Just made a move that sets us one step closer to realizing the dream of living that lifestyle that so many of us desire.
For the last few years, I’ve wanted to go to the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Well I’m happy to report that this is the year it’s happening! We’ll be going to the Spring show in April.
I can’t wait to get onboard some of the new boats for many reasons. It’ll really give us a better idea of potential living spaces and design possibilities for what we’ll ultimately want on our boat. Even though we won’t be buying a new boat when the time comes, I’m sure we’ll see things that we want to incorporate into whatever boat we do end up on.
Have you been? Any tips/hints on how to get the most out of it?
Mike
If you plan to purchased a used boat (which is a good idea as you will get a lot more boat for the money), you may find it difficult to look at new boats and make comparisons to the older models by the same manufacturer. The industry has really changed over the past few years with the wider stern designs and added beams.
When we were looking for a boat, we went to markets such as Annapolis, Ft. Lauderdale, St Petersburg and Newport (RI). These are big areas for sailing and have a lot of used boats for sale at all times. We met with brokers and looked at several boats in each market.
However, the show will give you a very good idea of the newest and latest gizmos for navigation, safety, solar/electronics etc. It is nice to have all the major manufacturers in one place so you can touch and squeeze. Depending on the age of the vessel you buy, you may want to update electronics.
The big question you should be facing now is to buy a cat or a monohull. Ha! I just opened a big can of worms!
Ha! That’s the truth cat or mono! I’ve pretty much decided on mono already primarily because of the cost factor involved, but the woman in my life (who I recently proposed to) would likely prefer a multi-hull. 🙂
It’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Consider signing up for Cruisers University, ) which runs in conjunction with the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show. Lots of seminars on cruising to give you a head start on your dream!
Thanks Nancy! I’ll look into that.
On another note, can you email me some other things to do in the area while we’re there? Attractions/events/etc. That’d be GREAT!
I second the vote for the Cruisers University, especially if they do the “take the wheel” segment (you get to go out on a couple boats that way). At the fall show, I found the best deals on gear the last day…I guess vendors didn’t want to pack things back up again. So, if you are looking for any bits of gear (foul weather gear, toys, etc.), might see if the prices drop or additional incentives are given the last day.
-Mike
ThisRatSailed