In search of a cruising yacht - advice appreciated

sorry to disappoint you McNice
but.....there is shortage of nice blokes
..........they don't stay single for long,
...........married one don't get many chances to be happy again

Lots of information to digest there guys!

I am ordering a few books of reference form boat books, looking forward to them arriving on the front door step.

I have a looonnng shortlist - if there is such a thing, of boats I think would be suitable. Ranging from a well equipped Mottle at $50k to a $190k catamaran! Plenty of good mono's to choose from in the $100k - $200k range. As LMY mentioned, early days yet in the search for the right yacht.

Ramona, I was a Greenie (Sparktrician for non Navy people) in the RAN.
Joined as a JR in 1980, did 9yrs, served on Brisbane and Moresby then got out and got a job earning some decent money.

FreeRadical, thanks for the advice and I have been snooping around Koombana Bay SC in Bunbury. I'm planning to buy the boat while I am over east late this year or early next, so that should give me a lot more to choose from. Although I would like to cruise up the top end, I'm not sure whether I would bring the yacht all the way back to WA or not at this stage.

Has anyone got any thoughts on GRP vs Steel vs Aluminium?

Thanks to everyone for all the advice so far.

Cheers!

72 intake, July 1980 to May 81 at Leeuwin.
Would've been about 82 - 83 I was on Brisbane, getting old and crusty, can't remember the exact dates.
Did Rimpac 82 not long after that transferred back to the west.

I was a MOBI intake on the 6/6/1966. Them's some evil numbers.

Became an Engine Room Artificer (Diesel). That was being condemned to Stalwart, Moresby or Patrol Boats.

The first three and a half years of my naval career was spent at R.A.N.A.T.E. (Royal Australian Navy Apprentice Training Establishment) H.M.A.S. Nirimba. I do believe anybody trained at Nirimba during that era was highly privileged, no matter which trade they were in because the training was first class and amongst the best available in Australia at the time.

A further year and a half was spent by each trainee with "on the job" training to complete the five year apprenticeship.

Two and a half years later, the Navy and I reached an agreement that we would part company on amicable terms.

I was a tad too critical of the double standards that were prevalent during the Navy's transition from SAILSTRUC to RATSTRUC. I was an ERA2 and objected to being downgraded to PO MTP while PO Stokers less qualified than I were being upgraded to PO MTP.

Upon mutual agreement the Navy and I agreed we were not suitable for each other, four and a half years short of our agreed sign up time.

I have never regretted a moment of my Naval service but for me it was the best career change possible.

I think you should stick with fibreglass. I also think you should stick with aft cockpit vessels. Spend a bit of time in an aft cabin boat on a mooring on a hot still day and see if you can stand it. In a marina you can run a couple of electric fans. What most people find when they head off from temperate weather places to the tropics is deck lounging space and shade. I mean full length shade. Even in places like Sydney its nice to be able to sleep in the cockpit.

Steel has some advantages. It can handle hitting reefs etc and repairs are cheap and easy. They are becoming really cheap though as most people are realizing there is a lot of upkeep and sometimes hidden horrors. It not quite like when you were an OD wielding a Jason pistol. Yachts are built thin. Friend of mine has an Adams 45 in steel. I thought it looked very good. Its up on the hard for six months at the moment, I had a quick look at it yesterday. Trouble with these is six months blows out. The yard its in is full of yachts [Huskisson] many of these yachts I have never seen in the water.
Aluminium is fine but once again you have to be careful with maintenance. I would consider a bare aluminium hulled yacht. I had an aluminium fishing vessel built in WA when I left the navy. Biggest mistake was having the factory paint it. I used to keep her on one of the local wharves which was fine most of the time and was basically just a matter of using the correct antifoul and keep tabs on the anodes. Isolating the skin fittings from alloy etc. The trouble was when one of the other fibreglass or timber fishing vessels tied up alongside me with their copper antifouling paint. Also at low tide steel rubbish on the bottom would also created problems.

If you want to reduce maintenance go fibreglass hull with an encapsulated lead keel.

Nice yacht but waaaaay over priced.

This one works per

fe

ct

ly

ever since been built, it is an Adams after all, even after this escaped...

A few of us here...JR 65th intake (Oct 78)...did RIMPAC 80 in Melbourne (Morningbird are you there 79-82?), RIMPAC 82 in BRISBANE (we must have been there together N&Z)(Miss Brisbane was a stunner...), was an RP and ASAC then changed over to pusser. Did 26 years all up.