What would you buy?

[RichH]

My choice 1st would be a Passport 40. Split underbody for good overall performance, lots stowage capacity, well built, etc.
2nd choice - Tayana Vancouver 42 .... $120-130k + $20-30k upgrade.

Both have good PHRF numbers for 'heavies' and do quite well in the 'light winds' of summer on the Chesapeake.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Is it true that Passport uses iron keels? Just curious on that one.

The long full keel definitely has its advantages. A shallow draft is ideal for the ICW and the Chesapeake Bay. I think that I would want a MAXIMUM draft of 6' but 5' would probably be best.

One other thing that I would also throw out there is that Teak Decks are something I would try to avoid. They do look nice but they require maintenance and there are issues that can happen with them, especially the older one.

A good point was that canvas is a must. I don't think that it is smart to have a cruising sailboat without good canvas because of sun cancer and other things, not to mention that it is much cooler in the shade. In the summer the Chesapeake Bay region gets really hot with light winds and that little bit of shade from a Bimini is a Godsend!

Would you rather go with an early 80's boat, early 90's boat, or a newer boat? Why?
There are so many advantages to each generation of boats but I think that I would avoid mid-80's boats because I have heard that there are more issues with blistering on those boats. Where blisters aren't that big of a deal, it does cause some maintenance that should be undertaken.

 

[Prime Time]

What about Draft

Given your home waters and potential for cruising the Bahamas, draft is an issue. How about keel/centerboarder from the 60-70's? Block Island 40, Bermuda 40, Bristol 39/40, etc? Although centerboards can be trouble, with proper repair and maintenance you should be fine. Old CCA designs, tried and true blue water boats.

 

[BobM]

Hmmm...keeping the strictures of the original post in mind...don't think I'd like a full keeled boat in light air or on the Chesapeake. If I was going bigger I'd still like to keep maintenance down (there goes a Swan out the window). I think I'd go a minimum of 38-ish if I were going to live aboard and not more that 45.

Even that big I think I'd go as new as possible with in mast furling a must. Given the planned island time I'd opt for walk through transom with a swim platform (not a big deal now in Boston...nobody want to swim near Deer Island in 60 degree water anyway).

A bit boring to pick a Beneteau...but I'd have to say that liveaboard and liveabroad considerations plus extensive single handing would dominate my choice.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2000/Beneteau-Center-Cockpit-1929644/St-Petersburg/FL/United-States

 

[Bad Obsession]

This is a hyphetical question. This could happen in the future for me. The idea of this was to see what most people were thinking of when they were going for extended cruising. The difference between a modern light displacement boat and a classic heavy cruising boat.

If it was me, I would never ever buy a centerboard boat. I would much rather deal with a fixed keel that was shoal draft or a full keel.

Anyone else going to weigh in on this?

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

I would make the budget go furthest by not getting in a hurry. I would set aside 5K to live on for a month or more while I did nothing but look at boats. I would only visit boats that seemed to be in the top 5% as far as condition. I would private message the Mainsails, RichH's and others that have a keen eye for a "total cream puff" and ask if anything is looking extraordinary in their area. I would walk LOTS of docks. When I looked at a specific boat, it would be hard for me, but I would keep my mouth shut as much as possible. Often a seller will let you know when there is a good deal to be had. I don't have a lot of experience in bigger boats but from my current vantage point, I like Passports, and Gozzard/ Bayfields.

 

[RichH]

Is it true that Passport uses iron keels? Just curious on that one.

Most of the Bob Perry designed boats from this era are encapsulated iron keels .... cast iron with minimal 'punchings' to fill the void. Not a problem if you maintain the water tight integrity and one hell of a lot more foolproof than a bolted on keel. Its extremely rare for a cast encapsulated keel to develop problems .... much rarer than a boat breaking off its keel bolts.

 

[Franklin]

Since we are talking live-aboard and not crossing oceans, I wouldn't go with anything other then a late 90s 40+ Hunter. They have a lot of room to live in and sail pretty good, especially for a single-handler. Should find a nice one in that price range.

 

[ITMaster]

Guess I'll just hang on to what I've got since that's what I have.

For now it seems to be meeting the requirements for running around the bay, except I don't live aboard since the house is next door to where the boat lives.

 

[Buck420]

This should be an interesting thread. It will be interesting to see what people suggest in this situation and could be a neat learning experience.

Your budget is 100,000 to 150,000.

