Haylands
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2015
- Messages
- 148
- Location
- England
- Vessel Name
- Barefoot Lady
- Vessel Make
- 1976 Hatteras 42LRC Mk1
Hi, Bit of introduction first, my wife and I are early 50's and have the opportunity to start two centre living, summers in good old Blighty and winters in a more preferential climate, we looked, for ages, to find a suitable country to live in during the winter but they all seem to have some drawback and we never really found the ideal place, then a few years ago whilst spending a lazy week in Grenada we met a couple who had been winter living on their yacht for the last 18 years and another idea started to unfold...
We both feel that pottering from island to island for six months of the year sounds idyllic, mind you, having read, then read some more, and then that little bit more I don't think idyllic and boats necessarily go together!!!!!
The other issue is that I was injured some years ago which resulted in my back being screwed and wired back together along with two new hips in the last year and a patched up knee, so my mobility, although not too bad, will never be excellent, I don't need sticks or walking aids it's more about flexibility, I'm 6"5' as well so that doesn't help.....!!
My knee, the last bit to need sorting at the moment, has just been done so I am abusing it as much as I can to get some bend back into it and hope to be something like "normal" soon...
We rather like the idea of a catamaran, I particularly like the look of the Fountaine Pajot Bahia a 46footer, it seems to have decent head room as well...
Never one to put lots of eggs in any particular basket we decided to have a "plan B" or "C" or "D" depending on the day of the week....
Looking at boats in the UK is useless, there just isn't that many for sale, walk around the marinas here and they just think your a nutter or are going to steal something so we have booked some flights and will land in Miami on 12th January for three weeks to look, then look some more and hopefully by the end of it have some idea whether we should get a cat or a (ooops nearly said trawler, don't want to take another thread down that old chestnut) "boat that travels at a more sedate manor," after all, life is the journey so why rush....
Quite like the idea of a motor boat and it seems you get more for your $ than you do with sails... I like the look of the more traditional boats like the Chris Craft, GB, Marine trader and Bertram, my favourite on paper is the Gulfstar 53' but apparently they only made 10.... It's also difficult to find info on head room in these older craft and that's important being my height...
So what we would really like to do, is buy everyone a drink and pick your brains, we have decided this is what we want to do, just not too sure what we want to sit on!!!! and we want to do it now before more bits of me start falling off...
We are planning on getting a boat, then spending the winters in the Bahamas, Caribbean etc and it would be great to talk face to face with others who have/are doing something similar, heck even if your great Aunt's friend once knew a chap who saw a boat it will do.... You'll know more than me...
Always found there is no substitute for experience, I've read everything I can find on the subject and all that does is create more questions... My Kindle, she does overflow....
So if anyone is around and free and could put up with some bloke and his wife, with the funny accents from our side of the pond, asking some stupid questions for several hours, getting bored to tears but drinking free booze then please get in touch...
Worst ways you will have a good laugh and be able to tell your friends about the mad couple you met who have never actually set foot on a boat and now want to spend half their lives on one because they think it's going to be relaxing, and how you put them right about the best two days of boat ownership, "the day you buy it and the day you sell it" that a boats never finished, and you wish you could have a day off sometimes....
I've rented the biggest pickup I could find as it will be the most comfy so don't mind driving anywhere in Southern Florida, or flying down to the islands. I have posted a similar thread on the Cruisers forum and have several offers from there, just want as much info as we can get in the three weeks...
Thanks for getting this far
We both feel that pottering from island to island for six months of the year sounds idyllic, mind you, having read, then read some more, and then that little bit more I don't think idyllic and boats necessarily go together!!!!!
The other issue is that I was injured some years ago which resulted in my back being screwed and wired back together along with two new hips in the last year and a patched up knee, so my mobility, although not too bad, will never be excellent, I don't need sticks or walking aids it's more about flexibility, I'm 6"5' as well so that doesn't help.....!!
My knee, the last bit to need sorting at the moment, has just been done so I am abusing it as much as I can to get some bend back into it and hope to be something like "normal" soon...
We rather like the idea of a catamaran, I particularly like the look of the Fountaine Pajot Bahia a 46footer, it seems to have decent head room as well...
Never one to put lots of eggs in any particular basket we decided to have a "plan B" or "C" or "D" depending on the day of the week....
Looking at boats in the UK is useless, there just isn't that many for sale, walk around the marinas here and they just think your a nutter or are going to steal something so we have booked some flights and will land in Miami on 12th January for three weeks to look, then look some more and hopefully by the end of it have some idea whether we should get a cat or a (ooops nearly said trawler, don't want to take another thread down that old chestnut) "boat that travels at a more sedate manor," after all, life is the journey so why rush....
Quite like the idea of a motor boat and it seems you get more for your $ than you do with sails... I like the look of the more traditional boats like the Chris Craft, GB, Marine trader and Bertram, my favourite on paper is the Gulfstar 53' but apparently they only made 10.... It's also difficult to find info on head room in these older craft and that's important being my height...
So what we would really like to do, is buy everyone a drink and pick your brains, we have decided this is what we want to do, just not too sure what we want to sit on!!!! and we want to do it now before more bits of me start falling off...
We are planning on getting a boat, then spending the winters in the Bahamas, Caribbean etc and it would be great to talk face to face with others who have/are doing something similar, heck even if your great Aunt's friend once knew a chap who saw a boat it will do.... You'll know more than me...
Always found there is no substitute for experience, I've read everything I can find on the subject and all that does is create more questions... My Kindle, she does overflow....
So if anyone is around and free and could put up with some bloke and his wife, with the funny accents from our side of the pond, asking some stupid questions for several hours, getting bored to tears but drinking free booze then please get in touch...
Worst ways you will have a good laugh and be able to tell your friends about the mad couple you met who have never actually set foot on a boat and now want to spend half their lives on one because they think it's going to be relaxing, and how you put them right about the best two days of boat ownership, "the day you buy it and the day you sell it" that a boats never finished, and you wish you could have a day off sometimes....
I've rented the biggest pickup I could find as it will be the most comfy so don't mind driving anywhere in Southern Florida, or flying down to the islands. I have posted a similar thread on the Cruisers forum and have several offers from there, just want as much info as we can get in the three weeks...
Thanks for getting this far
He says go for it but be careful. Maybe while you're looking at boats get down and see if you can reach hoses, filters, through hulls, etc. It is a boat but if you find the right one and you can handle the projects, it can ruin you in a great way. 
