The Cruising attitude is more important than the boat you choose

[ksanders]

Here on TF we tend to focus on the boat, when in reality we really just want to go cruising.
In my opinion as a seasoned cruiser on my Bayliner 4788, that thought is 100% incorrect.

Focusing on the boat is easy. Cruising is a dream that we think we can achieve if we just have the correct boat to make our cruising dreams a reality.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been in a lot of marinas. Marinas filled with arguably more capable boats than my Bayliner.

Every person I've talked to is in awe of our adventures. I cannot tell you how many times we've been approached in a marina by a TF member or facebook follower who has watched our adventures and just wants to say hi. It's humbling. The other day we met a nice couple in Victoria BC that said we were an inspiration to others.

First, we are not special. Our boat, a Bayliner 4788 is not all that special. What is special is that we have a cruising attitude. We have a dream of exploring, and nothing is going to stop us. Cruising is not about the boat. It's all about being willing to go for it. To give up the normal lives the rest of the world lives, and leaving your safe place and venturing into the unknown.

This life is not for every one. You give up a lot. You give up the security of things you are familiar with. You give up your home turf. But the reward is seeing and experiencing the unknown. Living a life of adventure and exploration.

So my friends, if this cruiser could pass on any advice.. Stop focusing on the boat. Stop focusing on wether you have the correct amount of solar, or the best anchor, or the perfect expedition boat.

Start focusing on your life. Focus on the barriers that really stop you from cruising, and remove them.

Then go cruising in whatever boat you have or can afford today.

We have been from Alaska to Mexico, and back to Canada in our Bayliner 4788. This winter we are exploring the area around Victoria BC. Next cruising season we will return to Alaska and explore all summer.

If we can do it in our Bayliner, you can do it too.

Kevin and Vicky Sanders
Living the life of Vagabond Cruisers.
MV Dos Peces

 

[ksanders]

Here is a real example of removing barriers.

My wife Vicky owns a bakery in La Paz BCS Mexico. She started her bakery and when we met she had not had a day off in 13 years. She was the owner, the manager, the supervisor of 11 employees making over 5,000 pieces a day, working two shifts.

In order to go cruising she looked at her organization, and hired two managers to replace her. One for day shift and one for night shift. She trained them up, and now they run the day to day operation. She works remotely, only needing to be at the bakery every couple of weeks.

That is how you remove barriers. You look at the things keeping you from cruising and you solve the problem.

 

[ksanders]

Here is another example. My son and his wife had the dream of cruising. They waited for their kids to grow up, and for her to retire from the USCG. He looked for and accepted a lower responsibility, lower pay engineering position to enable them to go cruising.

Does he get the fulfillment from work, no. but his job is easy, it pays pretty well, and it enabled him and his wife to go cruising.

We have a lot of cruising friends with similar stories. Every cruiser has had to make adjustments to their lives to allow them the time and freedom to go cruising and you can too.

 

[SMTDVM]

Couldn't agree more. A boat is just the thing that holds all the parts together. We've been through several renditions in our SE Alaska exploits. Please look us up next time you come through.

 

[tiltrider1]

Some people are dreamers and that is all they can do. Others are doers and wont let the wrong boat stand in their way of doing.

While my boat hasn't traveled as far as yours ( La to Sitka), it has done exactly the style of cruising I want to do but then so did my Uniflite 42 and my Hunter 34 and my McGregor 26.

 

[mvweebles]

Stop focusing on the boat.

Start focusing on your life.

Then go cruising in whatever boat you have or can afford today

Amen.

 

[O C Diver]

Kevin, while I think you're generally correct, it's important to be realistic about the boat also. I have seen a number of individuals with rose colored glasses when they look at their boats. I get the impression that your boat is very seaworthy and mechanically squared away. Sadly there are many who think preventative maintenance is fixing things that break. Also, they choose vessels that are woefully inadequate when the flat calm days they envision turn to life and death struggles.

While I acknowledge that I suffered from OCD regarding my boat, I also was able to do a lot of cruising. There has to be balance with an acceptable vessel for the purpose and reasonable preventative maintenance with timely upgrades. Otherwise, "Cruising is just boat repairs in exotic locations ".

Ted

 

[proudsailor]

Thanks for this post! We bought our boat two years ago and have spent those two years "getting her ready." Is it perfect? Oh hell no. Am I nervous as hell that something will go wrong? Oh hell yes! But as winter approaches, my intolerance of another February being iced into my marina far outweighs my nerves. Casting off in the next two weeks for points south and warmer climes.

Boat neighbor bought a much older boat and it was their first. They cruise everwhere and have been my envy and incentive to shake the fear. They live aboard and use their boat like their car- get up and go anytime. Inspiring, like you and your 4788....

