Well retirement is now one year away, We have a 1980 Pearson 323 with a volvo MD11C that is in reasonablly good condition. My wife and I have spent up to 2 weeks at a time on this boat and have been out in the gulf of mexico in 6'+ seas and 20kt + winds. The boat did well. We have been in rougher stuff in Mobile bay. The big question is should we keep this boat that is paid for and invest money to get it ready for cruising or should we buy another boat. Our cruising plans are the gulf of mexico US east coast and the Bahamas. When I look at other boats it seem like we would be hard pressed to find a better boat without investing a lot more money. But I admit some boats like a Catalina 34 or 36 are appealing for their greater room. Right now we are leaning towards keeping our present boat for at least the first year of cruising. That way if we don't like the cruising lifestyle we are not out of as much money. On the other hand a more comfortable boat might make the difference between likeing the cruising lifestyle and enduring the cruise.
Cruisng Decision time!!!!! Pearson 323???
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Dance with the girl that brought ya!
Those Pearsons are great boats and for what you want to do, should serve you just fine. You would have to spend $$$ outfitting a new boat anyway, on top of the purchase price.
Those Pearsons are great boats and for what you want to do, should serve you just fine. You would have to spend $$$ outfitting a new boat anyway, on top of the purchase price.
Keep it
For what you want to do the boat will suit you fine. The only reason for moving up to more boat, would be your personal desires. It is nice to have the greater space of a larger boat, but it also means greater expense, and more work. If you move up to a bigger boat, then you have to make it ready. Vicious circle. I was introduced to a couple last weekend who have a newish Hunter 45CC. It is a big, beautiful, spacious boat. If I were going to live aboard, and not go anywhere much, it would be a fine for me. But since I plan on more sailing than sitting, it wouldn't fill my needs very well.
For what you want to do the boat will suit you fine. The only reason for moving up to more boat, would be your personal desires. It is nice to have the greater space of a larger boat, but it also means greater expense, and more work. If you move up to a bigger boat, then you have to make it ready. Vicious circle. I was introduced to a couple last weekend who have a newish Hunter 45CC. It is a big, beautiful, spacious boat. If I were going to live aboard, and not go anywhere much, it would be a fine for me. But since I plan on more sailing than sitting, it wouldn't fill my needs very well.
I think
I would keep her for the first year,with two people it sounds like it should plenty big to get a taste of the cruising life. I went from a 29 to my 36/35.6 Hunter and yes it is a great cruising boat with all the extra room and storage but before you invest into bigger you want to make sure you will like the cruising. I can't see one year in your present boat will change your mind if cruising is what you like,if anything you will find out what type of boat you really need,one year experience will answer all your questions and meet other cruisers to see what boats they are using and get real good advice,its like your a newbie starting out and wanting to know what should be your first sailboat,a Catalina, Hunter,or any of the endless types of boats. Nick
I would keep her for the first year,with two people it sounds like it should plenty big to get a taste of the cruising life. I went from a 29 to my 36/35.6 Hunter and yes it is a great cruising boat with all the extra room and storage but before you invest into bigger you want to make sure you will like the cruising. I can't see one year in your present boat will change your mind if cruising is what you like,if anything you will find out what type of boat you really need,one year experience will answer all your questions and meet other cruisers to see what boats they are using and get real good advice,its like your a newbie starting out and wanting to know what should be your first sailboat,a Catalina, Hunter,or any of the endless types of boats. Nick
I agree with everyone else. That is refreshing!
I agree that you current boat should do fine for the plans you have. Good luch and I wish I was going along. I miss Cruising but still have a daughter in High School. Only 3 more years to go for me.
I agree that you current boat should do fine for the plans you have. Good luch and I wish I was going along. I miss Cruising but still have a daughter in High School. Only 3 more years to go for me.
Load capacity .....
