27' or 31' ?

Ed Schenck · Feb 8, 2010

A lot of boat expenses are related to length. So the four feet could make a financial difference. But I doubt that you would notice much of a difference in sailing. Mostly that is about wheel versus tiller and weight. There is a Hunter 27 with tiller but most have a wheel. As for weight an older Hunter 27 is heavier than a newer Hunter 31. The H27 would be more seaworthy. But if your goal is 2005 or newer then the H31 will be heavier than the H27. Still I think it will come down to things like interior room, storage in lockers, cockpit size, and room on deck more than sailing differences.

As for purchasing it becomes a matter of delivery costs. I would recommend a fresh water boat. Most are on the Great Lakes. But there are several smaller lakes in the southern states where you will find lots of boats of that size. On YachtWorld.com you can search by state. Also check "SailingTexas" for lots of boats.

David in Sandusky · Feb 8, 2010

Buying a Boat in the US

I'm with Ed. The differences from a 27 to a 31 are not in the sailing experience. A 31 will give you more room, and more storage, but probably not more berths. Much depends on the design, in any case. I would never want to buy a cruising boat until we had laid down in the bunks, for instance.

We used a broker in buying a boat, but that is just an option that could help you if you found a good one. (Ours was excellent.) The Internet has so much info on the boats on the market that you can use it to narrow down your choices.

It's normal in the US to offer a contract that includes a survey with the condition that the seller must fix any serious issues, or let the buyer out of the deal. Actually, that just becomes a second negotiation, in most cases, but it does mean that if the surveyor finds a disaster, you are out of the deal.

Will you come to the US for the final stage of your search? Are you planning to take the boat to Santiago? Will you sail it, or ship it?

Ed Schenck · Feb 8, 2010

Fastest, funest H27.

I mentioned above that there is a newer tiller steered H27. Here it is. The interior is kind of stark. Has a retractable bow sprit for the spinnaker. Cannot imagine more fun on a cruising boat though.

stephen Penny · Feb 8, 2010

Re: Fastest, funest H27.

Recently purchased a used Hunter 31 in San Francisco after looking at 24, 25, 29 and 35 ft sailboats. I wanted a boat sturdy enough to handle the high San Francisco bay area wind, in excellent condition and can go coastal cruising safely at a low cost. It is very stable in high wind. It has lots of storage below and in the cockpit lockers. It has adequate cabin space below and deck topside. I would expect newer 27 and 31 ft Hunters to be very space efficient plus will not have to replace sails, standing and running rigging, and corroded and failed hardware. A 31 ft can store a small dingy or life raft on deck. It is comfortable to sleep on in the v-berth, quarter berth or settee. But note maintenance, sail replacement and berthing costs grow exponentially with boat length. For example, 110% head and main 8.3 oz high quality challenger sail replacement for the 31 ft Hunter cost $4,000.

Surveys typically cost $14/ft plus if you have it hauled it for a survey it will cost you another $500. You may need a survey to get insurance. Suggest you witness the survey. Plus consider the cost of delivery from wherever you purchase it. There are a lot of sail boats available on the California coast.

A newer boat is likely to have few issues, especially if well maintained. Consider what additions are on the boat. These get costly to add later such as navigation, safety equipment, boom vang, tv, antennas, refrigeration, pressurized hot/cold water etc.

Good luck and let us know what you select.

Benny · Feb 9, 2010

Robert, just one comment. Boats sold in the US for export or being registered in other countries do not have a "sales tax" liability. Since the majority of transactions are domestic laws have been enacted to compell licensed brokers to collect the sales tax on behalf of the state at sales closing. There are exceptions and procedures in place so you will not have to pay the tax but not all brokers may be familiar with them so I would suggest you discuss how the sales tax situation will be handled at closing. Also each state has registration and titling fees which may not be necessary for you to pay. Check with your government agency what would be the required documentation which would allow for you to bring the vessel into the country and allow for you to get a document of title. It would seem to me that a notarized bill of sale and the sellers title endorsed to you may be enough perhaps eliminating any US state fees. Perhaps a consular invoice may be needed for tax purposes in your country but I will leave that up to you. The only point I want to make is that you do not need to pay any taxes or fees which may be related to owning a boat in the US.

27' or 31' ?

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