Exploring the East coast.

Hello, I find Myself in a position to go exploring. I'm looking for a craft, a solid one to explore the East coast. I've always dreamed of this, just so happens now I can. I'm not a survivalist, but am capable of it if required, fix just about anything, not a novice in that aspect. A good solid boat is required. Up to 39, I'm thinking 36. Is it harder to sail or manage a few extra feet? I want to make a move, but safety is a consideration. Any advice on a good solid boat? 36 min.

If you don't know that much about yachts, how do you know you need a minimum of 36ft? Our 36'er is quite light and small for a 36' LOA boat but still dramatically heavier and (in some ways) harder to handle than our 2t 28'er. The 36's extra draft is also a bit of an issue at times, and many NSW areas are fairly shallow.

If short on experience, I'd feel far happier on a 28-30 footer than a 36 footer or bigger. I'm not sure why you mentioned "solid" three times. Obviously one wants a reasonably tough craft for cruising and offshore sailing, but there seems to be little if any actual proof that very heavy boats are safer for coastal cruising; look at the fact that the latest Golden Globe fleet (which is restricted to "solid" boats) has just had another boat sink.

Ok thanks. Obviously I don't know what your circumstances are but it seems like a caravan could suit far better, driving up the glorious east coast. Apologies if I have misjudged your plans or intentions.

You know I'm into archery, well I was, and still hold an Australian title, thanks to Covid do to this day. When I started the sport My mate sold Me a compound bow, with 30 arrows. I destroyed 28 of those arrows strait up... Thing is, I now know how to shoot. I'm not about destroying boats, maybe a few sails, no problems.

S&S, thanks, I'll look into it. Cheers. I intend to hire a skipper, or a competent person for a period of about three weeks to show Me the ropes and what is required, regards updates to the rig to single hand if required. I don't realy want to single hand at all in the learning curve. I will pay generously for the training. I'm competent in a lot of ways, however? I require the confidence, the knowledge to comprehend. Once This is achieved, set. Any other solid boats? Full keel preferable. I need a 36ft, for a number of reasons. Thanks for you help and advice.

The length of a vessel is not a relevant comparison of size, ie a 30' job with a displacement of say 4.5 t is not going to be as roomy as a 30' with 10t displacement. Then you have the world of multi hulls cats are stable, roomy, shoal draft,have lots of realestate for solar and go good. As to single handing a good auto helm and electric/ hydraulic winches will take care of the really heavy stuff on say a 50 footer plus, but the tricky bit is berthing / mooring. You sound like a capable person get around see what's what, grab a sailing dinghy & while learning to sail, cruise the mooring fields & anchorages, sailing folk are always happy to chat with a cruisie dingy sailor

You can pick up an old heron or mirror type dingy there's others of course, with a trailer for not much money, they row good and make a stable fishing platform & the sail operation is the same as bigger vessels. See what's out there an literal learn the ropes

"Such is life" It's a little over the top morningbird. Sailing is a learning curve. It's like riding a bike, for Myself it was natural, for other's it ain't. I'm not unrealistic. I intend to hire a skipper, a competent person, that thinking is no accident, that's realistic for Me. but to do it well is another matter. I intend to do it well. How many passages have you made?

Glory Tikker. Everyone here wishes you well but in the greatest of good faith suggest don't dig a huge hole for yourself by slagging back at those who are trying to help you. MorningBird has done many passages as per his excellent instructive prior posts.

As an offsider. I grew up in Sydney, and have sailed before, a bit. I was also into Kayak, and have been fully instructed. It was my hobby to hit the heads, and paddle around fort Dennison dodging the traffic on the way in and out, with tourist waving..32km in and out. Down lane Cove river, from the wier, and have seen platapus in its backwaters, real.Stopped a few times at the spot of the last shark fatality where the Ambo blew a clutch getting back up the hill. I've fished Coffs, and Royal National park, beach and Rock. like 4 years there, fantasic fishing beach, river, eastery, plus surfed. I love the ocean, I'm Scottish, from Kismal. Plus, I want to expore, bored to death in the present situation. I find myself in the strangest locations. Now, I want to explore, and the challenge to Myself would be live giving, I require this at this stage of My life. Best wishes, see you all soon.

Tinker I may have the right boat for you it's a Jarken 10 Europa and my wife and I have just spent the last 8 months exploring Queensland in her from Brisbane to Cairns and back. I know it's only 33ft but it's quite beamy and a great boat to learn to sail in. I've still got to move all our stuff off her then will be taking photos and advertising her.

I've done a few things in my now longish life. One of them was fixed wing and helicopter search and rescue on the NSW south coast.
I've picked up people who shouldn't have been out there when they got into trouble. A couple were bodies.
A couple of weeks with someone going sailing won't prepare you to sail the coast at all safely.
Do the courses, go sailing on other peoples boats and then consider what you really want to do and how it is best done.
Yes I have done a few passages as crew and skipper between Cairns and Jervis Bay and out to Lord Howe island. When you're ready go out there, but only when you're ready.

MB said it well, Kayaking around Sydney Harbour (been there, done that) is not valid preparation for safe offshore sailing.

The vast majority of people who sail around the coast will never get into trouble, but each year some of them do get into serious trouble and far more probably give up sailing because they think they have got into serious trouble.

I've got it. I don't have a death wish, I wanted to do this My entire life. I truly do understand the risks, that is why I will do everythig possible to be safe. I'm not about to up and go. I want to talk to others, and I will do the courses and offer to crew for others. Perhaps loan a dingy, and enjoy that for a while. I don't have to do much for some time, thank god. I'd like to swing about in My own boat and build up My convidence and abilities before venturing out, cheers. The water maker sounds interesting.