Hi all

OK here goes. Apologies for my first post being an p/x, but it's aimed in getting into sailing and not out :)

I have experienced a few trips on boats of different sizes over the years, but owning my own boat I know will give me the next challenge I want in life. Thanks to Annie’s book bought years ago, I’ve always known that my first would be a JR and that has never changed. Maybe I’ll do cambered sails, but you need to get into the water first.

So probably prior to reading that book, I have wanted to live on a boat and one day, I may still achieve that. Not on the trailer sailer I am looking for right now, but I need to learn on something well sized. Also being a trailer, I can launch at different places easier and avoid marina fee’s whilst getting the taste for it.

So I live by the sea in Blackpool, but the weather here has never enticed me before to get into the water. However a 4 month move to Greece, has definitely pushed it now. The van advertised took me to Greece and back with my partner and 3 dogs and we camped all the way by the roadside. Great times.

Ironically I will need a largish vehicle to tow a sailer, but I’m hoping to find something good for £4-5k and then get a cheaper vehicle.

I missed out on what looked to be a great couple of buys, but obviously they were sold fairly quickly.

So I’ve put the link below as there is no point duplicating the site;

https://vwt4transporterdayvanforsale.wordpress.com/

Although I am watching the making of Mingming 2 whilst typing this, I can’t afford to take a project of that level on otherwise it will be 2 yrs + before I can get my feet wet. I don’t mind some work and do all my own DIY around the house, but want a generally sound boat and as said on a trailer. Sorry to those with cracking boats looking for a new home, but I think the above explains my situation.

If I sell p/x elsewhere, then when I do get floating, I’ll obviously pop back in and show images etc.

Thanks for reading all.

Regards

Andrew

Hi Annie

I love the seemingly 'odd ball choice' of the JR allowing me to speak to a superstar of your pedigree :)

However....You're trying to kill me over some cold winter months with that idea :) Sounds like a full project, which I still won't rule out to be honest, but would take me away from growing my business too. As a first boat, I am sure I could learn on the job and fit it out reasonably well, but having never sailed before solo, it would probably be a better bet to buy something as a going concern first time round.

Trailer seems a fair price though.

Yes regarding selling the van and cash is king as they say, but wrong time for camper/day van market at the moment, same for boats though. 

I'm not really bothered if I don't sell as it is a model that is going up in value, but I can do the same job in a 1-2k French/Japanese model and have a boat in tow.

It will work out one way or another, but if you are still in NZ, you are missing all these glorious gales and constant, constant rain we're having this month. Joy.

Cheers

Andrew