Randy – Page 10 – Sail Vietnam

You asked how to sail on a budget. Here are 40 + creative ideas for expanding your sailing budget. Start with your imagination, make a beginning, make it better, find your market and keep moving. The better your imagination, the bigger your budget will be. Everyone has a budget. What they lack is imagination. How to sail on a budget is like anything else on a budget. If you don't have the money to buy something, you are creative. You either have the time to make something or you're good at making friends. I like to think that I'm creative. I get lots of ideas. Sometimes I think they are really good ones. Occasionally, other people do too. In this article, I'm going to share with you some idea on how I would sail on a budget. Hopefully, this will give you a lot of ideas to help spur your imagination. Pick one and begin. Let me know how it goes. There isn't really any priority or hierarchy to this list. Feel free to jump around and pick one that resonates with you. Several can be combined. However, it's entirely up to you. Let's dive right in. Knowing How to Sail on a Budget - Part 1 Research Boating Questions The first recommendation I have is start asking questions. Take notes of your questions, and the answers you find. Keep asking more questions in forums or into Google and keep notes of the answers (and websites where you found those answers). Soon, you will know more, and you can ask better questions. This can be fun. Besides, it will become a good resource. Keep reading, and see what I mean. When you find a question that doesn't have a good answer. Make a point of researching this one. I recommend that you research it offline if you can't find a good answer online. This is because, Google loves offline information. In fact, offline information is great SEO right out-of-the-box whether you format it or not. In other words, you have discovered something valuable. If you took something offline and put it online, you go to the head of the SEO class. Read Books This is something that you can do any time. If you are a reader, you may already know or have read some boating or sailing books. If not, this is as good a time to start. Pick any classic or recent book. I would get something for the Kindle App on my iPhone. This is because I already have my phone with me and it saves space. Make notes of nautical words and learn what they mean. This will help you communicate with other boaters and sailors when you talk with them. You can also download something on Audible and listen to the book while you do other things. Both of these (Kindle and Audible) are easy and don't take extra room or devices. Besides, you can do these in your spare time between other chores. This is a cheap way to learn how to sail on a budget. Read Blogs Blogs are easy to find in Google or any search engine. You can begin by asking questions. I recommend you take notes. You can also look on YouTube, tho I find it's not as easy to take notes while watching. The reason for the notes will become apparent in the next item on this list. Besides, it help you remember what you just learned. Summarizing what you just learned is a very useful learning tool. Especially if you do this by hand. For some reason (experts really don't know why) computer notes are just not as effective. On the other hand, if you take notes with a keyboard, it's easy to copy and paste into something else, which makes them more useful. Start a Blog The next thing is to start a blog with what you have found. There are a couple reasons for this. First, if you were looking for this information, other people are, too. Second, if you didn't find the information you were looking for, Google doesn't have an answer, and it desperately wants one. The blog with your answer will rank very high. Third, this will help provide an income. In addition, it's a good place to put your notes. Name your blog something related to your purpose, like sailing. Eventually you will have visitors coming to your blog. This is because you have the answers. When you have enough visitors, advertisers will want to be there, too. They will pay you money to have their message on your blog. In other words, you are contributing to the subject you are researching. You might as well get paid for it. Start a YouTube Channel (Optional) Some of you may balk at this. That's ok. I'm only suggesting that if you take videos of boats or boating trips, some people will like watching them. When they want to know more, you can link your blog in the description. Each platform will help the other. Furthermore, if you want to do more in the future, you have options. Having started the channel. It's easy to post the videos. You don't have to narrate them if you don't want to. After you get 100 subscribers, you can name the channel. I recommend that you name your channel the same as your blog. This way people won't be confused. Likewise, they will remember both. Trade for Something If you own a something of enough value, like a mobile home, trailer or a camper, you might consider trading it for a boat that you would live on. You will probably have to do some formal paperwork to pay the licensing fees and