I need some help in finding a boat for my retirement. I have been looking but have not found much that meets my general specifications. I will try to keep them simple. I plan to travel the waterways with some island cruising in the Caribbean, some coastal cruising also. Crew will be from 1 to 4. First list is necessary. Second list is like to have. 1. 33-39 foot length stern cockpit 2. Layout- Sleeping V berth, Main cabin with navigation station, and quarter berth. 3. Draft of 5 feet or less 4. Very little teak trim for low maintenance. 5. At least 8 opening ports. 6. No ports in hull itself. 7. Aluminum toerail. Second list 1. Full keel 2. Non saildrive diesel 3. Teak decks Thanks for any help on this. I am a few years away from retirement but you have to plan ahead.
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Buy a Boat
Unless you have a boat or a lot of experience buy a boat. Hopefully near what you think that you want and you might get lucky. But until you have spent time on a boat you don't know what is important to you. Full keel usually means slow and hard to get in and out of a slip!!!! A fin keel will almost spin around but the longer the keel the harder it is to manuver in tight situations. A fin keel with a spade rudder is the easiest to park. A full keel with an attached rudder is the hardest. A swing keel opens up a lot of shallow water and is faster down wind. Cockpit size!!!! If you are truely a blue water sailer a small cockpit is essential for safety. But a small cockpit really sucks for having friends go for a sail or hanging out at anchor. Our cockpit works well for a couple but with four adults it is really crowded. Even with the safety issues my next boat will have a larger cockpit. Swim a lot??? Climbing over the stern can be hard and a walk through transom starts to look really good. The list is endless of the things that you will discover once you own a boat. Like our boat has a shower that seemed really neat when we bought the boat. But it is in a bad location between the main cabin and the V berth. Always lie in the berth taht you want to sleep in before you buy the boat!!!! Walking through a berth might look good but when you actually lie down you might discover that it is too short. I did on a couple of boats that I was ready to buy until discovering that I was too tall to sleep in the berths. There are soooo many things that you don't know until you have owned a couple of boats.
Unless you have a boat or a lot of experience buy a boat. Hopefully near what you think that you want and you might get lucky. But until you have spent time on a boat you don't know what is important to you. Full keel usually means slow and hard to get in and out of a slip!!!! A fin keel will almost spin around but the longer the keel the harder it is to manuver in tight situations. A fin keel with a spade rudder is the easiest to park. A full keel with an attached rudder is the hardest. A swing keel opens up a lot of shallow water and is faster down wind. Cockpit size!!!! If you are truely a blue water sailer a small cockpit is essential for safety. But a small cockpit really sucks for having friends go for a sail or hanging out at anchor. Our cockpit works well for a couple but with four adults it is really crowded. Even with the safety issues my next boat will have a larger cockpit. Swim a lot??? Climbing over the stern can be hard and a walk through transom starts to look really good. The list is endless of the things that you will discover once you own a boat. Like our boat has a shower that seemed really neat when we bought the boat. But it is in a bad location between the main cabin and the V berth. Always lie in the berth taht you want to sleep in before you buy the boat!!!! Walking through a berth might look good but when you actually lie down you might discover that it is too short. I did on a couple of boats that I was ready to buy until discovering that I was too tall to sleep in the berths. There are soooo many things that you don't know until you have owned a couple of boats.
Thanks Tom
You make some good points tom. This will be my fourth boat. I have been cruising for some 35 years starting with a Vega 27, Cheoy Lee Clipper 33, and now a Hunter 25. I have sailed on many more boats so I do know what I am looking for. I just don't know the manufacture that makes what will work for me. Nothing like a full keel boat to make you feel secure offshore. Yes I will lie down in each berth before purchase, an excellent idea.
You make some good points tom. This will be my fourth boat. I have been cruising for some 35 years starting with a Vega 27, Cheoy Lee Clipper 33, and now a Hunter 25. I have sailed on many more boats so I do know what I am looking for. I just don't know the manufacture that makes what will work for me. Nothing like a full keel boat to make you feel secure offshore. Yes I will lie down in each berth before purchase, an excellent idea.
