A discussion over cocktails

[RichH]

aka not a benetau.

Not a boat primarily set up and designed for dockside entertaining.

The stretch of water that I highlighted can be well considered 'open ocean' sailing even though most who transit this area will island hop or run in the windshadows of the major islands. Island hopping with a 'coastal design' boat will include laying over in out of the way ports, sometimes for weeks at a time waiting for the proper 'weather window'.

In this stretch of water, as I highlighted, expect to 'take a pounding' if the weather isnt 'perfect'. This is not a place to be sailing a 'flimsy'.

A good guide for passage planning in this area is: http://www.amazon.com/The-Gentlemans-Guide-Passages-South/dp/0944428797

 

[rufus1138]

Ill again suggest the cherbini line of hunters...specifically the 30 33 or 37 depending on ones taste

 

[bffatcat]

Live aboard boats

Im not a live aboard sailor nor am I an off shore cruiser. But at 76 Ive got over 50 years of New England coastal cruising My opinion is: First do not buy a lightly built boat. dont buy a boat built to sell at a given price Do buy a sturdy well built Size is a matter of choice, About where you are going, how comfortable you want to be and what your budget is

 

[Jackdaw]

The OP is asking for opinions about new boats, and new designs. Good reason for that, boat design and construction has come a long way in the past, say FOURTY YEARS. If you are singing the praises of your brand and model of 40 year old boat, mostly because you have not sailed a boat designed in this century, you are doing this thread a disservice.

If someone asked about a new sports car, please don't bring up a nice 1977 Pontiac Trans Am.

 

[Stu Jackson]

...so it has to be easily singlehanded. I have pretty much settled on the Catalina 315. Good choice? Better one out there?
I chose this group because like it says, You probably should answer with a cocktail in your hands. LOL
Lets also use $200kplus/minus as a budget.

Hi. Have you looked at the Catalina 355? It's the newer version of our venerable C34, which also has a similar hull to the venerable C36. The C355 is ALL NEW, with aft head and layout of the C34. They're very popular, and they've made enough of them that the bugs have been worked out.

The 315 is a C30. It's a nice boat, but the huge amount of extra room on the C355 would come in very handy if you're planning to spend major time on the boat. We had a C22, C25 and then the C34. We skipped the C30 for a goods reason, 'cuz it was just a tad bigger than the C25.

Good luck, happy hunting. :dance:

 

[rufus1138]

The OP is asking for opinions about new boats, and new designs. Good reason for that, boat design and construction has come a long way in the past, say FOURTY YEARS. If you are singing the praises of your brand and model of 40 year old boat, mostly because you have not sailed a boat designed in this century, you are doing this thread a disservice.

If someone asked about a new sports car, please don't bring up a nice 1977 Pontiac Trans Am.

The reason people are so quick to talk about 40 year old bats when the subject of cruising comes up is because unless you are willing to dump a huge amount of money on a slim line of yachts that have a very narrow set of design influences then you will end up with a lightly built flat bottomed Benny that will beat ur brains out in a seaway or you can buy a 40 year old boat that is exactly what you want asthetically and feature wise that will ride wonderfully and offer another 40 years of service without complaint...as an aside the cruising boats on the market today that won't beat you like you owe them money (you will) are guess what...40 year old designs.

 

[Jackdaw]

The reason people are so quick to talk about 40 year old bats when the subject of cruising comes up is because unless you are willing to dump a huge amount of money on a slim line of yachts that have a very narrow set of design influences then you will end up with a lightly built flat bottomed Benny that will beat ur brains out in a seaway or you can buy a 40 year old boat that is exactly what you want asthetically and feature wise that will ride wonderfully and offer another 40 years of service without complaint...as an aside the cruising boats on the market today that won't beat you like you owe them money (you will) are guess what...40 year old designs.

I agree with what you are saying about the relative goodness of some older designs. But:

Old boats are old boats. With 40 years of history, problems, and mainence issues, some people actually choose to spent money to avoid those problems.

And, the OP said he had the money to spend on a new$200k ish boat.

As a rule, new boats (and their new rigs) are much easier to sail, in particular by an older, short handed crew.

There plenty of new boats that might meet his requirements. He wanted suggestions. This dogma about you can only get kindly sea motion in an old boat is just silly.

 

[Compromise]

I agree with what you are saying about the relative goodness of some older designs. But: Old boats are old boats. With 40 years of history, problems, and mainence issues, some people actually choose to spent money to avoid those problems. And, the OP said he had the money to spend on a new$200k ish boat. As a rule, new boats (and their new rigs) are much easier to sail, in particular by an older, short handed crew. There plenty of new boats that might meet his requirements. He wanted suggestions. This dogma about you can only get kindly sea motion in an old boat is just silly.

+1 thumb: I absolutely agree. I've sailed the old ones and the new ones. I like the new ones.