Coosing a boat, need advice!

[dutch2004]

Hi Folks
I need your expert opinions to help me select, or at least narrow the search for my next boat. Simple right! hehe. Here we go, thinking about roughly 30 foot. Leaning towards twin keel. Creature comforts over performance. That's the thought so far. Now here you go. I haven't sailed for 25 years. When I did a 21 footer was the biggest I ever had. This boat will start the first season on lakes here in Maine. The second season move to some costal activity for the season the third season if I'm comfortable I'd like to sail it south to the Gulf of Mexico for the winter. Head South in December and spend 3-4 months on board. Come back home in April. I'm in my mid 50's and the winters are just getting to cold and too long! That's the plan. So keeping all that in mind tell me what you would recommend for a boat, I'd entertain something as old as 25-30 years if I can finds a solid boat. So it doesn't have to be still in production. If you could give me a few pro's and con's to help me understand. Your help will be appreciatd

 

[higgs]

Price range?

 

[mcrow33]

Sign on to yatchworld.com enter a seach for boats in your price range, say 30-35 feet, with in say 100 miles from your area. Check out all the specs including the pics and spend the winter looking at boats. You'll know the one you want when you board her. That's what I did last winter. It was fun, and after looking at a few boats. I knew right off I found the right one for me 2 minutes after I boarded my Endeavour 32.

Mike

 

[mklein@iowatelecom.net]

Please remember http://boat.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/boat.cgi Select boats. Ebay has a catagory for over 27 feet, and good ole craigslist. If you want a project boat check out angelministries on ebay for donated boats. Good luck!

 

[Merlin Clark]

There is a book called "How to buy a sailboat" by Hewitt Schlereth.
It covers a lot of good info on what to look for when surveying a boat yourself, how boats are constructed, rigs and systems. Also discusses some different styles and some older models.
I'd suggest reading this before starting your search.
As for the best? I'd bet 80% will answer "mine", and the ones that aren't happy will offer the one they are selling.

 

[Sam Salter]

I think you'd be well advised to do a bit of sailing before trying to find your ideal boat. Charter or crew for a while.
When I bought my first keel boat I had in my mind a lazy cruise with the wife, a glass (or bottle) of wine and a romantic sunset.
The wife hates sailing; and I got real bored, real quick with lazy cruises. Now I'm a sail trim geek, trying to squeeze every last 1/10th of a knot out of the boat. I have all sorts of go faster stuff and try to overtake everything On the water.
There are almost as many types of sailor as there are sailors. The sort of sailor you think you want to be, may not be the one you turn into. The first boat you buy, thinking what you are going to do with it, may not be suitable for the sailor you turn into - Just a warning!
Also, logic doesn't have too much to do with buying a boat - or you wouldn't buy one in the first place! Boats are like women - you have to fancy them! - now you're screwed - where does logic enter here?

 

[LuzSD]

helping you spend your money

such incredibly good advise here, I agree with all of these folks. Sam with the C&C, we are the same, I really love tweaking and who would have known!!! Size is also something you can only deterimine once you crew for a while on different sizes....
Mcrow33 is correct....you know her the second you step foot on her! Strange as that seems, it is so true.

Enjoy the search and share it with us, we all enjoy boat buying especially when it's your money!!

 

[DAVA390]

The twin keel part puzzles me.... Why is that part of your specs. ?

 

[dutch2004]

Wow you folks got onboard quick Thanks!!

Lets see if I can help. As to answer the price range I'd expect about $30,000 would be my upper limit. As for what kind of sailior I might be or become. A hard question to answer, but I've learned over the years that I can put my competitive streak away and enjoy life much more. To make that clear you're talking to a track and field athelete that at the age of 27 won a sprint with a motorcycle. Out to 25 yards I could beat a 1000cc bike. But those days are long gone. Sailing was always an escape, to leave the world behind and just be in the moment. That's what I'm hoping to find again. I will be running solo so as long as I'm happy I guess that's fine.
I can try to go by feel as to which boat is right, but I tend to think things out before jumping in. I've been looking at a Beneteau 305 it seems to be a fine boat, but I have to give up on the twin keel, not sure I'm willing to do that. Anyway keep ther input coming, It all helps. Thanks,

 

[dutch2004]

The twin keel part puzzles me.... Why is that part of your specs. ?

