It is everything I wanted because I was able to build everything in according to the way I use the boat. Now - I am looking to upgrade to Catamaran and am looking at the charter fleet. Thanks for the great insights...
Hey thanks for the feedback. I think it helped we had done this before. It seems like two things can bog you/me down in this process: taking on tasks that would be better done by a pro, and getting in over your head financially. My experience buying a charterboat is that you have to treat each deal individually because they arent ALL used and abused boats, but some certainly are. Good luck. Be curious to hear how it goes for you. Best, Nick
Yes I agree with you.. it is nothing like doing your own work than buying something that somebody has done , you may get a good one,but most of the time, it can be a headache .. however if you and your wife if happy.. that is what matters.. Happy sailing and be safe..!!
Keith, thanks. Those look like really nice cruising platforms. Congrats! Would love to hear how it goes. I know they are put together a little differently than the 46.
@@TheOKellys yes, they are both really nice, but after living on the 38 for around 8 months, we were feeling that we needed more room. The survey revealed a lot of damage below the water line from hitting reefs and a few other bits of damage. So we're just negotiating on that, as our 38 is pretty much all ready, so kind of back to the start with fixing. So mixed feelings: more room, nicer layout, but lots more work! It does have the front cockpit, which will be good for our German shepherd.
It must have the removable keels, correct? I'm pretty sure you can just buy new ones from R&C if they are that bad. Can even be changed out in the water. No idea if this helps, but when I was getting estimates on the known issues (basic stuff like glass, rudders, engines) I doubled those numbers and deducted from our phaseout price. I had to walk from the deal twice, but eventually settled on the correct number. And of course those early estimates were too low as the contractors can't help but make promises...So it worked out obviously. Anyway, the 44 and 48 look like great platforms. I can't imagine how nice it would be to have that front cockpit. I like those 38's though. There was one at Nanny Cay in a desperate situation and really good price when we were looking. But we promised ourselves we would make friends and family a priority with the next boat. Let me know how it goes, and hope to see you out here.
@@TheOKellys Thanks for the info. Interesting that you walked away a couple of times. I'm also thinking that we will need to stand firm to avoid a heap of cost without compensation. No problem if it is funded in the buy price, or if the work is done properly as part of the purchase. But it does make me uneasy moving from a great 38 to a 44 fixer-upper.....
Well, I don't advise posturing, but the numbers either work or they don't. Gotta listen to your gut on moving to a bigger project from a boat that is already dialed in. Personally, I like smaller boats. I loved our last boat, a Freedom 33...liked it even more than the one before that which was a Peterson 46 with all the bells. The main reason we wanted this big fancy cat is that we are getting older and missing our family a bit and wanted them to visit and be comfortable while they were here. :) When we are done with this adventure, I am thinking a trailerable tri is going to be my next ride. For now, really do like the L46. If you aren't a member of the Leopard group on Fb, join that- it is one of the more "useful" groups I've joined. Lots of wisdom in there and not a lot of baseless opinion. Nick
Just found your channel and now on the second vid.. You do an excellent job of getting straight to the point, sharing relevant info and answering the pertinent questions, without wasting a lot of time.. just subscribed, well done.
Hey Nick - this is awesome. Props to your bride for the fantastic upholstery work - looks very smooth and professional! Really appreciate the open door on costs. We're full-timing next year in a coach with the potential of moving over to a cat later. This is helpful! Safe travels!
Oh thanks so much. Megan says thanks too. We are underway at the moment. We have had three RV/rigs between cruises. A lot of parallels. Maybe I make a video on that. We love land travel, especially when we can get off pavement. Have an awesome time, and congratulations! Many talk and few do! Good on ya! Best, Nick
@@TheOKellys thanks back. We tend to focus more on living to work instead of the other way around. That stops now! :) I think the comparative video would be awesome and nothing I've seen yet I don't believe!
@@TheOKellys BTW - I JUST saw your books. Getting Her on Board is hilarious. Right now, my wife is saying, "Not so fast! Where do I put my shoes?" Ordering! ha ha
Right on! Thanks. You can see I wrote one of them with my buddy Pat from Bumfuzzle. Those guys have done a LOT more overlanding than we have. Check out his blog. He's a great writer and photographer.
Good question. No, we did the basics in St Maarten and continued installing gear in up through BVI, DR, etc. We bought the batteries in St Augustine from a guy named Simon Ytterbom at Batteries Distributors. Really cool dude who held my hand all the way through it. Things like the rigging we did in Georgia after a couple seasons. I included it in the vid because this is definitely a cost you have to factor in with a used chartercat...who knows how many rough gybes those renters had had. Thanks for the question. Nick
@@TheOKellys Hi Nick, I am considering buying an older cat to possibly live on fulltime and found this amazingly informative! Have you considered going with electric drives instead of diesel motors in the future as the options open up? I have heard they can be expensive and having enough battery storage can be an issue with weight as well as overall cost I'd imagine. Great to see you went with upgraded lithium to save weight and increase your total power needs by a huge amount :-)
Awesome job on your boat and making it like new again. You should get many years of enjoyment out of it. I’m a new subscriber and really like how you go in detail. Enjoyed watching!
Great detailed video on the pros & cons to going through all this to get up to sail worthy. True sailors are always turning a wrench so you may as well get started from the start and do the work prior to everything breaking at the worst time at sea.
Groovy. I think we all end up on a trawler at some point. A lot to be said for them. For now though, I still dig the wind in the sails. Feels like flying.
Great video, thanks for sharing. We are taking delivery of a new Lagoon 450S this year and will have it in charter for a few years and then re-fit for cruising. Great to see that you are liking the lithium and solar combo, we plan to do the same thing - perhaps with a bit more solar. We ordered the boat with asymmetrical gear but are holding off on getting the sail until after the charter period is over.
Congratulations Richard, that looks like a pretty sweet ride. Who will manage the boat for you? Where's she going to be based? The tech with these newer systems is pretty amazing. I imagine in the short time your boat is in charter, it's going to get even better and less expensive. The asymmetrical is EXTREMELY easy to fly on a cat compared to a monohull. It is my favorite sail. After watching my video over again, I think I've decided to get more solar too, and ditch the wind generator.
Nick O'Kelly - Thanks for the quick reply. The boat will be based in Antigua and managed by Dream. We wanted a more custom config, with a 3 cabin layout and they were willing to work with us. We also do charters around the world with a small group of people - typically 2-4 boats - and they have a good global footprint. Glad the asymmetrical is easy to fly, I used to race a long time ago and managing the spinnaker was always a big job. With a snuffer, though, the asymmetrical seems really straightforward.
oh yeh man, it is nothing like flying a spinnaker on a monohull. No poles, you can move the tack as far over as the windward hull if you want...it is just the perfect downwind sail on these things. Antigua is a beautiful spot to keep a boat. We see the Dream boats around in the Bahamas. They seem to keep them up pretty well. 3 cabin is the owners version. Nice! Congrats! Hope to see ya out here!
