seamen--Good-anon-quotes

**1801306**
If you're down to learn how to do literally everything yourself then I'd highly recommend it.

That includes, minor electrical work (fix/replace that light), basic plumbing (they make a toilet that works in space but cant make one that works on a boat for longer than 2 weeks), basic engine stuff ( changing oil/filters/belts etc) and a myriad of other things.

Paying someone to fix "it" costs 10x any reasonable price because you are on a boat, whatever "it" may be.

HOWEVER
My annual maintenance costs run me less than 2k and I do not pay rent because I bought a fuckhuge anchor.

Getting the boat and setting it up are the most expensive bits. If you choose to live in a marina expect 3-600 a month in rent and utilities.

If youre feeling adventurous and want to buy a dinghy as well you can live at anchor. You'll need solar or a generator depending on how much electricity you use. Also a water source. Maybe look up mooring rentals. They cost less than slips.

For the basics I'd recommend

By Capn Fatty Goodlander
Buy, Outfit, Sail: How To Inexpensively and Safely Buy, Outfit, and Sail a Small Vessel Around the World

A lot of his stuff is great.

Literally anything by Lin and Larry Pardey
Any thing about Bernard Moitessier

Single Handed Sailing
Thoughts, Tips, Techniques, and Tactics
By Andrew Evans

Sailing A Serious Ocean
By John Kretschmer

Chapman's piloting and seamanship

Boat Owners Mechanical and Electrical Manual

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**1801443**
As I understand it most of what the government considers " navigable waters" are fair game as long as you arent anchored in the channel.
Ask your local fish cops.

Be honest about what you want from this boat. Do you really need a heavy displacement blue water cruiser or a race boat?

Do you plan on crossing oceans (honestly) or just puttering around the coast ducking in and out of little bays and sounds to see what there is to see?

Its all a compromise. A heavy weather offshore boat will cost a fortune and need a lot of water under it. A smaller shoal draft boat may suit your purposes for cheaper. It may not be great for heavy weather or crossings, but needs less water to move in so you can explore the coast more extensively.

Simple is best. Less stuff to break.
A sloop or cutter has less lines to tend than a ketch or yawl .
A foot pump for your sink is easier to fix than an electric pump, same for the head.

You need: water storage, a working engine and navigation lights, a noise maker, a hull thats in good shape, seacocks that are in good shape that actually fucking close, a way to cook, charts or a gps (probably a radio too)

And whatever else makes your life liveable.

You may get a safer, more sea worthy vessel by putting 5k into a 5000 dollar boat than buying a 10,000 dollar boat.

When the time comes to make your move bring a mechanic or a boat person you know. Dont be afraid to look at a few boats then narrow them down. Visit once with a savvy friend and if youre dead set on it maybe a final look with a surveyor.

If you have one boat thats "the one" consider hiring a marine surveyor. They'll charge you 1000ish for an afternoon but may cut the price of the boat in half by pointing out this and that and the other thing that need fixed, as well as giving you a go/no go on the sale and a list of fix it now/fix it later items should you choose to buy.

Watch out for bullshitters.

Read that captain fatty book.

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**1814803**
>be in country X
>want to go to country Y
>apply for a tourist visa
>tell dudes in customs and immigration that you're leaving country X
>leave
>enter country Y with yellow Q-flag
>go to dudes in customs and immigration and tell them that you're entering country Y
>show visa, pay applicable fees
>you are now in country Y

***

**1846698**
OP here. Hopefully some inspiration for dudes who want to learn how to sail. Had to come to terms with the fact that I couldnt actually learn to sail from just reading about it soon after I posted this thread. Tried launching out of a my local marina and ended up stuck on a barrier and had to flounder for a bit while a bunch of people watched. It was very embarrassing, but one old guy told me to come down there on Thursdays and volunteer to race. Did what he told me and for a month I raced under the same skipper. Taught me a lot of stuff. Because I stuck with it I just accomplished my goal of taking my boat from one marina to the next town over's pier last weekend. On the way back I sailed back into the same marina I couldnt even get out of a month a go wing and wing, jib over the portside and main over the starboard. As I slowly made my way to the pier and the nearby Navy base began to play colors in the distance I felt like a real salt and swelled with pride. Dont let failure deter you. This is a tough sport to get into, especially if you never did it growing up. Network a bit and see if you can get an in with your local sailing community. From what I've seen most racing leagues are always in need of a few spare deckhands.