And What Boats did he like?
The author of this article is a very knowlegeble surveyor but when you read all of his reviews (which he has stopped publishing new ones I believe) unless you have considerable monies to spend on a boat, you are out of luck. Remembr a Hunter 290 will cost you about 65 - 70 K equipped. I do like reading his reviews because they provide a lot of useful information. What it gets down to is you get what you pay for and Hunter, Catalina, Beneteau and yes, even McGreagor, fill a market niche. The problem that manufacturers face is putting out boats which have all the amenties perceived by the public as being necessary in a boat and still make them affordable. Then they feel compelled to keep bringing out new models to wet the appetites of those looking for a new boat. If they don't sell new boats, they are out of business. I have many complaints about my Hunter but then I look at a replacment cost and can live with the issues. Then again, my boat is 16 years old and still floats reasonably well. I think you would be suprised at the high percentage of these boats that still give their owners pleasure even even after 25 years of use which is what counts in the long run. Now an Atlantic crossing is another story.