Very interesting and informative video. I’m looking to go full live aboard next year (virus stuff excepting) and favour a mono, will be mainly in Thailand and Malaysian waters and from what I’ve seen for sale around here it’s probably more cost effective to get a fully updated yacht than start “from scratch”. Most have full electronics, solar, water makers, leds, etc already installed as that’s what cruisers around here expect. Thanks again and fair winds.
You guys have came a long ways from your first boat that’s for sure. I just got you guys today and I started off with your first boat than maybe one other video than to this one. And it like wow are these the same people. You guys have done well.
Excellent. Plusses and minuses to going this route, but if you've got the time and patience, you can really dial it in the way you want. Good luck and hope to see you out here soon. Best, Nick
You deserve at least 100k subscribers. Great content, very informative, kind of a reality check to all dreamers who want to get a “cheap” cat. What was the extra cost for the research, travel and surveys, before you settle on this cat ?
EL EL wow, thanks. I did a video a few months ago about searching for this boat. I’d guestimate we spent about 25k on the search. We had five deals and surveyed four boats. Wholly cow look at that! People are subscribing! Google gods are smiling on me! Lol. We live in amazing times. Thanks for the comment.
That’s a tough one. The L46 has developed a bit of a cult following, so finding one is very difficult (I think there is only one for sale in the US) and they command a premium compared to other boats of its class and age. Ours, considering condition and upgrades is probably going to sell in the high 300s. The last few I’ve seen have been asking mid 400s. At the end of the day, however, a boat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, so market value on something as specific as the L46 is a little tough to figure out.
I came across your channel while looking for my next catamaran. You reminded me that I would need to redo many of the things I have already done on my current catamaran. A larger cat significantly increases the cost of many of these expenses. Some expenses are a fixed cost. For those viewers that are discouraged by these price tags I can say from firsthand knowledge, you can refit a smaller catamaran for much less. You might not be as comfortable, but you will be in the same anchorage.
You can do it on a 42, although it’s a small boat. A little cramped, a little easier to sail and a little less expensive to operate. You may end up wanting more room if you are living aboard
This is brilliant!!! Nearly every boat-video adventurer focus on the scenery. Here, thanks to the O'Kelly's, you get the entire how to's on building your boat into your home. This is priceless information and a treasure to us dreamers. wishing there were much more like this. AND, they put a budget to the work! Id love to see if you've got more like this...sail repair, water collection you guys are great and enjoying your work.
you know what you put into the boat and how it was done instead of learning what's there and then learn how to repair it. A shortened learning curve especially when you don't have the time when under pressure. Thanks
Well done you guys make it your own vessel .That way you are not second guesting your equipment at sea and we all know that its non stop working on a boat. great quality and sound
Thanks. Yeh it's been a lot of work but we got'er dialed in pretty well now. But yeh, it's at least a part time job keeping one of these bigger cats in shape. Just like any boat. :) Thank you for the compliments. Nick O
I sort of agree...though the older I get the less interested I am in the dirty stuff. But tricking these boats out with the newest gear is pretty cool. I hate to sound old and salty, but the equipment back when we started this was not nearly as good. Except stainless parts...those seem to have become lower quality...
Thanks Scotty. We are a couple years into this latest cruise, but everyday is the beginning of the adventure. Northbound to Maine this summer. That will be fun. Thanks for the comment, Nick
great video. i really dont understand much in boating (just a dreamer) but from the looks of it, I think you are over estimating the cost. what I mean: It sounds as it it takes about 110K to convert from a charter to a cruising boat. Some of the expenses might be related to that however, many of the costs are have nothing to do with with the fact it used to be a charter boat. Many expenses would have been spent even if you boat a regular cruise boat as many of the expenses are designed to fix your personal fit and its very likely that you would have spent those no matter what. So of the 110K in expenses , how much of them would you say are inherently related to the fact the boat used to be a charter boat design (I am thinking things like refrigerator that are not planned to long stays on sea). Different aspect of the video is about : fix it yourself vs let the seller repair,. Say you did inspection and the seller would have fixed/paid all issues found how much of the 110K expenses would they have covered? i bet mush smaller number than the 110k you spent, no? if so ... i think at the end, if you got the boat for a discount of 110K and were able to do all that you ended us in a great deal. Thinking about your recommendation at the end ... it feels to me, everyone should do it, even if they dont have the time and they will spent say 150K giving it to someone else to do the work (and inspect?) they would be better off. No? Loved the video and the one about buying the boat.
Those are good points and good questions. Thank you. You point out that many of these expenses would come from any basic boat, whether charter or not. I think you are correct, however, what is most common with used boats like this that have NOT been in the charter fleet is that they tend to outfitted with cruising gear already, so their purchase price is higher but the outfitting costs are lower. We actually had a deal for the seller to fix the items for a sale price of approximately $38,000 more. I was not confident that they would do a good job on the repairs, so I elected to spend that money myself and oversee the work. I think it was the right choice. When we were in the market, we found boats that had already been outfitted but the condition was not good, we also found boats where the outfitting was good and the condition good, but we couldn't afford the price. In the end it is all a compromise and one that is very personal to the buyer. I wouldn't claim to know what is best for everyone. Our story is going to be different than the next. I appreciate you comments and glad you liked the video. Best, Nick
Nick I just love the real world examples backed up by experience. You saved 100k on the boat (initially), just like you said that peace of mind knowing exactly what you have and what your boat can do will be a blessing in the long run. Even though you now are about par with the original asking price.... great vid!
Nice video.. well done. And I agreed on the idea to buy a bare boat and continue fitting it to your liking .. it’s the bets way and so it will be come your boat. ...your home. Very informative. ....on the rigging 10 to 12 year ... well yes if you sail a lot .. if not you can stretch the overhaul.
Thank you. Appreciate that. I didn't like the look of the rigging. No cracks, but way too much rust. When weather is rough, my mind always goes to rigging....I can deal with sea state...but not with half a mast over the side. For me it was peace of mind. Also, a lot of insurance companies require it at ten years. Nick
Nope, we got rid of two. The other two appear to have been replaced. Now I'm going to have to re-shoot the video because that was another $500 I think.
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Probably one of the most honest- and realistic review of refitting a boat of this size and $$ it takes to make it up to snuff with class and comfort. Great taste in Refit choices- I can see years of experience in your choices... So I have to ask- as a monohull owner- is there anything you miss about monohulls these days? Big or small...
SY Explorar Conmigo SY Explorar Conmigo first of all thank you very much. The trite answer would be that as full time liveaboards we don’t miss much about living on a monohull full time. There are times we’d much prefer a monohull. One would be lighter winds in a comparably rough sea as the sea state goes right into the rig on a cat. The slatting is much worse on a cat in these conditions and you end up dropping sail to save wear and tear or bearing away to set the spinnaker loose. Another time is when opening the bill from the inevitable marina stay. I’m sure I will own another monohull when we are done full time cruising. Our last boat was a Freedom 33, and I loved that particular boat and that size. 33 (she was more like 36) is more than big enough to live on for a stretch, has enough mass to be out in the ocean with, and is very easy to single hand offshore (which I have) and in tight spaces....heck I might even try to buy Either Way back! I also very much prefer small daysailor monohulls over beach cats. It’s a thought provoking question. Thanks again for the kind words.