Cruising area: Chesapeake Bay, also intended trip to Bermuda and sailing south in the winter to the Bahamas (future intentions).

Boat will also be used as a liveaboard.

Crew: Single handed to one other person at times.

Slip Location: Middle Chesapeake Bay

Length of time owning the boat: Long ownership period through excellent maintenance of the boat.


So what boat would you buy? How would you set it up? What additional gear would you add to the boat? What are things you could live without? What are things that you couldn't live without?

A Hunter Passage 42 ...
IMHO, you will regret anything smaller and spend too much for anything bigger

 

[higgs]

I think people tend to buy bigger than they need nowadays and I would look for something in the mid 30s. I think my Nassau 34 would do the job nicely for me. Another two feet would be good as my head/shower is a little small. I have always like the Crealocks and the older Valients can be bought in that range.

There are a lot of less well known boats like Corbin, Pretorious, Baltic, Endeavor that are terrific blue water boats that I would not overlook. Then there is the Morgan 38.................

 

[Manny]

Easy question!

I'd go with Pacific Seacraft 31 :dance:
I'd make sure it had an upgraded battery bank, roller furling for the jib/genny, probably three reef points on the main, an extra set of sails, and probably self steering (the windvane type), charts and backup gps. Oh yeah, lots of spares for the diesel.

Manny

 

[krissteyn]

He Brian D : I also thought the challenger 35 was a good deal - managed to finf VGER in Turkey Creek FL and when she hauled had a bad repair on the previous blisters. Paid $6k including many improvements and a hard bottomed dingy in good condition. Spent another 6K on her and took the family to the bahamas for 6 weeks. After they flew back I was offered 16 by a fellow boater and the deal was done 1 month before hurricane season.
All that was in 2006 - am now considering another.
If you do find a challenger - feel free to contact me : do a google search if you cant find an email address here. I am happy to tell you what I know : I did find 3 other 35's with varuios "problems" but I still like the boat.
I presume you have seen Nomotu's site.

keep looking : I am back in Africa for the moment !

Kris

 

[Jimm]

Can I cheat on price and say - Bavaria 38 with full electronics, incl radar and an Asym.......similar to the Beneteau, but with a much better live aboard arrangement -- in my opinion

 

[sailingdog]

I'd go with a catamaran. Either a Gemini, Catalac 8/9/10M, or an Iroquois. These will have more living space than most 40' LOA monohulls, be more comfortable at anchor or the dock, and don't have the issues of draft that most monohulls will have given your cruising intentions.

 

[jibes138]

How about a Caliber 38?

Pretty heavy displacement, well built with glassed bulkheads, skeg hung rudder, excellent tankage, anyone on here ever sailed one?

 

[Bad Obsession]

Caliber is a descent boat. That would definitely fit the bill!

 

[Steve Dion]

How about a Hylas 44. They were designed by Frers and can be had in the $150k range for an older one. Sailing tabloid has an article about these boats in the March 2009 issue.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I haven't seen any mentions of a Southern Cross 35 or a Southern Cross 39. Both are supposed to be very good boats. Anyone have any experience with the type of haul that they are...A coored hull with some type of foam in between?

The more I look at them the more I favor a cutter rig. If it is blowing stink you can roll up the Jib and fly the yankee. The compromise that I see with a cutter is that it is probably a pain to tack because the jib has to go around the cutter stay. Some boats have a removable cutter stay, which is also nice, but I think that I would prefer a cutter right with both Jib and Yankee on a furler so that if the weather became nasty quick you don't have to go forward in rough seas.

Cabo Ricos seem nice too. A friend of mine has one and it is a beautiful boat. They are pretty inside and out, built strong, are heavy, and they have a good layout down below. The one issue that I see with my friend's boat is that it is a bit slow in light winds and in the Chesapeake Bay region they probably will be force to motor more than I do because I pass them regularly with my Catalina 30 pulling a hard dingy.

I also believe that if you are going to sea at all you are better off with an aft cockpit. My experience, which is rather brief, is that the center cockpits are higher so there is more motion with them and the ride isn't quite as nice as the aft cockpit. The center cockpit does give you a HUGE amount of room down below though.

V berth or Rear master suite? I use to really want an aft cabin in my boat. That was until I began spending most of my time at anchor and realized that I prefer to be in the front of the boat where you get the wind from the front hatch. Anyone else prefer this?

 

[Tim R.]

Speaking of Cabo Ricos, Cambrias are also nice.