Your rich Uncle Harry just died, leaving you a large inheritance and enabling you to buy the boat of your dreams. So just how big a boat is this? Is it that sleek 50 foot ketch with the navy blue hull and teak decks? Or maybe one of those powerful multihulls that can race along at 25 knots? But slow down a minute! If you go too big, those afternoon day sails, singlehanding, just you and your boat could become a thing of the past. Many of the big boats have deep keels that can't get into that favorite cozy anchorage of yours. And while your boat may dance across the waves in a light wind and can tack on a dime, many of the heavy displacement boats need a near-gale to get them moving -- and have the turning radius of an aircraft carrier. So what's it to be? Tell us about your dream boat then vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. Quiz by Gary Wyngarden
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alan
Why yes, the fifty foot blue ketch sounds good!
I could hang a sixteen foot Hobie on davits and sail anywhere! Draft could be reduced by a centerboard model.alan
I could hang a sixteen foot Hobie on davits and sail anywhere! Draft could be reduced by a centerboard model.alan
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Rich Stidger
I like bigger, but
Did I inherit *enough* money to have full-time crew to paint, polish, wax, repair, upgrade, etc....? If not, perhaps I should be satisfied with my present yacht.... Rich
Did I inherit *enough* money to have full-time crew to paint, polish, wax, repair, upgrade, etc....? If not, perhaps I should be satisfied with my present yacht.... Rich
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Todd Alt
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Stu
Size isn't everything!
The bigger the better may be true, but try waxing a 60 footer! No thanks, I am absolutely positively convinced that a good boat can be had under 30 feet. If my uncle "Harry" left me with a treasure to play with, I would (after uncle Sam took his chunk!)invest most of it and then get a respectable pocket cruiser, big enough to solo down to Florida via the ICW, and even perhaps the islands as well. The problem is that most boats made today under 30 feet are not capable of extended cruising. I would equip it with satellite communications to keep track of my investments from afar and then travel anywhere and everywhere there is water to travel in. So my new found wealth would make finding the boat of my dreams a tad easier, but the search must still be done. Perhaps with the lump of cash I'll just build my dream boat! Specs: Around 25 in length Displacement Hull - 8 knots max. Engine: 4 cyl. turbo diesel - I'm in no hurry! Sleeps 4 - no more! Water - 40 - 60 gallons Fuel - 100 gallons (three tanks to FLA?) Salon steering - no flybridge needed. Perhaps a sailing aux. rig Propane stove and heating Diesel 3.5 kw genset Since nothing like this exists, unless it's wrapped around a $90,000 overpriced decorator mini tug, I guess my new-found wealth would be better spent building one. Keep the parquet wood floors with the teak all around! Anyway, that's what I think good old and departed Uncle Harry would like! Stu
The bigger the better may be true, but try waxing a 60 footer! No thanks, I am absolutely positively convinced that a good boat can be had under 30 feet. If my uncle "Harry" left me with a treasure to play with, I would (after uncle Sam took his chunk!)invest most of it and then get a respectable pocket cruiser, big enough to solo down to Florida via the ICW, and even perhaps the islands as well. The problem is that most boats made today under 30 feet are not capable of extended cruising. I would equip it with satellite communications to keep track of my investments from afar and then travel anywhere and everywhere there is water to travel in. So my new found wealth would make finding the boat of my dreams a tad easier, but the search must still be done. Perhaps with the lump of cash I'll just build my dream boat! Specs: Around 25 in length Displacement Hull - 8 knots max. Engine: 4 cyl. turbo diesel - I'm in no hurry! Sleeps 4 - no more! Water - 40 - 60 gallons Fuel - 100 gallons (three tanks to FLA?) Salon steering - no flybridge needed. Perhaps a sailing aux. rig Propane stove and heating Diesel 3.5 kw genset Since nothing like this exists, unless it's wrapped around a $90,000 overpriced decorator mini tug, I guess my new-found wealth would be better spent building one. Keep the parquet wood floors with the teak all around! Anyway, that's what I think good old and departed Uncle Harry would like! Stu
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Ramsay Selden
47' Ketch--All Round Combination
Right now I'd have a steel 47' Ketch built--with inside steering, full furling, and offshore equipment. One design I have seen (by Ted Brewer) still draws only 5'. I figure I could single-hand this, take it tranoceanic if I want to with my son, and live on it full time without going stir crazy! Oh, yeah--I like the idea of satellite commun. to keep track of those investments--and, a sailing dinghy on the davits would keep me in touch with the basics we love so much!
