http://sailingandboatingadvice.com Real Sailing and Boating Advice, Tips, Tutorials, Plus information on Sailboats, Sails, Engines, Motors. Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:51:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en photo credit: mtx Let's say a group of four sailing friends from the States fly off to the U.S. B.V.I.'s for a week-long wonderful charter of a 42 foot monohull, touring islands and discovering legends.  It sounds perfect, right?  How could it go wrong?  Exactly 8 days later, the group ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/mjLrJG5RsN8/overlooked-things-you-must-consider-before-you-set-foot-on-your-charter-boat http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/general-boating-and-sailing-advice/overlooked-things-you-must-consider-before-you-set-foot-on-your-charter-boat This is the first in a series of articles Captain Fred will be writing for sailingandboatingadvice.com on the topic of Chartering. Look for future articles to include different regions, pricing you can expect, and expert tips on how to charter like a pro. photo credit: Ed Yourdon Many of my ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/zFleOTGsbn8/5-chartering-tips-for-novices http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/chartering/5-chartering-tips-for-novices photo credit: freeparking There was a time, in the 1950s through the 1970's, when backyard boat building was a worldwide craze.  The thought of being able to build a boat from some crude drawings a stack of exterior plywood, some bronze/or stainless screws. A sack or two of galvanized nails, some fiberglass cloth ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/XbFFsNIgOe4/build-or-not-build-your-boat http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/general-boating-and-sailing-advice/build-or-not-build-your-boat O.K., so you have looked at your 100 prospective boats.  You have  already found the slip where the boat is going right?  You have picked 10 boats that are candidates, and then further narrowed that down to 5.  You're ready to call and make some offers. Step 1 - Get ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/jlCooL9Hq2o/the-secrets-to-smart-boat-negotiation http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/buying-a-sailboat/the-secrets-to-smart-boat-negotiation [caption id="attachment_395" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="Which marina will you sail into?"][/caption] After you've decided on whether you want a monohull, catamaran, or trimaran, and you've committed to the expenses, now its time to find a home for your new toy, or serious world-cruising boat. My best advice to anyone contemplating the acquisition of ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/tRgWbDXzvdg/27-point-marina-checklist http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/buying-a-sailboat/27-point-marina-checklist [caption id="attachment_81" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="If I can just prevent one catastrophe with my sailing and boating advice, it will be worth it."][/caption] As you read my posts I'm sure you will note my tendency to be opinionated.  I have to admit that my opinions have been shaped by my own experiences.  ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/LtzkQ4SxOpw/why-i-offer-my-advice http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/buying-a-sailboat/why-i-offer-my-advice 1/06/09 UPDATED!  Contains all new breakdown of costs, and 3 seperate scenarios, see page 2! Everyone who ever wanted to buy their first boat has gone through the same thought: "I'm going to buy this $10,000- $30,000 boat, and take my friends and significant other out at least several weeks per summer." You ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/nX28G2NxObs/owning-a-boat-is-expensive http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/buying-a-sailboat/owning-a-boat-is-expensive A foreword to this article, "Monohull, Catamaran, or Trimaran", written by the S.&.B.A. Editor: [caption id="attachment_375" align="aligncenter" width="474" caption="A Polynesian catamaran, year unknown."][/caption] Sailboats have been around, by best estimation, since 3500B.C. in Egypt.  However, it's quite amazing to think that it took until sometime thousands of years later, for a far-off ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/J4vX1uzGjnc/monohull-catamaran-trimaran http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/buying-a-sailboat/monohull-catamaran-trimaran While the old adage "Why own the cow when you can get the milk through the fence?" is seldom is used in reference to boating,  it certainly could be.  I believe that begging rides is an excellent way to gain salient knowledge about boats before investing in your first, or ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/RWJdbXmlxhw/nautical-hitchhiking http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/general-boating-and-sailing-advice/nautical-hitchhiking photo credit: ePi.Longo No matter how big your sailing vessel, it most likely will not have  standard bed shaped, bed sized bunks.  When you get up around 40 feet or so, maybe! Power boats tend to get to bed shaped bunks around 30  feet or less, but those bunks tend to ... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SailingandBoatingAdvice/~3/dCnDXlmQvB8/blanket-vs-sleeping-bag http://sailingandboatingadvice.com/gearing-up-tips/blanket-vs-sleeping-bag