Silly project

Hi all,

I have a mad plan for my retirement : cruise the caribbean !
The pitch is the following : buy a rather old trawler in a cheap place (Florida like) and then take some time (sequence of months) to visit the Caribbean's. And then sell the boat.
BTW I am European to far to cross the Atlantic, no appetite to do so. And don t want my boat to cross the Atlantic.

My questions:
- is it making sense ?
- has anyone done it ?
-if we stay around 30K can we have some kind of ok trawler (sea worthy and safe engine). Old GB .
-minimum size for a ship in the area for a couple in terms of sea
-can we sell after and where (Venezuela , Tobago, panama ?)

So ?

Makes sense...

Any 36 foot or bigger trawler is going to cost more then 30K in decent shape to just turn the key.

Certain boats will suffer several years of cruising with minimal maintenance and give you a decent but not necessarily a near break even resale.

Smaller trawlers in the Caribbean usually desire some form of stabilization to be comfortable. This alone can drive up the price dramatically.

If doing the Caribbean as you seem to want to, I would definitely go sail.

Thanks a lot

I did sail in the past... not for me

On a $30K budget I would go sail. A good turn key 36' sail boat can be had very easily, a trawler not so easy. A 36' sailboat under power will get you where ever you are going about as fast as a trawler and with less fuel. Lots of sailboats motor and never raise a sail. If physical limitations prohibit moving around on a sailboat then I would try to raise the budget. I don't think I have ever seen a trawler on the market for $30K that I would trust from Florida to Venezuela.

I like the dream, don't get discouraged, just tweak the plan a little.

OK guys lets make it 50k

tabjdo said:

OK guys lets make it 50k

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Going from 30k to 50k doesn't make the boat 40% more reliable. Things break on boats. Old boats, new boats, it doesn't matter. Stuff breaks. True, the older the boat the sooner stuff may break, but no way to tell. If you have the skills, temperament, and experience to fix the stuff that breaks then you could do it. It is just not anything I would choose to attempt.

I think you may have accidentally dropped a zero off your budget.

thanks a lot guys,

not did not drop a zero ...
seriously my question was on a reasonable size of ship for these waters.

on the stabilizers, I have paravanes here in Europe not rocket science to build

While a newbie without much experience I would say that you need to define what you are calling "cruising the carribean". If you plan to start from florida and go from island to island all the way down it is likely that the longest stretch you will do will be on the range of 80 to 100 nautics which does not requires the same as if you plan to go from florida to mexico in straight line for more than 900 nautics. I have a trawler in the price range you mentionned and I would not be scared to do 80 nautics with it but in no way I would have enough range to go for 900 nautics in a row. Also what makes a big difference is would you be able to solve any potential problem by yourself? If you are knowledgeable enough and used to keep your boat running by yourself whatever the issue is your budget won't be the same as if you need assistance for whatever could happen. Finally the size of your boat will depend of what is your definition of comfort as we all have our own. Do you need a full size kitchen to cook your 5 service diner everyday or can you live on dehydrated food that needs just hot water? Whatever is your plan, initial cost is one thing but plan a deep wallet for maintenance especially if you go into 20+ years old trawler which are what you will find in your price range, and plan also budget to do initial setup before starting your cruise as you will find a long list of things you want to improve on your new boat.
I am owner for only 2 month now and I already have a list of 50 things to do on my plate, while they are not structural but mostly cosmetic or easy to do and I do everything myself, just parts are costing some $$$

thanks indeed my plan is to hop from islands to islands in good weather not to try range long.
So basically what you say is even a 34 to 38 feet could be fine.
I am used to a 10.5 m in Europe. Aboard living is already a ticked box for both of us.
I can fix a lot but only the sea can teach you what you cannot do...
any existing blogs of guys who followed that path ? Knowing you also need extra maintenance care before hitting Cuba (no parts...)

These are tough boats


1978 Mainship Boats For Sale

Here you go. With money left over for fuel, food and drinks:

1977 Mainship Trawler Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

tabjdo,
It would be worth the trouble for you to find and buy the book "A Gentleman's Guide to Passages South" by Bruce Van Sant. Out of print last time I checked, but used copies can still be found.

READY2GO said:

tabjdo,
It would be worth the trouble for you to find and buy the book "A Gentleman's Guide to Passages South" by Bruce Van Sant. Out of print last time I checked, but used copies can still be found.