I’m glad you made this video. Lots of people talk about it, you showed it, and as a catamaran lurker, I think about. Thank you
SY Explorar Conmigo Totally agreed!
Nick O'Kelly Great informative response thanks!
thankyou
I totally agree with you on the carpet thing. It's comfy, it helps keep noise down and if you vacuum every week it's good to go for a year or so. If you buy the leftovers, it's really cheap. A boat doesn't have much floor space so it's easy to find a piece large enough. After you do it a few times it gets to be a quick easy job to swap it out. We had a cardboard template & would roll the carpet out upside down, throw the template on, spray paint around the edges, then cut it out with a utility knife. You have a piece of carpet that fits perfectly in an hour. Another 2 hours or so for pad and install. It's gets easier and faster every time you do it. It doesn't last like it does in a house but it's quick, easy, and cheap to swap it out.
Right? The key (at least for us) is to see this as something you are going to replace every so often. For us that means keeping the cost down as if we went too nice and fancy, we'd feel obligated to nurse it along with crazy cleaning products, etc. Your method sounds pretty efficient too! Thanks for the comment! Nick O
Love the comfortable “here it is “ cost calculation.
Makes me rethink the type of boat to buy.
Thank you for being real.
I've been doing some research on possibly buying a catamaran once I retire in 3 years and move to the Caribbean. Glad to find your channel, new subscriber. What I love about your content is how much information you are able to share with your viewers about all that is involved in this lifestyle and the challenges you face. You don't just show the pretty drone shots of white sand beaches and that is appreciated. From a viewer who doesn't know anything really about sailing I'm grateful that you take the time to explain some of the more basic sailing jargon and processes. Not sure if my wife will let me turn this dream into a reality but till then I will life vicariously through you guys. Safe travels!
Thanks Nitram. Life is short my friend. See if you can work it out with your wife. I hope we see you out there!
I’m 10 years away from this dream...but these Vlogs are fantastically helpful!
Did u make it
Not yet...I did retire but still looking and dreaming!
Wow... is all I can say. Thank you for all of the comments and suggestions. Glad this is useful info for you. We'll do a boat tour in a few days so you can see all that we are talking about here. If you want us to focus on or show something in particular, let me know and we will. Best, Nick and Megan and Sugar.
Hi, Nick I just found your channel I had a lego boat when I was a child and that was about it, I just like seeing different peoples lives on RUclips you present very well and are very watchable.
You did a price comparison at the end but what would the price difference be if you were to buy a similar boat to what you have now but brand new?
How long does it take to be competent on a boat before you can go off safely on your own?
I bought a done a few months ago and am getting some fantastic video with it, with the locations you are going to you could get some amazing footage and they are fun to fly as well.
All the best I look forward to seeing your boat tour.
Thank you for the comment. To buy this boat new or comparable today, I am guessing it would be somewhere in the $750K range, but the newer boats in this class from the same builder are very different beasts, so it is a little hard to compare. I would say the learning curve is definitely easier on a cat. I came up the old way...dinghies, little boat, bigger boat, bigger boat, slightly smaller boat, then this boat. I would say if you had formal instruction, you would be comfortable on this boat in a couple of months. The rest of it is getting used to the ocean...
@@TheOKellyslooking at present pricing on L46's I think you guys played a blinder (English soccer-speak for 'did really well') and have a stunning, virtually brand new boat. Kudos.
Hey Nick and crew. Just found this channel and thought "That guy looks familiar. " Long way from the Rockies and KUSA channel 9". Someday I'll fallow my dream and sail on down the line like youse guys.🦈 Mike from Aurora ⛵😉
@@TheOKellys excellent information and well done. Thanks for making my retirement research so much more informed and saving me from some expensive pitfalls.
A first class presentation. Your calm well modulated voice just enhanced the content of your video.
The organization of your information made for easy comprehension. Your closing comments were clear and concise and seemed well considered. I would advise anyone thinking of making a video to watch one of yours to see how to approach the task as well as by their absence of some common mistakes like yelling at the microphone or mumbling or not organizing your thought before you speak or learning how to edit content for clarity. The last bit would be the respect for your audience your voice conveyed. That goes a long way to making a successful and well received sailing video blog especially in today’s crowded field with many fine examples of sailing videos (like RAN Sailing) and many almost unwatchable attempts at the art and no use naming names.
Thank you for the kind words Steve. Happy to be of any service to this group. Amazing we live in times when sharing is so easy! Appreciate the note immensely! Best, Nick
Yes, Nick seemed so well-spoken , and articulate.......was not surprised Nick made a comment at the end, that he was a "TV Weatherman".
He's a WEATHERMAN!
Nope, no comment, this was laid out so you communicated the topic well and thoroughly. I wish everyone would do half as well.
I learn so much from you guys. I'm watching this for at least the third time. As a noob, every time I watch a video like this I'm a completely different person - sailor. Ah, $11,000 for all new electronics that is good and I know the same amount will apply to the monohull I want to sail for the next two years waiting for my cat.
Those refrigerator seals. They do get stiff. Here's a trick that's always worked ('cause I've done it for over 40 years). When you flip a 'fridge door hinges the seals absolutely will not seal, but pour near boiling water over them and they soften right up and will re-form to the new door swing. Maybe your seals were completely shot - saltwater, sun... but I'd always try hot water first. And it's good to occasionally hold your hand under the door seals to check if they're getting stiff and no longer sealing. Needed to do that to my old fridge a couple of years ago.
Having the budget was really compelling. You rarely get this kind of information and it’s really interesting to compare your charter boat plus upgrades to the new factory price of a Leopard.
If you saw the earlier video, you'll see original budget was to be 300k. Well over that! Goes to show you, we're always trying to be "optimistic." No regrets! She's a good boat. Thanks, Nick O.
Finally someone willing to share honest and openly about the costs... A lot of people wonder around the issue, nice to have someone give exact numbers.
Thanks to my wife's record keeping. Lol. I'd have hoped to forget. :) Seriously though, these numbers seem to be in line with what other Leopard owners have spent. We might be on the low side actually.
Nick, great job! Fun to see an honest take of this endeavor and it’s amazing how quickly the costs escalate! Keep it up, love to see more of your videos!
Thanks Daniel. Yes it really adds up. Talking to others, our numbers are typical, maybe even on the low side.
Nick just discovered your channel. As others have commented thanks to you and your wife for breaking down these costs. These costs are helpful to understand for anyone considering a refit of a charter or even older owner catamaran. The lithium batteries and latest electronics package must make you smile every day! Thanks for the well produced sharing!
Hey thanks Dave. Yeh man, these batteries do make me smile everyday. I swear it's one of those things you get used to worrying about on a boat when you are out full time and lithium removes that worry. Of course you have to have enough generation to keep up, but at least it is easier. Electronics these days are pretty amazing. Back in my day..... thanks for the note.
Thoughtful process of restoration and your requirements. I just love your honesty and breakdown of costs. Thank you for sharing. 🏴⛵️
Thanks Stuart. Appreciate that!
