How to get a job on a sailboat?

Can one person man and sail a 40ft to 50ft sailboat?

• I have a distant future goal of living on a sailboat for a while and sailing around to different places. I would rather sail around with someone, like a wife or girlfriend, but since I don't have any of these at the moment I'm planning for the worst case scenario. I live in Iowa so I can't practically learn sailing skills right now, so I'm hoping on moving to Florida when I get a job offer.

• Answer:

  Regardless of whether or not there is one, two, (or more) people sailing with you - the very smart and wise choice is a smaller boat. Several "rules" apply here. . . For one, you should never buy the biggest boat you can afford. Instead, buy the very smallest you (and your mate) can comfortably live on. In addition, your boat needs to be one that can be sailed or handled safely by one person - even if there are two or more on board. Hey, things happen... we get sick, we stump toes, we have to go to the head. Any number of things far less serious than someone falling over-board, can create a serious and dangerous situation if the vessel is out of control and requires another person. Sure, we can all handle 50 footers on any one of those beautiful days that God made just for boaters. Fact is however, winds, currents, tides, wakes, snakes, and many other things come in to play on almost a daily basis. Sitting back in the helm having an unbrella drink while cruising across the Pacific is one thing. . . Docking that baby without a second pair of hands is another. In many places you will want to go, there are Locks and Bridges. Then there is anchoring, there is also weather conditions when changing a main sail that could weigh as much as 300 lbs on a 50 footer - all come into play. When the wind is blowing in your face at 20 knots - and you can't manhandle the sails, and control the boom and the helm - you'll be wishing you had a 30 footer. Fact is, the very most "experienced" and "accomplished" live a-board and cruising sailors are in vessels less than 36'. For the most part, the ones that aren't - wish they were. They are the one's stuck at the dock on all but perfect days - for lack of crew. If you plan on doing this on anything that resembles a frugal budget - the smaller the better. Anything under 36' - and you will be in great company. Furthermore, if you are moving to Florida, and plan on cruising the East Coast, Atlantic ICW, or the Great Loop and the Caribbean, you will need a very shallow draft (keel). And typically, you won't find that on a 40 foot (plus) vessel.... Sure, we dream of bigger boats - that's just the nature of boating. Fact is however, dreaming is one thing - actually doing it is another - and doing it in anything over 36' is nuts. Over 36' bigger is not better, it is simply much more complicated and expensive. John The Atlantic ICW pages on the link below will give you a good idea of what it's all about.