Say Dweste, what are the laws regarding charging for short cruises in your area?

It might not pay all the bills, but even just a few friends going for a day sailing might possibly put a bit of fuel in the tanks.

A USCG "six pack" Captain's license might be a good place to start, along with the required first aid and CPR training AFTER getting several years good experience in all kinds of weather handling the boat. Not dock time mixing cocktails, but actual boat handling time.

Congrats on the boat!

Maybe it's a bit off the original topic, but I always thought the systems used on these vehicles might be perfect for a live aboard boat:

http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvlt1_overview.html

Diesel-powered ceramic stove
Effecient DC compressor fridge
Etc...

And a couple of solar panels will run everything for days/weeks. If you run the diesel and/or have wind turbine that it should go forever.

Congratulations!!! Enjoy riding the waves (don't tell my wife, the former swabette, that I said that)...

waves or W.A.V.E.S.??

Whatever turns you on. I guess a lucky sailor might say both...

Well, letting the other guy do the plan and prep work ended the way it does too often. The fun day-and-a-half sail through bays he knew into the delta waters I know turned into three-quarters-of-a-day of sailing without getting very far, a tow into a marina and another day-and-a-half tow into the boat's new home.

Venerable and supposedly never-fail diesel motor disabled for unknown reasons, aground once for a stupid reason, and just a long slow haul home. "Comedy" of errors.

Safe. Tired. Grungy. Determined to set a higher standard.

Ah, the life on the water.
Hey Dweste, you might want to look up Tim Anderson's writings on the Instructables site.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Maiden-Voyage-of-the-Free-Yacht/

"...diesel motor disabled..."

Major bummer. Good luck with repairs...

So long as you are learning and trying to set a higher standard, you probably will.

Good luck with the diesel.