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From: Jason Billings (no email)
Date: Wed Nov 24 2004 - 13:55:27 EST
As we near the end of the year, we find that this year
has been one for the books. After nearly 60 years of
quite good health, I've been in and out of the
hospital a few times this year. 2004 will be a year we
will remember and want to forget.
All that has happened this year has us starting to
make some very big decisions. We are thinking of
selling everything here on the west coast and moving
to the east coast/gulf coast where property (in some
areas) is less expensive and we can afford to do what
we want earlier. Part of that, with the health
concerns, is buying a smaller boat that we can be
relatively certain of being able to single hand easily
without "electric everything" if one of us becomes
incapacitated.
During the year, I have lost a good deal of strength.
I sometime wonder if I am stronger than my wife. The
doctor has me up to lifting a maximum of 20 pounds now
so that is good and will continue to increase. Before
we buy _any_ boat, I will do some of strength training
to get back to some minimal kind of physical
condition. However, that will take a while and between
now and then, it is time to look at what will be our
needs at that time.
I had previously thought that 38 to 40 feet would be a
good size for us since we are getting a little older
and, like many, have gaained a few pounds. Now, I'm
rethinking that and think that 30 to 33 feet would be
a better fit given the concerns and health events
experienced this year.
The "ideal" boat would be a full keel like a Baba or
Hans Christian or similar design. It would have deep
bilges and tankage mounted low. It would be a cutter
or a ketch to allow for smaller sails. Aside from
being able to handle everything ourselves without
"electric everything", we are primarily interested in
stability and safety, _not_ speed. We're _not_
interested in multi hulls, flat bottomed boats with
spade rudders, or tillers. Oh yes, cost is a concern
so it will be somewhat older too but still in good
condition.
My experience includes coastal and liveaboard for
several years plus a smaller amount of offshore where
land was out of sight. My wife's experience is only
coastal.
At this point, our likely destinations would be the
Carribean and points south from there and perhaps the
Med. I'm not so sure that a circumnavigation is in the
cards these days. When the time actually does come, we
will know that then. In the event that we could find a
way to stay on the west coast, it would be the west
coast and Baja and possibly points further south and
west.
All that being said and with a reasonable expectation
of making the "move" near the end of 2005 or in 2006,
what is the consensus of the list concerning our
thoughts as to size of boat and reasonable space for
comfort?
We may be down a bit but the dream still lives.
__________________________________
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