pay the government tax, but you would have a boat. I recommend that you do this carefully and know what you are getting. Still, if you are sure you want a boat, this is one way to get it. Visit Boatyard Part of your offline research can include a boatyard or other real-world location near you. These are gold because Google doesn't know all of this yet. You can ask questions, and quote the person who gave you the information. Again, this is offline and therefore something Google can't know. Take some photos. Be sure to quote them and give them credit for the info. Similarly, if you know of someone who has written a book. They will be very happy to have you interview them as long as you mention their new book. In addition, if that person has a blog or website, ask them to mention your blog, too. This will give both of you more visitors and everyone wins. Ride a Ferry This is a "free space" item on this list. Seriously, if there's a ferry near you and you haven't ridden on it yet, now's the time. While you're at it, see if you can talk with any of the staff or captain. They're probably busy working, but sometimes they can stop to answer some questions. They would probably rather talk with you than do their work. Besides, they know what they're talking about. Take a few notes and ask if you can mention the in your blog. Before you go, see if you can learn something about this ferry ahead of time. Knowing something about the history or beginnings or the name can help you with your questions. Besides, it makes you sound intelligent. Remember to ask to take a couple of photos. Charter a Boat Once you have been on a ferry, you can explore chartering a boat. See if you can find one that aligns with your interests. This way you can see what it actually feels like. This will be a good real world experience. Besides, it can be fun. Be sure to take some photos. (Your own photos are ones that Google has not seen before and therefore are better for SEO, even if they are not perfect.) You could also take video. Be sure to take notes. See if you can find some friends or family or people on meetup.com who want to go along with you. Maybe you combine it with fishing. Join Groups It's free and easy to join some special interest groups. Boaters and sailors love to talk about their hobby. Many of them have been right where you are now, and they often are happy to help answer your questions. Please keep it an exchange by offering something in return. This can be as simple as a cup of coffee or snack. Above all, it shows you value their input. Some groups will be online. In this case, you can help answer the beginner questions, or offer to provide links to resources you found helpful. In addition, you can be sure to link to their group on your blog with a recommendation. Get Your Passport If you don't have a passport or it has expired, start the process. It will take you several months before you have it in hand. This process is a government thing and it seems to take longer and longer. There are two types of passport in the United States. A five page and a twenty page book. If you are in the United States, they will send you the five page book by default unless you ask for the twenty page one. By all means, ask for the larger book. Besides, it doesn't coat anything extra. This isn't exactly related to how to sail on a budget but you need a passport to travel. Planning How to Sail on a Budget - Part 2 Find Related Interests There are lots of groups related to your interests. For example, there are groups for discussing motors, sails, repairs, special boats and boat safety. There are lots of groups interested in surfing, scuba, and swimming. The list is almost endless. For instance, I joined a facebook group for Catalina 22, owners and wannabes. It turns out that the Catalina 22 may not be the boat for me. This group brought me into contact with some people who could tell me about other things I really care about. For instance, it's because I joined this group that I learned about catamarans. Now I joined a catamaran group. Boat Terms Something you can do at any stage of your interest is to learn the nautical terms. Boats have a long history and many parts of a boat have really odd names. Ropes are called "sheets". These names are still used by modern sailors and you will want to know what they are talking about. You can learn what things are called. After that, you can learn how to pronounce them. When you are using nautical terms, you will be seen as more knowledgeable and given more respect. This will lead to people giving you better answers. Which can lead to your adding these better answers to your blog. Similarly, it will lead you to asking better questions. Swim Lessons This one might seem obvious, but every year people drown. If you are going to be around or on the water, you need to know how to swim. It's a basic safety issue. It's not hard to learn. I was just a moderately good swimmer until I was in scouts. I decided to challenge myself by going for the mile swim award. In the middle of this I become so tired I wanted to quit. I couldn't seem to go on, I couldn't go back and the lake was really deep. I pushed through and found