Dose anyone have any advice on a decent size shoal draft boat suitable for coastal cruising and living aboard. I’m moored in a river w/ about 4’ max at MLW. And looking for something around 30+ or- ft suitable for two. Any input would be appreciated
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Pearson 323, draws 4'3" and lots of room
Sails pretty well also. Built like a tank, plenty tankage. Have been living aboard summers for the last two years.
Sails pretty well also. Built like a tank, plenty tankage. Have been living aboard summers for the last two years.
30 ft. seems small for liveaboard for 2
I know people live in them.... Morgan 28 Out Island is a roomy 28, but it draws 5 ft... (not sure if there is a different keel.) You might look for a swing keel. If you store in fresh water and sale in salt, you can probably keep the growth down to a minimum. (Still extra maint.)
I know people live in them.... Morgan 28 Out Island is a roomy 28, but it draws 5 ft... (not sure if there is a different keel.) You might look for a swing keel. If you store in fresh water and sale in salt, you can probably keep the growth down to a minimum. (Still extra maint.)
Limited by size, length and/or cost...?
Jim, don't paint yourselves into a corner where you equate length with size, nor with coastal sailing suitability. Are you mentioning 30' because of a slip limitation, because you imagine a specific displacement target, and/or thinking of cost? Boats of similar lengths can be all over the map on meeting other criteria for a good coastal cruising/liveaboard boat. To mention two extremes, Eric & Susan Hiscock's WANDERER III was immense by contemporary standards and built extremely strongly to boot, yet was in the 30' size range you mention. The Pardey's current boat, as everyone knows, is also huge (re: displacement) tho' "only" 30' long. Determine what true limits you have (e.g. cost, slipage, and the draft requirement you already mentioned), and then begin looking for suitable boats that offer you the most (in displacement, condition, equipment relevant to your needs, layout) within your price range. Divorce yourselves from thinking a specific length and see where that leads you. You don't mention your location, which can have a huge effect on the types of used boats available to you. E.g. 1. Downeaster 32 (mostly a West Coast boat) 2. Tartan 34 (the older and also the newer 33' versions, predominantly on the East Coast 3. Pearson 323 (Al's rec is a good one; East and also Gulf Coast) 4. Hallberg-Rassy 35 (4.25 designed draft; Pac NW and East Coast) I'm sure there are 30 or 40 designs in sufficient production numbers to warrant investigation. Good hunting! Jack
Jim, don't paint yourselves into a corner where you equate length with size, nor with coastal sailing suitability. Are you mentioning 30' because of a slip limitation, because you imagine a specific displacement target, and/or thinking of cost? Boats of similar lengths can be all over the map on meeting other criteria for a good coastal cruising/liveaboard boat. To mention two extremes, Eric & Susan Hiscock's WANDERER III was immense by contemporary standards and built extremely strongly to boot, yet was in the 30' size range you mention. The Pardey's current boat, as everyone knows, is also huge (re: displacement) tho' "only" 30' long. Determine what true limits you have (e.g. cost, slipage, and the draft requirement you already mentioned), and then begin looking for suitable boats that offer you the most (in displacement, condition, equipment relevant to your needs, layout) within your price range. Divorce yourselves from thinking a specific length and see where that leads you. You don't mention your location, which can have a huge effect on the types of used boats available to you. E.g. 1. Downeaster 32 (mostly a West Coast boat) 2. Tartan 34 (the older and also the newer 33' versions, predominantly on the East Coast 3. Pearson 323 (Al's rec is a good one; East and also Gulf Coast) 4. Hallberg-Rassy 35 (4.25 designed draft; Pac NW and East Coast) I'm sure there are 30 or 40 designs in sufficient production numbers to warrant investigation. Good hunting! Jack
We did it on a 30 Hunter
We lived aboard a '78 Hunter 30' for for 30 months on the Chesapeake before moving up to 40'. It was close Quarters but my wife and I get along very well. It's a lot different now with so much more room for things that make living aboard easier. 2 refrigerators, 3 burners and an oven(CNG), double sink, 140 Gal water tank, 2 full heads(one with Lectasan/no more pumpouts), 16K BTU Heatpump, wonderful rear stateroom! Things common to both boats were microwave, toaster-oven, waterheater, 16K BTU Dickenson diesel cabin heater(could drive you off the 30'er), 1.5Kw inverter/charger, roller furl jib, and autopilot(very necessary). Yes we do still sail a lot, both boats are rigged to sail single handed but draft went from 4.5' to 5.5'. You might look into a multi-hull to reduce draft and it gives you a lot of space. Best of luck, Don