Check out the 37 cutter
There's a wealth of information in the archives about the Hunter 37 cutter, designed by Cherubini. If you are looking for a good buy in an older boat, and a boat that meets all your other requirements, take time to do some reading about the pros and cons. Several are on the market for under $50,000, and it is a lot of boat for the money: cutter rig, stable and safe offshore, separate shower and head, easy to handle by one or two people, etc. The 34s are even less exensive and would probably do quite nicely for your purposes. I like the extra room and stability. A good place to start reading is the owners assessments on this web site. Check the part which says "would you buy this boat again." It is almost 100% yes. We bought our 1979 pre-retirement, and are now retired and planning more extensive cruising. But it certainly would fit your requirements if you found one in good shape, or were willing to do a little work. If money is no object you probably want to buy new, then look at an Island packet or something similar. They are luxurious and safe. Try a charter first, and see what you really like. Good luck. Sanders
There's a wealth of information in the archives about the Hunter 37 cutter, designed by Cherubini. If you are looking for a good buy in an older boat, and a boat that meets all your other requirements, take time to do some reading about the pros and cons. Several are on the market for under $50,000, and it is a lot of boat for the money: cutter rig, stable and safe offshore, separate shower and head, easy to handle by one or two people, etc. The 34s are even less exensive and would probably do quite nicely for your purposes. I like the extra room and stability. A good place to start reading is the owners assessments on this web site. Check the part which says "would you buy this boat again." It is almost 100% yes. We bought our 1979 pre-retirement, and are now retired and planning more extensive cruising. But it certainly would fit your requirements if you found one in good shape, or were willing to do a little work. If money is no object you probably want to buy new, then look at an Island packet or something similar. They are luxurious and safe. Try a charter first, and see what you really like. Good luck. Sanders
Kenny, Full keels or fin keels are just
something that you learn to deal with. My old Volvo has a very short turning circle and Nancy's toyota seems to need ten acres but I drive both with no trouble. The interior is where you live get that right and the rest will follow.
something that you learn to deal with. My old Volvo has a very short turning circle and Nancy's toyota seems to need ten acres but I drive both with no trouble. The interior is where you live get that right and the rest will follow.
Interesting
Interesting topic and one I am sure you will get loads of input. I have to agree with Tom regarding the full keel. Before we moved up from our 22 footer to out "big" boat we chartered various boats ranging in size from 27 to 35 feet. The one full keel boat we chartered was extremely slow and hard to handle in close quarters. Stetching out where you will sleep is important and my wife and I did it at a number of boat shows perhaps looking silly. Nevertheless, we selected a Catalina 320 and we have been happy with her although our blue water experience was only off the coast of Jersey when we sailed her down from NY to NC. I live close to you if you wish to check out the Catalina 320 let me know. I keep her at North West Creek Marina just outside of New Bern. John s/v Lady K jsail320@suddenlink.net
Interesting topic and one I am sure you will get loads of input. I have to agree with Tom regarding the full keel. Before we moved up from our 22 footer to out "big" boat we chartered various boats ranging in size from 27 to 35 feet. The one full keel boat we chartered was extremely slow and hard to handle in close quarters. Stetching out where you will sleep is important and my wife and I did it at a number of boat shows perhaps looking silly. Nevertheless, we selected a Catalina 320 and we have been happy with her although our blue water experience was only off the coast of Jersey when we sailed her down from NY to NC. I live close to you if you wish to check out the Catalina 320 let me know. I keep her at North West Creek Marina just outside of New Bern. John s/v Lady K jsail320@suddenlink.net
There are a lot of boats to choose from
and people who are cruising or retired or out of their minds are posting blogs of their journeys at a website: http://www.sailblogs.com/member_list.php I suggest you click on several (or all) that show up. Their boat description is usually in their profile (click in right hand margin). Some people have gone far and wide in their boats, not just to Nassau or the Carib. Steel hulls and Swans are common enough but I am not sure that they have the full hull you seem to want. I believe that the shape of my Tartan 27's hull is as close to a full keel that you can get although it does have a centerboard. It seems like a half full keel to me compared to the ancient full keel boats with plunging bows. It isn't a race boat and doesn't turn on a dime but we race it anyway (Ross' point). My point is that you might look overseas for your dream boat (Europe, Australia, China) as well as here in the US of A. The sailblogs site is quite interesting if you have too much time on your hands at the office.
and people who are cruising or retired or out of their minds are posting blogs of their journeys at a website: http://www.sailblogs.com/member_list.php I suggest you click on several (or all) that show up. Their boat description is usually in their profile (click in right hand margin). Some people have gone far and wide in their boats, not just to Nassau or the Carib. Steel hulls and Swans are common enough but I am not sure that they have the full hull you seem to want. I believe that the shape of my Tartan 27's hull is as close to a full keel that you can get although it does have a centerboard. It seems like a half full keel to me compared to the ancient full keel boats with plunging bows. It isn't a race boat and doesn't turn on a dime but we race it anyway (Ross' point). My point is that you might look overseas for your dream boat (Europe, Australia, China) as well as here in the US of A. The sailblogs site is quite interesting if you have too much time on your hands at the office.