Right now I'd have a steel 47' Ketch built--with inside steering, full furling, and offshore equipment. One design I have seen (by Ted Brewer) still draws only 5'. I figure I could single-hand this, take it tranoceanic if I want to with my son, and live on it full time without going stir crazy! Oh, yeah--I like the idea of satellite commun. to keep track of those investments--and, a sailing dinghy on the davits would keep me in touch with the basics we love so much!
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Ben
More maintenance?
No thanks. I might step up from my Capri 22 to something like a 25, in order to get more cabin headroom and make weekending comfortable, but I love my low maintenance boat. And I love how well it sails. Anything bigger wouldn't feel as responsive unless it was a pure race boat. Then again, if I had enough money to pay other people to do all my work. . .perhaps I'll just stick with my Capri for day trips, AND buy that 50 footer for the longer trips.
No thanks. I might step up from my Capri 22 to something like a 25, in order to get more cabin headroom and make weekending comfortable, but I love my low maintenance boat. And I love how well it sails. Anything bigger wouldn't feel as responsive unless it was a pure race boat. Then again, if I had enough money to pay other people to do all my work. . .perhaps I'll just stick with my Capri for day trips, AND buy that 50 footer for the longer trips.
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Tom Monroe
a little bigger and A LOT more time ...
I guess dreams come in different package sizes. I sail an OLD O'Day 22, without any gadgetry. So what I'd really like is something in the 25-foot range with reefs and vangs and travellers and chutes and electronics and the ability to move in something short of a small gale. But rather than spend my "Uncle Harry's" money on more boat, I'd proabably spend it on TIME. If the inheritance is enough to retire modestly on, I'll do that and keep my old boat. As a sequence of posts made earlier this year conclusively demonstrated ... for most of us, any day spent on any old boat is better than a day spent on the office! Tom Monroe Carlyle lake
I guess dreams come in different package sizes. I sail an OLD O'Day 22, without any gadgetry. So what I'd really like is something in the 25-foot range with reefs and vangs and travellers and chutes and electronics and the ability to move in something short of a small gale. But rather than spend my "Uncle Harry's" money on more boat, I'd proabably spend it on TIME. If the inheritance is enough to retire modestly on, I'll do that and keep my old boat. As a sequence of posts made earlier this year conclusively demonstrated ... for most of us, any day spent on any old boat is better than a day spent on the office! Tom Monroe Carlyle lake
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JPF
Smaller dreams....
I would just get a newer, nicer 30 footer, or completely re-fit / restore my 1980's Seafarer 30. 30 feet is the perfect size for the sailing I do. Small eniugh to singlehand, but big enough for coastal cruising. Any bigger and it becomes to much more of a hassle to maintain & sail.
I would just get a newer, nicer 30 footer, or completely re-fit / restore my 1980's Seafarer 30. 30 feet is the perfect size for the sailing I do. Small eniugh to singlehand, but big enough for coastal cruising. Any bigger and it becomes to much more of a hassle to maintain & sail.
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bill
uncle harry--rip
The new toy would be a Dufour 44. Great performance, interior is French and elegant.
The new toy would be a Dufour 44. Great performance, interior is French and elegant.
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dennis boring
I'd take a 65' Macgregor any day!
If money was no object I'd still stay with the Mac 65. It's draft isnt that bad and the space is really nice considering it's now my one and only home. Can I get that inheritence in gold?
If money was no object I'd still stay with the Mac 65. It's draft isnt that bad and the space is really nice considering it's now my one and only home. Can I get that inheritence in gold?