Wow! We are not boat owners, however, we've been watching a LOT of yachting channels and then came across the Catamarans and fell in love! Our issues would be #1, We don't know anything about sailing! Don't laugh! #2 I don't have the time to learn, so I would have to either hire a captain and deckhands or wait until we retire and learn myself. I imagine a younger man who is fit such as yourself would have an easier time keeping up with a boat and sailing. This is probably more of a pipe dream for me. Your boat is a beauty and your wife did a fabulous job with the upholstering! Looking forward to seeing the tour! Also, have to commend you both for giving your dog such a wonderful life. We are animal lovers and they would be included in anything we decide to do with our lives of course. Seeing your dog on the paddle board was a great moment! What a lucky dog!
Hey thanks for the note Tim. We are lucky lucky people for sure and really happy to be able to share a bit of our life on youtube. Much gratitude! As for learning to sail and hiring an experienced captain, that is a HIGHLY advisable thing to do. Two years ago we met a husband and wife with a young daughter on a catamaran they had recently purchased. Even though they had quite a bit of experience on monohulls in the med, they hired an experienced catamaran sailor to sail up from the Caribbean over a couple of months. The tips and hints and tricks you learn will save a lifetime of mis-steps. I find myself learning something new on just about every other sail and this is after four boats and a lot of miles! Finding the right person for the task is the tough part, because not only does this person have to be trustworthy and knowledgeable, but they need a compatible personality! But I say go for it! If you have the interest, I don't see how someone couldn't go from zero experience to quite competent in just a few months. The hardest part of it all, to be honest, is learning all of the systems on the boat as you often are called upon to fix this or that. Sailing, navigating, landfalls, watches....those are not that difficult to learn. Please do keep in touch as you pursue this. I want to hear how it is going. Hope to see you out here soon! Nick
Great video.... thanks for taking the time to share that with us! Fair winds!!!
Thank you Don!
Thanks for all of the valuable information. I am new to watching sailing videos and was thinking about buying a boat. I grew up with being on a freshwater lake, bayou, river, marsh land almost all of my life. I am 62 years old and don’t see how I could ever get a sea worthy vessel that I could handle. Years ago a person drove their vehicle into my Postal Truck and knocked it over 1/10 of a mile from the point of impact leaving me with numerous broken bones, tendon, ligament, nerve damage, but a person has to have a dream. I am limited on the amount of weight I can lift and physical activities and I guess this might be an impossibility to sail the ocean. I can’t afford any more than $185,000.00 max with everything sea worthy. It seems like everyone has one thing in common, they all are constantly making repairs and spending money on their boats. I know saltwater is tough on everything. Everything cost, I just got out of church, went to the Postal Office to mail a letter and my electric window regulator has broke with just 19,195 miles on my truck, it is always something. GOD has really blessed you two, after all the money ya’ll have spent, all the labor on repairs, subbing out repairs, and you two can still smile and be nice to each other, makes me believe miracles still happen. LOL 😂 Can you do a video on how much it cost for fuel, insurance, mooring, storing, dry docking, etc. cost ? Thank you. Be safe and Happy Sailing !!!
Thank you for the heartfelt note. I narrated a book for a sailor by the name James Baldwin, and he sailed his 27ft Atom further than I probably ever will sail a boat. His adventures are amazing. Another man I met, Webb Chile’s, just finished up nearly circumnavigating a Moore 24. That’s basically a daysailor. Webb is almost completely blind, I believe. And do a RUclips search for The Single Handed Sailor. The guy is a double amputee! Well built, well cared for, and well sailed is much more important than size when it comes to boats. I always say get the smallest boat that will do what you want it to do. If your strength is limited, then you are limited by the size of sails you can hoist and trim and by the size anchor you can haul, but that’s about it. The rest of it is headsmarts, grit, and perseverance. Navigating, reading the weather, provisioning, etc...that’s all logistics and judgement. The maintenance? You’re going to have to make peace with that because that is a big part of what this cruising thing is all about. Constant maintenance. Another benefit to going small is that you don’t need to spend all that money on a boat. For 50k you could have something fully outfitted and capable of going around the world....and think of how good it would feel to have that extra cash earning for you in an investment. Sounds like you are a man of faith, so you’ll understand that that’s what it takes more than anything, god or no god. You’ve got to have faith in the adventure and faith in yourself. Don’t let sailing channels (like ours) convince you that you need a half million dollar catamaran to be happy and comfortable on the sea. It’s just not true.
Nick O'Kelly Thank you for one of the best replies I have ever gotten on RUclips. I hope to watch all of your videos and adventures in the near future. I just dosed off and realized church starts in a few minutes. I got to go so I can get my batteries recharged for the week. LOL Thanks again you seem like a very nice interesting person and I wish the best for you. Take care and Happy Sailing.
Thank you I appreciate your courteous and prompt response. Blessings
Very well done video. I have renovted a 35' English built wooden sloop out of Pelican Harbour in Sausalito some years ago, after sailing it down to Santa Barbara where I now reside, I had it on a mooring for about 10 years. One day during the recession the boat got nearly completely submerged on the mooring. The coast guard was able to pump out the water and raise it, but given my financial situation at the time I was forced to let the boat go. I loved one of your other videos where you described your anchor debacle exiting the golden gate. I could really relate having a similar experience exiting the gate on our way to Santa barbara, a truly "ass-puckering" experience. I have been considering getting a Cat for my next boat. your videos are very helpful, keep it up!
Ah yes, Pelican. We kept Either Way next door at Sausalito Yacht Harbor. Santa Barbara is another favorite but impossible to get a slip unless you know someone. Wooden boats, wooden boats....a labor of love, always. Thanks for the note.
Now that is what I call a comprehensive conversion report1 Thanks!
Thanks Michael! I keep finding little projects I forgot doing! Gotta add another grand I think!
FYI, you’re doing RUclips completely wrong. This was an 18 minute video with 18 minutes of actual content. I’m subscribed. Thanks!!!
Very, very nicely done you two. Excellent presentation, and stunning vessel. This is how it's done. My suggestion is to keep it up, this video was so organized and well made I've already subscribed. Top shelf work.
Wow! Thanks for this. Hope we can keep the standard high. We just sailed up to the Abacos day before yesterday and tomorrow's video about the trip is going to be both more technical and more "freewheeling" in the presentation. Good to have your feedback so we can tweak this and that. Best, Nick
We need more You tubers like this gentleman who can share honest information concerning money.
Thank you, appreciate the kind words.
Brilliant Nick, very, very interesting. I owned a 62 foot sloop, bought in a mess and worked it up to fair standard; that was tough and expensive. A cat like this is the ideal boat for cruising. Looks lovely. Happy sailing.
Russell Hicks thanks Russell. Yeh big sloops still tug at my heartstrings, but for livability you just can’t do better than a cat. That being said, this much money buys a very nice monohull as well. Best, Nick
@@TheOKellys My plans are to just cruise the Caribbean and Bahamas, two of us. A cat is easier and safer for a couple to handle. I've sailed on a few cats but never sailed one myself. Seems to me that shallow draft, not rolling around in anchorages, loads of space, two engines, room for solar panels are pluses against a knot or two. And my lady would love room for a washing machine!!
yeh, and once you go cat, you rarely go back. It's pretty friggn nice.
