boat size

[dlewis812]

looking to buy a boat in south florida this winter. try to go there many weekends over the winter and then sail to new york in the spring.

looking at 33'-38'. other than obvious cabin comfort any concerns of sailing something less than 38' up the coast?

 

[Ross]

It depends as always on the boat and the crew.

 

[sailingdog]

I'd be wary of using just size as a guideline...there are some smaller boats that are going to be more comfortable and more seaworthy than some larger ones... It would help if you said what your rough budget was... and then some could probably make some suggestions as to what you might want to buy.

I'd also recommend you reserve at least 20% of your budget for upgrading, refitting or customizing whatever boat you get. Boats are not like cars, and often will require a fair bit of modification to work best for the way you will be using her.

James Baldwin's Boat List is a pretty good starting point for basic research on some of the more seaworthy boats...

 

[seadaddler]

Hunter-36

I sailed my Hunter 36 from Greenport,NY to Ft Pierce and than around the keys to Punta Gorda all ocean from Montalk to east coast florida.
It's all about your crew and I had a good experienced captain friend help,started with 4 and one got off NC,so you need to know what your doing and you need to know your boat and crew,safety equipment and be prepared for all and any boat problems,I had been sailing my 2007 36 for two years before the trip and you won't know the boat.
I need to know why buying florida and not closer to home,boat in florida are not litely used from weather salt and sun so why not closer to home.
Nick

 

[dlewis812]

Re: Hunter-36

all good points thanks.

not happy that it's end of the season and need to take the boat out. trying to figure out a way to sail some this winter; obviously could charter but seems can get $$ especially if just for a weekend. since very interested in getting a larger boat this year had the idea to maybe buy one in the south that's already there to sail and then bring it back in the winter.

didn't want to spend more than 30-40K so realize will be quite an old one. have been sailing for 5 yrs but only in peconic bays and long island sound on a 25'. was just a thought obviously best to buy one here, do a week charter in the caribbean and get out my snowboard!

 

[RichH]

Larry and Lin Pardy will always state: "go simple, go now"

Buy the longest waterline length that you can afford (for speed and safety), add about 15-20% for rebuild and refit, keep the boat simple (less electronic 'gizmos' that easily fail, etc.); but, GO as soon as you can and dont wait until you are too damn old to actually realize and enjoy your dreams.
I have seen 27 & 30 footers (even cheapey 'production boats'!!!!) that have made long passages ... they did it and so can you if you only cut the damn docklines and GO.

Those who never leave the dock ... can only dream of the adventures that they are missing.

 

[higgs]

When it comes to boats and seaworthiness, size does not matter.

 

[MoonSailer]

http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc1087.html

This site provides numbers to compare boats. Capsize ratio, motion comfort, hull speed etc . The numbers will give you a general ideal of a boat's performance. "generally" wide light boats are faster. narrow heavy boats are more comfortable and seaworthy. Of course the numbers tell you nothing about build quality. Just know that a 14' beamy 36' boat weighing 10,000#s is going to be different than one with 11' beam weighing 18,000#s.

http://www.c36ia.com/taxonomy/term/5 ,

http://www.capedory.org/specs/cd36.htm

 

[Benny]

For about $25K you can get a mid 80's h34 which will be very adequate for coastal sailing. When the Atlantic kicks up it don't matter if you have a 38' or 40' you better be in port. Unless you are in a hurry you can go on the Intra Coastal "the Ditch" from Florida to Cape May, NJ. For those more adventurous souls you can even stay inside to Manasquan if you draw less than 5'. We recently did Atlantic City to Manasquan on the inside with a 4'4" draft. The advantages of looking for a boat in Florida is having a larger selection with softer market prices. While our boats remain in the water all year and get used more it all boils down to maintenance and condition. A survey will point out the condition of the boat. If you are planning a long distance trip pay close attention to the condition of the standing and running riggrin and the integrity of the hull.

 

[edsonfarm]

"Unless you are in a hurry you can go on the Intra Coastal "the Ditch" from Florida to Cape May, NJ. For those more adventurous souls you can even stay inside to Manasquan if you draw less than 5'. We recently did Atlantic City to Manasquan on the inside with a 4'4" draft."

You can do AC to Manasquan inside, but you still have to go outside from Cape May to AC unless your mast is short enough to clear the 35' fixed bridges in between.