A few days ago I wrote that the ‘worm had turned’ – things were improving on board. Of course, straight after writing that, the worm turned again and bit us on the bum!
While the new propeller shaft was installed, new rudder bearings, new seacock, new loo hoses, etc – the power ceased to function on board. Our shore-power would not function. Then the battery charger took a holiday and after one filthy, exhausting day, as Noel hopped into the blissful shower – the pump for the shower took early retirement. This caused more than a few maniacal laughs!
Today the whole lot is fixed – yes, as we thought it was a simple solution, a corroded plug, a breaker switch and a fuse (yes, all three). But with French instructions written in worse handwriting than mine (and mine is hideous!) and a new boat & systems to figure out – it was all becoming a bit fraught.
The yard has finished their work on the boat – we’ve finished our work (while on the hard), it’s Friday night – whoooo hoooo & cheers!
When Noel and I decided to go cruising, as a complete beginner I had two very pertinent questions on my mind. I asked these questions as we hopped on the back of Noel’s motorbike, searching for a boat.
‘So, what’s it going to cost, running a boat?’
He replied, ‘Everything we’ve got.’
A little perplexed, but not yet deterred, I then asked, ‘What’s so great about sailing anyway?’
Noel, with his brutal honesty and years of experience with boats replied, ‘Getting in to port.’
‘Good grief’, I muttered. After about two hours of silence while I digested these little gems, I said, ‘Why do it then?’
Without hesitation Noel responded, ‘It’s the closest thing to freedom I know.’
That did it for me. It was right then that I was sold on the idea. Sixteen years later I still see the wisdom in his answers.
What’s so great about sailing . . .?
I’ll write about the ‘what’s so good about sailing?’ question down the line. Right now, I guess you’re thinking, ‘well so what?, that doesn’t help me very much.’ However, think about this: cruising WILL cost you everything you have, if you let it.
So, let’s look at the right questions to ask to see if we can make sense of all this:
1) What budget do I have to purchase a boat?
2) What will it cost to run?
3) How will I earn money along the way?
4) How can I save money along the way?
Boats can be as expensive or as cheap as you make them. We find that living on board is a cheaper way to live, but we know how to save money, I am extremely prudent with our dollars and we employ smart tactics. AND you have to start with a good boat, then maintain it – constantly (a job a day, however big or small).
We were still trying to figure out where to stow everything!
Now, let’s try and find some answers.
1) What budget do I have to purchase a boat? Whatever budget you have it is extremely likely that you will find a boat you love for a ‘bit’ more and go over your budget. This amount does NOT include:
a) all the unexpected problems found during survey that need to be fixed
b) all the things the vendor neglected to tell you that needed to be fixed
c) all those things that just pop up at inopportune times that need to be fixed
d) on-going maintenance and repairs
e) additional equipment (your own ideas/wants)
Summary: Keep at least 10% of your budget for those unexpected issues.
A job a day kept Mariah ship-shape.
2) What will it cost to run? It depends on where you started from. If you are really lucky and have a good, well maintained boat, then it will also depend upon:
a) the size of your boat*
b) amount of use (little use is not always a good thing)
c) your skills (can you maintain it and carry out repairs? Or do you need help?)
3) How will I earn money along the way? Be creative. Use the skills you have. Other cruisers need expertise in all areas. We’ll tackle this subject later on too. However, running your own business is not easy on land, don’t expect it to be easy while cruising. You have the added challenge of communications.
4) How can I save money along the way? This is the easy bit – if you are prepared to change your lifestyle.
Stop spending it! Really. Don’t eat out all the time, figure out how to fix stuff yourself. Learn how to get the best bargains on boat equipment, learn how to keep food for weeks and weeks (without a fridge if necessary, we did for nine years), anchor out and avoid mariner fees. I could go on and on, and I did in our book Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen). I’ll supply more tips down the line, on each of these subjects.
If this all sounds off putting, well you’ve given up too soon. Cruising life is fantastic, but it is not for everyone. If you like a challenge, can adapt to new situations and want to enjoy your life in a way you never dreamed of – then maybe it is for you.
A good boat to start with & on-going maintenance will ensure you get to all those places you dreamed of.
I’ll write more on all these subjects (1-4) in the coming weeks. Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen) covers all this and much more in far greater detail, see www.jackieparry.com for more information – available in paperback & ebook). (Or look at the top of this page and follow the links!)
You can sail to the most wonderful places & experience new escapades!
For the second time in two weeks we are back in the dry dock, except it is not very dry. The boat is dry (when it finally ceases to rain) but the dock does not drain completely. While it is only about an inch of yucky, smelly water, my baggy overalls sit in the water and gradually suck the wet up to my knees – all very jolly!
On my ‘overalls’ working under the boat!
The morning started out with us being thwarted at every step and caused several spinning top manoeuvres as we weren’t sure where to start. However, the afternoon proved much better.
Working under the boat
Has the worm turned? It feels like it.
After months of negotiation, stress and frustration, we are finally receiving some good news.
Firstly, not boat related. My next book Of Foreign Build is in edit stage. A great group of Beta readers have been working through the manuscript prior to the editor. The comments, ‘you made me laugh, you made me cry’ and I LOVE IT’, are amazing and so uplifting, it almost made me cry.
Then we had some news re: boat insurance, it’s all sorted – finally.
We were given, yes given, some extra bottom paint and although the rain keeps stopping me, our boat has almost another coat.
Noel is replacing the head (toilet) hoses (usually my job!) and has replaced all the seacocks, BUT the big news . . .
We have a brand new, propeller shaft and bearings! – Things are looking up.