I did a double take when I saw the (original) name of your boat. We actually chartered Star Eyes way back in 2013 as we were trying out different boats we were considering buying. Love the L46 and so glad to see she she's moved on to a new adventure!
Well hello there! We know you guys and enjoy your videos! That is a crazy coincidence. Your ride is pretty darn nice as well! We met Ryan and Tasha down there at Nanny Cay aboard their Helia 44. Your (their) boat felt much much larger than this one. After cruising monohulls for years, I feel that all of these mid-40s production cats are pretty darn nice for extended cruising. Some excel a little more in this way or that, but it's just such an amazing platform! Keep on keepin on and we will be following...when we have good data! Best, Nick
You have a very beautiful floating home. I have often considered what would be involved in outfitting a catamaran of that size. Grew up sailing an Irwin 32 and have always wanted a 42+ catamaran. Thanks for all the tips and general information. x
Thanks Mark. We are very lucky and never forget it. Go get that boat! Hope we see you out there soon!
I like your comment "It's our house." so rare today when all is looked at as an investment! Happy cruising, ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!!
Wow, thanks! Not all investments pay in dollars/marks/rubles/etc !!!! Enjoy, Enjoy, ENJOY!!! I like that! Kanpai!
Very well made clip. Tons of useful information. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Stephen. I'm going to do a boat tour coming up. Maybe a little more smooth...lol!
Hi Nick, Megan and Sugar
Many folks who have never cruised need to think about anchors and ground tackle too. To me these items are super important in the "make it safe" category.....
Have a wonderful cruising life!
Hasta,
makomarkos
Yes, I somehow forgot to mention the new Rocna Vulcan 33 and 250' of new chain we added. It was another $2k that I forgot I spent. An oversight on my part as these charterboats often come with completely inadequate ground tackle. Thank you for the comment, Nick
Hi Nick & ?Crew mate/Roommate/Mate, Very good video, very informative and nice presentation. Thanks! its great to get first hand experience like this as most sailors are usually a little tight on capital for wants and big on ideas/dreams, and even if your not, and funding is relatively free, its great to have a real first hand idea of costs, sweat equity and to see the finished product. Looking forward to other topics like real first hand performance numbers speed on crossings, easy of handling systems, and show us more of your boats interior. Cheers
Mark, thanks for this. All good ideas. We were thinking a boat tour was in order. Gonna have to clean up first! Megan is my wife. She'll be a bigger part of the video(s) as she is a better lookin! Cheers mate, Nick
And estimated annual running costs after repairs would be interesting, great video and of course, easy on the ears.
THANK YOU!
Even with all the people doing this, no one likes to talk about the real costs! This is good to know from a budgeting standpoint regardless of whether you're leaving your job or working remotely.
Crazy informative, organized and comprehendible. Thank you.
Wow, thank you! Nick O.
Most sailing channels do not go into the costings or technical stuff so this was great and refreshing. New subscriber.
Excellent vid; I enjoyed the grown-up tone! Lots of useful information, you just got a new subscriber! My wife and I are catamaran fans, we have a Labrador Retriever, she is a seamstress and my professional background is as Navigator in the Merchant Navy. It looks like all you do is relevant to us. Thanks!
Bjorn, thank you for the compliment. I can assure you we are goofy grownups sometimes too. We have a lot in common! I can imagine your skills will serve you well aboard. The catamaran, for us is a game changer. We have lived in apartments smaller than this boat. The luxury of dedicated spaces for each of us....it is amazing. Sugar, our American Bulldog/lab mix is very confident on this boat. As she's gotten older (soon to be 14), being on a stable platform has become essential. We were just now out in 8-10 foot confused seas and Sugar was walking around, looking for food like she always does. Thanks again for the kind words. Best, Nick and Megan and Sugar
Thank You for the clarity and review. My brother is a live-aboard, I have toyed with the idea; however, my wife does not seem to be into it, yet! I have been curious about the cost involved; you bring up a point I have not pondered, Labor vs Purchase. After watching your video, I believe I would fall in the middle. As a novice, it was easy for me to follow your presentation, I will continue to watch and look forward to viewing your other videos! Best Regards!
Great video and thank you for being honest about what things cost.
happy to if it helps people make the right decisions. Thanks. I'm a pilot too.
This was one of the best videos I saw. I have refitted a blue water monohull and can attest that this content is very good.
That's really nice of you to say Mark. Appreciate it.
Great job, guys. Your boat is magnificent! Thank you for sharing your experience with such honesty.
Thank you for the thank you! The feedback is great and it makes all the difference. Best to you, Nick
You are an excellent commentator. Better than our small town TV news guys who stumble through our nightly newscast. Maybe you were a TV meteorologist! Great video and you guys are amazingly handy!
Thanks Travis. It's always been ad-lib for me. Appreciate the compliments!
Wonderful job! I totally duplicated what you had to do. Very Well Done on the mods!
hey thank you! so you know it's a lot of work! Same costs?
Thank you so much for this video. I have started saving and working a bit more so that I could one day actually rent my flat and live on a boat... At this moment I am living on a friend's mono and I have realised it needs some repairs... So I just might repair some stuff for him since he is giving it for free to me and my boyfriend... He uses the boat just as a holiday house in a marina and actually lives on a catamaran in another country.. . He is a really, really great guy honestly... So, since I will hardly get that kind of money any time soon, I might start with something small, and this video has shown me some stuff I have thought about... I am in no rush, and I really appreciate your insight guys ❤️
great info, I swear I've watched this at least 5 times, HUGE thumbs up.
Holly smokes! Look at all these views! Glad this one is of some use! Thanks John
This was a good watch. I have recently decided that this is my retirement plan in about 20 years. Once I pay off my house and sell it I can buy one of these in cash. I like the DIY mentality. Making it yours without over paying. Great job
Using cash is the right mentality for making this happen. For me personally, I do think that waiting for all the stars to align so that you can finally do this when you are retired for good is a bit of a risk as you're assuming it's still possible in 20 years. Life happens. I am a fan of taking what you've got and going when you want to with whatever you can afford. You can always make more money. You cannot make more time. Good on ya though...the DIY approach to any of this is going to set you far ahead over the long haul...or at least maximize your potential. Thanks for the note Grant. BEst, NIck
Nick O'Kelly I’m 27. I’m pretty sure it will be possible in 20 years. Gotta get these kids out of the house first.
Wish I was so organized at 27! I just wanted a boat and to sail away right away. Good luck to you my friend. Nick
Great info. Would be nice if you gave a tour at the end....
Thanks for the comment David. We are going to do one soon. As it was, I thought I was being a bit long-winded so cut it off at 20 minutes or whatever it is.
Very well explained and detailed! I wondered if this former charter service boat had any issues because it Was perhaps used & abused by the many renters. Being from Southern California myself, the ac work would have been a very high priority for us as well. That humidity is a fun killer! Your finished “home” looks to be almost perfect and like new. Bravo!
