Keep me from buying a Trawler! Sailboat Suggestions!

Cool Beans

Cool Beans

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Mar 8, 2011
296
Ranger 33 Norfolk
5 years owning my Ranger 33. . .2 years living on 'er. I enjoy living aboard, and I enjoy the boat as a sailboat, but she has finally gotten too small. . .not to mention the constant projects/updates/fixes to make her better to live on that made it like living in a construction zone, lol. I've finally realized there ain't much I can do to fix interior/exterior usable space, the cave like atmosphere, the non-existant galley, no shower, and the $^%&$##(#* crappy v-berth :doh:

I've gone thru my list of wants (I don't really need anything other than my sanity, which is slipping) and most of it points towards a Trawler or Motor Yacht of some type :cry: Turns out I'm looking for a floating Condo that I take out a dozen times a year. I think I average 10 times a year since owning "Cool Beans".

Yesterday was the first time since last September :redface: While I don't go out that often, I do enjoy sailing. It's like a drug! Yesterday was like getting a hit of cocaine! She just sucks for me to live on. . .

Seeing how I spend 99% of time in the slip, can you guys give me suggestions of a sailboat that wont' leave me feeling like I'm living in a van in a parking lot. . ie. glorified camping?

If you can keep suggestions to under 40ft and $50k in price or less. . .and possibly no v-berth as mine is leaving my back and knees sore (and I'm not even 32!). Only thing close I have found are Irwin 38 CC. But there has to be more out there! Else it's Trawler with a sailing dinghy ;)

Help, and thanks!
 
Allan12210

Allan12210

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Jan 22, 2008
1,666
Hunter 34 Alameda CA
I guess you could look at Ranger Tugs. At least the make sounds the same. ;-)
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
i was going to suggest a Island Packet 38 but the $50,000.00 shot that in the head ...if room is your problem then get a catalina 30 they have to most room i have ever seen an a 30 ft boat and they have a head and several options on sleeping .....the tuggs Allan 12210 suggested would be like living in a pick up up camper...if you have to get a trawler make sure it is a diesel powered one
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Early Model Catalina 320. Has a aft cabin and should be able to find one for around $45K.

Catalina 34 or 36. Good amount of room, both have an aft cabin.

Hunter 40. Aft cabin

Hunter 34. has an aft cabin

You have a lot of choices. Check out yachtworld and see what you like.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Buy yourself a nice trawler to live on. Charter a local sailboat a few times a year to get your 'fix'.
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Heck....You can get an old Morgan Out Islander 42 for around $50k. That should have some living space on it if you want a dock queen.
 
Bob J.

Bob J.

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Apr 14, 2009
774
Sabre 28 NH
If you very rarely leave the slip why not buy a power boat? Comparing length/beam between the two crafts, no arguing powerboats offer more usable space.
Look at something like a 32' Carver Aft Cabin.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
You are looking for a "pullman berth" or a walk-around aft berth common to center cockpit boats. In fact, center cockpit boats have fallen out of favor in recent years and offer a lot of room / foot of boat, and can be had for very competitive prices. They typically have larger galleys as well. The fore-aft accommodations work nicely for living aboard.
 
31seahorse

31seahorse

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Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Cool Beans said:
If you can keep suggestions to under 40ft and $50k in price or less. . .and possibly no v-berth as mine is leaving my back and knees sore (and I'm not even 32!). Only thing close I have found are Irwin 38 CC. But there has to be more out there! Else it's Trawler with a sailing dinghy ;)

Regarding sleeping comfort: Have you considered or tried a custom built mattress for your V berth? Expensive? Nowhere near the price of a trawler.

We were aboard a boat several years ago called a Catalina-Morgan, if I remember correctly. That boat had an aft berth with a queen sized bunk that was a walk-around on at least three sides. Looked pretty much like home to me. Best Wishes.
Click to expand
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Bad Obsession said:
Catalina 34 (or 36). Good amount of room, both have an aft cabin.
Click to expand
C34 has the largest V berth of any boat I've been on.

If you still want to sail, find a sailboat that isn't a condo but that can actually sail. The Ranger was a great boat, but not for what you did with it.

You'd probably find more useable room on a Catalina 30 than your R 33.

Good luck.

Trawlers are nice, lots of room, but they don't tell you they roll a tad at anchor, even in the slip.
 
Cool Beans

Cool Beans

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Mar 8, 2011
296
Ranger 33 Norfolk
Yeah, took me awhile to figure it out, but the R33 isn't right for me. . .it takes all kinds of people and boats though. Guy up the dock from has lived on his Catalina 25 for 4 years now. And I talked to a couple people who lived on and cruised on their R33's. . .one was a family of 4!

Having been on a Catalina 30, I will second that it is much more livable than my R33 :doh:

31Seahorse, I will probably cut an 8" mattress for the boat until I sell or move off of it. That will help. Actually, option B is to convert the dinette into the double berth and put an inflatable mattress on that till I move off. V-berth will be storage. . .not a long term solution I don't think, lol. My issue with this boats v-berth is crawling into and out of it. Trawler v-berths seem to be much wider and more importantly the "v" is deeper. I could sit on the inside of it and swing my legs up and over and go to sleep. In most sailboats and definitely mine, the "v" is almost non-existent requiring me to crawl in head first then contort around, readjust the bedding then go to sleep. Countless times I have banged my head, knees, and face. . .that and I'm 220lbs and lift weights. . .I just don't bend like needed easily :redface:

I had no idea what a pullman berth was until I looked at the Freeport 36. That is an awesome boat! Those aft cabin(coffin) boats would be worth checking out in person. The big bed looks promising!

Misfits, I'm afraid if the Apocalypse happens I won't be able to sail away. I doubt there will be gas pumps for me to fill up, let alone refineries running. . .unless I can figure out how to power a Trawler with the blood of Cannibals & Zombies, I'm stuck :eek:

But seriously, $6 a gallon or more fuel in the future does scare me a bit. Never being able to leave the slip would defeat the whole purpose of living aboard for me. And I enjoy sailing ;)

I'm also hoping that buying a boat that is taken care of and not a "fixxer upper" I'll have more options to go out. Trawler isn't out of the question, just such a different lifestyle. I'd rather find a sailboat but I'd adjust I'm sure to power.

Thanks for the help yall! Some good leads to pursue.
 
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