Starting this coming Friday (11th) we’ll be posting fortnightly articles related to cruising, on http://www.jackieparry.com
Having written Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen) – and with many years boating experience (professionally (skippers/teaching) and privately) – we can hopefully offer some good advice to cruisers of all stages. (See list below).
Here’s a bit of an idea of the subjects we’ll cover. Please add your own ideas/suggestions and advice as you see fit.
We’ll start right at the beginning with, ‘What does it cost to go cruising?’ Thereafter, we plan to write about:
What’s so great about cruising anyway?
Harnesses
What budget do I have to purchase a boat?
On watch
What will it cost to run?
Pets
How will I earn money along the way?
Children
How can I save money along the way?
TV/entertainment
Which boat?
Courses/learning
What do you do all day? / What’s it like?
Watertight integrity – staying afloat!
Survey- buying a boat – money, negotiation, test sail, finalising the deal
Food management
Collision Regulations/Local rules
Space – handling space
Safe Watch/Fatigue
Transition – from boat to land, from land to boat.
Grab Bag
What to take/throw away
Paperwork
What to wear
Self Steering
Photography
Power
Radio scheds
Stability
Piracy
Maintain hull
Slip vessel
Seaworthiness
Deck maintenance
Seamanship (inc knot tying)
Marine Radio
Manoeuvring
Communication
Sea survival
Fire fighting
Safety & Emergency
Navigation
Radar
Weather
Deck machinery
Auxiliary systems
Rigging
Refuelling
Routine deck ops
Environment
Articles will not specifically be in this order – and new articles will unfold naturally and, of course, we are open to suggestions! Cruisers’ AA covers all these subjects and much much more (in more detail too) – but we’ll be sure to post good information to provide some food for thought! We are looking forward to hearing your comments and advice too!
Well, I’ll be pickled in a Vin barrel and hung out to dry! After FOUR months of negotiations we’ve finally moved onto the boat.
You don’t think you’ll miss your own home, until of course you don’t have one. We haven’t had our own home for 13 months now.
Mind you, the drive shaft is still out, we are liable to sink at anytime . . .
We go back into the dry-dock next week for the new prop and despite arguing with everyone this last fortnight, things have settled down, apologies made and all ‘should’ be well.
There’s ‘the’ way to handle boats and boat repairs and there’s the French way. We’re learning!
Here’s some ‘inside’ pictures. The ‘colourful’ scheme is not to my taste, so they’ll be quite a bit of ‘updating.’ And a major de-cluttering exercise has already started.
I really can. It’s nice, it’s really nice, and it brings heartfelt tears to my eyes.
I love the smell of horse poo, the smell of horses, tack, rugs and all that comes with horses. I miss my horses desperately.
We have had a bad day with more problems arising with the boat we have purchased and the haul out yard.
Noel and I have found sanctuary in a secluded farmhouse (the money for the boat is in the ether, moving from our bank account to the owners’ bank account – no one has the money, no one has the boat – a bizarre and uncomfortable place to be!)
Anyhow, a lovely English (hoorraayyyy!) family live on a beautiful ‘farm’ property (barns, fields, dogs, cats and horses, (did I mention the horses?)). Within this magnificent complex, we have an amazing view and sighing horses right below our windows. We walk through a beautiful old barn to climb up into our apartment.
I don’t think I will leave. I don’t want to! It is a very reasonably priced piece of heaven . . . . how long do we stay until we can claim squatters rights ?!(joke – if the owners are reading this) – . . . well, probably 😉
So, it’s a liquid lunch for me (good job French wine doesn’t ‘hurt’) – as it is too hot to walk to the supermarket!)
Sigh. It’s times like this, I just want to go home.
Here’s our new boat – Dutch Barge ‘ Marie Suzanne’.
At last we have sealed the deal on Marie Suzanne (to be renamed). She’s 18.5 metres long, 3.91 wide, a little under 3 metres high and 1 metre deep.
She was built in 1920 in the Netherlands. She needs some paint (inside and out), but she passed the surveyors scrutiny with flying colours.
We move on in a few days – thank goodness. And I’ll post some ‘below’ shots soon.
Thanks for your patience in waiting for the pictures, it’s been exhausting reaching this point with many layered, French, technical conversations and negotiations! We’ve had to become accustomed to ‘the French way.’!
More details and pictures soon . . . after a little sleep . . .!
(Pictures taken on the trip to haul out yard with owners on board).
Have you seen our RESOURCES page on our website – lots of useful links. If you have useful information to share, let me know and I’ll add you to the list. (At the top: SAILING STUFF – RESOURCES/LINKS)
I’ve recently noticed a few comments on FB groups about Storm Preparation or Hurricane Plans (or Cyclone Plans).
Although our storm preparation on a barge will be a little different (I hope) – for sailors and cruisers here’s a neat (and smart) diagram to study – for details click on OUR BOOKS – hover your mouse over CRUISERS AA – and click SAMPLE.
This link will take you to the sample page of Cruisers’ AA, where I have included an excerpt of the book which includes in-depth descriptions/advice on: When a cyclone warning is issued, Personal preparation, detailed preparation (cockpit, below decks, above decks etc), Safety, Storm surge, Tropical Revolving Storms, Cyclones, Hurricanes & Typhoons. This is stuff everyone needs to know if you are considering staying in a cyclone area during the season.
The surveyors been and gone. He was very thorough and has listed some work to be done.
Nothing horrendous, but some work to be done on the prop and prop shaft. Probably just a worn key-way . . . we shall see. The yard has been working on it for a while now and it is starting to “sound” expensive . . . bang bang bang!
Oh, well, nothing to do but wait . . . . waiting waiting waiting . . . very impatiently! 😉
Here’s some survey pictures and the boat’s anchor – I like the anchor it is a good size!
Jackie Parry - author 