Choosing a boat.

[Mike H.]

After selling our Hunter Vision 36 last year we are in the market for a new boat.
Our budget is about $ 40,000.
We really liked the Hunter Vision, especially the aft stateroom and interior. However, we did not like the payment or the handling. The boat was overpowered for the SF Bay, did not point well and way too much freeboard.
We've been looking for an affordable boat with an aft stateroom, but that puts us in a 40' plus boat with a lot of deferred maintenance. In addition, that length of vessel puts us in the more expensive berths.
So, we are compromising on the aft stateroom and will be settling on a 36 - 39 foot boat. I would love a Perry designed boat, Tayana or Union, but I have heard horror stories about rotten decks and lots of wood maintenance.
Our shortened list includes the following:
Catalina, Morgan, Ericson, Bristol, C&C, Cal, Endeavor, Pearson, Islander
What would you recommend or rule out?

 

[JohnShannon]

what do you have against Beneteaus! The Vision 36 from sailboat data looks like has a shoal draft only 4'8" with a winged keel. PHRF is 138 which is sorta medium. The aft stateroom gets you your high freeboard.

How did you use your boat?

 

[JohnShannon]

Hunter legend in Napa http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1993/Hunter-35.5-Legend-2773985/Napa/CA/United-States#.Vt-LscftoRY little bit newer than your old boat, have to bargain for 40k

I think the "legend" range is more performance oriented, but by the numbers is seems kinda similar to your old boat.

 

[Mark Maulden]

Well, I'm sorta partial....

 

[JohnShannon]

Catalina 34 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/boa/5469304268.html Stu on this site seems to like them.

 

[Stu Jackson]

John's right, I do. Have had ours for 18 years. Great SF Bay and ocean boat. The aft cabin is not necessarily what the OP may have in mind, most of us use it as The garage and sleep in the world's biggest V berth.

There's one for sail at Cruising Yachts right now, great boat with walk through transom but not a Mark II. A good friend owned it, in fine shape.

http://www.cruisingyachts.net/

I also know the owner of the one John linked to. No dodger though, but a nice boat, more deferred maintenance than the Cruising Yachts boat, same price.

 

[JohnShannon]

looks like the Beneteau first 375 is in your price range, but older boats so condition is key. They are all on the East coast so trucking$$ Definitely faster, need to know how to reef if you are on the bay in the summer.

 

[Mike H.]

what do you have against Beneteaus! The Vision 36 from sailboat data looks like has a shoal draft only 4'8" with a winged keel. PHRF is 138 which is sorta medium. The aft stateroom gets you your high freeboard.

How did you use your boat?

We used the boat for cruising the bay and coast. And we love Benes. We almost bought one before the Hunter.

 

[Mike H.]

Hunter legend in Napa http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1993/Hunter-35.5-Legend-2773985/Napa/CA/United-States#.Vt-LscftoRY little bit newer than your old boat, have to bargain for 40k

I think the "legend" range is more performance oriented, but by the numbers is seems kinda similar to your old boat.

We sold out 1994 Hunter Vision 36 for $61,500. We had it listed for $69,500. I'll bet that boat can be bought for $41,000.
That's a nice boat and thank you very much for presenting it. I have had this mindset that I wanted a heavier, long keel classic plastic boat. But, the Hunters are great boats. My wife would love another one. I'll be checking this one out. Thanks for your research!

 

[Mike H.]

Catalina 34 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/boa/5469304268.html Stu on this site seems to like them.

I just don't want to go backward in size.

 

[Mike H.]

looks like the Beneteau first 375 is in your price range, but older boats so condition is key. They are all on the East coast so trucking$$ Definitely faster, need to know how to reef if you are on the bay in the summer.

Yeah trucking from the east coast is 10K. Then recommissioning. Yes, we always had our sail on that Vision double reefed. I don't even want to go into what a PITA the system and process was to reef that monster.