my "stride"! From then on, it was easy! Water Safety Water safety is one of those things we all seem to think we can do without. Me too. It will help you find people who have similar interests. You can add it after you learn to swim or learn to scuba. You may find the same instructor is teaching these classes. It will help you down the road with some other things on this list. In addition, you will have other students learning at the same level. If you like the water, this will be a breeze for you. You get to jump into the water with your clothes. You will learn to handle special equipment and know what to do in an emergency. Above all, it will help keep you healthy and safe. Sailing Lessons There are online sailing courses and YouTube videos that will help you learn to sail. Certification is a whole other level, but you can start at the beginning. Learning to sail this way can be fun. Besides, it's easy. If there are groups near you, you can get some hands-on time on a boat. The best way to find these groups that I have found is meetup.com. This website is designed to help you find people with like interests near you. Besides, it's free to join. And now you know how to sail on a budget. If you don't know how to swim, it's time you learned. I learned how to swim when I was a young child, so I don't have a specific recommendation for adults. I would suggest that you look for groups in your area on meetup or facebook/meta. You will gain more confidence after learning to swim. It's something you can do locally. Besides, it's fun. Scuba Diving Scuba is another special interest group. I highly recommend that you add scuba to your list of things to learn. If you don't know, I found it really easy to breathe underwater. This helped me gain more confidence in and around water. In addition, I gained confidence in other areas of my life. I found a class at a community college that included certification and college credit! We learned in the college swimming pool, which was really convenient, clean and close. I found the instructor to be very patient and helpful with all of us new students. There were no real special requirements to take the class. However, we did need to be reasonably good swimmers. By the way, the easy way to catch fish is below the surface where you can see them. Catching your free dinner is how to sail on a budget. Crew on a Boat Sailboats of many sizes need crew to manage the sails. Learn to sail by watching YouTube videos. Know the jobs that are required, and offer your services. Usually you only get your bed and meals, but it's an adventure. It will get you to places outside the usual and give you experience. If you have other skills, you will be the preferred candidate. Being crew is a fast way to learn how to sail on a budget. It's a good idea to set aside something extra for your personal expenses such as laundry, hiking shoes, antimalarial drugs, sunglasses, fishing gear, charts, and other stuff. It would be even better if you can bring some of these items from your home. Buy a Ticket If you are traveling anywhere, see if you can go by boat instead of fly or some other mode of transportation. If you plan ahead, you can probably get a better price. Plus you can relax and watch more of the "landscape" instead of the clouds from an airplane. All of the real world events will help you gain experience. Most of the catamarans are manufactured in countries outside the United States. If you travel to another country, you might as well travel to where they are made. Plan ahead by making appointments with specific people. Visit a catamaran boatyard and ask questions. Take photos. See if there is something you can add to your blog about their products. It's good publicity for them. And, they may mention your blog on their website. Start a Meetup If there aren't any sailing groups on meetup near you, start one. Just say I have this interest in learning how to sail on a budget and I'm looking for like-minded people to join me. You never know what will happen. Meetup is almost free to join, it's designed to help you find the people near you who share your interests, and you can be the leader. You don't have to be an expert. Just share what you have found and start asking questions. Building Your Own Boat Now we're getting into the nitty-gritty. This is the fun part. Besides, it's something that you can keep as an investment. Unless you are highly skilled and experienced at building, I would recommend you start small. And, you can! There are kits for making dinghies. They are multipurpose boats. Besides, you may need one! They do not cost much money for the kit and plans. You will get experience in learning what goes into boat building. And you can do this in your spare time. The most common version is made of plywood and covered with fiberglass. These boats are lightweight, sturdy and relatively inexpensive to make. However, be sure to take proper health protections. By the time you are done, you will know how to build and sail on a budget. Boat Maintenance This is probably more targeted toward the mechanically fluent. If you are not highly skilled, this may not be interesting to you. However, the basics are