Where to start...

One of the best things about boating is that there's always more to learn.

Wether you are into sail or power, crossing an ocean is a very different thing to taking a pleasant cruise. I would hazard a guess that many members here have dreamed of doing an ocean crossing at sometime. But for the vast majority it remains a dream. For the few others, that actually go ahead and do a crossing, it can be a one off thing that they will never attempt to do again. It is interesting to check out how many serious passage makers (Nordhavn for example) are placed on the resale market after the owners have attempted their dream ocean voyage and discovered it was anything but pleasant. And certainly something to do while you a re fit and healthy, not in your 60's and have started to realise that your body just cannot do what it used to.
You have a great plan, just be prepared to face some reality, both financially and physically.
Join a yacht club and make some friends and offer to crew, especially around our Australian coastline. Lot of fun and a challenge, plus you get to learn a lot.
Good luck Mate!

Don't forget that from Daves location you have to cross an ocean to get pretty much anywhere abroad.

More than just passing interest is there, so the next step is checking what reality has in store. Water is close, so the yacht club route should be the simplest way to get an introduction. After that there are as already mentioned various options.
AUS - I'd say getting an entry level RYA ticket is pretty high on the list
With that it should be easier to crew on other boats (if that is interesting).
The basics have been covered before, so learning from a crewed charter starts at a different level.
Bareboat charter becomes an option.
Collecting time for the higher tickets should also get easier.
What are the requirements in AUS when an own boat becomes reality?

That is my way of thinking. If it applies to the personal situation is something everyone has to decide for him or herself.

Hi Chasm, I realise the local conditions, I live here

"What are the requirements in AUS when an own boat becomes reality?"
The requirements are quite relaxed, just need a boat licence. Insurance up to 200 nm offshore is quite easy. Over 50 feet the boat must be inspected by the waterway authority, no big deal.
UNTIL you want to go into professional levels. It is not as easy as in the US to run a Charter company or a charter boat.
The requirements are a Skippers ticket, but far more important, the vessel must be inspected to a level.
That paperwork is called "Surveyed" , however, it is far more than getting a surveyor to do a thorough inspection. It is so difficult to get a used boat or even a new boat surveyed that most people do not attempt it.
The best way is to have the boat "surveyed" during it's construction and the build is regularly inspected to achieve an acceptable build quality and proper commercial safety inclusions.
I will not comment on the validity of this system as my experience with it is limited and also that I have seen approved vessels of lesser safety and quality approved than those boats that are already built but cannot be properly inspected to achieve the surveyors approval. That is without extreme costs in taking apart the vessel to make certain the safety features exist.

You are scaring me here George!

Just sent an email to my attorney in Adelaide to outline shipping an SF over there. Among my top priorities in the very near future is fulfilling a moral and business obligation to someone I regard dearly. Didn't wanna say that before because I was planning a surprise visit to the Gold Coast paying respect and winning the honor of your company. Am I right to say that online listings are scarce? Or is it like that in general regardless of the medium? I hope finding a dock space in SA and/or NSW will not be as hard. Not to hijack this thread, I'll be asking you and others in your region lots of questions once I have a clear direction and a bit more info in hand.

I guess once Dave hits the water in anyway, he will have a quick better grasp of how things will be going for him. RYA is a good suggestion, start with "Day Boat Skipper" then "Bareboat Charter", both you can start doing the theory of online through the "Shore Based" training, after that one will determine where to head.

Best of luck to all.

Cheers.

Hi Alfred,
Send me a PM anytime if I can be of assistance.
Look forward to seeing you on the Gold Coast!
G

No doubt about that, started prepping the list, just waiting for some more info and have to do a bit of reading through the coast guard pages to have a feel for what is going on. The Queensland visit was scheduled to be back in November but in July my life got a crash stop, now that I'm back, the visit is now on my top-5 list.

Looking forward to seeing you too.

Alf

@Kafue
I saw that you are in the same region.
Ignoring the commercial side the basic rules over here are that you need a ticket over 15m or 15HP, if the boat has a marine radio you also need the corresponding license for that. (There are of course additional tricks, say a region where VHF radio is mandatory...)
One of the major differences is that you usually need the lower license in oder to collect miles for the next license. Whereas under the RYA system you can AFAIK collect miles and then test for the YM directly, even upgrade to Ocean if you happen to have the celestial requirements already logged. - Which is probably not the best idea in Daves situation.

Looking at various sailing schools in AUS the Day Skipper course seems to be 2 weekends theory and 5 days on the water. That should answer the question if boats are still interesting. Maybe to high for a beginner? Something to find out locally.
More importantly, before starting a course collect some information what each course covers and which ticket can be converted into which. (say power vs sail) At least over here some very similar tickets can be converted in one direction with minimal effort, but not in the other.

Hi,
Radio licence requirements are same here.
Trouble is, there is no way to properly regulate the system.
On a weekend we usually avoid the busy Broadwater, which is a beautiful area for boating in our region. Reason is that majority of the people on the water have no idea what they are doing and, these days, especially with high powered PWC's, it is crazy what is happening on the waterways.
Imagine a 6 lane motorway with 100 KMH/MPH motorbikes going in random directions, driven by high testosterone guys with a mix of SUV's full of kids hanging out the windows all running at the same time!
I have found that sailors (as in wind driven skippers) are far more knowledgeable about the rules and ways of the water, even if they are usually the most painfull! to share it with.
Well, I am right off the thread now, so will hold off.
Have a good day Chasm!
Cheers,
K