View last night from the aft deck facing Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

 

[Jklotz]

Interesting post. Being 4 months into this journey, all I can add is my perspective, which, admittedly, is relatively inexperienced. I spent a year and a half researching boats, taking classes, reading posts, traveling to see boats, talking to people, etc, etc, before we bought our boat. I learned a lot along the way, but the big takeaway for me was that there is no way to be prepared. Only experience can provide that. I thought, spending a lot of money and buying a newer boat was going to be like a car - everything would be working, and as long as you changed the oil, everything else would be fine. Boy was I naive! Don't get me wrong, we love out boat, and I can't imagine a better one for us at this point, and I still believe it was the right decision for us. Even brand new boats have all kinds of things that need to be addressed.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, regardless of the boat, the only way to be proficient at it is to get out there and do it. It would have been easy to still be at home, taking more classes, trying to find the perfect boat at the right price, in the location I wanted for it to be. The perfect boat doesn't exist. Get off the keyboard and get out on the water, that's the only way you'll know.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Here on TF we tend to focus on the boat, when in reality we really just want to go cruising.

Certainly true, but boat focus is necessary until you reach a certain level of proficiency, competence, and experience.

 

[kthoennes]

Yep. We get so many "newbie" threads on this forum about what should I buy, what's a good boat, what should we look for, etc. Lots of good answers each time but I always think - just get out there. Charter, go out on somebody else's boat, buy whatever, but get out there. Nothing will answer the "which boat" question better than getting out there.

I had to laugh at proudsailor's post though about fear. We don't go out nearly enough because I'm so neurotic about the engines and systems. Uh oh, temp gauge is .0001 degree higher on the port engine. Uh oh, that wisp of white smoke doesn't look right. Uh oh, are my impellers fresh and flexible, when were they changed last? If we went out more I'd probably get over a lot of that.

 

[PierreR]

Kevin you are wrong about one thing. You said you are nothing special then went on to elaborate exactly why you are special.
1.)What makes a true cruiser special is actually being energized with a high level of uncertainty. Everyone is in awe of true cruisers because you are in the presence of someone willing to risk it all and follow their true dreams. Society itself trains people to be risk averse and settle down. To keep it simple to reduce stress.
2.)Two is generally incompatible with one. You are energized by risk but still have enough discipline and enough sense of responsibility to pull it off financially, plus acquire the skill sets necessary to actually make it work in the face of uncertainty.
3.) You are actually young enough and physically able enough to handle the cruising.

To have all three things in the same package is truly special and rare. Don't think you are special? What things listed above do you have that allows you to leave that dock financially with the boat that you have. People are in awe of you because you leave the dock with your boat and venture out into the Pacific and then post pictures of sunsets and adult beverages instead of upside down at an angle feeling damned near trapped with a less than perfect tool in your hand and needing something else out of the hole and up a flight of stairs. That breeds modesty.
Modesty is a big trait of true cruisers. I define a true cruiser not by the boat but by these three things I listed. The boat is only a reflection of their money, not their true selves.
Due to my wife's disabilities we have a dock almost every night. We are over 45' which often puts on on "A" dock with the big boys. Crews and delivery crews tend to be more on the snobbish side but cruisers who own multi million dollar yachts are often dressed like crap, energetic, friendly and what to engage with you and often in awe of the things I have done with my boat. To the tee, none of the own a yacht. They all own a boat if you ask them. As one of the put it nicely. "I don't own a yacht, my wallet says I do, the broker said I do and the parts people say I do but a yacht is made of un obtainium with a guy standing on the back with expensive wine with two girls, one under each arm watching the sunset. I can afford this boat and do you see any girls or expensive wine? It's a GD boat just like yours" He was very proud of his boat and showed me everything he was working on but the modesty showed through very strongly. I found that to be universally true with real cruisers that untied the lines and ventured forth.
I would venture to say that only about one in a fifty thousand have all three traits listed above.

 

[cfr]

Kevin you are absolutely right....doers and dreamers. The dreamer talking boats and 3 set of navigation backups, the second watermaker and the next bigger boat. maybe for many its also an excuse that they can not do it because they do not have the right boat, equipment...it needs really some tough decision to go cruising. i quit my good job and sold my house at 49...12 years ago and we still enyoing it in a 40 year old sailboat. maybe in trawler in future. most friends did not understand our massive cut in live but anybody has to made decision. often dreaming is good enough for some.....not everybody should think he is forced to go.