A Pearson 323 will sink 1" deeper into the water for every 1000 lbs. of gear/stores loaded. For long term 'cruising' its easy to load up with more than a TON (or more) of fuel, water, gear, personal effects, food, miscellaneous stores etc. etc. etc. What you DONT want is a boat that so deep in the water (below its 'normal' waterline) that it becomes a 'very cranky pig' when sailing because its too deep in the water. Further, most 'production' boats designed for 'coastal' cruising simply dont have sufficient nor appropriate stowage places ... so all the 'stores' are loose, in the open, 'usually always in the way' and 'all over the place'. Imagine what happens when such a boat goes over onto its beam ends and all that loose 'stuff' is now 'homogenized' throughout the boats interior. For comparisons of boats that you may be interested in, go to: http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html (www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html) and especially look at the *pounds per inch* data ... which is pounds (of additional carried 'load') per 1" deeper into the water the boat will be. A P323 is a 'very good' and well made boat but with its relative narrow beam simply wont have the 'load capacity' in comparison to the more modern 'fat-assed' boats. Ie. Bene 35.5 can carry 1500# per 1" additional load .... or has ~30% MORE capacity in essentially the same LWL.
A Pearson 323 will sink 1" deeper into the water for every 1000 lbs. of gear/stores loaded. For long term 'cruising' its easy to load up with more than a TON (or more) of fuel, water, gear, personal effects, food, miscellaneous stores etc. etc. etc. What you DONT want is a boat that so deep in the water (below its 'normal' waterline) that it becomes a 'very cranky pig' when sailing because its too deep in the water. Further, most 'production' boats designed for 'coastal' cruising simply dont have sufficient nor appropriate stowage places ... so all the 'stores' are loose, in the open, 'usually always in the way' and 'all over the place'. Imagine what happens when such a boat goes over onto its beam ends and all that loose 'stuff' is now 'homogenized' throughout the boats interior. For comparisons of boats that you may be interested in, go to: http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html (www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html) and especially look at the *pounds per inch* data ... which is pounds (of additional carried 'load') per 1" deeper into the water the boat will be. A P323 is a 'very good' and well made boat but with its relative narrow beam simply wont have the 'load capacity' in comparison to the more modern 'fat-assed' boats. Ie. Bene 35.5 can carry 1500# per 1" additional load .... or has ~30% MORE capacity in essentially the same LWL.
Moonsailor, Consider what is lacking in the present boat.
Then consider how you can correct that. Roomier isn't always better. I can move from one end of my boat to the other and have a secure handhold all of the time. Do you both have a place in the cabin that you can call your own? Your books and ditty bag, water bottle, view of the world etc. Her place that she can keep the things important to having close at hand for her. Does it have as much below the WL storage as you wish? Is the icebox/cold storage locker big enough? Consider what your boat has that really pleases both of you and if you could get that in a different boat or if you would have to add it. Do you have tool storage that is dry and secure? Nothing quite like a bag of tools going adrift in a knock down. Is everything properly fiddled? When we bought our house Nancy and I each made a list of what we felt that we needed in a house and what would be a deal killer if it was lacking and couldn't be added. Or if it was present and could be removed. Then we reconciled our lists and limited them to ten items that would be favorable and ten deal killers. The house we bought met our criteria but without the list we probably wouldn't have given it a second look. In nearly 37 years we have changed much but have never seen a house that could/would serve us better.
Then consider how you can correct that. Roomier isn't always better. I can move from one end of my boat to the other and have a secure handhold all of the time. Do you both have a place in the cabin that you can call your own? Your books and ditty bag, water bottle, view of the world etc. Her place that she can keep the things important to having close at hand for her. Does it have as much below the WL storage as you wish? Is the icebox/cold storage locker big enough? Consider what your boat has that really pleases both of you and if you could get that in a different boat or if you would have to add it. Do you have tool storage that is dry and secure? Nothing quite like a bag of tools going adrift in a knock down. Is everything properly fiddled? When we bought our house Nancy and I each made a list of what we felt that we needed in a house and what would be a deal killer if it was lacking and couldn't be added. Or if it was present and could be removed. Then we reconciled our lists and limited them to ten items that would be favorable and ten deal killers. The house we bought met our criteria but without the list we probably wouldn't have given it a second look. In nearly 37 years we have changed much but have never seen a house that could/would serve us better.
