I’ve never owned a boat in my life and now that I live near the sea I would love to own a small boat to travel along the coast from one city to another.
I have no experience with boats so that’s why I would love to hear some advice if you have any.
Would you recommend a used one or a new one?
And should I get a sailing boat or a motorboat and what type would you recommend? I don’t think I’ll have enough means to get a boat with a room inside, unless it’s relatively cheap.
And is learning how to navigate a sailing boat a long process?
The best two days of owning a boat is the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
In a similar vein, a boat is a hole in the ocean that you throw money into
IMO: look into “boat sharing”. Unless you have a lot of $$ and/or lots of experience with boat maintenance… You do not want to own a boat.
Old cliché is (it’s true): “It’s better to have a friend with a boat.”
Not a boat owner, but trained on sailboats: if you feel like it, take sailing lessons and get a feel for it, it’s fun and relaxing. I hate motorboats for the noise, the environmental impact. And it’s kinda dull.
In any case, navigation and boating in general has rules, depending on where you are you may have to get a license.
Got to your local sail club, take lessons. When you’re trained you will be able to rent boats from time to time. Almost nobody sails enough that buying is reasonable. And anchoring in a proper port means an annual fee to pay.
This is the answer right here. Hook up with a local sailing club and take classes. If you love it, make friends with other sailors and rent the club’s boats.
If there’s interesting stuff to see near shore, and the tides are manageable, then kayaking is also great. It’s cheap and easy to get into, and great exercise.
An ocean going boat isn’t for a beginner. I’d stick to a car. :)
A sailing boat is tricky to manage solo, if you’re on your own, I’d steer clear.
Is it ocean going if you only stick to near-shore? And maybe close to shore islands, too
Ocean wave action isn’t for first timers:
https://professionalmariner.com/eleven-killed-when-charter-boat-capsizes-on-oregon-coast/
“Sailing is like standing in a cold shower ripping up $100 bills.”
I had a sailboat for a bit when I lived in Vegas. I absolutely loved sailing. I had a relatively small, cheap boat which was fine for lake mead. It was still expensive though. Everything continuously breaks on a boat.
If I hadnt gotten my dream job in Colorado I would have wanted to live near the ocean and own a sailboat.