well worth learning. Boats in the water always need maintenance and the hulls always need scraping. Basic boat maintenance will save you lots of money. However, it can be hard work. The next level is to learn about the systems of your boat. Electrical, plumbing and powering your boat, to name a few, are the systems in your boat. You will also need to know something about sail maintenance and repair. You will want to inspect every item on your boat on a regular basis and learn to know when it's in good shape and when it's not. This will pay big dividends down the line. In other words, an ounce inspection is worth a pound of repairs. Preparing How to Sail on a Budget - Part 3 Boat Occupations Below The suggestions above apply to just about everybody. They are general recommendations to get you started. Nearly everyone will need to maintain their own boats and scrub their own hulls. Even if you don't, it's a good idea to know what's involved when supervising crew. Besides, you get some exercise in the process. Learning these next several skills and certifications are occupations. You only need to look at one of these. And, then only if you have the interest and motivation. I have listed many different skills here because many people are unaware of how to sail on a budget and what skills are needed. Besides, they take some dedication. Boat Financing Financing a boat is not much different than a house or a car. And, financing is always a more expensive way to buy. However, with good credit, it is one way to afford a large purchase. Knowing your options ahead of time can be a real advantage. Especially when you have extra time. Besides, knowing how financing is done is an advantage. Boats, like cars, will depreciate, but there are some models that will hold their value longer. And, there are ways to use a boat for business that may allow you to deduct something from a tax obligation. I'm sure there is more you can learn about this. The real secret is to learn this before you have a deadline. Like right now. Boat Insurance If you know insurance, specializing in boat insurance might be a good move. You will gain more experience. Plus, you will be able to spot trouble before you have to deal with it directly. And, you will be able to spot a good deal from a distance. You can at least learn the basics without the pressure of a contract deadline staring you down. These are good skills to have. Plus, you will be in the right place to find your boat. When you take the time to learn the issues, you will have a treasure of information you can share. Knowing and having these skills will benefit you in other ways, too. In your travels, you will meet many boaters who are paying too much for their insurance because they didn't understand the legal terms and conditions. They may also have some of the skills you need for your boat. Trading skills can be a very rewarding exchange for both of you. Besides, it's a neighborly thing to do. Boat Engines Sailboats, especially catamarans, are in the middle of a transition from wind power to solar power. As a result, onboard engines are changing from gas and Diesel power to electric power. There is a demand for mechanics for both technologies. If you are mechanically inclined, you might specialize in repairing one or both of these types of engine. This would be easy for you. Additionally, you would broaden your experience. Boats always need repairs because the salt air is corrosive. And, the repairs always seem to happen away from the dock or marina. There is a need for skilled mechanics to repair boats for owners who are in over their heads, so to speak. You can be a hero. Besides, it's an income while you are sailing. Solar Power Solar electric is replacing gas and Diesel power. If boat owners didn't understand Diesel engines very well, they absolutely do not understand solar electric. When you become an expert in solar power, you can write your own ticket. New boat owners will need your services. Now. Having real world skills that are need aboard a boat turn the equation around. Instead of how to sail on a budget, you can expand your budget to include sailing. This is one creative way of how to sail on a budget. Boat Repair Boat building with wood is a traditional skill. Some newer boats are occasionally made with aluminum, but most commonly with fiberglass. The holes are filled with epoxy and sanded smooth. These are not highly technical, but labor intensive and very much in demand around the world. If you are experienced in this, you can work anywhere. Besides, you can learn the basics right away. Like the other skills you learn on this list, this will but you in touch with boat owners. You will be one of the first to know when an owner wants to sell their boat. And, you will be able to instantly spot a great deal, just from looking. Working with boats, you will soon learn what make and model you're looking for. Similarly, when you put the word out, you will find the perfect boat for you. Sail Making Sail making is another skill which can be acquired in a relatively short period of time. If you don't like getting dirty, and engines or building are not your thing, maybe sail making will appeal