Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Have read lots of your stories, advice, funnies etc and I think it's time I bit the bullet and get a boat.
I've got a small sum of money saved (very small) and am considering getting a pocket cruiser around 30 feet and living aboard doing the east coast for the rest of my time. Mainly alone but occasionally with one or two of my kids or maybe even my grandkids for a night or two.
How realistic am I being here? Being in Canberra is a big hindrance at the moment, but come September I'll be semi retired and should be able to be on the boat 24/7.
I appreciate any and all feedback, good, bad and ugly
Cheers
Andy
Welcome. There are numerous posts on this or very similar topics eg;
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Pocket-Ocean-Cruisers
If you can advise what your "very small" budget is in $s it would assist in relevant responses. What is your sailing experience and maintenance skills? And toolkit contents including cordless power tools? Not trying to pry just to be able to respond in a more focused manner. Best to put aside some $s beyond the purchase price for the inherent immediate maintenance needed on any purchased yacht including an immediate slipping and antifouling probably. If the standing rigging is >10yrs old it will need to be renewed for insurance. Search this site for insurance woes and tips it is not straightforward. There is a good prior post on Clansman 30 versus Cavalier 32.
There are numerous good youtube videos on line you have probably seen - this one is US but there are numerous Aust based.
Select to expand quoteACTAndy said..
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Have read lots of your stories, advice, funnies etc and I think it's time I bit the bullet and get a boat.
I've got a small sum of money saved (very small) and am considering getting a pocket cruiser around 30 feet and living aboard doing the east coast for the rest of my time. Mainly alone but occasionally with one or two of my kids or maybe even my grandkids for a night or two.
How realistic am I being here? Being in Canberra is a big hindrance at the moment, but come September I'll be semi retired and should be able to be on the boat 24/7.
I appreciate any and all feedback, good, bad and ugly
Cheers
Andy
Probably best to decide on the initial outlay first and then your new home base. The NSW boating officers really like you to have your own mooring. Main road 92 will take you to Greenwell Point where we have a couple of Canberra people's yachts. There is a fibreglass Roberts 34 on a mooring that's a fifth of the price of the Catalina. Nice inside but needs a tidy-up on the outside. I should imagine it will need new sails. It's not advertised and I will have to chase up the owner's phone number.
As an observation, when looking at a mono displacement is a better guide than length. I would suggest a 10t ish vessel would be minimal for live aboard. But of course a 10t 30footer is going to be a lot slower than a 10t 40footer, and likewise a 5t 30footer will be faster than a 10t job but cramped in comparison
Thanx all for the replies, here's some more info on me
I have about $25000 for the boat, but would like to keep $7000-$8000 as contingency
I have extensive dingy and hobie cat experience on Canberra lakes
I have also crewed on Endeavour 26's and Adams 10's at Batemans Bay - still no offshore stuff but I've done plenty of rough stuff in the bay.
I still rate myself as a novice as I've never been the helm on the bigger boats
I'm 5'3" so headroom is not usually an issue ;)
While I'm open to any type of boat at the moment, I have a preference for a beamy boat - the Cav 30 seems sooooo much bigger than the Clansman due to the beam - but beggers can't be choosers. Right now I'd settle for smaller and cheaper just to get into the water.
Thanx again
Andy
Oh, toolkit is extensive and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty :)
Great sounds like you have planned it out well all the best with it.
Of course there are many 28-30 footers in your price range. This one is 31ft and over your price range but it has been on the market for a while and the seller is after offers.........the advert is very concise........it is a centre cockpit and hence aft cabin version of the Adams 31 so has benefits for a liveaboard. A good sea boat.
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/coffs-harbour/sail-boats/yacht-adams31/1290751192
This advert here is a lot better presentation and shows the boat type a lot better - at nearly double the price.
www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/adams-31/278173
This one is the aft cockpit version but sold
hallettboatbrokers.com.au/boat/245034/adams-31/
As a suggestion I would not dive into a yacht purchase if it is not what you want as on-selling yachts is generally a right PITA.
If the Roberts 34 Ramona mentioned is of interest maybe ask him to get the owners contacts? Details here;
www.finelineboatplans.com/bruce-roberts-34-boat-plan
I have found a photo of the Roberts 34 on the Facebook page I run for the local yachts and it has a phone number! There are two Roberts 34 yachts near my mooring. The blue one is the standard design in fibreglass with the stock interior layout. The other one is also in fibreglass but has a center cockpit and unless you know Roberts 34's you would have trouble picking it as a Roberts 34. We have also had steel hard chine 34's here but I would recommend steering clear of steel.
This boat has been a neighbour for many years. The owners wife recently passed and he has decided to sell. I think it has a Yanmar diesel but the sails and standing rigging will need replacing.
Thanx again all,
I'm thinking I'll be a cruising liveaboard not a mooring minder liveaboard so I'm hoping not to be tied down too much.
R31 that's a v nice boat, a bit rich for me just now, but if it's still available in August I might put in a low ball offer.
Ramona thanx for the piccy. A Roberts 34 looks to be a great size, if this is still available in August they may be getting a call from me :)
Cheers
ACTAndy
In NSW is much easier to be a cruising liveaboard if you have a mooring and a home port. You don't have to be on it.
Ok, so it's getting close to 'let's go buy a boat time'...
Just wondering if there is a 'manual' for what you need to do to be a cruising liveaboard, things like list of essential equipment, how the government gets hold of you, best and cheapest anchorages etc. ?
It will give me something to read while I'm boat hunting
For NSW in particular you need to learn how to keep a low profile. Liveaboards are particularly discouraged. After talking to various liveaboard people it seems hiding in plain sight in various places in Sydney harbour is often the easy way out. Small coastal villages are the hardest because there is always someone watching you!
Thanx Ramona.
I'm guessing I'll be ok if it's anchoring for a day or two between trips up or down the coast. I'm looking at being in one spot for a short amount of time before moving to the next. Of course that's all after I've got a boat and made her tripworthy
Select to expand quoteACTAndy said..
Thanx Ramona.
I'm guessing I'll be ok if it's anchoring for a day or two between trips up or down the coast. I'm looking at being in one spot for a short amount of time before moving to the next. Of course that's all after I've got a boat and made her tripworthy
The limit is 28 days a year!
28 days in one waterway & 90days in a calendar year on nsw waters. Get on a mooring wait list or take up a mooring in a non wait list area, don't draw attention to yourself and you'll be sweet
Select to expand quotetarquin1 said..
So it has to be on the mooring most of the year???
No. You are supposed to give notice if your heading off somewhere. You can be off the mooring all year as long as the BO knows.