Well, I'm thinking that the shallow water ability would be good and if I get caught by a quick tide drop she'll just stand until it comes back. If you've ever been up at the Bay of Fundy you'll know what I mean. I know it will cost speed to go twin keel, but I think I'm more concerned with the quality of the trip then the the speed I can do it in.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Dutch2004,
SW Florida (Gulf of Mexico) has lots of "thin" water. That is often true for the quiet, scenic, interesting places that cruisers enjoy visiting. Draft is a concern here rather than quickly dropping tides. Finding the bottom with two keels would surely not be twice as much fun as finding the bottom with only one!
The search for a boat will probably not turn up the "perfect" boat. Compromise and try to meet most of your wish list ideas. Enjoy the search.

 

[rardiH36]

Dear Dutch:

Depending on your time available and DIY skills, and depending on the boat/age, you could also go larger, say up to 36'. Actually if you really think that you (and presumably family) will be making sailing part of your lifestyle, then definitely go bigger. If you look enough, 34-36' boats, in sound condition (for what counts -- but maybe not cosmetically) can be had for ~$25k - $30k or less. I bought my 1980 36' for about the cost of a Toyota Camry (model without the super option package) in 2007.

You've sailed in the past. And you describe yourself as being on the upper range of the physical and coordination bell curve. With some instruction, a bigger boat should not be a problem at all.

As you, I sailed dingy boats as a kid. Then nothing again until age 55. (59.5 now.) When I started looking, I figured that 34-36' boat would be just as easy to solo sail as a 30'. And that panned out when I bought my first (and current) 36' boat several years ago. I have no problem at all handling the boat on my own. Actually, I much prefer sailing single handed - even when others are on board. The extra room down below is significant.

I think that the the trade-off between 30' and 36' is mainly economic. DIY'ing tempers the difference quite a bit, but still many expenses are on a per foot basis such as berth/storage fees, bottom cleaning, haul-out, cost of new sails, etc. Other stuff such as engine maintenance, replacing hoses or thru-hulls for example, are close enough to be virtually the same.

Anyway -- keep your mind open towards a larger boat!

Happy hunting!

Here is a link to what I think is one of the best guides to used sailboat considerations: "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" by Don Casey.

http://www.amazon.com/Inspecting-Sa...5455/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1321055136&sr=8-7

p.s. What actually do you mean by twin keel?

 

[dutch2004]

I'm not sure I need bigger but I'd consider it.

Dear Dutch:

Depending on your time available and DIY skills, and depending on the boat/age, you could also go larger, say up to 36'. Actually if you really think that you (and presumably family) will be making sailing part of your lifestyle, then definitely go bigger. If you look enough, 34-36' boats, in sound condition (for what counts -- but maybe not cosmetically) can be had for ~$25k - $30k or less. I bought my 1980 36' for about the cost of a Toyota Camry (model without the super option package) in 2007.

You've sailed in the past. And you describe yourself as being on the upper range of the physical and coordination bell curve. With some instruction, a bigger boat should not be a problem at all.

As you, I sailed dingy boats as a kid. Then nothing again until age 55. (59.5 now.) When I started looking, I figured that 34-36' boat would be just as easy to solo sail as a 30'. And that panned out when I bought my first (and current) 36' boat several years ago. I have no problem at all handling the boat on my own. Actually, I much prefer sailing single handed - even when others are on board. The extra room down below is significant.

I think that the the trade-off between 30' and 36' is mainly economic. DIY'ing tempers the difference quite a bit, but still many expenses are on a per foot basis such as berth/storage fees, bottom cleaning, haul-out, cost of new sails, etc. Other stuff such as engine maintenance, replacing hoses or thru-hulls for example, are close enough to be virtually the same.

Anyway -- keep your mind open towards a larger boat!

Happy hunting!

Here is a link to what I think is one of the best guides to used sailboat considerations: "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" by Don Casey.

http://www.amazon.com/Inspecting-Sa...5455/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1321055136&sr=8-7

p.s. What actually do you mean by twin keel?

I'll be solo sailing the wife passed several years ago and the kids are grown and gone. Busy with their own lives now. The twin keel or sometimes called bilge keels are two keels coming out at an angle from the hull. They are shorter then a single, giving you less below the waterline. More popular in England then here, I saw my first one down on the Chesapeake Bay. It was sitting in the mud standing straight upright, as the tide came in she floated up with the water and they sailed off. Pretty neat trick compared to a cenerboard keel laying over on her side. I have a boat storage facility I have run for about 20 years, I guess that gives me an edge as I have a building that's 100 by 50 that I heat to give the guys a place to work on them. It would make a fine place to bring a sailboat back to it's full glory. Most of the guys put in 20-25 foot power boats, No sailboats ever store up here.
The storage facility was a good add to the other things I do. But I work 7 days a week from May 1st to December 1st. By the end of the year I'm so burned out I just want to get away from everything!!! So again I think the comfort is more important then speed.