Thanks Edward. Yeh, credit card captains use these boat pretty hard, but nothing on a glass boat is unfixable. It just depends on how much money is required. This boat had had one engine replaced and both saildrives replaced (SD60s from the original SD50s - this is a good thing), prior to our purchase. There we also some dock dings, but as long as you figure in the cost of repair, it's not a big deal. Now if there had been evidence of a dismasting or hard grounding or something, we wouldn't have pursued this boat...I don't need to deal with structural problems. Glad you like the video! We will be back to SoCal one day. SD holds a special place for us.
Outstanding follow up, you have done a nice job, will played life, well played.
I take no credit. I am the luckiest person you will ever meet.
Nie deal - I like how you fixed/upgraded many things yourself. One thing I have been told over and over, esp for a solo sailor, is you must be totally self sufficient while at sea and (try) to know every nut and bolt on your craft. Awesome videos O'Kelly's!
I greatly appreciate this video. My wife and I are planning on buying a boat soon and this video helped us determine how much boat we can afford. Thanks
Awesome Gary. Congratulations on the decision. Take your time and set aside a bit to make her yours. Best, Nick O.
Hey Nick...Jean here. We met when you were in SF on a freedom boat. Well my girlfriend was looking threw my extensive book collection and found your book "get her on board" and she gave me the "LOOK" that only a relationship can explain. So l looked you up and found your channel. Glad you have one. So my previous boats did not cut it and I had to upgrade to a Freya 39. And she got on board. LOL. Thanks for the book. Jean
Jean, I remember! That is really friggin cool I like Freyas. THat's a go-anywhere kind of boat! Glad that any of my words of hard-won wisdom might have helped. Thanks for looking me up. I don't post a lot of videos, or I should say that I haven't, but hoping to change that. Keep in touch an Fb me or whatever, or let me know if you start youtubing. Later, Nick O.
@@TheOKellys I'm not big on FB and haven't posted much videos but i think i will start to change that. Everyone is curios so its time to embrace the new media. Looks like your in the Bahamas. I was there last year. And plan to return soon. Yes the Freya is a tank. Its a very safe feeling ship. I can say enough about it.
yep, we are getting addicted. pretty much everything we like about sailing/cruising is right here. We are going to head up to Maine for the summer, but will likely be swinging back through here on the way to ?? so I hope we see you at anchor somewhere. Nick O.
Hi Nick. Really enjoyed watching that. I was a skipper for Moorings in Thailand for 2 seasons and the Leopard 4600 was my main yacht. It was by far my favorite to sail even next to their newer models. Heavy, strong and really spacious. I now manage our families yacht charter company in the south of Portugal.
We don't have any Leopard cats in our fleer nor is it common to see one in our waters, so every time I spot those steps on the front window I smile and point it out to guests.
If you ever sail to Europe and stop in the south of Portugal, let us know!
What a cool job you have! Pretty much living the dream! L46/4600 really is a great boat, isn't it? Sailing it is a lot of fun! Now that I've talked to a few Lagoon, Privilege, Voyage, etc. owners, I wouldn't call it heavy, but I get what you mean....it's no Catana or Outremer. I have no idea if we will get over there, but certainly will say high if we do. What boats do you charter?
I am glad your videos show up before others. I enjoy yours immensely. I guess most of us landlubbers somehow identify with you because you explain things so well.
Great video it was very helpful you both did an amazing job. Thank you for sharing, and safe sailing.
Thanks Michael. Appreciate it. Nick O.
Something Ive learned as I got older. No matter how smart you are, if you have little experience, all the books in the world wont stop you having to redo stuff you didn't anticipate. I've crewed for races but never lived aboard or spent more than a couple days aboard. If I bought a boat, for any amount I'd still choose a boat that's been lived-aboard a couple years, and get them to leave everything non-sentimenal and explain their storage, systems, cleaning schedule, etc, someone figured out a system that works and if it aint broke dont fix it.
good strategy!
Nice thanks, would be interested to see a video of the result at the end like a tour of the boat and you smiling with spouse and dog.
Thanks for the idea. I'm wondering what sorts of videos to make. I like doing this. So a boat tour. We will give that a shot! Thanks!
What do you do with the dog when you go to a Caribbean island where it can't come off because of quarantine?
well, our dog is almost 14, so she barely wants to get off the boat as it is. But basically to answer your question, if it is a country that is not friendly to dogs, like T&C, then I'm not friendly to them and I sail right by... My dog is never going into a quarantine.
Probably the most accurate & truthful video on actual cost currently on the Tube.....!
Thanks. I didn't realize that. I actually thought people would be a little bored with all these details. It was my wife Megan who said people really want to know and I should do the video. Smart woman!
@@TheOKellys Having a Good Wife makes a man Better...!
she certainly does. We've known each other since sixth grade.
Your tongue in cheek humorous is perfect!
Accidents do happen.... lol. Thanks Mark.
A professional presentation ....thanks.
Love your updated cruiser.
Great camera work.
Upgrading a boat can be expensive but the end results will make the owners proud.
This is a really great and enlightening video. I totally agree with your logic - having bought a "Fixer-upper" of my own. It is everything I wanted because I was able to build everything in according to the way I use the boat. Now - I am looking to upgrade to Catamaran and am looking at the charter fleet. Thanks for the great insights...
Hey thanks for the feedback. I think it helped we had done this before. It seems like two things can bog you/me down in this process: taking on tasks that would be better done by a pro, and getting in over your head financially. My experience buying a charterboat is that you have to treat each deal individually because they arent ALL used and abused boats, but some certainly are. Good luck. Be curious to hear how it goes for you. Best, Nick
Great Episode. We plan to live full time and travel the world on a Cat and your numbers and decisions are really helpful. Thanks for making it.
Happy to provide something useful! Appreciate the feedback. Nick
This was pretty cool, thanks. I always find it interesting when even millionaires are willing to talk about how much things cost.
Millionaires....lol.....lol.....
Yes I agree with you.. it is nothing like doing your own work than buying something that somebody has done , you may get a good one,but most of the time, it can be a headache .. however if you and your wife if happy.. that is what matters.. Happy sailing and be safe..!!
Great video, we're just moving from a Leopard 38 to a L44 & it needs a bit of work. Some great tips here! 😀
Keith, thanks. Those look like really nice cruising platforms. Congrats! Would love to hear how it goes. I know they are put together a little differently than the 46.
@@TheOKellys yes, they are both really nice, but after living on the 38 for around 8 months, we were feeling that we needed more room. The survey revealed a lot of damage below the water line from hitting reefs and a few other bits of damage. So we're just negotiating on that, as our 38 is pretty much all ready, so kind of back to the start with fixing. So mixed feelings: more room, nicer layout, but lots more work! It does have the front cockpit, which will be good for our German shepherd.
It must have the removable keels, correct? I'm pretty sure you can just buy new ones from R&C if they are that bad. Can even be changed out in the water. No idea if this helps, but when I was getting estimates on the known issues (basic stuff like glass, rudders, engines) I doubled those numbers and deducted from our phaseout price. I had to walk from the deal twice, but eventually settled on the correct number. And of course those early estimates were too low as the contractors can't help but make promises...So it worked out obviously. Anyway, the 44 and 48 look like great platforms. I can't imagine how nice it would be to have that front cockpit. I like those 38's though. There was one at Nanny Cay in a desperate situation and really good price when we were looking. But we promised ourselves we would make friends and family a priority with the next boat. Let me know how it goes, and hope to see you out here.
