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Best Locations for retired half time liveaboards?

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2007 : 10:58:50

Steve: IMVHO, a GPS is a lot more important for cruising the San Juans than wheel steering is--I'll go so far as to say in this day and age it's silly not to have at least a little chartplotter. Having one on another boat won't help you much in pea soup fog, or keep you from hitting a rock that he easily avoided. (Depth sounders don't help much for avoiding big rocks.) Put it on your Christmas list and be a very good boy!

(And since you won't need it on your lake, you might as well get one that also does street-level mapping for your car...)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/19/2007 11:06:04

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2007 : 14:34:48

I agree. But since I will out of my lake once a year, maybe I could rent one? Wheel steering is an Admiral request.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2007 : 14:58:59

You MUST have GPS chartplotter with good software. There are places in the San Juans where rocks lurk just below the surface. Really, you must have a GPS chartplotter. I like my Garmin 492. So what if you only leave the lake once or twice a year? A GPS is a cool toy and you will need electronics to hang off the pedestal guard that you will want once the wheel is in.

Plus, once you visit the San Juans you'll be leaving that lake more often.

For fun reading get the Waggoner's Guide. There is a new one each year. It is the best reference for the area (IMHO) and a fun read.

Like your new boat name! What is the meaning??

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2007 : 22:13:55

Ok I'll buy a GPS then...sheesh!

The boat name means New Life or "Nouvelle Vie" in french our native language (French Canadian). We wanted to call the boat "Nouvelle Vie" but thought it was too long for a small boat. I then thought of the latin Nova Vita but changed it to Vida Nova since it kind of sounds better. It can also be pronounced very well in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc. Furthermore when looking through boat name search engines I could not find it, so it's an original!

When we moved from Quebec to Calgary Alberta 2 years ago my 12 year old described this as a "Nouvelle Vie" and the term stuck. I believe it describes very well our 3500 mile move, change of culture and not but the least the new sailboat purchase (a promise I made myself if I achieved certain goals). Vida Nova II (or III) will also be a good name once we leave the rat race to enter retirement.

Googling Vida Nova will render a Portugal Winnery in Algarve one of my favorite places I visited while touring Europe when I was 18. Never drank the wine, but I hear it's very good and if so will stock a few bottles on the boat.

Available in Red, Rosé and White.

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 10/19/2007 22:20:03

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2007 : 22:51:34

Vive le Québec libre! - Charles de Gaulle, July 24, 1967

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2007 : 23:28:13

I'm impressed that you know about this. However I'm not the "Quebec Libre" type much. LOL. Actually that's one of the reasons I left.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2007 : 01:05:05

Vive le Québec libre!

Them's Fight'n words.

Canada does not need to be liberated.

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2007 : 09:29:47

On the subject of retiring and living aboard... my wife and I went to BVI for the first time earlier this year and that was an eye-opener for us. I have never seen water so blue that hadn't been photoshopped :) We love being on and in the water (our sailing venue here is very definitely NOT for swimming). So, arising out of that incredible vacation is our current "plan" (which means we're just dreamin'): to have a **big** boat (don't know what) to live aboard for half the year in the Caribbean (the location will change year to year) then during Hurricane season find a hidey hole and put it away and go up north to the USA and visit all the places we've never been in the US - and visiting our kids of course - in an RV (maybe by then they'll be hybrids). I'm not sure that we'll even have a house or condo, or if we do where it would be yet.

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David Scott
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2007 : 00:33:15

DayDreaming about sailing can be almost as good as the real thing sometimes. It kept me working the last 5yrs before we went cruising and I considered your same questions. Having cruised for 6 continuous years I of course have a list of favorite places. Most of these places have already been mentioned including Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean. Leaving your boat in foreign countries can be a challange especially during hurricane season. Looking back on it now(we returned from cruising in 2000) I think the best place to leave a boat as you want to do would be to leave it in US waters. This could be done in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Is. Here you have great warm cruising waters, good winds,and the benefits of being in USA territory...and there are many benefits. A few words about size of your boat, IMHO, a 50+ft boat is way too big for a couple unless you always have crew...40-45ft is ideal for a couple particularly if it is rigged right...problems can multiply the bigger you get...anyway good luck and keep on dreaming, best regards, Dave

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2007 : 10:34:50

I was 16 when Charles de Gaulle said that and it stirred a lot of angst in the world. A separate French Canada would have been the world's 5th largest economy and the possibility seemed real. I am glad it did not happen.

I agree with our President when he says that "Canada is our best neighbor to the north."

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2007 : 13:58:59

Back then Quebec was very strong, with Montreal being the business center of Canada. However politics focused primarily on "protecting the french culture" rather than business. The business moved to Toronto who makes it much easier for companies to establish themselves. Calgary is the money capital of Canada due to oil where the government has no debts and Billions of dollars of surplus. In comparison Quebec has such a high debt that the government can't even keep up with the interest payments! In Quebec income taxes are the highest, salaries low and intersting jobs scarce. What is ironic is that Quebec city is one of the best places to sail in the North East but I could never afford it! Sailing on a 5 X 1 mile lake in Alberta is better than no sailing at all!

