ThomasAPorter
New Member
Hello all. New member. I am in a change of life moment: about to sell a house in Los Angeles and at the same time, a marina called me to offer a waitlisted live-aboard slip... I have a couple working years left and could easliy live on a boat (single, and I don’t own a lot of stuff except tools).
Years of boat lurking now becomes a serious boat search with August 1 as the date I will start paying for the slip. Long ago I sailed across the Pacific on other people's boats. I have always said, other people's boats and other people's kids are the best, because the messy parts are somone else's responsibility!
But on other people's boats someone else always docks and anchors and took the responsibility for what broke. I have been sailing some on other people’s boats in the last couple years too – sailing I am ok with. Once away from land there's less that is going to go wrong in a hurry. Docking and anchoring scare me to death.
I’ll start a sailing class (ASA 101 and 102) this week to get a refresher.
Slip is 40 foot, minimum 35 foot boat to live aboard legally. The Catalina 36, 38 and 380 are on my list as is a Hunter 35 and quite a few other boats in the 35 to 38 range. I keep coming back to Ericson, either the 35 or the 38. They seem like a lot of boat for about the same money as a decent Catalina 36, and their reputation and build quality are higher. I want a solid hull (or foam cored- no balsa) and would love a deck without balsa but they seem sorta rare for my price range.
There are a few Ericsons 38s for sale in either Los Angles or San Diego and I see fewer 35 footers. I want a boat I can comfortably take out on my own after a little practice. How realistic is that as a new boat owner on an Ericson 38? One thing -- the slip has fingers on both sides, so while learn I am only going to ding my own boat, and not someone else's.
I would love to find a boat with a decent exterior and engine. I am fine with (and actually prefer) one that needs elbow grease as well as sails, rigging and electronics. I figure good bones (dry with a decent engine) for a decent price and I can add the rest with time, money, effort and money. Oh, and money.
I have made a few calls and will start seeing the boats on my short list next weekend. Gotta say, I went from “maybe I’ll buy a boat” to “I am going to buy a boat” really quick and I keep smiling. Change is good for the soul.
Thanks for any replies!
Years of boat lurking now becomes a serious boat search with August 1 as the date I will start paying for the slip. Long ago I sailed across the Pacific on other people's boats. I have always said, other people's boats and other people's kids are the best, because the messy parts are somone else's responsibility!
But on other people's boats someone else always docks and anchors and took the responsibility for what broke. I have been sailing some on other people’s boats in the last couple years too – sailing I am ok with. Once away from land there's less that is going to go wrong in a hurry. Docking and anchoring scare me to death.
I’ll start a sailing class (ASA 101 and 102) this week to get a refresher.
Slip is 40 foot, minimum 35 foot boat to live aboard legally. The Catalina 36, 38 and 380 are on my list as is a Hunter 35 and quite a few other boats in the 35 to 38 range. I keep coming back to Ericson, either the 35 or the 38. They seem like a lot of boat for about the same money as a decent Catalina 36, and their reputation and build quality are higher. I want a solid hull (or foam cored- no balsa) and would love a deck without balsa but they seem sorta rare for my price range.
There are a few Ericsons 38s for sale in either Los Angles or San Diego and I see fewer 35 footers. I want a boat I can comfortably take out on my own after a little practice. How realistic is that as a new boat owner on an Ericson 38? One thing -- the slip has fingers on both sides, so while learn I am only going to ding my own boat, and not someone else's.
I would love to find a boat with a decent exterior and engine. I am fine with (and actually prefer) one that needs elbow grease as well as sails, rigging and electronics. I figure good bones (dry with a decent engine) for a decent price and I can add the rest with time, money, effort and money. Oh, and money.
I have made a few calls and will start seeing the boats on my short list next weekend. Gotta say, I went from “maybe I’ll buy a boat” to “I am going to buy a boat” really quick and I keep smiling. Change is good for the soul.
Thanks for any replies!