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Coincidentally the missus and I were just having a look at our copy last night. We are going to shoot over the The Bahamas for three months early next year and were looking to see how far south we would likely go.

Caribbean needs a bit more definition. I'm going to guess for the moment you're talking the Eastern Caribbean as the Western is a much different story. The longest run we made this spring in our first trip south was 282 nm from the DR to the BVI. We had several other runs in the 200 nm range. However, I do see the ability to run with the longest run of about 130 nm. That is from Turks and Caicos to the DR. A Mainship is capable of any of those runs as long as you're properly equipped and go only when the weather window is favorable. You see Sea Rays in the Caribbean all the time.

The key is getting your boat to where it's truly dependable though. Boat US isn't going to tow you out of trouble when you're crossing in those areas.

I recommend to anyone before exploring the Eastern Caribbean, spend a lot of time enjoying the Bahamas. Over 700 islands to see. Very different areas from island range to range. Then if a boat and a captain prove themselves there, consider going further. I wouldn't head to the Eastern Caribbean until I had experience with the boat.

menzies said:

Coincidentally the missus and I were just having a look at our copy last night. We are going to shoot over the The Bahamas for three months early next year and were looking to see how far south we would likely go.

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I think you're doing it the perfect way. Take it a step at a time. Eventually from the Bahamas you want to see the Turks and Caicos. Then the DR creeps into play and from there you just can't stop. Puerto Rico, the USVI and BVI, St. Martin and St. Marteen, St. Barts. Then beyond you decide on how much you want to see as well as safety factors which eventually come into play. The closer you get to Venezuela, the less I want to chance. I'd very much like to cruise all the way to Trinidad and Tobago. However, in December two separate occasions boats passing from Grenada were boarded and robbed. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard is trying to watch the area and wants all cruisers coming through those areas to file float plans with them.

I owned a 1982 Mainship 34, that my wife and I took to Key West, Fl from Baltimore Md. Here is the blog fot that trip:

Mcgonigle Waterlog

Having done that, I would never go past the Bahamas in that boat! We are currently enroute to Panama by way of western Caribbean, then on to eastern Caribbean in a 1984 42' Krogen. Sometimes I wonder if this is enough boat. I watch the weather, but things happen out here. Not saying you wouldn't make it but.....not gonna be fun. The Mainship also didn't handle the punishment as well resulting in some broken tabbing, leaking windows, and hull flexing. Hanging on for hours and hours gets old real fast.

BandB said:

I think you're doing it the perfect way. Take it a step at a time. Eventually from the Bahamas you want to see the Turks and Caicos. Then the DR creeps into play and from there you just can't stop. Puerto Rico, the USVI and BVI, St. Martin and St. Marteen, St. Barts. Then beyond you decide on how much you want to see as well as safety factors which eventually come into play. The closer you get to Venezuela, the less I want to chance. I'd very much like to cruise all the way to Trinidad and Tobago. However, in December two separate occasions boats passing from Grenada were boarded and robbed. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard is trying to watch the area and wants all cruisers coming through those areas to file float plans with them.

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Not the way we are doing it.

We have done the Abacos extensively already. Multiple times on our own bottom, renting a house and a center console, and on a 42 foot Moorings cat!

We will take next year to get used to the boat, March to May in the Bahamas, some in the Abacos but also more Southern. Trip up to Charleston. Maybe even get to The Chesapeake for a while.

Then in 2018 we are Looping. 2-3 years doing that, then a year or two off. Then New England and Newfoundland. Then the Islands all the way down to the ABCs. Cuba should be well open by then.

Longer term dream is the Panama Canal, Sea of Cortez and the North West.

That should handle the next 15 years or so!

menzies said:

Not the way we are doing it.

We have done the Abacos extensively already. Multiple times on our own bottom, renting a house and a center console, and on a 42 foot Moorings cat!

We will take next year to get used to the boat, March to May in the Bahamas, some in the Abacos but also more Southern. Trip up to Charleston. Maybe even get to The Chesapeake for a while.

Then in 2018 we are Looping. 2-3 years doing that, then a year or two off. Then New England and Newfoundland. Then the Islands all the way down to the ABCs. Cuba should be well open by then.

Longer term dream is the Panama Canal, Sea of Cortez and the North West.

That should handle the next 15 years or so!