MoonsSailer, I think the other way.
At one time most circumnavigations were made in boats 30' and smaller, but in my experience most cruisers are now in the range of 36 to 48 feet, with boats around 42 being very popular. The difference is not necessarily related to the speed or the sea-keeping ability of the boat, but more the creature comforts. I had an Irwin Competition 30 that we cruised on, as you do now now on your Pearson 323 and my wife enjoyed it. At least for those 2 weeks or so, but she had no desire to live on a boat for longer periods. I went out and bought a CC Barefoot 37 sloop which is an extra nice custom Irwin 37, and it is still smaller than I wanted, but it has made a big difference with my wife. We lived aboard for up to 6 months at a time and took it down to Mexico where we cruised it during the winters for 6 years. She actually enjoyed it. The differences were the interior, the double bed, drawer storage and hanging lockers, the nicer galley with lots of refrigeration, a freezer, a water-maker, a big battery bank with inverter, diesel generator and electric extras like Microwave, Vacuum cleaner, TV, & toaster; and the ability to occasionally have guests aboard, and the ability to keep in touch with friends with the SSB and two way phone patches through the HF Ham radio. We used a double sleeping bag that only had to be rolled up so no making beds up in the morning. We had satellite radio and relaxed by reading a lot. We have a two way hot water tank but made hot water on the hook with an on demand propane water-heater so we had plenty of hot water. The cruising lifestyle contributed quite a lot to our enjoyment as there were daily VHF Radio nets, cruiser get togethers, parties on the beach, or on our, or others boats. She did like it when we occasionally went alongside a dock but on several occasions spent over a month on the hook. She took over the table as her work/play area and was introduced into beading (making jewelry out of beads) which was a popular pastime of cruising ladies. I inherited a nice Nav Station that I called mine. I still would have preferred a bigger boat for all the things we carried aboard. The extra fenders and lines, the cart for getting groceries, The Vacuum and the sewing machine. The Tools and spare parts, and some construction materials for emergencies. The food (and some booze too), and all those things that you keep in your dock box or at home now, that you will need aboard on an extended cruise. I spent a lot of money and time putting all those things on, plus Antennas, Radar Chart-plotters, GPS's, Autopilot, and wood work, to make the boat fit to short people (like extending the cockpit seats 3" so we could brace across the cockpit when sailing, and steps over the ports to make it easier tom get up or in. I did it after I retired and enjoyed it, and gained knowledge about all my systems, but most of the time I was far to cramped for space doing the work. So if I had it to do over again, I would buy a bigger used boat in good condition, that had most of this stuff done by some other caring and knowledgeable sailor. I expect that one would always have something to do, and I'd have to be sure that the boat or the sails weren't too big to handle (say like a cutter rigged ketch), so that's what I would recommend to you, if you are serious about cruising. Happy sailing Joe S
At one time most circumnavigations were made in boats 30' and smaller, but in my experience most cruisers are now in the range of 36 to 48 feet, with boats around 42 being very popular. The difference is not necessarily related to the speed or the sea-keeping ability of the boat, but more the creature comforts. I had an Irwin Competition 30 that we cruised on, as you do now now on your Pearson 323 and my wife enjoyed it. At least for those 2 weeks or so, but she had no desire to live on a boat for longer periods. I went out and bought a CC Barefoot 37 sloop which is an extra nice custom Irwin 37, and it is still smaller than I wanted, but it has made a big difference with my wife. We lived aboard for up to 6 months at a time and took it down to Mexico where we cruised it during the winters for 6 years. She actually enjoyed it. The differences were the interior, the double bed, drawer storage and hanging lockers, the nicer galley with lots of refrigeration, a freezer, a water-maker, a big battery bank with inverter, diesel generator and electric extras like Microwave, Vacuum cleaner, TV, & toaster; and the ability to occasionally have guests aboard, and the ability to keep in touch with friends with the SSB and two way phone patches through the HF