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Ray
Live aboard
If I could buy anything I would need quite some time to investigate. The one thing I would like to be able to do is to live aboard until we physically are not able to do that AND she needs to be handled by just the two of us. Buying a new 50 some foot would be great, however there are many older boats out there with great character as well. Too many choices maybe?
If I could buy anything I would need quite some time to investigate. The one thing I would like to be able to do is to live aboard until we physically are not able to do that AND she needs to be handled by just the two of us. Buying a new 50 some foot would be great, however there are many older boats out there with great character as well. Too many choices maybe?
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Mike Bartie
MacGregor 60
Never seen a "real" one, but the photographs indicate that it would be a comfortable "live aboard". Write ups also suggest she's relatively easy to handle.
Never seen a "real" one, but the photographs indicate that it would be a comfortable "live aboard". Write ups also suggest she's relatively easy to handle.
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Steve Weinstein
How about a Deerfoot?
Probably something in the mid-50 foot range, enclosed pilothouse (with a/c, natch), split rig (more sail combinations sailing offshore)would work just fine. Especially with a centerboard to get into those thin water harbors. I could force myself to live on that full time and follow the sun to interesting ports. Or a Taswell 58 Pilothouse. Both could be rigged for singlehanding, if necessary and both are already set up for a cruising couple. Now if I can just find that elusive Uncle Harry!
Probably something in the mid-50 foot range, enclosed pilothouse (with a/c, natch), split rig (more sail combinations sailing offshore)would work just fine. Especially with a centerboard to get into those thin water harbors. I could force myself to live on that full time and follow the sun to interesting ports. Or a Taswell 58 Pilothouse. Both could be rigged for singlehanding, if necessary and both are already set up for a cruising couple. Now if I can just find that elusive Uncle Harry!
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Rock Simpson
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Susan Bland
Uncle Harry Thanks a Lot!
We'd go with a 2003 Hunter 356 - it's truly the boat of our dreams, not too big, not too small for the two of us and the occasional weekend guests. We're currently waiting for Uncle Harry to leave us the money for this...
We'd go with a 2003 Hunter 356 - it's truly the boat of our dreams, not too big, not too small for the two of us and the occasional weekend guests. We're currently waiting for Uncle Harry to leave us the money for this...
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Bill
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Jeff Jones
Geezer Classic
Always had a "hankering"..closer to lust..for the only stated "cruising boat" that I've ever heard J-Boats made..their J-28....find one..refit and renew below decks...get the "new" chute..keep the stick..and get lost in the North Channel or Georgian Bay..until the ice or Coast Guard force me home.... I'd let "Uncle Harry's" money give me and the good ship "Presumptuous" the fabled mid life crisis trip...for as long as I could...
Always had a "hankering"..closer to lust..for the only stated "cruising boat" that I've ever heard J-Boats made..their J-28....find one..refit and renew below decks...get the "new" chute..keep the stick..and get lost in the North Channel or Georgian Bay..until the ice or Coast Guard force me home.... I'd let "Uncle Harry's" money give me and the good ship "Presumptuous" the fabled mid life crisis trip...for as long as I could...
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Tom Madura
Swan
I think Uncle Harry's money would be well-spent on anything made by Swan, but the Swan 44 would be particularly nice for a live-aboard without getting TOO extravagant. If Uncle Harry wasn't quite that rich, I'd settle for a Sabre 402 in a pinch. Tom Madura
I think Uncle Harry's money would be well-spent on anything made by Swan, but the Swan 44 would be particularly nice for a live-aboard without getting TOO extravagant. If Uncle Harry wasn't quite that rich, I'd settle for a Sabre 402 in a pinch. Tom Madura
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Rick Pirate
Keep it simple sailor
Thank's to Harry I would buy a 34' Ericson built around the 70's, small enough to single hand and big enough to liveaboard with enough money left over for a good cruising kitty.
Thank's to Harry I would buy a 34' Ericson built around the 70's, small enough to single hand and big enough to liveaboard with enough money left over for a good cruising kitty.
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