No matter how you cut it, there has to be a point where the questions either get answered satisfactorily, deemed unimportant or put into the "we'll find that out later" boxes. For us, it seemed, when we would ask a question about this plan, it often opened up several more. We finally came to the conclusion that you could keep asking and researching questions until ... well .... forever. At some point you have to run with what you have or you don't run at all.
We satisfactorily answered most of the usual questions; "What are you thinking?" ... well, we are simply thinking that one day a few years back we landed hard on this dream and we could either keep dreaming it from "Someday Isle" or we could stick it on the calendar as a hard date and work toward it with as much fervor as we can. To have wanted this and not tried would make for a sad future. "Are you guys crazy?" ... undoubtedly. But we fully intend to hang around with great numbers of like-minded crazies and extract as much benefit from them as possible. "What about pirates?" ... heh, we ARE pirates! Aaargh!! ... seriously, it's no more of a threat than any other normal activity; not nearly as dangerous as walking the streets of Chicago. There are many avenues to avoid putting oneself in harm's way out there. "Aren't you afraid of hurricanes?" ... yes ... scared, petrified, and spooked ... and determined to be far away from where they begin, travel and end. The seasons are easy to see, the forecasts are better than ever and we're going to be as smart as we can about this. "Isn't that expensive?" well, yes and no. You can live high on the hog, or dirt cheap. Just depends on how you want to present yourself to the world. We will stay within our means and be somewhere between the two.
One of the biggest questions we wound up coping with was "What kind of boat is right to go sailing?". If you innocently Google "The right boat for cruising" you will be occupied for months and months. I sure was. I looked at a hundred websites and hundreds of boats. I read up on construction, sail plans, rig types, motors, hull types and shapes and countless other 'facts' from people who made posts about their favorite and hated boats. It seemed most of these posts, articles, videos and books came from folks who had been through 'experiences' and reported out on what it was like to be aboard a particular boat during a particular event.
The articles from brokers extolled (mysteriously) the brands they happened to carry and the different user groups (as with cars and motorcycles) talked extensively about this brand or that brand's particular nuances and trouble spots.
I read blogs from folks that had thousands of miles under their boat and their advice was sage and was often the product of lessons learned the hard way. I read books, magazines and newsletters. I reviewed all kinds of brands and models and slowly began narrowing it down.
I figured a few things into the equation: our boat would have to be strong and seaworthy. I wanted a faster, rather than a slower boat (all things being relative in the sub-10kt. world of sailboats). I want some room to knock around in on the inside (this will, after all, be our home). I want it to require not-so-much maintenance (fixing things is normal, but I decided against miles of teak). I want it to be from a 'company' or brand that's been around and still is. ... and this list went on and on.
We started eliminating some models and brands. Then we started learning more and more about specific years and models. It is indeed an amazing and daunting learning curve. Truly identifying our collective wants and needs while sailing; without having ever done so, is simply intimidating.
So, we decided on a price range. We started to look around at what was available and one day we drove to Lancaster, VA to look at one that had recently come on the market. It fit our bill pretty well; we liked it, it was conceptually right, nice and clean and dry and it was all about safety at sea. We walked away thinking that a boat like this one is pretty close to what we were after. A week later I drove back down to see it a second time and returned with more conviction that yes, I like this one. ... then someone else bought it.
That feeling of loss pretty much sold the boat to us. We didn't realize quite how much we'd invested emotionally, and logically, into the design concept and execution until it was sold 'out from under us' (not really true, as we'd made no move to actually buy it ... but still ... :)
At that point we began searching out models of the same brand, digging deeper into the history of the factory and getting in touch with an owners' group with a couple hundred sailors out there in these same boats. The more we looked at them, the more they sold themselves.
The absolute bottom line for us is that the deeper we dug, the more the word 'safety' was integrated into the equation. Here was a boat built for ocean crossings, and with the safety consideration put in first place when building it. I guess I didn't really figure out how much that mattered to me until I started reading about watertight compartments, 'righting moments', numbers of through-the-hull fittings. and so on which all pointed toward this factory making a boat that is frankly not so very much eye candy, but will leave you confident and rested after weathering conditions that would leave some other boats panting heavily with a dazed crew.
I titled this entry "Choosing the WRONG" boat. I did that mostly as a quip, because if you Google "Choosing the right boat" you'll be gone for a while. Actually, most boats are good, safe, and comfortable. The one we want is that, plus it has a pedigree of a forty-plus year company that is still thriving in the industry and a near-cult following. Compromises? yes, but not many ... and none when it comes to safety at
Here's to Mr. Amel. We have chosen wisely, methinks... Aargh!
Amel Super Maramu
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1 comment:
Great read,,, happy sailing ⛵
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