Ham radio. We used a double sleeping bag that only had to be rolled up so no making beds up in the morning. We had satellite radio and relaxed by reading a lot. We have a two way hot water tank but made hot water on the hook with an on demand propane water-heater so we had plenty of hot water. The cruising lifestyle contributed quite a lot to our enjoyment as there were daily VHF Radio nets, cruiser get togethers, parties on the beach, or on our, or others boats. She did like it when we occasionally went alongside a dock but on several occasions spent over a month on the hook. She took over the table as her work/play area and was introduced into beading (making jewelry out of beads) which was a popular pastime of cruising ladies. I inherited a nice Nav Station that I called mine. I still would have preferred a bigger boat for all the things we carried aboard. The extra fenders and lines, the cart for getting groceries, The Vacuum and the sewing machine. The Tools and spare parts, and some construction materials for emergencies. The food (and some booze too), and all those things that you keep in your dock box or at home now, that you will need aboard on an extended cruise. I spent a lot of money and time putting all those things on, plus Antennas, Radar Chart-plotters, GPS's, Autopilot, and wood work, to make the boat fit to short people (like extending the cockpit seats 3" so we could brace across the cockpit when sailing, and steps over the ports to make it easier tom get up or in. I did it after I retired and enjoyed it, and gained knowledge about all my systems, but most of the time I was far to cramped for space doing the work. So if I had it to do over again, I would buy a bigger used boat in good condition, that had most of this stuff done by some other caring and knowledgeable sailor. I expect that one would always have something to do, and I'd have to be sure that the boat or the sails weren't too big to handle (say like a cutter rigged ketch), so that's what I would recommend to you, if you are serious about cruising. Happy sailing Joe S
Given these responses, I would ask one
question: Where are you planning to go on your cruise for the first year? Many of the issues Joseph raises are valid for "being out there" away from it all. However, if you're just going down the west coast of Florida for your first year, the answers begin to change.
question: Where are you planning to go on your cruise for the first year? Many of the issues Joseph raises are valid for "being out there" away from it all. However, if you're just going down the west coast of Florida for your first year, the answers begin to change.
Cruising a Pearson
Ive owned 2 pearsons they are good solid boats Plenty of room for 2 for the type of cruising you want to do right now. If your plans change you can cross that bridge when you come to it.
Ive owned 2 pearsons they are good solid boats Plenty of room for 2 for the type of cruising you want to do right now. If your plans change you can cross that bridge when you come to it.
You are on the right track.
A Pearson 32 is an adequate size boat for two persons to go cruising. As with any boat you will need to prepare it. A year or two sailing to Florida, the east coast and the Bahamas will give you a taste for the cruising life and may help you define your priorities. Remember boat size is proportionally inverse to the amount of time spent away from land. I have always said that a 30' boat docked at a transient slip in a nice marina feels a lot bigger than a 38 footer hanging on the hook. Showers, restaurants, rec rooms, laundry and swimming pools are some of the available ammenities. Having small room for provisions is not a problem if you can provision frequently. A 32' boat can adequately handle coastal cruising includying a pasage to the Bahamas. Just start getting her ready.
A Pearson 32 is an adequate size boat for two persons to go cruising. As with any boat you will need to prepare it. A year or two sailing to Florida, the east coast and the Bahamas will give you a taste for the cruising life and may help you define your priorities. Remember boat size is proportionally inverse to the amount of time spent away from land. I have always said that a 30' boat docked at a transient slip in a nice marina feels a lot bigger than a 38 footer hanging on the hook. Showers, restaurants, rec rooms, laundry and swimming pools are some of the available ammenities. Having small room for provisions is not a problem if you can provision frequently. A 32' boat can adequately handle coastal cruising includying a pasage to the Bahamas. Just start getting her ready.
