I can hear the call of the ocean.

[clay1diver]

As Jimmy said... "Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard your call."

Once again, I am feeling the pull of the ocean. The last time I felt it this strong I ended up working on a liveaboard dive boat in the Bahamas. At the time, though, I was single and had nothing to really tie me down. Now, I am married, to a woman I met on the boat. We have two mortgages and are up to our necks in credit card debt. Which is good because three years ago, it was over our heads.

Anyway I have been dreaming lately and this is my dream. It is basically a 10 year plan. I am going to buy a boat. Sail only for me, monohull (mainly because I cant afford any of the multihulls that I found so far), preferrable 35'-45. I figure I have two options: 1) I can buy a really cheap boat from a couple of "salvage" websites I have found. I found a 46' sloop for around $9000.00 "or best offer" Needless to say, she needs ALOT of work. That as I see it is the biggest con to this approach. I would have to buy the boat with the benefit of actually sailing her first. Then I would have to put time and moeny into completely refitting her. Hence the 10 year plan... 5 to refit and then 5 years or less maybe of sailing her around the Gulf getting to know her. Then setting sail somewhere around my 50th birthday.

Option 2: Buy a boat that is pretty much ready to go. The only real problem that I see at the moment on this is the initial pay out.

Why I am posting this? Well, I would like to hear what everyone thinks. I know that what works for one person might not work for the next, but if we want to learn to lay bricks, we talk to a brick layer, right?

Another problem i have, which no one can help me with is that my wife's reaction was not exactly positive. In fact her reaction was her typical "There is no way in Hell" response. She kind of brushed me off and changed the subject.

Thanks for any input that you may have.

[Auzzee]

Hi Clay, I think your wife would be more responsive to the idea of a boat which is ready to go and could provide you both with immediate weekend satisfaction, than to see you 'head down-*bad word here* up' spending money like it's confetti for the next 5 years on a project which keeps you away from home, poor, frustrated, angry, dirty and focussed on anything but work and the family. One mortgage is more than enough for even a developing millionaire. Convert one property into a yacht! Your wife is a person. Persons love freedom. Freedom is sailing. Sailing is bloody good fun! Fixing a wreck, at great expense over a five year term is not good fun and can easily create a situation where bailiffs, seeking foreclosure, can flourish like weeds in an untended garden.

[Trim50]

I have a different view on this subject.

I believe spending 5 years refitting a boat was the best 5 years of my life. The sense of accomplishment is invigorating and completely fulfilling. It certainly keeps one outa the bars and away from other less meaningful activities.

Having been in debt to my neck before, I know how stressful it can be and how meaningless it all really is. I would sell the house(s) and eliminate the mortgages and credit card debt (if possible). With respect to the wife, I believe a wife should be a life partner. If they don't agree with your view of life, it is hard to consider them a partner. Especially with a "No way in Hell" attitude. Sounds like a tough starting point. Of course, if you have young kids involved, you have already committed.

I divorced my first wife because she didn't find living on a boat her cup of tea. Glad I did as it allowed me to find Lori who wants to circumnavigate as much as I do. Now, I am debt free, rent my home, have a paid-off boat and preparing for a 5 year voyage.

I would recommend finding a boat in fair condition built in the late 70s with a good hull, room to live aboard and a well maintained engine. For less than $50k I’m sure you could find something that with an additional $30k -$50K, you could have a world class cruiser fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronics, sails and hardware. By the time you are done, you may even find your perfect first mate.

[clay1diver]

Thanks for both inputs. I can see merits to both. I do believe that I will end up buying a boat that needs SOME but not extensive overhauling. I tend to agree that my wife will be more receptive if we can spend time actually sailing the boat. This past weekend, she was a little more willing to at least talk about the possibilities. It is almost as if she doesnt believe that I really intend to do this. Since I have basically done so once in the past, you would think she would believe that I will. One concern she has is what she terms our lack of experience. Well, personally, I spent eleven months sailing around the Bahamas and she and I have spent at least one week a year sailing in various parts of the Caribbean for the past 5 years. On a delivery cruise from Antigua to St. Vincent, we saw a Moon-bow... One of the most awesome sights I have ever seen! An ethereal and hauntingly beautiful creation.

[JeanneP]

You can't get experience without doing it, though, can you? Peter and I sure weren't experienced - at cruising, or even at sailing, for that matter! Peter might be an excellent seaman, but we still needed to learn a lot about sailing. Well, we learned, all right!!

Go sailing, cruising "for a few years", and see how it goes. Remember that you can never know it all, and just about everyone you meet will have something to teach you. We're still learning after all these years! If we waited to be more experienced, maybe we wouldn't have gone! A better way to look at it, though, is - how can you know until you try it?

Fair winds