@@TheOKellys Thanks for the info. Interesting that you walked away a couple of times. I'm also thinking that we will need to stand firm to avoid a heap of cost without compensation. No problem if it is funded in the buy price, or if the work is done properly as part of the purchase. But it does make me uneasy moving from a great 38 to a 44 fixer-upper.....
Well, I don't advise posturing, but the numbers either work or they don't. Gotta listen to your gut on moving to a bigger project from a boat that is already dialed in. Personally, I like smaller boats. I loved our last boat, a Freedom 33...liked it even more than the one before that which was a Peterson 46 with all the bells. The main reason we wanted this big fancy cat is that we are getting older and missing our family a bit and wanted them to visit and be comfortable while they were here. :) When we are done with this adventure, I am thinking a trailerable tri is going to be my next ride. For now, really do like the L46. If you aren't a member of the Leopard group on Fb, join that- it is one of the more "useful" groups I've joined. Lots of wisdom in there and not a lot of baseless opinion. Nick
Just found your channel and now on the second vid.. You do an excellent job of getting straight to the point, sharing relevant info and answering the pertinent questions, without wasting a lot of time.. just subscribed, well done.
Thanks Michael. I appreciate the positive feedback!
Your return on investment- the joyful days - is exceptional and beyond measurement.
Exactly. Well said.
Hey Nick - this is awesome. Props to your bride for the fantastic upholstery work - looks very smooth and professional! Really appreciate the open door on costs. We're full-timing next year in a coach with the potential of moving over to a cat later. This is helpful! Safe travels!
Oh thanks so much. Megan says thanks too. We are underway at the moment. We have had three RV/rigs between cruises. A lot of parallels. Maybe I make a video on that. We love land travel, especially when we can get off pavement. Have an awesome time, and congratulations! Many talk and few do! Good on ya! Best, Nick
@@TheOKellys thanks back. We tend to focus more on living to work instead of the other way around. That stops now! :) I think the comparative video would be awesome and nothing I've seen yet I don't believe!
@@TheOKellys BTW - I JUST saw your books. Getting Her on Board is hilarious. Right now, my wife is saying, "Not so fast! Where do I put my shoes?" Ordering! ha ha
Right on! Thanks. You can see I wrote one of them with my buddy Pat from Bumfuzzle. Those guys have done a LOT more overlanding than we have. Check out his blog. He's a great writer and photographer.
Great video! Thanks for sharing the details.
Thanks Sean!
70k is not conversation but restoration. You have a reliable boat and you KNOW what's done. I don't think this is a crazy number.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, it feels really good to know what’s been done. We need to do a 2.0 of this video because we’ve done even more!
Thank-you and your wife for taking the time putting this together. Did the whole refit including the batteries take place in the BVI's?
Good question. No, we did the basics in St Maarten and continued installing gear in up through BVI, DR, etc. We bought the batteries in St Augustine from a guy named Simon Ytterbom at Batteries Distributors. Really cool dude who held my hand all the way through it. Things like the rigging we did in Georgia after a couple seasons. I included it in the vid because this is definitely a cost you have to factor in with a used chartercat...who knows how many rough gybes those renters had had. Thanks for the question. Nick
@@TheOKellys Hi Nick, I am considering buying an older cat to possibly live on fulltime and found this amazingly informative! Have you considered going with electric drives instead of diesel motors in the future as the options open up? I have heard they can be expensive and having enough battery storage can be an issue with weight as well as overall cost I'd imagine. Great to see you went with upgraded lithium to save weight and increase your total power needs by a huge amount :-)
Awesome job on your boat and making it like new again. You should get many years of enjoyment out of it. I’m a new subscriber and really like how you go in detail. Enjoyed watching!
Nice video. Very informative. Thanks!!!
Thanks Darren. I appreciate the feedback.
Great detailed video on the pros & cons to going through all this to get up to sail worthy. True sailors are always turning a wrench so you may as well get started from the start and do the work prior to everything breaking at the worst time at sea.
Very wise. There’s no escaping the tool bag!
Great video and very informative. I’m looking to buy a trawler and this info is tremendously helpful.
Groovy. I think we all end up on a trawler at some point. A lot to be said for them. For now though, I still dig the wind in the sails. Feels like flying.
Great video, thanks for sharing. We are taking delivery of a new Lagoon 450S this year and will have it in charter for a few years and then re-fit for cruising. Great to see that you are liking the lithium and solar combo, we plan to do the same thing - perhaps with a bit more solar. We ordered the boat with asymmetrical gear but are holding off on getting the sail until after the charter period is over.
Congratulations Richard, that looks like a pretty sweet ride. Who will manage the boat for you? Where's she going to be based? The tech with these newer systems is pretty amazing. I imagine in the short time your boat is in charter, it's going to get even better and less expensive. The asymmetrical is EXTREMELY easy to fly on a cat compared to a monohull. It is my favorite sail. After watching my video over again, I think I've decided to get more solar too, and ditch the wind generator.
Nick O'Kelly - Thanks for the quick reply. The boat will be based in Antigua and managed by Dream. We wanted a more custom config, with a 3 cabin layout and they were willing to work with us. We also do charters around the world with a small group of people - typically 2-4 boats - and they have a good global footprint. Glad the asymmetrical is easy to fly, I used to race a long time ago and managing the spinnaker was always a big job. With a snuffer, though, the asymmetrical seems really straightforward.
oh yeh man, it is nothing like flying a spinnaker on a monohull. No poles, you can move the tack as far over as the windward hull if you want...it is just the perfect downwind sail on these things. Antigua is a beautiful spot to keep a boat. We see the Dream boats around in the Bahamas. They seem to keep them up pretty well. 3 cabin is the owners version. Nice! Congrats! Hope to see ya out here!
Great video. Was very interesting to see what it would take to convert a charter boat to a comfortable live aboard....great job
Thanks Steve!
Very interesting and informative video. I’m looking to go full live aboard next year (virus stuff excepting) and favour a mono, will be mainly in Thailand and Malaysian waters and from what I’ve seen for sale around here it’s probably more cost effective to get a fully updated yacht than start “from scratch”. Most have full electronics, solar, water makers, leds, etc already installed as that’s what cruisers around here expect. Thanks again and fair winds.
Great video ... good luck on your cruising .... :-)
Danny Valdez thanks Danny. We are having a good time. Best, nick
You guys have came a long ways from your first boat that’s for sure. I just got you guys today and I started off with your first boat than maybe one other video than to this one. And it like wow are these the same people. You guys have done well.
Great video Nick!!! just subscribed. We have been thinking about doing this very thing.
Excellent. Plusses and minuses to going this route, but if you've got the time and patience, you can really dial it in the way you want. Good luck and hope to see you out here soon. Best, Nick
Wow! This is how a video should be made. Could not me more condensed. Thanks!
Thank you Christer! Appreciate the feedback! Nick O
Great info and very kind of you to share the cost details.
