[PUP] Top five passagemakers

[Robert Miller]

Thanks Bob.  Homework, homework, homework....In order to secure the right
boat for us, there will be at least another 2-3 years homework.  Thanks for
the information about the books.  I love to read, and I come from a
mechanical background.  I have been in the custom packaging design business
for quite some time, so my technical ability is pretty good also.  I don't
think there is anything mechanical that I couldn't fix given the right
tools, but I am going to go to as many classes as I can over the next few
years.  Do you have any suggestions on classes or courses that I could take?

  
Robert


> From: bob Austin <thataway4 at cox.net>
> Reply-To: Passagemaking Under Power List
> <passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
> Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:16:20 -0500
> To: Passage under power <passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
> Subject: [PUP] Top five passagemakers
> 
> 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
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