Great link, RichH!
And I must add that too few folk understand how the weight of a properly fit cruiser will affect the performance. Put a few hundred feet of chain in the bow, to start with, and that sprightly 32-footer suddenly becomes a dog when going to weather in any sort of chop. Now add your spare parts, your tools, the 42 pairs of shoes the admiral absolutely needs to cruise, solar panels.... On the other hand, that Pearson is a great boat. Tough choice. For me, the prime consideration would be to do what it takes to make the admiral want to spend a few more years on the water. But in many situations that might mean having the extra cash to spend on restaurants in the Bahamas rather than sending those dollars to the bank for a new boat mortgage. Tough choice.
And I must add that too few folk understand how the weight of a properly fit cruiser will affect the performance. Put a few hundred feet of chain in the bow, to start with, and that sprightly 32-footer suddenly becomes a dog when going to weather in any sort of chop. Now add your spare parts, your tools, the 42 pairs of shoes the admiral absolutely needs to cruise, solar panels.... On the other hand, that Pearson is a great boat. Tough choice. For me, the prime consideration would be to do what it takes to make the admiral want to spend a few more years on the water. But in many situations that might mean having the extra cash to spend on restaurants in the Bahamas rather than sending those dollars to the bank for a new boat mortgage. Tough choice.
I think that the smaller the boat is the greater the
planning must be. There is no question that you can overload a boat by trying to take everything. So I think that for cruising you need to make three piles for provisions. roughly devided into, "needed" , "wanted" , and "I won't go without it". Every couple will have to make their own piles because I know that what will satisfy Nancy and me will be grossly inadequate for others. I have heard that a lack of water will drive most boats ashore more quickly than any other single item. Edited to correct sentence structure.
planning must be. There is no question that you can overload a boat by trying to take everything. So I think that for cruising you need to make three piles for provisions. roughly devided into, "needed" , "wanted" , and "I won't go without it". Every couple will have to make their own piles because I know that what will satisfy Nancy and me will be grossly inadequate for others. I have heard that a lack of water will drive most boats ashore more quickly than any other single item. Edited to correct sentence structure.
Every fall....
I wish I had a bigger boat. Every spring... I wish I had a smaller boat. You (and only you) will figure it out!
I wish I had a bigger boat. Every spring... I wish I had a smaller boat. You (and only you) will figure it out!
The boat is a little old
And a little small. But we do like the boat. Nt wife has insisted that she wants money available to do things on shore and make trips home from time to time. So far the Pearson has done everything that I expected often better than I expected... But some other boat sure do look nicer. Unless something changes I guess that we will keep our pearson 323 and go cruising on it at least at first. There are a lot of boats on the market...all we need is "money" to get a new boat. I will have to replace all of the cushions have the engine throughly checked and replace the mast step and probably the standing rigging. We can have the boat ready to go for $10,000 or less. If the engine dies I plan to have an emergency fund to replace the MD11C with a Yanmar. The volvo is noisey and at certain rpms shakes the whole boat. A three cyclinder should be smoother. Thanks for the ideals
And a little small. But we do like the boat. Nt wife has insisted that she wants money available to do things on shore and make trips home from time to time. So far the Pearson has done everything that I expected often better than I expected... But some other boat sure do look nicer. Unless something changes I guess that we will keep our pearson 323 and go cruising on it at least at first. There are a lot of boats on the market...all we need is "money" to get a new boat. I will have to replace all of the cushions have the engine throughly checked and replace the mast step and probably the standing rigging. We can have the boat ready to go for $10,000 or less. If the engine dies I plan to have an emergency fund to replace the MD11C with a Yanmar. The volvo is noisey and at certain rpms shakes the whole boat. A three cyclinder should be smoother. Thanks for the ideals
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