Ahhh. Retirement in 6 years, I'll be 55. The Coronado 25 will be long gone by then. It is a wonderfull training boat but we will need something 10, 11 0r 12 feet longer.
We have no set make or model in mind but here are some necessities:
1) Keel stepped mast, chances of losing your mast completely is greatly reduced.
2) Wife insists on a wheel over a tiller, I do see her point.\
3) Shoal keel, the length of the boat.
4) Hammock, maybe two of them.
What we would love to have, but this is not written in stone:
1) Steel hull, for those times I decide to rub up against a coral atoll.
2) Twin keels for careening the boat for maintenance. (We will be on a budget)
3) Would love a center cockpit.
4) There is more but my brain is stalled out.
Here are some courses we MUST take in 6 years:
1) Marine diesel maintenance (Me at Humber College in Toronto)
2) Both of us must take a radio operators course.
3) First aid and CPR.
4) Learn how to use a sewing machine.
5) Take navigation courses, INCLUDING paper charts and how to use a sextant!
As for equipment, there could be an endless list $$$$$$. We are going to keep it simple, the less stuff you have the less breakage you have. That being said, I have to bone up on my refrigeration repair so I can earn a few extra folding dollars while cruising.
This is by no means complete or fixed, except for the first 4 things. We remain flexible about everything else.
Allan
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4 comments:
Hey Allan, I love it when a plan comes together. However,(you know me, have to add my 2 cents) before making the number one "have to haves" set in stone, read this post from crusing forums, it might make you go Hmmmm on the keel stepped mast. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f116/keel-stepped-vs-deck-stepped-49989.html
Good luck as always, we will be watching. :)
Jim
Jim, looked it up and thanks. I still would feel a touch safer with a keel stepped mast as we watched a deckstepped mast fall over this summer. The wife and I and a couple of other sailors got a thank you from the ownwer for pulling the mast out of the water....I would have liked a beer too:)
Sounds like you're on your way to another boat! Got your post on my blog ( http://www.sailblogs.com/member/legacy_s-35 ), thanks for the encouragement! - Mike
Good Luck with your Dreams
6yrs is a long wait.
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