Float Your Boat

Sail Boat Engine

American Despatch Boat with Sails as Well as Its Steam Engines Giclee Poster Print by J.o. Davidson, 18×24 $49.99 American Despatch Boat with Sails as Well as Its Steam Engines is a limited edition fine art giclee print, which uses a specialized printer to deliver a fine stream of ink onto archival paper. It results in museum-quality art of incredibly vivid color, depth and resolution that captures the essence of the artist’s intent. You’re sure to find that perfect piece to matches your style and buget from …

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Micro Machines Wave Riders #29 Collection Produced by Galoob in 1996. Small Parts. Not for children under 4 years of age, or for those who still put objects in their mouth. Approximate size of each ship is 2 inches long….

Micro Machines Classic Cruisin Boats Collection #1 Produced by Galoob in 1992. Rare. Very limited production….

Seamanship Secrets $18.95 Learn how to become a better navigator and skipper These seamanship and navigation techniques are designed for maximum usefulness in the cockpits, pilothouses, and navigation stations of sail- and powerboats. Navigation techniques range from traditional to electronic and include highly useful tips for coastal cruise planning under sail or power. Seamanship techniques include docking and maneuverin…

What to Check on Your New Boat

The viewing, or inspecting your boat is a very important part of the buying process. Inspecting will allow you to see what you are buying before you pay any money.

You may want to use a surveyor to do this, as they will perform a very detailed inspection of the boat you are interested in. You can be present if you like, as this will give you the chance to ask questions if you like.

Although using a surveyor is the best way to do an inspection, you can do it yourself if you are experienced and confident enough. There are many parts of the boat to inspect, which makes it nearly impossible for beginners.

If you inspect yourself, make sure you look at the bottom of the hull, the interior, the control cables, electrical system, pumps, and be sure that everything is in working order. If the boat has been well maintained, you shouldn’t have a problem looking everything over.  

The engine should also be checked, as it is very important to the boat. If you don’t know a lot about boat engines or engines in general, you should get a mechanic to look over it for you. You may want to do this anyway, as the engine can be very tough to inspect.

If everything is up to par, it’s time to take a test drive. Before you fire up the engine, check to see if it’s already warm. If the engine has trouble starting or smokes when cold, the seller could have warmed up the engine prior to you arriving to disguise any problems.

Check for oil leaks as well, checking the bilges at the start and end of the test drive. When moving around, see how the boat performs. You should experiment with hitting the waves from different angles, looking for any type of roll or pitch.

Make sure you also test that all the instruments are working correctly, then run the engine for a period of time to see if it overheats.  

If you are buying a sail boat, put the sails up and see how the boat performs under wind pressure alone. Also, make sure you examine the mast and how the boat rigs under load.

If the boat you are planning to buy doesn’t pass any of your tests, don’t rule it out just yet.  If you are willing to put both time and money into making things work, you can use any problems as bargaining tools to try and get a lower price on the boat.

I want to buy a sail boat and live on it during the summer ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,?

Anyone else here that does that ?
I was think of getting a 22′ sail boat that sleeps 4 (basically a floating camper).
Do you think this is to big of a boat to learn how to sail ?
I have lots of experience with boats of equal size and larger, but powered by engines.

I have lived full time on my boat for the past 11 years…

You were making good sense until you mentioned a “22′ sail boat that sleeps 4″ and then questioned as to this being too big…

Learning to sail, is fun, and easy… in fact, many of my students have never been on sail boats before… and after a half dozen lessons… many of them are as good at handling the boat as I am… What takes longer… is not learning to sail… but learning all the aspects of boating safely, responsibility, and navigation… the actually hands on part, is quick and easy to learn… I give all my lessons in a 30′ sloop, and then we usually top it off with a three day – two night off shore cruise in a 36 footer. So is 22′ too big to learn on? Certainly not.

So… up to this point, you are doing fine…

But now comes the question of a 22 footer, and living on it during the summer… and you want it to sleep “4″ ??? Are you kidding? Or, are you all four little Munchkins from that place on the other side of Dorothy’s rainbow…?

My oldest son has a wonderful little 30′ heavy displacement, ocean passage maker, sailing sloop… it is a fantastic and comforable “riding” sailboat – even in heavy seas, and it was built for living aboard for months at a time…

But… it is just “bearable” for two people…

So, if your planning on living on it… I seriously suggest you up the size by at least 10 feet… 22′ is way too small to live on for weeks and months at a time for even one person… not to mention 4 people… In fact, I don’t believe 4 people can live on a 22 footer for more than 4 nights without somebody threatning to walk the plank… lol

For some good information on living aboard… check out the pages on:

> www.boatwrights.org <

For the information you need, check out the links at some of the bottom of the pages. ie: secrets to living aboard, and tips to living aboard, and especially the one "living at the Dock of the Bay...

If you want a "floating camper" for the summer for 4 people - It sure seems to me, it would make more sense for you to consider a houseboat... that would sure be a lot more comfortable, enjoyable, and offer all the amentities... regular size beds, ample refrigeration, plenty of hot and cold water, regular size shower and toilets, regular size kitchen, electricity, air conditioning, TV, computer, dinning table, couch, etc.

On a 22 foot sailboat... 4 people are going to be absolutely miserably hot, cramped, cranky... but, if one of these four is your wife... and you really want a divorce... man, this is sure one good way to get it.

Before you buy anything... You really need to check out the living aboard pages on: > www.boatwrights.org <

Happy and Safe Boating!