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2007 : 13:36:45

So that's it then. Best location for retired half time liveaboard is halfway between Banff and Calgary.

I'm glad that's settled, because that's where my boat is.

BTW, I'm going to sail Minnewanka next season. If I get eaten by a Grizzly, you can have my mooring ball.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2007 : 14:45:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 So that's it then. Best location for retired half time liveaboard is halfway between Banff and Calgary.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Don't you mean cal-GARY?

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2007 : 19:25:33

Never thought of Minnewanka, only 10 minutes from our lake right? How's the sailing amidst all these mountains though?

If I'd be desperate for a mooring ball, I would consider spreading peanut butter on your boat. LOL

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 10/23/2007 19:26:42

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2007 : 21:23:05

Minnewanka is an extremely cold and very windy lake. 17KMS long and up to 2.5KM's wide.

Will get out there for a long weekend next season.
I've tried to get info on the secluded, locked floating marina but have not had any responses yet. I bought a Park Pass and intend to use it.
I will post a detailed accounting as soon as I get answers.
I've taken some pictures, have a chart, and will set sail as soon as Bear season resumes in the spring.
This is a Grizzly Lake. We saw several trees on our hike that had Grizzly markings. Nearly half the lake shore is off limits to bi-peds.
We've done a lot of hiking, windsurfing, kayaking and mountain biking there over the years. Getting the C25 launched there is another itch that needs to be scratched.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2007 : 21:46:51

They say, to ward off bears, wear a bell around your neck so the bears will hear you coming.

You may have also heard how you can tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly by its droppings... The black bear's has seeds and berry pits in it. The grizzly's has bells.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2007 : 00:53:42

Best way to tell the difference between Black bears and Grizzly bears:

You will recognize Black Bears by their behinds, because they will generally run away from you. Or, if they have been de-sensitized to humans, they will look up at you briefly while they eat what-ever dead thing or plant they have found.
When provoked, a Black Bear will slash at a human and run.

You will recognize Grizzly Bears by their enormous claws and fangs a fraction of a second before they seperate your head from your shoulders then gnaw your arm off. The second biggest giveaway is the aggressive, I'm the king of the forest behaviour.

I've had many run-ins with Blacks, mostly of the Kodak moment variety. Although one time while riding a bike I hit one head on. He turned and ran and I had road rash from flying over the handlebars. I have not had a direct run-in with a Grizzly. I saw one while in a kayak, I was in the water about 10ft from shore, he was about 20 ft from the water on the shore, he started toward the kayak...I paddled like Popeye under the influence of a very large can of Spinach. I looked back when I was about 200 yards from there and only when I could tell by his bawling, that he was not swimming after me. His intentions were very clear.
I've seen lots of signs of Grizzlys: Tree Markings (claw marks from 3 to 15 ft up the trunk of a tree) decapitated cow, half a deer, shredded backpack and tent.
There are lots of them around here. There are places on Minnewanka that I want to explore, I believe the best way is in my C25, 20+ feet from shore.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2007 : 09:46:52

Keep your swim-ladder up.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2007 : 12:05:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">You may have also heard how you can tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly by its droppings... The black bear's has seeds and berry pits in it. The grizzly's has bells.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

another way to tell the difference between Black Bear and Grizzly: If droppings contain your arm, most likely it was Grizzly.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2007 : 13:18:53

Steve,

KATAKOLON is my dream location amid the mediterranean's antiquities, it's beyond belief. I have no idea of the price range

If you would rather, Abaco offers some relatively inexpensive properties. Starting @ $12.000,000 and going down to a one acre parcel on the Atlantic @ $ 100,000.

Val on Calista, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2007 : 14:58:01

...and there you are, Val, retired on "Lon Gisland." What happened to your dream?

(Oh ya, I remember--kids!)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/24/2007 14:59:06

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2007 : 16:30:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Starting @ $12.000,000 <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Is that $12 million?
Is it US Dollar, or Euros?

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2007 : 12:02:48

Dave, I love "Lon Gisland", but after a while it begins to resemble a prison even with occasional vacations here and there.
Unfortunately the current rate of exchange is 1.43 dollars (yesterday)to the Euro, and the only country that would accept the dollar was Turkey, all of which enforces the concept of home's resemblance to a prison. DAGNABIT !

Val on Calista, # 3936, Patchogue, Lon Gisland, N.Y.

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2007 : 15:11:53

Starting at $12M, heck I'll just write them a check right now. What a bargain. LOL

I think he meant $12K.

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 10/26/2007 20:58:44

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2007 : 13:03:38

Unh-uh, that's 12.5 million...SORRY

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