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From: Roy P (no email)
Date: Sun Mar 18 2007 - 01:19:26 EDT
On Saturday 17 March 2007 10:49, John Kennedy wrote:
> My day-dream is to retire in 6 years and cruise the coast of British
> Columbia in a used sailboat, say 30' or so long.
>
> I think I know how to find a sailboat: for starters, there are so many
> websites selling boats that it would be hard NOT to find the boat.
>
> However, once I have a boat, where do I store it or tie it up?
>
> I haven't seen much in the way of advertising or talking about moorages or
> marinas on the Canadian west coast. Has anyone any suggestions as to how to
> research this problem?
>
> John
Hi John
I may be wrong, but judging from your post, I get the sense that you don't
have sailing experience. If that is the case I suggest you take a
sailing/cruising course where you spend a week on the boat while learning the
basics. If you enjoy that.... then take a more advanced course so you are
able to rent/charter a boat.
This way you not only learn the basics of how to safely be out on the water,
but you get a better feel of what it's like.
Look at the course as being a holiday combined with school and the costs will
seem very reasonable.
I have a few friends that were, and some that still are, on waiting lists to
get a berth for their boats. The availability depends on where you want the
boat to be kept. As a matter of fact, one of them lives in Edmonton and last
I we talked had his boat in Ladner while waiting for a place on the island.
Keep in mind... than it's is MUCH harder finding a marina this will let you
LIVE on a boat than just having a place to park it while you live on land.
All the places I know of, have a minimum 5 year waiting list.
A good thing is that a small 30ft boat is easier to find a berth for.
None of this post is to dissuade you.
Every time I'm out on the water, I see people who literally risk their
families lives due to their lack of knowledge.
I have also known many people over the years who have bought into too many
sailing magazine photos or mental images of endless days of perfect sunny
weather while sailing a boat that needs no maintenance... then they discover
the reality and they give up, due to being unprepared, or unrealistic in
their expectations. In some cases it has even lead to divorce.
It doesn't have to be that way....
Learn the skills and the reality, without the stress, and you may find you
love it as much as your day-dream.
The best part is you can start sailing now in preparation for when you retire,
Best of luck,
Roy Pennington
S.V. Sarks
P.S. if you decide to take a cruising course on the BC coast I suggest you
take it in the fall or spring when the weather is better for sailing, and the
costs may be lower.
It may be warmer in mid summer, but you could have a week of no wind and
that's not a great way to learn to sail. Ask the people who run the school
what dates they suggest for their part of the coast.
When I first took a sailing course out of Vancouver years ago, we spent 1 day
sailing and 4 days motoring around. Hard to learn sailing when there's barely
wind to move the boat.
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