Imagine waking up in the morning to crystal blue waters and enjoying breakfast on your yacht in a remote coastal bay as the morning sun rises. It sounds like a dream, but many people are making catamaran life a reality. Over 30 years ago, my husband Stephen and I began our journey in the world of sailing, and now, we’re helping others discover the freedom and lifestyle we love so much.
By Estelle And Stephen Cockcroft – Founders of Catamaran Guru
We established Catamaran Guru as a resource for others wanting to live on the sea and experience all the world has to offer. Today, we serve as consultants for anybody interested in catamaran life, assisting with advice but also helping to locate the perfect vessel, managing purchases, and even teaching others how to sail.
So, if you’re interested in exploring the world through a very different lens, catamaran life could be for you. Once you’ve considered the type of vessel you can see yourself living on, the rest is all about planning. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know before you start sailing and take to the seas.
Planning your finances
Purchasing a catamaran is a huge investment, typically only second to the cost of a house in terms of financial outlay. So, like any significant purchase, you’ll need to have your financial ducks in a row before getting too far into the planning stage.
You’ve already determined the type of vessel you want, so you should now know roughly how much it will cost. We’ll talk about some different purchase methods shortly because there are ways to reduce the cost of ownership. But ultimately, you must ensure you have the means to support your investment.
Careful budgeting and staying within your limits are the best ways to ensure a smooth transition to catamaran life. But let’s look at some different purchase methods.
How will you purchase your catamaran?
There is a common misconception that you need to be wealthy to own a yacht and live on the sea. While it is a significant investment, living on a catamaran is not exclusive to the super-rich. It’s true that many people in the catamaran community also have remote work opportunities to support their lifestyle, but you also need the upfront investment.
Fortunately, there are different ways you can go about buying a catamaran, and in fact, helping people with this stage of the journey is a big reason why we started Catamaran Guru. As yacht brokers, we help other sailing enthusiasts realise their dream of catamaran life, and we’ve found that people from all walks of life can achieve this dream.
Let’s take a look at two of the ways you can purchase your catamaran.
Purchase outright
The most simple and obvious way to buy a catamaran is to purchase it outright. You can buy brand-new or pre-owned, and naturally, there’s a big price difference. Still, even used catamarans have a hefty price tag depending on the vessel’s size, features, age and quality. But that doesn’t preclude you from buying one outright.
Some people we’ve worked with over the years choose to sell their homes in order to fund their catamaran life. This offers plenty of start-up capital to buy your boat and get started. Alternatively, with good credit, you may be able to borrow some or all of the required funds. This isn’t uncommon, but you must ensure you have an income source to manage repayments and fund all the other expenses associated with catamaran life.
Ownership programs
Speaking of income sources, that brings us to ownership programs. Stephen and I have been involved in many yacht ownership programs over the years, so we’ve seen the good, the bad and everything in between.
There are various types of ownership programs out there. Some operate similarly to a time-share arrangement, where you have access to the yacht for a certain amount of time each year, and all owners share the expenses.
The other, more common type is a charter management program. In this ownership structure, a charter management company uses your yacht to generate income for you. People often choose this option if they want to move on board their vessel in 3-5 years’ time. Basically, you can still use the vessel for a set period each year, giving you a taste of catamaran life while your boat generates income for the rest of the year.
Not all charter management or ownership plans are created equal, and risks are associated, so you should consult a yacht broker to help explore your options.
Safety considerations
Whether you intend to live exclusively on your catamaran, or even if you only sail it a few times a year, safety is always your number 1 priority. We won’t go into the extensive list of safety items you should have on board, but obviously, you’ll need to have an emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), flares, fire extinguishers, life jackets and all of the common items associated with boat safety.
However, when planning for catamaran life, you need to think more broadly. As Stephen and I discovered early on, a lot about sailing is trial and error. The more you sail, the more you understand the equipment you may need. But one of the more important things is considering how you will stay in touch with the rest of the world.
Your friends and family will likely want to know you’re safe, so having reliable communication at sea is crucial. Aside from your smartphones and other devices, which may not work everywhere you go, make sure you have something like an IridiumGo or Starlink that may help you reach out in case of an emergency. Starlink even makes it possible for us to conduct business as if in the office! It is affordable, easy to use and seamless.
Contact a yacht broker
Naturally, there are many other things to consider when choosing Catamaran Life. We could go into great detail about all of the equipment you should have on board, insurance and mooring costs worldwide, and countless other relevant factors. But since that would be more like a book than a useful article, we won’t go into every minute detail!
If you’ve got the desire to make sailing your life, there are people out there who can help. We set up Catamaran Guru because we’ve had 30 years of experience owning catamarans and travelling the high seas. Today, we still enjoy our catamaran life, but we also help countless others realise their dreams too.
As trusted and experienced yacht brokers, myself, Stephen and our dedicated team can help you make one of the best investments of your life. From initial planning to finding the perfect yacht, we’re your partner on this journey. So, even if you don’t have extensive sailing knowledge, a yacht broker you trust will always be able to help you get started.
About the authors
Estelle Cockcroft – Co-Founder, Co-Owner, & President, Catamaran Guru
Estelle Cockcroft is one of the foremost experts on large catamaran sailing, living, buying, and selling in the world. She has traveled more than 70,000 nautical miles of remote waterways, explored 45 incredible countries, and, as Catamaran Guru Co-Founder, Co-Owner, and President, brokers dozens of catamaran transactions each year and manages the company’s $40M+ annual revenue. Estelle shares her passion for sailing through her blog on the Catamaran Guru website and as a qualified Royal Yachting Association captain and American Sailing Association instructor.
Stephen Cockcroft – Exclusive Buyers’ Broker & Large Catamaran Specialist, CatamaranGuru
An accomplished offshore catamaran sailor, Stephen has spent nearly 50 years sailing and racing in trans-ocean voyages and working in the sailing industry. In addition to representing clients in the purchase or sale of a yacht as co-founder of Catamaran Guru, he has also served as co-owner of the popular Island Spirit Catamaran factory and co-owner of the third-largest charter company in North America/Caribbean. A former Instructor Examiner for the American Sailing Association, and current owner of a Royal Yachting Association sailing school, Stephen has taught hundreds of people to sail catamarans and monohulls and is a sought-after expert on catamaran specifications, yacht ownership solutions, and the liveaboard lifestyle. Stephen currently lives aboard a Catana 50 Ocean Class with his wife and Catamaran Guru co-founder, Estelle.
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August 2023 | Life Lovers Magazine.
Life Lovers Magazine® 