 

[PierreR]

On TF, when it comes to newbie's and boats there is fresh bait in the water and we passionately bite. The very words they choose instantly gives us a sense of where they stand on the scale of the three things I listed in post #12. If they rank low, we throw some cold water on them, hoping to save them a bundle of money and broken dreams. How they handle the splash of cold water gives us a very good idea of their true sense of ability to handle cruising in general. We are searching for how special they are.
Kevin is the prime example of a master baiter, chumming the waters. "Oh, I am nothing special and then posts three pictures. First picture exudes happiness, low stress and comfort. Second picture is the classic sunset that screams nautical beauty and relaxation. The third picture is the adult beverages that create the relaxation. Not one of those pictures show reality. All suggesting that cruising is full of relaxation and low stress lifestyle. He could have just as easily posted a picture standing up in the engine room covered in slime holding up a section of sewage hose he just removed ginning ear to ear. Proud of his accomplishment and a sense of getting back to a tolerable climate in the boat. True cruisers want to know about the trials and tribulations behind the slime and grease. We want to develop that sense of comradery Tire kickers are sent a message of reality that says, "I don't know but maybe money will take care of all the problems by buying the right boat". Especially a new boat. They think they are like cars and come with a 36 month stem to stern warranty that they will likely never need.

 

[Frosty]

I'd say it's some of each. Both the boat and one's attitude matter. Otherwise we'd all be out cruising on jet skis or in canoes. For some people, enjoyment means a larger, more comfortable boat. For some it doesn't. Some are in between.

Too, some people enjoy preparing. That's ok.

I do get what you're saying; but you're also not in a 25' boat -- or a sea kayak -- so the boat does matter also. Good thing, or more than half of the forum content wouldn't exist!

 

[kthoennes]

Good post by Pierre. My dad ran boats for rich people for a while. One of dad's best friends was one of the richest guys in the country and he and his wife did the Loop in an Island Gypsy when he could have had any boat he wanted. One of the highlights of his life, and he loved that boat. You'd never know his net worth was, I don't know, near ten figures? But then my grandfather was a real estate tycoon and he visited his development projects in a beater Rambler car with rope for a door handle.

(On the other hand we've sailed into Roche Harbor past all the zillion dollar boats and we've been to the (in my opinion) insufferable Palm Beach boat show. I don't know how often those boats actually "get out there." Dad also maintained a 60 footer for a guy who used the boat once each year, Super Bowl party on the water and nothing else.)

 

[rslifkin]

The boat matters, but only up to the point that you have a boat you can take care of, make effective use of, and that lets you do the things you want. And of course, a boat you like. You don't necessarily need the fanciest boat or the most capable boat out there, but everyone has certain things they need to be able to cruise the way they want to and where they want to.

 

[ranger58sb]

Not one of those pictures show reality. All suggesting that cruising is full of relaxation and low stress lifestyle. He could have just as easily posted a picture standing up in the engine room covered in slime holding up a section of sewage hose he just removed ginning ear to ear. Proud of his accomplishment and a sense of getting back to a tolerable climate in the boat.

 

[PierreR]

I do get what you're saying; but you're also not in a 25' boat -- or a sea kayak -- so the boat does matter also. Good thing, or more than half of the forum content wouldn't exist!

My wife needs the 42' minimum boat. Me, I would like to do the loop in around a 20' cedar kayak with solar cells, an electric motor and LFP battery setup, a tent, a set of cloths and food stores. I would also like to take the dog, a 6 pound prissy little poodle. Not sure the dog is possible. She is a tasty morsel for a lot of things out there.
I built a 26' perfect loop boat but my wife medically aged out of it. Smaller the boat, the bigger the adventure.

 

[Shrew]

We cruised for many years on a 28 foot express. We used to say "Look at these huge cruising boats....we have the same exact view living the same exact experience."

 

[JackConnick]

I keep going on shakedown cruises. The shakedown of the shakedown of the shakedown cruise...

 

[ksanders]

The other day again in Victoria harbor...

A 55 or 58 Californian LRC pulls up next to us. What a georgous boat!!!
Shiny, looking perfect. Portuguese bridge, which I drool over.

The couple was super nice, and were living on their boat, hopping around Puget Sound. Either working remotely, or retired, not sure about that.

Talking about where we've both been, why we were here in victoria, etc...

He says he wishes he could cruise like we do, up and down the coast but he was afraid.

Afraid that his single engine would break leaving him stranded.

His boat to me would be the perfect boat for at a minimum long range Coastal Cruising, maybe more.

But... He will never go cruising, even though he dreams about it.

Because he only has one engine.

 

[SteveK]

Kevin is the prime example of a master baiter, chumming the waters.

So true.
But I wonder how many dreamers are becoming boaters as a result of his posted adventures.

 

[ksanders]

Kevin you are wrong about one thing. You said you are nothing special then went on to elaborate exactly why you are special.
1.)What makes a true cruiser special is actually being energized with a high level of uncertainty. Everyone is in awe of true cruisers because you are in the presence of someone willing to risk it all and follow their true dreams. Society itself trains people to be risk averse and settle down. To keep it simple to reduce stress.

La Paz is a true cruisers paradise. It is also the jumping off place for people crossing the pacific. Most leave here, and at the tip of the Baja head for the southern islands.