 

[Mike H.]

looks like the Beneteau first 375 is in your price range, but older boats so condition is key. They are all on the East coast so trucking$$ Definitely faster, need to know how to reef if you are on the bay in the summer.

I will reconsider Benes and Hunters.

 

[Mike H.]

John's right, I do. Have had ours for 18 years. Great SF Bay and ocean boat. The aft cabin is not necessarily what the OP may have in mind, most of us use it as The garage and sleep in the world's biggest V berth.

There's one for sail at Cruising Yachts right now, great boat with walk through transom but not a Mark II. A good friend owned it, in fine shape.

http://www.cruisingyachts.net/

I also know the owner of the one John linked to. No dodger though, but a nice boat, more deferred maintenance than the Cruising Yachts boat, same price.

We will look into Catalinas, probably 36 and 38s. And We will check into the 34s.

 

[Gunni]

Your fix on an aft stateroom guarantees high freeboard on a boat this size, you have to raise the cockpit to make it happen. You could consider a center cockpit, they were quite the rage years ago, and there are many available. However then you buy yourself a high cockpit and difficulty seeing past your headsail to lee. And I never did like sleeping in a vee- berth, they are tight and bumpy on anchor, so when shopping for our current boat I made a double Pullman berth forward a design requirement. Lots of headroom, and nice square rack. If we have guests they can squeeze into the aft stateroom / coffin. The B393 and B411 both share this layout. The B393 fits your budget, and has a lovely sheer.

 

[DSqr]

Take a look at Hunter 376s. The aft cabin is outstanding and it has less freeboard than my previous Hunter 33.5. I've see some for sale on the West Coast.

 

[JohnShannon]

Bene 393 is big but isn't about $80k? If you can get one for 40k I will let you buy my next boat for me.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Well, you might try this O'day 37 CC.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1979/O'Day-Center-Cockpit-2872463/Long-Beach/CA/United-States#.VuERUNJdW-g

Also, see review by Kretschmer.
http://sailingmagazine.net/article-546-oday-37.html

Here's the bottom line.
Conclusion
The O'Day is a nice example of an affordable coastal cruising boat. Although many boats were originally chartered or school boats, most have been retrofitted into family cruisers. If your budget is between $35,000 to $45,000 and a private aft cabin is high on your priority list, take a hard look at the O'Day 37, it just might surprise you.

 

[Mike H.]

Your fix on an aft stateroom guarantees high freeboard on a boat this size, you have to raise the cockpit to make it happen. You could consider a center cockpit, they were quite the rage years ago, and there are many available. However then you buy yourself a high cockpit and difficulty seeing past your headsail to lee. And I never did like sleeping in a vee- berth, they are tight and bumpy on anchor, so when shopping for our current boat I made a double Pullman berth forward a design requirement. Lots of headroom, and nice square rack. If we have guests they can squeeze into the aft stateroom / coffin. The B393 and B411 both share this layout. The B393 fits your budget, and has a lovely sheer.

Thanks, I'll look into those.

 

[Mike H.]

Take a look at Hunter 376s. The aft cabin is outstanding and it has less freeboard than my previous Hunter 33.5. I've see some for sale on the West Coast.

Thanks, I'll check those out as well.

 

[Mike H.]

Well, you might try this O'day 37 CC.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1979/O'Day-Center-Cockpit-2872463/Long-Beach/CA/United-States#.VuERUNJdW-g

Also, see review by Kretschmer.
http://sailingmagazine.net/article-546-oday-37.html

Here's the bottom line.
Conclusion
The O'Day is a nice example of an affordable coastal cruising boat. Although many boats were originally chartered or school boats, most have been retrofitted into family cruisers. If your budget is between $35,000 to $45,000 and a private aft cabin is high on your priority list, take a hard look at the O'Day 37, it just might surprise you.

Thank You. This is a good fit for us. I like it. Not exactly sleek and sexy, but functional.