Where to start...

Hi, you are right, this forum is not really for what you are planning. But there are thousands of webpages with useful information, here is one; http://www.sailboat-cruising.com/sailing-the-ocean.html

No I disagree you are on the right Forum.
1. Take your partner out in the Australian Ocean for a few days. Not a day trip. A voyage. Let's say JUST 3 days. From any port to anywhere in "our" reasonable conditions.
2. Then imagine it as a commitment of a year or more.
3. Add some issues like, bad weather. A failed pump (any will do, from bilge to head (toilet macerator) to fuel.
4. Try enjoy a love life while at sea. At any angle ...
5, Then empty your bank account and go back to 1.

If you are still keen, WELCOME to our world!
With Love!
Kafue

Actually you shouldn't be thinking yet about buying boats, but at this stage more about learning how to use one. If you want to know about sailing, then I'd recommend some sailing classes. On top of that you can read many books written by sailors, but don't get caught up in the experiences of circumnavigating when you're far from any consideration such as that. For power boats, take some courses as well. And read experiences from the Great Loop to Bahama cruising to the European canals to the coasts of Australia and circling to crossing to all the islands of the Pacific.

Spend time around boats, just observing and imagining yourself on them. Then the one thing I believe will help you tremendously, CHARTER. Charter with a captain and let him know in advance you're trying to learn so you can decide. Make notes of what you like and don't like about the experience and the boat.

Crewing for others, which you mentioned above, is an excellent idea.

You mention sea worthy but there are all different seas and levels of sea worthiness. Do you intend to do coastal cruising or cross the Atlantic. Two very different levels of boats required.

You need to focus more on what you want to get out of a boat. There are lots of great boats, but finding the one that is great for you is more difficult. You need to find out if this is even for you. What if you find your wife can't go on a cruise without getting seasick? Or that the two of you can't stand being cooped up together on a small boat with no privacy? Or that the maintenance is overwhelming. You may find that sailing is too much work and you'd rather relax on a trawler. Try as many different kinds of boats as possible.

Someone else will have to fill you in on what is available in Australia along the lines of learning that I've mentioned. But task one is learning what you'd truly like to do, developing some knowledge and skills, and then if you still want a boat you will be better equipped to know which one. Long journeys to where?

Wood, glass, steel no one can tell you without knowing more how you intend to use it. We can tell you wood will require far more effort to maintain. We don't know your budget for both purchasing the boat and for annual maintenance and use. Once you figure out what you want to do, then you'll have to be sure your financial goals get you there. Most just thinking about boating are shocked to learn how expensive it can be. But then it doesn't necessarily have to be. Where will you keep the boat? Are you going to continue to live in the house you currently have? Talk to some local boaters and find out what they do and see how that sounds and what you'd have to do to develop the skills.

Good luck in your quest. We had the quest of what boat three years ago. Ocean boating was new to us but we had a lifetime of lake experience. We went to maritime school, hired a captain to train us before we even had a boat. Chartered 8 or so different power boats our first year or so. We knew sailing wasn't for us but we still enjoyed several day trips on different types of sailboats. Enjoyed immensely although reinforcing we were too lazy to be sailors.

I agree with both AMG & Kafue. YF is AND isn't the right place. We don't have a lot of sailboaters on this forum, so look elsewhere as well, such as AMG's suggestion. But we do have several. We also don't seem to have a ton of people from your home waters, but again we do have several, and we do have a wealth of info and knowledgeable boaters here covering everything from dinghies to mega-yachts. So explore the search feature, and come back on with any a little more specific questions as they come up.

The first reference book every boater should have on his shelf is Chapman's. Beyond that go to the search tab above and explore. There have been a ton of good books for new boaters mentioned in various threads.

I would say charter a crewed sailboat for 3 days, maybe a touch bigger than 35' with a Captain. Take a 3 day sail in the ocean..... that would be your first step. Rule out whether or not you could live with it and like it and each other on a sailboat.

One other thing I'd give consideration to. I don't know your age and health and neither of us knows what it will be in five years or ten. However, many sailboat owners do find themselves switching to power, especially to trawlers, as they age. The work of a sailboat starts to be too much. Sometimes it's the result of one health issue. Now, they often go to trawlers simply because they're wanting to save on fuel costs and they are already use to cruising slow.

No, I'm speaking of some full displacement boats, many with single engines. Kadey Krogen, Diesel Duck, various Tugs, Albin, Nimble, Defever. Some semi displacement like Grand Banks, Beneteau. Mainship. Many other brands. Understand too that many sailboats are run a large percentage of the time under power. That's more true on the coasts in the US than where you are. Trawlers are a little less efficient based on shape but near displacement speed get good fuel mileage. As to total costs of operation, sail boats have their own unique costs too with sails and all the other equipment.

These derived from the fishing trawlers but long ago changed considerably.

Hi,

From the banners around the page, click on Cape Scot or Nordhavn, those are the kind of trawlers OB means. There are few Nordhavns around you in Australia to look at, as OB said, trawlers are popular among those whom want to live in a leisurely slow fashion, and you will find such boats more spacious, easier in handling and caring for, even the smaller sizes have better volume and internal allocation than a sailboat. A mellower ride in almost all weather, cross ocean capabilities, shorter drafts, so they can almost go anywhere.