We have so many very humble friends that we will meet up with again some day that have done just that.
No drama, no pretext, and often in pretty small sailboats, but they do it.

Hell, Right here on TF Scott and Laura left our company in La Paz with a tearful good by and headed south, only to wash up in Florida. Yes... they have a super capable boat, but again is not the boat, it's them.

Ted... I watched Ted casually posting about his cruising on the east coast. Thousands of miles. He was one of my inspirations!

Peter and Cheryl in their 36 Willard. Wonderful cruisers in a modest boat.

And so many more. Thanks to all that cast off the lines and inspired the rest of us!!!

 

[ksanders]

So true.
But I wonder how many dreamers are becoming boaters as a result of his posted adventures.

wait!!! We're just a couple of normal folks wasting away in Margaritaville

 

[Wtrguy]

The recollection of my first boating experience is a little foggy as according to my mother, I was 2 yrs old. I do, however, remember the first time ever sleeping overnight on a boat. That was an 18' cuddy cab that my dad bought when I was about 7 yrs. old. Sleeping may be an overstatement as all those new noises and movements were too awe inspiring to induce slumber. Over the years, the boats and systems have gotten bigger and more technically advanced - from rowboats and drift boats to power boats and sailboats - yet the inner peace that I feel when on the water in any one of them doesn't compare to anything I've ever felt ashore. My bride of 38 years says I'm a different person on the water and it reminds her of the man she married. (I don't remember that guy, but she does!) My life on land has been all about business and the quest for the almighty dollar, which I've learned far too late seems to cheapens life itself, IMHO. As we've talked about living on the water for as long as I can remember, the time seems right to turn this pipe dream into a reality.
While I've always been a bit of a dreamer, I'm a realist to my core. The vast majority of you folks have more time on the water than ANY of the people we've spent time boating with and it's humbling to read this forum (and any other information I can get my hands on) and realize how much I don't know! I was blessed in my youth to have a father and grandfather that could fix anything, many times by building the tools needed to do the job. They instilled in me an attitude that doesn't accept failure and a deep inner desire to be the best at anything I put my hand to. I see that same attitude on this forum every day and I'm proud to refer to you all as my TF experts when talking to my friends & family. Thank you!

Kevin & Vicky, you are living the life we have always dreamed of. You guys are an inspiration to those of us just getting started!

Kevin

"Societies prosper when old men plant trees in who's shade they'll never sit." old Greek proverb.

 

[mvweebles]

One week from today we fly back to Chiapas MX to rejoin Weebles and continue our journey southbound. Someone once told me the hardest leg of any cruise is the first 10-feet to clear the dock and be underway. So true - so easy to develop a laundry list before departure.

One of the things I like about travel in general and cruising in particular is just getting away from the distractions of home. I'm a news junkie and stay abreast of politics which isn't healthy on some ways. Travel and cruising forces me to focus on things I can change, influence, and absorb. Smaller world in some ways. Much bigger world in others.

Boat is inconsequential. Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer did it on a raft. On the Baja ha ha a couple years ago, a couple joined with a Grady White 31 with small cuddy and a nice sun shade over the aft deck. Better to scale back cruising destination to fit the boat you have or can afford than delay for unobtanium

Peter

 

[rslifkin]

Someone once told me the hardest leg of any cruise is the first 10-feet to clear the dock and be underway. So true - so easy to develop a laundry list before departure.

I generally agree. However, when we took off for a month this summer it was pretty easy to just hop on the boat and go, knowing we had everything we needed loaded, the boat was ready, etc. Especially as it wasn't the start of the season or anything, so the boat had seen plenty of use leading up to the trip.

What I found strange was that the last few days at the end of the trip were actually the most stressful and had me the most worried. That's when I started to worry more about weather, plans, etc. I'm not quite sure what did it though, as that was the point where we were getting back into more familiar waters and heading for home.

 

[Portage_Bay]

A very good thread!

I had a conversation with an acquaintance recently interested in a Bayliner 4788 with goals to cruise from Wa State to Ak. He said a Nordhaven owner told him not to buy it because Dent rapids (if you cruise these waters you know about Dent) is a Bayliner filter. I told him that's nonsense. It's not the boat, it's the mariner. Skills, good decision making and the desire to go. He's got a good cruising resume, just not these waters. He'll be fine. I pointed him to Ksanders adventures.

Can we really say the boat doesn't matter. No, a Bayliner would not be my choice for blue water crossings. With the right prep and planning it could be done but for me the risk / reward ratio is out of whack. That's decision making.

A quote from Henry Ford

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”​

 

[Frosty]

I built a 26' perfect loop boat but my wife medically aged out of it. Smaller the boat, the bigger the adventure.

That sounds like an interesting boat. What was it (if you feel like telling us about it)?