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You are as bad as us. When you loop don't forget all the inland rivers. "A year or two off?" I guess we left that one out of our plans. We've only made it as far as St. Barts in the Eastern Caribbean. And everywhere we've been we want to repeat sometime. Well, back to the loop on Monday.

I would buy the $30k boat and keep the $20k as a reserve.

Heck...many boat can do the trip...

Having flown over a lot of the area...third world type boats abound.....and "most" survive.

Take any boat and modify it enough...and it can do what you want till you get small enough it just can't carry enough fuel, food and water.

But as usual, money makes things happen. If limited money, options are limited.

Again...I prefer power to cruise, but the budget you described and voyages you have planned, sail is a better idea as several have indicated. For both safety and comfort.

Till you get beat up by trade wind chop....you haven't been there. Sure you can fit Para vanes on almost snything..but your budget is rock bottom for your travel plans.

Otherwise, buy any less than 36 trawler with a recent engine rebuild, a lot of duct tape and go for it.

Please save around $250 for at least a PLB.

dhays said:

Going from 30k to 50k doesn't make the boat 40% more reliable. Things break on boats. Old boats, new boats, it doesn't matter. Stuff breaks. True, the older the boat the sooner stuff may break, but no way to tell. If you have the skills, temperament, and experience to fix the stuff that breaks then you could do it. It is just not anything I would choose to attempt.

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I think 100-150,000 would be a much more reasonable budget for your intended use. Otherwise you will be spending more time fixing than enjoying, and also more space would be better. I would focus on 38-40'.
Just my point of view.
Good luck.


Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum
Capt. Don

The hassle is the vast majority of US boats are built, outfitted for marina use.

A trawler in the Carib. would most likely anchor out much of the time , as marinas are expensive .

Water , refrigeration and all the usual lifestyle requirements abound.

It can cost many thousands to reoutfit the vessel for non dockside living.

Look at every boat and decide , how would I live aboard for at least 2 weeks , self sufficient., a month a goal.

With good hunting about 35 ft of TT can be done for under $20K

BUT ! things like deck leaks, PH window leaks and bad fuel tanks will be evident.

The boat will not have the scantlings for serious ocean work , so you will have to be VERY careful.

If you get "caught out" you will be in a survival situation.

BandB said:

"A year or two off?" I guess we left that one out of our plans.

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We have lots of family abroad and we want to travel extensively globally. It ain't all about the Western Hemisphere you know!

menzies said:

We have lots of family abroad and we want to travel extensively globally. It ain't all about the Western Hemisphere you know!

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Ship your boat across....lol

Hi guys,


Fantastic input from all types of boaters/habits I really enjoy this.
Thanks for having the balance between all elements. I see some guys have a tougher approach to yachting and some have fantastic passage makers.... Not the same security margins for sure.
I see a lot for myself on the plans.


Just a point what about letting the ship a few months in a harbour ( fly home and come back after) ?
other question : is there a capacity to sell the ship once around Trinidad Barbados or Granada ?
thanks

tabjdo said:

...other question : is there a capacity to sell the ship once around Trinidad Barbados or Granada ? thanks

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Yes, in Trinidad and Grenada. Both have large dry storage yards, numerous marine services and there are always a few boats for sale although mostly sailboats.

Here's a link for the yacht services organization in Trinidad.

YSATT

To sell it in Trinidad you may need to import/register it there, and that can be quite a process for a non-resident. Notice I said, "may" and "can be" as with many things there, it's not always consistent.

BandB said:

To sell it in Trinidad you may need to import/register it there, and that can be quite a process for a non-resident. Notice I said, "may" and "can be" as with many things there, it's not always consistent.

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In Trinidad you can buy about any flagged yacht, notting special over there. Same counts for Rio Dulce..

tabjdo said:

Hi guys,

Fantastic input from all types of boaters/habits I really enjoy this.
Thanks for having the balance between all elements. I see some guys have a tougher approach to yachting and some have fantastic passage makers.... Not the same security margins for sure.
I see a lot for myself on the plans.

Just a point what about letting the ship a few months in a harbour ( fly home and come back after) ?
other question : is there a capacity to sell the ship once around Trinidad Barbados or Granada ?
thanks

Click to expand...

I don't presume you are interrested in repairing leaking windows, just get her ready to go and enyoy the Carebean. I my opinon yo can be on the water for about US 30 - 40.000

See my privious post about Trinidad.