I personally agree with the spartan approach. I am using it to some degree myself. If you would like to see what can be done on the spartan level look at the Pardys.
Sailing with Lin & Larry Pardey
They are without engine or any electrical other than what is powered by dry cell batteries. They have been world crusing this way for fourty years.Their mast is wood and built by them. Their rigging has no fancy stainless attachments. There is an eye spliced into each end with a turnbuckle for adjustment as I remember it. They built their own windvane.
They live much like the old mountain man of the past, just on the sea instead.
Much can be learned from them about budget crusing and then simply adjust up to your own comfort level.

__________________
What the hell did I just do

Good points....on the mark...

The figures I gave are just an example of what the rich guys can do to a 30 year old boat to make it new again.
And pay me to do what I love doing, it doesn't get better than that...

When we bought the Cal 2-46 it was floating, engine ran, 12v power worked most of the time and the head worked (most of the time....)

We were/are broke, but we were in the Keys, and the used boat parts store called "Sailorman" was in Fort Lauderdale.
We also found "Inland Waterway Treasure Company"....great stuff and he swears it wasn't 'hot.'

We shopped used for all our boat stuff.

When we became "regulars" we started haggling to get better prices......
still came to $30k.

Spartan???? big time... BBQ grill was from the side of the road, boarding ladder was teak....under 5 coats of battleship gray... coffee pot was an extra from an AA meeting in Ft. Liquordale...found the dink in a mangrove near Boot Key Harbor, good shape...newest thing we had.

We had two kids, a safe boat and Down Island we went.
We looked like the Clampets hitting Beverly Hills. (Boy that's dating myself...)

Not really that bad but there were some scary times; one day the prop pulled out of the 'used' coupler, due to the daily forces of cruising. Luckly it hit the rudder and did not come all the way out of the stuffing box.
As close to sinking as I want to get.

Great times were had by all.....
Kids still brag about how they learned to row a boat, b/4 they could ride a bike...

We worked and improved that boat, until we moved up and out of Spartan to what we called "close enuf to yacht."

Sold it for a profit, now we're looking for the "Classic Look" of a Vagabond 47.
For $70k.....right....

I'll find one...

fred

Having owned an Endurance 40 built by windboats for many years,I can safely say that she will be sound.providing that she was built by the same builder.She was without doubt the safest most seakindly boat I have ever sailed on in 40yrs of sailing.
We did the atlantic twice,the full length of the Med both ways,& numerous crossings of Biscay,+ the north sea as far as Norway,The only reason I sold her was some idiot offered me a bucket full of cash for her,a decision I have regretted ever since.

Hi Nick,

Thanks for clearing up our lack of understanding/experience with Endurance boats. Her hull shape is what intrigued me most. She looked to have the right lines to handle some rough situations.

Welcome to the forum!

Hi Sully,
thanks for the welcome,when are you getting afloat again & what boat do you have ?
being on land is like having your legs tied together,(you cant get anywhere & if you can its no fun getting there)
Good sailing (whenever) Nick

Nick,

I just moved onto land for the first time since the last recession. I plan to stick it out 3 years (on land) and get right back on the water as soon as we have some extra $$$ saved up from working.

So, unfortunately, I'm land bound for a few years.

Are you out right now?

Hi Sully.
In the balaerics at the moment,leaving next week for Gib then madeira,the canaries,then in november heading off to Brazil,ive never been there before so should be interesting,after that who knows? The wife fancies going back to the west indies for a bit of no brain sailing but we shall see. Sorry to hear your land locked but good luck for the future.(keep doing the lottery)
Nick