Hi, Any yachters out there in FF land

Bit of introduction first, my wife and I are early 50's and have the opportunity to start two centre living, said we would when the kids left home and ones gone so that's good enough for me.... Anyway summers in good old Blighty and winters in a more preferential climate, we had looked, for ages, to find a suitable country to live in during the winter but they all seem to have some drawback and we never really found the ideal place, then a few years ago whilst spending a lazy week in Grenada we met a couple who had been winter living on their yacht for the last 18 years and another idea started to unfold...

Now I must say at this time that I have never actually set foot on a yacht, not for any other reason than the opportunity hadn't arisen... I've always been a petrol head and preferred things with engines!! The allure of a quiet peaceful cruise on a boat is sounding much nicer as the years roll by though.

The other issue is that as some of you will have read I was injured some years ago which resulted in my back being screwed and wired back together, this has resulted in two new hips in the last 10 months and a patched up knee, so my mobility, although not too bad, will never be excellent, I don't need sticks or walking aids it's more about flexibility, I'm 6"5' as well so that doesn't help.....!!

My knee, the last bit to need sorting at the moment, has just been done so I am abusing it as much as I can to get some bend back into it and hope to be something like "normal" within a few months...

We have done lots of reading and decided a catamaran is the way to go, liking the Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46ft for it's headroom and upstairs galley...

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Pete

Now you are talking my language Great idea and I think you have looked at it in a pragmatic way. Number one, go on a holiday to see if it suits both of you, it is not all Caribbean beaches and barbecues. Sailing itself is quite a strenuous activity so would be good to see if you can clamber up the foredeck when needed !

I have been sailing since I was knee high to a meerkat and personally wouldn't touch a catamaran but that is just my thinking as loads of people do it, I wouldn't be confident in it in rough weather, no real reason other that I have always sailed monohulls. I am currently looking to do the same thing but having problems finding the 'right' yacht

Call me if you want to discuss as I could bore you for hours on the things

The thought behind a cat is that they are more stable for living aboard, and have a lot more room than a mono-hull, all we fancy doing is spending the winters somewhere hot, probably start in The Bahamas moored up off shore, then move to the next island the next year, turn around when we get to Trinidad and work our way back so won't be doing too much sailing and certainly not if it's raining or windy...

The Cat won't be going "off road" so will be a fair weather shiny....

I realise it's not pure yachting, just cheaper than a hotel room... Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I was a Yachtmaster Instructor with commercial endorsement and still hold an Ocean YM ticket. In view of what you have said about physical restrictions I would support your idea of a catamaran. They do provide a more stable platform but, as Rosco says, they do have restrictions.

When I retired I took my boat Transatlantic and back and, in the season, the Caribbean offers very good cruising opportunities. I would think a bit more deeply about the Bahamas as a sailing ground. Beautiful but can be treacherous. The Caribbean chain would be a much better cruising area for beginners.

I go along with doing a course. It will let you see whether it suits you both as a way of life and as a check on the physical requirements. It is, also, something you would need to get some experience/knowledge under your belt.

Like Rosco I can bore you for hours on the phone should you wish.

Bon courage. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue - SOLD
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT-Sold

Pete, as per weegie, I have cruised round the Caribbean a few times and it is unbelievable, I dont think with due diligence you would have an issue there with a cat, just dont try the west of scotland in one !!

It wasn't so bad out of Crinan with twin 180hp inboards. No rag and stick though.  John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue - SOLD
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT-Sold

weegie, you wont change me on a cat

I am really with you on that but for what Pete is looking for a cat would fill the bill.  John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue - SOLD
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT-Sold

Thanks you two. It does sound idyllic, pootling around the Caribbean in a Yacht... I think we'd start there as it's supposed to be easy waters to learn in (put in Bahamas as I've always fancied going!!) I suppose it depends on where we find a suitable cat....

We have no intention of doing anything other than fine weather sailing and spending time in decent weather, our winters play havoc with my joints...!!!

Thanks for the offer of being bored by you, it's all new to me so I'm soaking up information like a sponge, read a good dozen books so far and I've already learnt which side of the boat is port and which side is sherry...!!!!!

I'll be in touch I'm sure with more daft questions...  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

as an aside there are plenty winches on a yacht so you will feel at home

Pete, buddy, I know nothing about sailing , but I do remember seeing a rather impressive schooner that had been fitted out for a crew one 2 The masts were hollow and the sails wound in and out, by motor, so you could do it all from the wheel and a few buttons (variable sail size) Beyond that I didn't pay a lot of attention as I was being distracted by the Rolls Royce Eagle powered gen set, and the E boat moored next to it ( lots of V12 Engines ). I don't know if they are common or expensive, but they is labour saving  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

You sound to be on the right track. Catermarans are great for space, but not heavy seas (at least the type pictured).

Definitely try before you buy. There are usually lots of used boats, so also consider renting until you know exactly what you want, both in size and model.

The labour saving gizmos are great, but they will fail at the least convenient moment, so be prepared that you may have to raise/lower and adjust sails manually sometimes.

Another reason to rent: if you're not the "sail around the world" type, you can rent in different locations (Caribbean, Oz/NZ, Hawaii, etc).

Enjoy.

Great idea and nice interior, want to buy mine....

Pete, enjoy the dream for a while and then come to your senses. We have done the charter thing many times and cats were the answer to my wife wanting her G&T to stay upright. Go and have a weak on this sort of thing http://www.sailingdirections.com/catamarans/can-can.htm and then by a property in the med that you rent in our summer and live in during our winter.
Some spoilers, even Gazilos beauty has bunks, climbing in and out does not fit with creaky joints, the heads are only luxuries by boat standards. You really have to wont the sailing bit to put up with all the down sides. Don't forget that the Caribbean has a Hurricane season so when your not there to look after it you will be shelling out to have someone else stop it sinking. letters not necessarily in the right order

Whilst bowing down to the knowledge of the experienced sailors and others who have commented on this thread , perhaps I could just add here comments made by my brother, a retired international maritime safety expert, on reading this thread: “To read it, it made me shudder. One week course, zero to hero. As a first boat it would frighten the pants off him, unless he kept it in a marina and didn't go anywhere. You gain a lot of knowledge and instinct along the way - with a small boat you can move it manually, if you cock up a berthing manoeuvre you can fend off. In a thing that size, your lack of boat-handling skills will produce fear and damage. I could go on. Navigation. Weather. …”. He concludes you would be advised to “save up a bit and hire a professional skipper!”
My brother is also a very experienced sailor and through that and his job I know has seen some extraordinary and frightening incidents involving inexperienced sailors.
Food for thought  It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)