Thinkin bout moving up

[Bob Knott]

HI All,Hope Phil lets me get away with alittle advertisment here but... I've been thinking bout the dreaded sailors disease... yes I'm thinking bout moving up again in size and was wondering what all of you thought I should do. Many will think I'm nuts, but I've got 11 & 9 year olds, they like to bring friends, we like to cruise for weeks at a time and weekends all summer so... Where do I go now. The 410's not a big enough jump to make it worth it from my 380, the 50's great but outa my budget. on't really care for the high freboard of the center cockpits, but love the room. So please let me know what you like, but don't blast me cause I'm just thinking out loud here, I may just keep my beautiful 380.BTW if you know anyone who lives in the Northeast near Cape Cod and wants a pristine 99 380 let me know ))) That would make my decision for me!Thanks to all for your comments.Bob KnottS/V SerenityH380rjknott@mediaone.net

 

[Phil Herring]

OOOoooo, you got bit baaaad...

I can say that to you, having been there, done that.I agree that if you're going to make a jump, make it worth it, and (possibly) your last. In the Hunter line that would be the 450 or 460. I haven't sailed the 460, but the 450 sails remarkably well given its freeboard. Heck, it just sails very well, freeboard or no.The one drawback of that freeboard is docking. It's probably fine if you routinely sail with (1) enough athletic crew to get from the deck to the dock, or (2) the self-confidence to back into most slips. Having had neither, I found this problematic. The 460 looks like a terrific boat without the freeboard issues. It may be smaller below than the 450, but not by much...

 

[Jay Hill]

Yeah, yeah, it's the kids' friends...

...yeah...that's the ticket. That's the reason I need a new boat. Gotta love it.Just kidding Bob! Actually I wish I had that problem. Good luck in your search, and even though I hate to say it, remember that Hunter is not the only one that builds big boats. (I've got a contract on a 45' Columbia Cutter-Ketch center cockpit at the moment, but don't tell anyone, OK?)

 

[Greg Stebbins]

Thanks! I feel much better now.

Bob,I'm just trying to find our next boat. When it showes up I'll get it. It's the waiting thats killing me. Your problem sounds less likely to have a Hunter solution.Is the 380 just not enough cubic inches or could a costom interior resolve your problem?

 

[Chris Van Lauwe]

Rename boat from Serenity to Trade Me!

Bob,You do have the big boat fever bad! Best of luck in your search but I'll bank you keep your 380. I thought you just waxed the hull!!!!I'll stick with my 340. It is an excellent fit for the two of us and occasional company on the weekends.ChrisFestina Tarde

 

[Warren Feldstein]

you only live once?

I had a CS36 and spent a great deal of thought on precisely that issue. I opted to move up.

 

[Bob Knott]

Thanks all

Thanks to all who wrote, and were constructive. Hey Jay were's the plans, maybe we'll do a twofer plan and save money )))))Sail safe everyoneBob.ps. Oh yea Chris, I did just wax the hull of the 380 and two coats of bottom paint too! You know the way I am about care and preparation. Now all I have to do is find the right buyer. but you know where I'll be in the mean time.... SAILING!Enjoy you 340 this summer and my best to LizBob

 

[Larry Long]

You need REAL problems

If the biggest thing you can find to worry about is trading your (almost new) 380 for a bigger boat I think you need some REAL problems. Now I, on the other hand, do have REAL problems. I have a sunburn. The noseeums and mosquitoes are terrible. I never can find enough time to wax my boat (too busy sailing). On a more serious note: I always look at other boats at boat shows and have never seen anything I like as well as my 380. Your comments about the shortcomings of the bigger boats exactly match my observations. I've concluded that when you have experienced "the best" nothing less will do.

 

[Rick Webb]

Buy them their own

Send the kids out on their own boat, maybe even start your own 380 fleet.

 

[Jay Hill]

Yeah, what Rick said...

...you could buy a 25.5 for the kids. Huge decks and easy to sail. Then you'd have a dinghy to use instead of having to put up with an inflatable OR rigid dinghy on your boat. Plus, rafting up means that when the kids get loud, you just untie them and let them drift away. (I'm kidding of course.)DISCLAIMER: I am in no way insenuating (sp?) that a boat of 25' in length is a dinghy. All owners of said vessel type can please take this as a joke and not jump all over me for stating such verbage. Thank you very much and have a nice day. Besides, I'm outta here; off to the gulf for 5 (glorious) days. Gotta love it!

 

[Mark Johnson]

Hell, 50 feet ain't big enough with all the kids..

but seriously I bet they would allow you about what you paid for your 380 in trade for a new 460. We lOVE ours. It's one terrrific boat. Hope you find a cure for your "new boatitis"Mark Johnson

 

[Bob Knott]

Didn't say new.. just bigger

Again I'm just thinking out loud here folks and I do appreciate your humor. I might look used this time, but bigger. Went and looked at J-42's today, I race alot (On other peoples boats, the 380's got a horrible rating and can't sail near a 129) seems interesting although it's smaller in some ways that my 380. As with other things in life, when you not sure what to do, you do nothing and keep what you have. We'll see what developes... the saga continues.BTW the kids already have their own Opti's for summer racing, and we got an Avon RIB with a 15hp Evinrude too so I know about owning toooooo many boats ))))))Thanks allBob

 

[Greg Stebbins]

Well maybe....

Bob, what happened to your post??? Seriously, I don’t think a 360 would fit my lake. Hubbard‘s only 10,000 acres sailable. I'd probably need your house to! I've been up there only once for a few day at Harvard (Haaavard?). Nice place to visit but your tex-mex is awful and I'd starve!!