I know everyone is different, but would you feel comfortable doing a live aboard on your boat for 4 months??

 

[rardiH36]

Dutch:

Sounds like you have tremendous background in the world of recreational boat ownership and maintenance.

Sorry for the probably superfluous advice in my last post!

As to living aboard my 36' Cherubini Hunter for four months, I haven't done it. Compared to even a small studio apartment, the space is confined. I don't think that would be an issue for me. But living on a boat 24/7 is a lifestyle that I am not part of. Others on the forum
might have better recounts about the experience of living on a boat for the first time.

 

[dutch2004]

Dutch:

Sounds like you have tremendous background in the world of recreational boat ownership and maintenance.

Sorry for the probably superfluous advice in my last post!

As to living aboard my 36' Cherubini Hunter for four months, I haven't done it. Compared to even a small studio apartment, the space is confined. I don't think that would be an issue for me. But living on a boat 24/7 is a lifestyle that I am not part of. Others on the forum
might have better recounts about the experience of living on a boat for the first time.

Don't wory about your advice it was very welcome. I have spent much more time around boats then on them. All summer I work and in the winter when boating is dead, I have the time to do something. Sad paradox!!! But I'm trying to change that. If I can get swung around so that I can enjoy a baot in the winter that would be great, but it ain't going to happen off the coast of Maine!!! BURRR That's why the Gulf of Mexico is the end game.

 

[Ray Bowles]

The advice about sailing before starting your boat search was right on. Being comfortable with different size boats will greatly ease any fears about bigger boats.
When we left to find our dream boat we had studied every boat in the 30 to 40 foot range. We knew the good items and the unneeded items. We were comfortable with our sailing skills while being new to the hobby. We had sailed for 2 years prior to our search but had better than 500 hours with wet bottoms.
We drove cross country to Georgia and started south stopping at almost every marina there was on the east coast. We went down to Miami, up to the panhandle and headed west. After 2 months we found and bought our boat in Mobile Ala. By doing all our homework and looking at more than 100 boats we bought a 1990 Island Packet 38 that was stuning and equiped beyond belief. The price was well below book.
Take your time, KNOW your facts, look, look and then look at a few more and you will find the boat that you really want. DO NOT ACCEPT LESS.
And lastly, have fun. Our search was some of the best fun we had.
Good luck, Ray

 

[JoeWhite]

Duch2004 -
I spent one year looking for a sailboat. After ruling out many and being on some I settled on Catalina 36 and I am very happy with it. My previous boat was a Hunter 25.5 and it was also a very well built boat, but it was too small for the ocean waves. If you are planning to be in the ocean then you need a minimum of 36 feet. Larger would be better. And you need auto-helm, radar and large battery capacity. You may want to increase the price you are willing to pay. I had fun looking - you will too.

 

[sailcruiser]

Dutch, I agree on the advice to look up to about 36' for creature comfort alone. It's really not that big of a difference. I just moved from a 24 to a 36' myself and when shopping I said absolutely no bigger than 32. I looked for a long time at up to 32 but it wasn't until I sailed on a friends Pearson 35 that I realized I could handle a few more feet. With length you get beam which makes things so much larger. I went from 8 to almost 12 which in itself was tremendous. I could easily live aboard several months a year and be comfortable doing so. I have no experience with bilge keeled boats. If you can't find one you like though maybe look into a centerboard which gives the best of both worlds. Enjoy! SC

 

[higgs]

I think the Endeavor 32 would be a boat for you to seriously consider. It is offshore capable, set up nicely for two, a decent performer, and in your price range.

 

[Wanderer138]

I see two excellent boats in this thread; Pearson 35 and Endeavour 32. I also singlehand.

When I was moving up from my trusty Hunter 23, I wanted a boat in the 30 to 35 ft range with a modified full keel (for seakindly motion and good tracking under way) moderate draft and better than average sailing performance. I'm 6-2, so standing headroom was a must. I searched using Yachtworld, ABLBoats, sailboatlistings.com, craigslist, sailingtexas.com and boat association websites and found a surprisingly large number of boats that fit my requirements. I went to look at several Alberg 30's, Allied Seawinds and Seawind II's, a Seafarer 31, Westsail 28 and 32, Catalina 30, Hunter 31 and 34 (late 80's models), Pearson Vanguard and Cape Dory 33 before buying a Pearson Wanderer. It's a smaller version of the P35. Good luck and have fun with your search.