We lived aboard a '78 Hunter 30' for for 30 months on the Chesapeake before moving up to 40'. It was close Quarters but my wife and I get along very well. It's a lot different now with so much more room for things that make living aboard easier. 2 refrigerators, 3 burners and an oven(CNG), double sink, 140 Gal water tank, 2 full heads(one with Lectasan/no more pumpouts), 16K BTU Heatpump, wonderful rear stateroom! Things common to both boats were microwave, toaster-oven, waterheater, 16K BTU Dickenson diesel cabin heater(could drive you off the 30'er), 1.5Kw inverter/charger, roller furl jib, and autopilot(very necessary). Yes we do still sail a lot, both boats are rigged to sail single handed but draft went from 4.5' to 5.5'. You might look into a multi-hull to reduce draft and it gives you a lot of space. Best of luck, Don
We did it on a 30 Hunter
We lived aboard a '78 Hunter 30' for for 30 months on the Chesapeake before moving up to 40'. It was close Quarters but my wife and I get along very well. It's a lot different now with so much more room for things that make living aboard easier. 2 refrigerators, 3 burners and an oven(CNG), double sink, 140 Gal water tank, 2 full heads(one with Lectasan/no more pumpouts), 16K BTU Heatpump, wonderful rear stateroom! Things common to both boats were microwave, toaster-oven, waterheater, 16K BTU Dickenson diesel cabin heater(could drive you off the 30'er), 1.5Kw inverter/charger, roller furl jib, and autopilot(very necessary). Yes we do still sail a lot, both boats are rigged to sail single handed but draft went from 4.5' to 5.5'. You might look into a multi-hull to reduce draft and it gives you a lot of space. Best of luck, Don
We lived aboard a '78 Hunter 30' for for 30 months on the Chesapeake before moving up to 40'. It was close Quarters but my wife and I get along very well. It's a lot different now with so much more room for things that make living aboard easier. 2 refrigerators, 3 burners and an oven(CNG), double sink, 140 Gal water tank, 2 full heads(one with Lectasan/no more pumpouts), 16K BTU Heatpump, wonderful rear stateroom! Things common to both boats were microwave, toaster-oven, waterheater, 16K BTU Dickenson diesel cabin heater(could drive you off the 30'er), 1.5Kw inverter/charger, roller furl jib, and autopilot(very necessary). Yes we do still sail a lot, both boats are rigged to sail single handed but draft went from 4.5' to 5.5'. You might look into a multi-hull to reduce draft and it gives you a lot of space. Best of luck, Don
Seaward 32
The seaward 32 looks like an extremly well built boat with a retractable keel. With keel up it draws 2ft! It is not a cheap boat. Just looked at it at the Miami boat show.
The seaward 32 looks like an extremly well built boat with a retractable keel. With keel up it draws 2ft! It is not a cheap boat. Just looked at it at the Miami boat show.
IP 35, CB, 3'8"draft
I have an Island Packet 37 and love it. IP made the 35 with a centerboard that only draws 3'8" up. They have all kinds of room, like most 40'ers
I have an Island Packet 37 and love it. IP made the 35 with a centerboard that only draws 3'8" up. They have all kinds of room, like most 40'ers
H34
It seems to me that another choice may be the Hunter 34, 83 to 87 version. The shallow draft model draws 4'3" and has a fair amount of interior room. They also are readily available for something in the low 30's.
It seems to me that another choice may be the Hunter 34, 83 to 87 version. The shallow draft model draws 4'3" and has a fair amount of interior room. They also are readily available for something in the low 30's.
Also Vote For H34
We have owned a Hunter 34 (1983 model) for three years now and simply love the boat. The interior space is excellent and the boat is a great value for the money. Yes, there are things I don't like about it (permanent starboard list, low headroom in aft cabin), but all-in-all, it certainly is a great deal.
We have owned a Hunter 34 (1983 model) for three years now and simply love the boat. The interior space is excellent and the boat is a great value for the money. Yes, there are things I don't like about it (permanent starboard list, low headroom in aft cabin), but all-in-all, it certainly is a great deal.
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