Comments on: My first offshore passage https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/ Land and Sea Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:54:49 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Ryan https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/#comment-7716 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:35:19 +0000 http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3835#comment-7716 In reply to Nancy.

Hi Nancy, Sorry to hear about you losing your job. I’ve been there, and it’s no fun when you have bills to pay.

Living in a smaller space is quite nice. When I decided to start selling off all my junk, I was astonished by the sheer amount of it all. I’m only 30, but somehow I had accumulated enough stuff to fill a 1700 sqft three bedroom house!!! Now that it’s pretty much all gone, I can live comfortably on my boat without all the clutter.

Having a trailerable boat poses a few problems (at least in my opinion). You have to have a vehicle to tow it, either an SUV or truck. Then you have to have a place to store it (storage unit or your own property). AND, they’re nearly impossible to resale if you want to upgrade later. If it were me, I’d look for a smaller liveaboard and fix her up to your liking. Either way, you’ll be paying a few hundred dollars a month for either an apartment – or a marina. :)

If you find yourself at a crossroads, take the road that leads to happiness – even if that road is dark and uncharted. I have taken my first steps down this road, and I’m the freest and happiest I’ve ever been.

Good Luck! :)

]]> By: Nancy https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/#comment-7714 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:47:30 +0000 http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3835#comment-7714 I’m eager to learn more about sailing too. Due to a job loss, I have a nice opportunity right now to decide where to live next – maybe near Lake Michigan. Already know I want to live in a much smaller place (downsize from a 1000 sq ft house to maybe a room somewhere). Am a bit torn between a boat I can sleep on vs one I can tow. My car needs to be replaced now/soon too so do I choose one to accommodate a boat I don’t even have yet? My head is so full of questions.

Nice job completing your first voyage!! :) I was hoping to maybe cross Lake Michigan with a friend this summer but it turns out he’s going to head south with Alex (what a thrill) and might not make it back from Panama in time for Michigan sailing. Ah, well. I need more practice anyway if I want to be any kind of helpful crew.

]]> By: Carla https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/#comment-7649 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 01:52:49 +0000 http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3835#comment-7649 In reply to Ryan.

Great to hear about you being a candidate!! Yes, definitely check abroad, I’d say it would cost a third of that. Let me ask around here. Argentina is great and much cheaper for sure but you’d have like $1200 in flights. Though if it costs less than 2k there you should go just to see Buenos Aires, you can definitely stay with friends of mine!! Hahaaa

About the jacket, they’re different things. PVC is dry. The newer “breathable” fancy fabrics won’t keep the rain off for long. You can wear big woolen sweaters underneath, wool will keep you warm even if it’s soaking wet. Go for Grundens. Alex says you’ll also look like a fag otherwise haha, don’t get me wrong I love fags : )

Let me do some research about LASIK. I’ll keep you posted!

]]> By: Ryan https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/#comment-7644 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:34:20 +0000 http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3835#comment-7644 In reply to Carla.

Thanks Carla! I got evaluated for LASIK a few months ago. I’m a great candidate for it, but it’ll cost like $4,000! I’ll do some research on it. It may be worth going to another country to do it. Maybe a visit to Panama is forthcoming :)

I’m considering Grundens for the bottoms, but I would like a bit more insulation for the jacket. I like Henry Lloyd or Gill, but I may get some Grundens anyway. They look like they’ll last forever

]]> By: Carla https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/#comment-7643 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:32:49 +0000 http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3835#comment-7643 Ah, and get your eyes checked first, not everyone can get LASIK, if your corneas are too thin or irregular some doctors won’t risk it. The first doctor I saw said I couldn’t get it done, the second one said yes and I can’t begin to tell you how my life changed overnight! I could watch TV and use the computer that day and play non aggressive sports the third day already. You just gotta sleep with these plastic things on your eyes for a week and make sure no tap water goes in when you shower. Go for it!!

]]> By: Carla https://www.projectbluesphere.com/2015/03/10/my-first-offshore-passage/#comment-7642 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:26:17 +0000 http://www.projectbluesphere.com/?p=3835#comment-7642 Ryan,

I got lasik surgery in Buenos Aires like 7 years ago. It’s a ridiculously simple procedure, I got my two eyes done the same day and I was out of the office, seeing well, literally ten minutes later. It was amazing. The doctor punches some numbers into the machine and it’s the machine the one that performs the surgery. I wouldn’t do it in the US if I were you. It’ll cost you ten times as much as anywhere else. Do some research, a return flight to Panama for example costs 300-400 bucks.

As to foul weather gear, we bought second hand Grundens jackets on eBay (you know the yellow fisherman ones) and we’re very happy, they’re fantastic! They do not “breathe” like the fancy new ones but they’re waterproof. When it pours at sea heat is not an issue at least for me. I get cold very quickly even here in Panama.

Love your blogs!!

C.

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