Fiberglass is so common in leisure boats for many reasons, most people find them easier to maintain, (The hull), and they are in most cases more available and affordable than steel, wood or aluminum. Any material, if built properly, equipped properly, handled properly and safely under suitable conditions will go anywhere and keep a smile on your face.

Now to choose, first, as suggested before, you need to try boating, to know whether you are a sail or power crowd, and the decision has to be mutual, what she likes you should like because as a company you are in it together, you might enjoy sailing, but your wife might not like the idea of hard labor in working lines, sheets, warps, winches and what not, or she might be one of those rare gems that love sailing. After experiencing boating comes the size, and it matters a lot! Are you gonna live on it? For how long, part or full time? Wanna cruise the cost or go to dream destinations in Micronesia and the likes? Alone or with others? How much are you ready to downsize? Not trying to scare you, but i always say there is a great difference between what you want, need and can have! and to solve this equation, you will need to set your goals, ask the questions and find suitable answers, no right or wrong, what ever floats your boat is suitable for you and you only. Answering these questions is in walking the docks looking at boats, going out on several charters, talking to people about their experience, asking questions on forums such as this, then making a short list of boats you like the style, layout and equipment of. Then knowing how to properly and efficiently go into buying a boat, then going for it and starting the journey. During the process, you will really know if you want a sail boat, or maybe you might even go for a sportfishing boat that you can run at lower speeds for extended periods before you have to run at higher speeds in order not to harm your engines, and you will still retain the capability of escaping unfavorable weather or getting back to port fast if you got bored. Boats in general fall under categories of hull shape: Planing Hulls, which are more towards speed and burning fuel, then Semi-Planning and Semi-Displacement Hulls which are a bit of this and some of that, and then Displacement Hulls which are more about consistent long smooth rides at lower speeds drinking less of your credit card while they do so. Knowing what are you gonna do with the boat will let you tell which hull type you want or which will serve your need. Then, after going out of the underwater world, you look at what topside you want, and those are related to style and space and like a house you can have one with a single story or a double decker'.

Get to the water and start building seatime and if you are really truly into boating and not golf or bingo you will know it in no time and go the right way about it. the waters around you are one of the best places in the world to fall in love with boating, but ownership is commitment and you have to be ready for the I-Do's.

Sorry for the long introduction. Enjoy your stay and welcome again to the forums.

Cheers.

One last addition, if I may... Even if you will just be chartering, it is good to get any introductory training material from any official source or marine supply store that you can read (books and pamphlets) or watch (basic boating DVD's and such). this will give you more understanding of the terminology as a start and will make you a safer person around the water. Safety should be your number one concern in all cases and throughout your buying process. It will also introduce you to your commitment and obligation before even being on the water. Youtube crawls with such material, but I prefer a professional and reliable series, especially if it is made by the authorities of your country, it will resemble the boating styles and regulations over there. From the states, there are ones that I consider great for any boater anywhere in the world such as Chapmans piloting and seamanship (A big beefy book that is a great reference for all types of boats and boating, you will read it to the last breath and still be amazed of information), Boaters pocket guide, the Practical Encyclopedia of boating, Power Boating or Sailing for dummies (A good entry level reading), and finally the Annapolis Book of Seamanship DVD. These are good resources, but check locally, go to a marine store and ask for their best sellers.

Best of luck.

Cheers.

P.s. Check Bering also on the banners, a great boat. And click the search button and enter "Le Trawler" to read a nice review about an aluminum trawler and what wonderful journey it did. Thanks.

Hi Dave, Welcome to YF. As far as sailing goes chartering for at least three days is a very good start, if money isn't an issue I'd go for a week. As most people here on YF know that I'm known to have a drink every now and then, So trying to navigate either above or below decks, with a 30-45 degree list is not my idea of fun. I'm also claustrophobic, so that keeps me completely out of the blow boat arena. Also blow boats are not known for having generators on board, especially in the size you mentioned. So when your out at anchor in the summer time and a squall comes up...you batten down the hatches, and sweat. Oh, I almost forgot...even if there is no storm, you get the hear the halyard slap the mast all night. (my idea of water board torture.) I guess what I'm trying to tell you, that unless you and the wife are hard core Sailors, go the motor boat route. You can have year round A/C, a full sized refrigerator and freezer, Satellite TV, all the comforts of home.

Ohhhh, and stay away from Wood hulls unless you're either a wood worker or have very deep pockets.

Yep! That's so true, wooden hulls are for aficionados and they too scream why the heck did I get into this! The upkeep of wood hulls to retain the same gorgeous look you fall for is much more that a soft rag and some soapy water I can tell you that!

You mentioned in post 1 "We envisage taking some long journeys so it has to be pretty solid." What sort of long journeys are you talking about. You have very different geography than we do on our east coast. We have the ICW, an inland waterway running along the coast with tons of inlets. Fueling stations all over the place. but if the long journeys you envision are like a 1,000 miles of open ocean, sail should be your plan unless you're VERY well off, even with a trawler. With the best you'll be talking 1 to 2 miles per gallon. A sailboaters favorite expression is "The wind is free".

Think Cat. I've a feeling that a catamaran might suit you, or at least should be seriously considered. They have a high degree of stability, and a lot of space both above and below deck. BTW, I don't this was covered well, but the only materials you should probably be considering are fiberglass (composites) or aluminum. Wood is just too much work, and steel is too heavy.