How to Plan a Sailboat Cruise

Do you dream of chucking it all and setting off in a sailboat? For most
people, it remains a dream. Enough folks manage it, however, to prove
that it can be done, even with children along. The key is to have sufficient
experience and knowledge to make it safe and fun.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

1. Get a boat. Even a small one will let you practice sailing and boat-maintenance skills.

2. Make sure you and your family know what to expect from life aboard a boat. No matter how large your vessel, storage, space and fresh water are limited, and refrigeration is limited or nonexistent. Take a test cruise by chartering a boat for a week or two.

3. Take short overnight trips on the boat and gradually increase your exposure to the open ocean. Evaluate your skills and equipment, then prioritize what needs improving. Ask cruising veterans for advice. Most coastal marinas have a few captains with considerable ocean experience who are happy to share their knowledge.

4. Practice boat repair. The boatyard can handle repairs at home, but out at sea, you're the boatyard. Wise skippers know basic repairs for standing rigging, running rigging, the engine, throughhull fittings, Fiberglas, electrical and plumbing systems, and so on.

5. Become competent using ocean safety gear until you become expert--very high frequency (VHF) radio, radar, weather reports, charts, global positioning systems (GPS), life rafts, storm sails, sea anchors, Watermakers (reverse-osmosis desalination system, found at Watermakers.com) and harnesses. Then decide which of these items is essential--a topic of considerable debate among experienced boat owners.

6. Evaluate your boat. Is it large enough and suitable for extended ocean cruising? Will your new gear plus food, water, fuel and spare parts fit comfortably and safely? Most people are happiest with a cruising boat of 37 feet (11.3 meters) or more, but many sailors cruise in smaller boats. Construction quality and seaworthiness should take precedence over size.

7. Pore over charts. The Caribbean is a logical choice for sailors on the Atlantic; Mexico appeals to Pacific sailors. Both have balmy weather, warm water and plentiful harbors.

8. Set a realistic budget based on your preferred lifestyle. If you always anchor in remote spots and avoid flashy towns, you can cruise very cheaply. If you'd rather dock in marinas, occasionally sleep in hotels and eat in restaurants, budget several hundred dollars per day. See 226 Set Up a Budget.

9. Keep your boat in good shape and shop around for insurance. The Boat Owners Association of the United States (boatus.com) offers marine insurance to members.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no perfect boat, despite what some people will tell you. As long as it meets adequate construction and seaworthiness standards, get the boat that appeals to you.
• Never buy a boat without hiring a qualified marine surveyor to provide a thorough examination and report. The cost is low compared with the risk.
• Read magazines such as Latitude 38 and literature geared toward cruising sailors. This Old Boat by Don Casey is a comprehensive guide to fixing everything on a sailboat.
• Longer boats are usually faster and more comfortable, while smaller boats are easier to handle and can be considerably cheaper to buy and maintain.
• You might want to join an organized cruising group such as the Baja Ha-Ha from California to Mexico (departs in October) or the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (departs from the Canary Islands for the Caribbean in November).
• It's no one's job to rescue fools from themselves. Make sure you have the necessary skills before you go.
• See 480 Outsmart Pirates.

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