to you. You get to work with new materials, maybe in a larger area. Additionally, you can make bimini canvas tops for the cockpit area. Watermakers Water is essential for life. Fresh water is in short supply on the ocean and it can add up to a lot of money when purchasing at marinas and stores. Therefore, boat owners depend upon one or more methods for getting their fresh water. The simplest, tho not simple, is rainwater catchment. Another is desalination of seawater and the last is reverse osmosis. Both of these latter techniques are expensive and need servicing. Besides, people's lives depend upon them working. High tech watermakers are rather expensive, both to buy and to repair. Understanding how these systems work. And, perhaps even mastering this or an alternative technology can give you an edge. There is a method for condensing fresh water from the air that, in my opinion, is extremely under valued. Cities and even whole countries will eagerly adopt a better method than what they have now. Above all, the person to masters making fresh water from seawater will be able to buy any boat they want. Then you will know how to sail on a budget creatively. Learning How to Sail on a Budget - Part 4 Galley Appliances The galley is a boat kitchen. Everyone needs to eat. Refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances either depend upon converting DC battery power to AC 110v. Or, they are specialized to run on 12VDC. Either way, they are inefficient and waste power. Washers and dryers have the same problem. And when they break, people need repairs, especially out on the ocean. The person who can fix these is a very good friend. Many boats cook with propane or alcohol burners. These are problematic because they are flammable or because they are one more thing that's in short supply out on the ocean. Besides, they are other systems that boaters don't fully understand. They either need to learn these skills or find someone who does. That could be you. Marine Air Conditioners Air conditioners suck electric power. So much, that a whole solar system is needed just for the air conditioner. However, life on the ocean is often hot and humid. The perfect place for needing an air conditioner. Uncomfortable boaters are unhappy and motivated. Therefore, the person who can solve their problems is valuable and well paid. An expert at marine air conditioning is someone who can increase efficiency or lower the power consumption. The person that can produce cool dry air in some other way will be a hero. All of the necessary parts are there: electric, cold water and hot sun. In addition, all of these are free. Besides, the world is waking to new technologies every day. Boat Navigation These days, navigating a boat is mostly automated. The paper charts and maps have given way to apps and backlit displays. Even the steering wheel is anachronistic. Radar and depth sounders and fish finders are examples of the many types of systems for boat navigation. Captains depend on things not breaking out on the ocean. Many systems can be replaced or upgraded, and that's what many people do. The people who don't understand this insides are forced to do just that. However, the person who understands the insides of these systems is not. Knowledge is power. The knowledgeable person can make things work. After all, it can be very satisfying. Marine Weather The weather is always changing. Understand these patterns, and how the weather tracking devices work can be a real advantage. Sailboats need wind. Wind is usually near storms. So, knowing how to be near the storm but not in it, is a good skill to have. This usually requires a fast boat, like a slick catamaran. For instance, you can surf the storm like surfers surfing a big wave. Marine Communications Communication is needed on a boat. Learning and servicing these radios and knowing alternative systems is a good skill. Besides VHF, there is Ham Radio and some other means of getting what you want. A skilled technician at marine communications can be in demand. Social Skills Some voyages will take time, especially when traveling slowly. Kids and even adults can get bored watching endless waves that look the same. Knowing magic tricks, games, sports, brain teasers, or knowing how to play musical instruments or memorizing songs can really add to the journey. Some people just know these things. Everyone can learn them. Besides, they're fun and entertaining. Sailing Knots Some knots are needed for sailing. Learning their names and how to tie them quickly is a skill you will need. Sailors use these knots for a reason. They don't slip. When you need to tie one of these, you will be in a hurry. Avoid the rush and learn it now. And learn creative ways of how to sail on a budget. Boat Security Security is becoming very important. Pirates are bolder, more desperate and using much more sophisticated technology. Fortunately, there aren't many places where you need to worry. There are more and more people living on boats and they need security. However, most of them don't have any at all. Your boat is your home, and it's a rather large investment. Having some security, anchored near a developing country