[PUP] Top five passagemakers

[bob Austin]

Robert--I agree with the others, that a lot of your perimeters have to be
defined--even "coastal" means different things to different people, depending
on what part of the world you are in.  On the East or Gulf Coast, it is
protected ICW's--on the West Coast in S. Calif--it may mean trips to the
channel Islands, or a trip around Pt. Conception--to San Franscisco--a trip
which many people have tried and turned back after meeting the average
conditions.  Or it may mean the Inland Passage to Alaska--all of these being
entirely different trips and requiring different boats.

Experience is extremely important.  I would highly recommend that you get some
experience crewing on other's boats, or at the very minimum hiring a good
delivary captain for several weeks.  Then you can start reading the multiple
books, forums and web sites which are available on the subject.

The reality and fantisy of cruising are entirely different.  I suspect that
Scott has a number of different thoughts now than he had 18 months ago--and
will have different thoughts after he has been thru the canal and eventually
reached the East Coast.

There also seems to be a trend that you have to have a million dollars to take
ocean voyages.  This is far from the truth.  There are other boats than the
"ideal" 5 which can make excellent passagemakers.  We found that folks on
smaller budgets had just as good a time--maybe better--than those with large
budgets.

Start by reading Passagemaking under Power.  Read David Gerr's Nature of
Boats.  Read the two books on anchoring and storm tactics by Earl Hinz.  Then
read several of the actual accounts of power cruising.  I also highly
recommend Steve Dashew's site (Setsail.com)--although Steve comes from a
sailing background--as I do--he covers a lot of the information which you need
to know. Spend some time taking courses from folks who know what they are
doing.

Then go into the mechanics, and systems maintance and repair--if you have a
system on the boat--you will have to repair it--or find someone who can--and
that may be unlikely.

In our case we had already made a number of coastal passages (Mexico to Cabo
and back to S. Calif.  Done some races to Mexico and Hawaii, before we took
our first 5 month cruise.  That changed my wife's idea of what boat we
wanted--and we sold the boat we had built and pruchased a larger one.  We took
4 years for a 41,000 mile cruise.  This was in the early 80's and paid $90,000
for a boat, and spend another $40,000 outfitting it--with a budget of $1000 a
month for expenses, including the boat (but no insurance).   We were the only
one of 20 boats who set off at the same time and reached their goals in the
immediate peroid.  Two of the boats were lost, there were at least 6 divorces,
and most boats were sold in route, or delivared "back home".   One of the
boats made their goal--25 years later (after having replaced the boat which
was lost).  Our next cruise, in the 90's we found that we wanted a smaller
boat, but the basic concepts and equiptment was the same.  Although
communication is much easier now, you still have to be free of incumberances
"at home".

Take small steps at a time.  Most folks who are just getting started in
boating make huge and expensive mistakes.  Think out what you are doing and
ask specific questions.  Rely on those who are either out cruising, like Dave,
or those who have a lot of experience.

Good luck--and do lots of "homework".

Bob Austin