Thanks Peter, I'm thinking about doing one on ongoing maintenance/berthing/insurance costs.
I watched this when it first came out, and just watched again as we get close to buying. Great video Nick!
You deserve at least 100k subscribers.
Great content, very informative, kind of a reality check to all dreamers who want to get a “cheap” cat.
What was the extra cost for the research, travel and surveys, before you settle on this cat ?
EL EL wow, thanks. I did a video a few months ago about searching for this boat. I’d guestimate we spent about 25k on the search. We had five deals and surveyed four boats. Wholly cow look at that! People are subscribing! Google gods are smiling on me! Lol. We live in amazing times. Thanks for the comment.
Very educational. I appreciate the clarity. I love the Leapord 46 design and you further added to it.
Yeh it's pretty slick. Gino Morelli designed her. He designs the Gunboats, HH, etc. Knows what he is doing for sure. Thank you for the kind words.
What's the 'market' value after the conversion investment ?
That’s a tough one. The L46 has developed a bit of a cult following, so finding one is very difficult (I think there is only one for sale in the US) and they command a premium compared to other boats of its class and age. Ours, considering condition and upgrades is probably going to sell in the high 300s. The last few I’ve seen have been asking mid 400s. At the end of the day, however, a boat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, so market value on something as specific as the L46 is a little tough to figure out.
@@TheOKellys k
Great Video thanks for the breakdown.
Very well done. The peace of my mind gained from proactive work is priceless.
Saving money by cutting corners can get very expensive.
True dat
Great informative video with thought and experience to back up reasons for/for not doing this yourself.👍
Thanks. Money is probably the number one reason we do what we can ourselves, but learning how is fun and gives us a lot more confidence.
I came across your channel while looking for my next catamaran. You reminded me that I would need to redo many of the things I have already done on my current catamaran. A larger cat significantly increases the cost of many of these expenses. Some expenses are a fixed cost. For those viewers that are discouraged by these price tags I can say from firsthand knowledge, you can refit a smaller catamaran for much less. You might not be as comfortable, but you will be in the same anchorage.
or as fast. But agreed. Thanks for the comment. Nick
Nick O'Kelly That can be driver dependent. :-)
We are looking for a live aboard. We have seen a lagoon 42 owners and a four cabin. What are your thoughts? It’s just us and our dogs.
You can do it on a 42, although it’s a small boat. A little cramped, a little easier to sail and a little less expensive to operate. You may end up wanting more room if you are living aboard
This is brilliant!!!
Nearly every boat-video adventurer focus on the scenery. Here, thanks to the O'Kelly's, you get the entire how to's on building your boat into your home.
This is priceless information and a treasure to us dreamers. wishing there were much more like this. AND, they put a budget to the work!
Id love to see if you've got more like this...sail repair, water collection
you guys are great and enjoying your work.
you know what you put into the boat and how it was done instead of learning what's there and then learn how to repair it. A shortened learning curve especially when you don't have the time when under pressure. Thanks
exactly my thinking! Thanks, Nick
Well done you guys make it your own vessel .That way you are not second guesting your equipment at sea and we all know that its non stop working on a boat. great quality and sound
Thanks. Yeh it's been a lot of work but we got'er dialed in pretty well now. But yeh, it's at least a part time job keeping one of these bigger cats in shape. Just like any boat. :) Thank you for the compliments. Nick O
Refitting the boat is half the fun!
I sort of agree...though the older I get the less interested I am in the dirty stuff. But tricking these boats out with the newest gear is pretty cool. I hate to sound old and salty, but the equipment back when we started this was not nearly as good. Except stainless parts...those seem to have become lower quality...
Looks like a good beginning to a great adventure! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to see where you sail her. Fair winds!
Thanks Scotty. We are a couple years into this latest cruise, but everyday is the beginning of the adventure. Northbound to Maine this summer. That will be fun. Thanks for the comment, Nick
great video. i really dont understand much in boating (just a dreamer) but from the looks of it, I think you are over estimating the cost. what I mean: It sounds as it it takes about 110K to convert from a charter to a cruising boat. Some of the expenses might be related to that however, many of the costs are have nothing to do with with the fact it used to be a charter boat. Many expenses would have been spent even if you boat a regular cruise boat as many of the expenses are designed to fix your personal fit and its very likely that you would have spent those no matter what. So of the 110K in expenses , how much of them would you say are inherently related to the fact the boat used to be a charter boat design (I am thinking things like refrigerator that are not planned to long stays on sea). Different aspect of the video is about : fix it yourself vs let the seller repair,. Say you did inspection and the seller would have fixed/paid all issues found how much of the 110K expenses would they have covered? i bet mush smaller number than the 110k you spent, no? if so ... i think at the end, if you got the boat for a discount of 110K and were able to do all that you ended us in a great deal. Thinking about your recommendation at the end ... it feels to me, everyone should do it, even if they dont have the time and they will spent say 150K giving it to someone else to do the work (and inspect?) they would be better off. No? Loved the video and the one about buying the boat.
Those are good points and good questions. Thank you. You point out that many of these expenses would come from any basic boat, whether charter or not. I think you are correct, however, what is most common with used boats like this that have NOT been in the charter fleet is that they tend to outfitted with cruising gear already, so their purchase price is higher but the outfitting costs are lower. We actually had a deal for the seller to fix the items for a sale price of approximately $38,000 more. I was not confident that they would do a good job on the repairs, so I elected to spend that money myself and oversee the work. I think it was the right choice. When we were in the market, we found boats that had already been outfitted but the condition was not good, we also found boats where the outfitting was good and the condition good, but we couldn't afford the price. In the end it is all a compromise and one that is very personal to the buyer. I wouldn't claim to know what is best for everyone. Our story is going to be different than the next. I appreciate you comments and glad you liked the video. Best, Nick
I've yet to see a better breakdown of costs and justifications. Many thanks for passing on your knowledge and experience.
Appreciate that Matt. Thank you.
don’t forget you have learned your boat before your journey
More or less a continual process, but you are right Frank. Thank your for the comment, Nick
Nick I just love the real world examples backed up by experience. You saved 100k on the boat (initially), just like you said that peace of mind knowing exactly what you have and what your boat can do will be a blessing in the long run. Even though you now are about par with the original asking price.... great vid!
Thank you for the kind note. We are feeling pretty good about things
Nice work! Great information.
Thanks Matthew. Appreciate it.
Nice video.. well done. And I agreed on the idea to buy a bare boat and continue fitting it to your liking .. it’s the bets way and so it will be come your boat. ...your home.
Very informative. ....on the rigging
10 to 12 year ... well yes if you sail a lot .. if not you can stretch the overhaul.
Thank you. Appreciate that. I didn't like the look of the rigging. No cracks, but way too much rust. When weather is rough, my mind always goes to rigging....I can deal with sea state...but not with half a mast over the side. For me it was peace of mind. Also, a lot of insurance companies require it at ten years. Nick
You kept the old mattresses ? Yuk !
Nope, we got rid of two. The other two appear to have been replaced. Now I'm going to have to re-shoot the video because that was another $500 I think.