invites temptation. Your boat already has WiFi, cell amplifiers, radar. Understanding this security, and adding to it, can be a wise investment. Plus, there are some "creative" things you can do that are probably less expensive and offer better protection than the systems that came with your boat. After all, it's your home. Sailing Certification Certification for Sailing is a step up from just learning to sail. However, if you do have a certificate, you will be qualified for a job when you want one. Similarly, there may be less rigorous certifications than the two big ones and that would also be a step above how to sail on a budget. Captain's License Earning a license is also a good investment. Just studying for the exam can be an education. This will tell you what's important. While there is probably a hands-on part of the exam, just studying this material can be worthwhile. Besides, even if you don't finish, you can say you are a Captain License candidate. You will be seen as more serious about the work instead of it just being something to get by. This would be especially valuable for a woman. Cooking at Sea Galley appliances are not the same as your home kitchen. They have different sources for power and special adaptations, like gimbal, for the sea environment. Knowing these and having experience with a sailboat galley can help you land a job on a boat. This would be especially valuable for a man. It would show a commitment to the life. Now you know how to cook and how to sail on a budget. Boat Owners Associations Once you know the boat you want, you will probably want to know other people who have them. There is probably no requirement on you actually owning the boat. Being a member allows you to speak with other owners on a higher level and will be an advantage when someone wants to sell their boat. Supply and Demand This is crucial. Boats are expensive where they are rare and cheaper where they are common. Most catamarans are made outside the United States. This means they cost more. If I were going to buy a camper or RV, I would go to Arizona. Lots of retired couples spend the winter in Arizona because they don't like cold weather. They live in RV parks. Arizona has an abundance of RVs. Therefore, the prices are low. In February or March, most of these couples make the return trip north to their homes in Wisconsin or Minnesota. This is when they may choose to sell their RV. In the same vein, there are places where boats are plentiful, like Panama. Many people decide to not pay the fees to go through the canal. Instead they want to sell their boat and fly home. There are other places where boats are abundant and therefore less expensive. It pays do your homework, plan ahead. Maybe even travel a bit and look at some boats before you plan to buy. When you do this, you will be much better informed and much better prepared. Buy a Boat Catamarans are expensive - or can be. However, you don't have to start at the top. Buy something that's cheaper to maintain and insure. One of the most common sailboats made is the Catalina 22. It has some advantages and some drawbacks. If you buy used, it should hold it's value. With it, you will learn how to sail on a budget. The best thing about it is, it's a boat. You're on the water. You can learn to sail and get hands-on experience. An old used on may cost a few thousand dollars. Unless you're short, you won't be able to stand up in it and it doesn't come with many perks, but it's a boat. One of the advantages of buying an old boat (1970's) is that oil was cheaper. Fiberglass is a petroleum product and older boats were made thicker, therefore stronger. Fiberglass is easy to maintain and resists most issues with other materials. There are many of these boats, and parts are readily available. Because there's an oversupply, the boats and their parts are less expensive. Generally speaking, you might consider a fiberglass boat as it comes with very few maintenance costs and can serve you quite well for decades. Well, fiberglass sailboats do not rot like sailboats made from wood and do not rust like metallic sailboats, and this is exactly why they're a lot easier to maintain. More importantly, fiberglass boats are tough and over-engineered, so you'll be good to go as far as breakdowns and repair costs are concerned. Finally How to Sail on a Budget - Part 5 Conclusions If you have read this far, congratulations and welcome aboard! I hope you found some useful suggestions in this article on how to sail on a budget. This article was a labor of love. I spent a lot of time on it and it's entirely from my own head. Thanks for reading all this. I will probably post a few links for the algorithm. There is very little that's actually new, but these are my original ideas. All I have left to say is that sailing is one of the world's greatest freedoms and is not just for the rich and famous. If anything, sailing is an excellent way to enjoy the world, and see how beautiful it is. With a plan, you can find your own adventure, even on a budget! It's something you will probably never regret or forget. Besides, the memories you will have are priceless. Randy Sources: https://www.cruisersforum.com/