Ocean Cruising on a Budget

Blue water voyaging requires a certain level of funding. This volume is based on the author's own considerable practical experience of making up for a minimum of funds by applying common sense and skill, and from these pages a basic level of capital and running costs can be estimated. Many ways of making funds stretch are shown which maintain that essential approach to all seafaring: safety.
The interest of the Pilotage Foundation of the Royal Cruising Club in this matter lies in its brief to promote safety at sea. The Foundation is anxious to promote cruising, but at the same time it recognizes that many who would like to cruise face a shortfall in cash compared with what they might wish. Through the ideas presented here it is possible to sort out the essential from the desirable and the economical from the extravagant. Thinking along these lines will, the Foundation believes, lead to the reduction of worries, to better standards afloat and a consequent increase in safety.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PREFACE
FOREWORD

1. WHAT IS A BUDGET?
A. KEEPING YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND
Different budgets and different priorities
The budget philosophy - capital outlay v. running costs
The budget cruise - limiting duration and distance
What am I doing and why am I doing it?
B. WHAT WILL IT COST? SOME TYPICAL CRUISING BUDGETS
C. THE TIME V. MONEY EQUATION
Why this year is better than next, and next year better than
the one after (the ten-year trap)
Building from scratch
D. CREWING FOR OTHERS

2. A BOAT FOR THE OCEAN: CHOOSING FOR SAFETY,
SANITY AND ECONOMY
A. WHERE DO I START?
Construction material
Mono v. multi
Size
Seaworthiness and design
The rig
The engine
The yacht as a packhorse
Interior features: requirements for sanity
Buying - privately or through a broker?
The survey
What's on the market (that I might conceivably afford)?
В. PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT
Conservation of boat and gear
Ongoing maintenance

3. EQUIPMENT: NECESSARY V. LUXURY
A. DECIDING ON PRIORrnES
B. EMERGENCY OR SAFETY?
Emergency and safety equipment - checklist and prices
Equipment for abandoning ship
C. EQUIPMENT FOR SURVIVAL AND SUBSISTENCE: ECONOMY V. SAFETY
Ground tackle
Self-steering and autopilots
Sails and downwind rig
Running rigging
Getting up the mast
Decks and cockpits
Harnesses
Oilskins and footwear
Pumps, plumbing and loos
The electrical system
Tenders and outboards
Spares and tools checklist
D. EQUIPMENT FOR SANITY: ECONOMY V. COMFORT
Interior lighting
Music
Stowage and coping with rolling
E. PAYING FOR IT ALL
Evaluating the inventory
Equipment sources: new
Equipment sources: used and reconditioned

4. THE CONFIDENCE FACTOR
A. OCEAN NAVIGATION: EQUIPMENT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE
The building blocks
The planning stage
Sextants (and GPS)
Landfalls
B. WATCHKEEPING: EQUIPMENT AS AN AID (BUT NEVER A SUBSTITUTE) FOR EYES
Watch systems and sharing the workload
Radar, radar detectors and radar reflectors

5. MONEY, ITS CARE AND HANDLING
A. FINANCIAL PLANNING
Realistic running expenses
Exchange rates
The emergency reserve
Insurance: yacht and medical
B. PAPER V. PLASTIC
Carrying cash on board
Transferring funds as you need them
C. SECURITY ON BOARD AND ASHORE
Taking your sails out of their wind
Firearms

6. THE PEOPLE PROBLEM
A. THE CREW DILEMMA
The less experienced couple
Love me, love my boat
Children aboard
Casual crew
B. LIFE ON A BUDGET . . . AND IN A SMALL SPACE
Acclimatization - living aboard before leaving
Budget limitations and the occasional splurge
Clothes - choice and care
C. INSICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
Seasickness
General health care, and medical services abroad
Happiness in a hot climate
D. SOCIAL CONTACTS
Making friends
Beads and mirrors - presents for local people

7. FEEDING AND WATERING
A. THE GALLEY
Safety

Cooking fuels
Stoves and other equipment
Fridge, ice-box or warm beer?
Fresh water and tankage
B. FOOD: YOUR LARGEST REGULAR EXPENSE
Eating habits
Calculating quantities
Provisioning and storage
A specimen stores list
Living off the land and fishing for food
Hospitality and alcohol
Pests and invasions

8. ON THE MOVE
A. SETTING YOUR OWN PAGE
Timing the trouble-free cruise
Races and rallies
B. OFFICIALDOM
Registration and certification
Customs and immigration
Courtesy flags
C. KEEPING IN TOUCH
The home agent
Telephones and mail
D. WORK AND EARNING
Working as you go along
Earning at a distance
E. HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
POSTSCRIPT
APPENDICES
1. Medical notes for ocean cruisers
2. Further reading
3. Useful odds and ends
4. UK-US glossary
5. UK addresses
INDEX