Transom wish list addendum
Kenny, have you thought about a walkthrough transom? If you are retiring to the boat I am assuming that you're not a spring chicken (no offense intended). Even though I am in good shape, I find that a walk-through transom makes getting off and on (especially with laundry, sundry, and grocery) much easier. And oh so much better for a little dip in the water.
Kenny, have you thought about a walkthrough transom? If you are retiring to the boat I am assuming that you're not a spring chicken (no offense intended). Even though I am in good shape, I find that a walk-through transom makes getting off and on (especially with laundry, sundry, and grocery) much easier. And oh so much better for a little dip in the water.
I am 64 and wife is 34. Budget is 50-100 thousand
Thanks for all the feedback. The Hunter 37 Cutter has been calling my name. I will check out the C&C 38 also. I will think about this walk through transom thing Andy. I have never sailed on one so no real prospective on it.
Thanks for all the feedback. The Hunter 37 Cutter has been calling my name. I will check out the C&C 38 also. I will think about this walk through transom thing Andy. I have never sailed on one so no real prospective on it.
Freedom is what you are looking for
I am very partial to Hunters, but if I were you I would take a serious look at Freedom. The unstayed carbon fiber mast(s) are proven performers and the self-tacking jibs and gun-mount spinakers are neat. Besides that-they are tough as nails-made by Tillotson-Pearson. The later models have that walk-through transom too! Once you have it, you will want to take a chainsaw to anything else-but it may not be suitable for extended offshore cruising.
I am very partial to Hunters, but if I were you I would take a serious look at Freedom. The unstayed carbon fiber mast(s) are proven performers and the self-tacking jibs and gun-mount spinakers are neat. Besides that-they are tough as nails-made by Tillotson-Pearson. The later models have that walk-through transom too! Once you have it, you will want to take a chainsaw to anything else-but it may not be suitable for extended offshore cruising.
You need to be more specific Higgs
Your post could be helpful if you could be more specific. I don't find any reason to reject the Hunter 37-cutter or C &C 38 Landfall for offshore. Maybe I am missing something? A list of the ones you think have already been listed that would fit the offshore bill , would be helpful also. Thanks!
Your post could be helpful if you could be more specific. I don't find any reason to reject the Hunter 37-cutter or C &C 38 Landfall for offshore. Maybe I am missing something? A list of the ones you think have already been listed that would fit the offshore bill , would be helpful also. Thanks!
More specific
I am not sure the Hunter you speak is really constructed for offshore work, but I don't pretend to be the last word. Here are some boats in your price range that I think would work; Endeavor, Morgans built by the orignal Morgan, 60's vintage Pearsons. 70's Cal 40, Saber. I also would think , but I am not sure that Bristol would be a decent choice. One thing about boats, is everyone has there opinion. I am certainly not the final word on this, but this list is based on readings and boats I have been aboard that seem well built. Earlier I mentioned the Nassau 34 - hard to find but in your price range. http://209.51.145.59/index.html?page=/list/index.html?cat=18&PHPSESSID=edd63ca45ac522211708a3fa0dfc75a0 Practical Sailor would be a good place to look. They have a book of reviews and they are pretty blunt when they review and usually opine on the boats offshore charactersitcs
I am not sure the Hunter you speak is really constructed for offshore work, but I don't pretend to be the last word. Here are some boats in your price range that I think would work; Endeavor, Morgans built by the orignal Morgan, 60's vintage Pearsons. 70's Cal 40, Saber. I also would think , but I am not sure that Bristol would be a decent choice. One thing about boats, is everyone has there opinion. I am certainly not the final word on this, but this list is based on readings and boats I have been aboard that seem well built. Earlier I mentioned the Nassau 34 - hard to find but in your price range. http://209.51.145.59/index.html?page=/list/index.html?cat=18&PHPSESSID=edd63ca45ac522211708a3fa0dfc75a0 Practical Sailor would be a good place to look. They have a book of reviews and they are pretty blunt when they review and usually opine on the boats offshore charactersitcs
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