Bill V
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2020
- Messages
- 191
- Vessel Name
- Joint Venture
- Vessel Make
- 1978 GlasPly 2800 mid cabin
Couple of thoughts. Having grown up with boats, owned a bunch and spent 6 years running boats while in the Navy I can assure you that since you have 15 years before you will be doing the Loop you have the time to learn much of what you need to know. Buying a boat, any boat, will teach you the maintenance requirements, and there are a lot. It will also teach you the costs of boat ownership and it is much higher then owning an RV. Start reading up on what maintenance of a boat requires. Start learning the terminology of boating. Read up on the various hull designs, understand the differences too. Try to learn what kind of boat you prefer and why? Boating requires docking, anchoring, mooring on a ball, refueling, pumpouts, adverse weather handling and many more skills for both you and the wife to experience. It will take you every bit of 15 years to learn it.
I have traveled from Seattle to Ketchikan (1500 miles round trip) on my twin engine 28 foot boat in all kinds of weather and was a boater for over 50 years at the time of the trip. Was it the ideal boat? Not in any way but because I knew my boat, my abilities and what to do in emergencies very well I felt comfortable taking the trip on it. For you to take on a 6000 mile trip will require you to learn and experience far more then what is needed for a day on the lake.
By the way, any boat you buy for $10k will in the end cost you far more if it is any size at all.
I have traveled from Seattle to Ketchikan (1500 miles round trip) on my twin engine 28 foot boat in all kinds of weather and was a boater for over 50 years at the time of the trip. Was it the ideal boat? Not in any way but because I knew my boat, my abilities and what to do in emergencies very well I felt comfortable taking the trip on it. For you to take on a 6000 mile trip will require you to learn and experience far more then what is needed for a day on the lake.
By the way, any boat you buy for $10k will in the end cost you far more if it is any size at all.
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