I have been sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with my H23. We have a great time but the boat is too light and has trouble pointing. The chop on the bay is great, and we are looking to move up. We are interested in a used 30-36 foot boat that sails well (some performance it doesn't have to be a J boat) and is comfortable for crusing for a week. I am interessted in many brands, but I want to hear pros and cons of your experiences. Thanks
Time for an upgrade
- Thread starter Dave19333
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What is your budget?
Your request is too broad as there have been hundreds of different models built in the 30-36 ft range in the past 25 years. Your request will also most likely only bring positive responses of the owners for their current boat. If I may suggest, do your own research in the net and you can start by reading the owner reviews in the Boat Info pages of this site and other brand specific sites. Once you have narrowed your list down then you may ask specific questions about those models. Also interview owners of those models at a marina and pound the pavement looking at the available ones for sale. The boats for sale in these pages will also give you a range in price for each model. Good luck.
Your request is too broad as there have been hundreds of different models built in the 30-36 ft range in the past 25 years. Your request will also most likely only bring positive responses of the owners for their current boat. If I may suggest, do your own research in the net and you can start by reading the owner reviews in the Boat Info pages of this site and other brand specific sites. Once you have narrowed your list down then you may ask specific questions about those models. Also interview owners of those models at a marina and pound the pavement looking at the available ones for sale. The boats for sale in these pages will also give you a range in price for each model. Good luck.
Second Benny
Stuff that would make a difference to me: # and age of folks you are going to take on a week long trip and plan for them growing up if they are kids. Max draft. Equipment it HAS to have, refer, inverter..... Equipment it would be nice to have, galvanic isolator, deck wash down pump.... Max beam if you already have a slip. Max mast height if you have any bridges to get under to get to the bay. Decide if you want to be able to "single hand" her. Size of cockpit required, do you entertain guests? How do I attach the dingy to the boat, davits, tow... How many heads are desired? This one caught me as my wife wanted 2. With all that said, I own a Hunter Legend 37 and have a wife, 3 boys (10, 9, 7) and a corgy dog. I have found that the boat is fast and easy to single hand. The accommodations are sufficient but as the kids grow we will need an additional birth. We have gone on week long+ gunkholing trips and have never had problems with draft, beam or mast height. The cockpit is large enough to entertain 4 adults. She tows the dingy well but I would not want to head out into blue water that way. All in all I am very satisfied with the boat but we are pushing the number of occupants that it will hold comfortably.
Stuff that would make a difference to me: # and age of folks you are going to take on a week long trip and plan for them growing up if they are kids. Max draft. Equipment it HAS to have, refer, inverter..... Equipment it would be nice to have, galvanic isolator, deck wash down pump.... Max beam if you already have a slip. Max mast height if you have any bridges to get under to get to the bay. Decide if you want to be able to "single hand" her. Size of cockpit required, do you entertain guests? How do I attach the dingy to the boat, davits, tow... How many heads are desired? This one caught me as my wife wanted 2. With all that said, I own a Hunter Legend 37 and have a wife, 3 boys (10, 9, 7) and a corgy dog. I have found that the boat is fast and easy to single hand. The accommodations are sufficient but as the kids grow we will need an additional birth. We have gone on week long+ gunkholing trips and have never had problems with draft, beam or mast height. The cockpit is large enough to entertain 4 adults. She tows the dingy well but I would not want to head out into blue water that way. All in all I am very satisfied with the boat but we are pushing the number of occupants that it will hold comfortably.
Practical Sailor might help narrow choices
You might also consider checking out "Practical Boat Buying" from you local library, or ordering it from Practical Sailor magazine. These books contain lots of reviews of boats that are available on the used market. Thier Web site also has additional reviews available for a fee - the Consumer Reports of boating. I used their materials extensively last year when I was getting educated on my boat purchasing plans.
You might also consider checking out "Practical Boat Buying" from you local library, or ordering it from Practical Sailor magazine. These books contain lots of reviews of boats that are available on the used market. Thier Web site also has additional reviews available for a fee - the Consumer Reports of boating. I used their materials extensively last year when I was getting educated on my boat purchasing plans.
Try this
Tony Tuma of Havre de Grace and Annapolis is a buyer's broker of first-class reputation. I dealt with him last year and found him helpful, ethical and resourceful 1 800 276-1774.
Tony Tuma of Havre de Grace and Annapolis is a buyer's broker of first-class reputation. I dealt with him last year and found him helpful, ethical and resourceful 1 800 276-1774.
Me Too!....and I've Decided on........
a Hunter 37.5 from the Legend series. It fits all of the areas you listed, especially sailing well to windward. It looks like these boats were made until 1996, and have a book value of a little under $100,000. The only problem is that I can't find one for sale locally. It seems like once someone buys one of these, they don't want to let go! But I'm going to keep looking in more distant locations.
a Hunter 37.5 from the Legend series. It fits all of the areas you listed, especially sailing well to windward. It looks like these boats were made until 1996, and have a book value of a little under $100,000. The only problem is that I can't find one for sale locally. It seems like once someone buys one of these, they don't want to let go! But I'm going to keep looking in more distant locations.
H29.5 on the Chesapeake
Dave, we have a Hunter 29.5 that we keep in Havre de Grace. We do a ton of week-ends on the hook, just the wife, dog (small) and myself. sometimes we have our two daughters (ages 8-11) but usually the two of us. We don't have a refrig, just the ice box. The boat size works for us now especially when it is just teh two of us and the dog. We have taken 7 & 8 day trips and had a great time. Someday I plan on looking at something in the 33 to 36 range before buying the dream 40+ boat to sail to teh islands. So like everyone said, it really depends on your use and what you must have on board. If you get to Havre de Grace I'll be glad to give you the 50 cent tour. BTW - I know Tony Tuma - grate guy and very solid reputation. He use to work for Tidewater sales, I don't think he is there anymore.
Dave, we have a Hunter 29.5 that we keep in Havre de Grace. We do a ton of week-ends on the hook, just the wife, dog (small) and myself. sometimes we have our two daughters (ages 8-11) but usually the two of us. We don't have a refrig, just the ice box. The boat size works for us now especially when it is just teh two of us and the dog. We have taken 7 & 8 day trips and had a great time. Someday I plan on looking at something in the 33 to 36 range before buying the dream 40+ boat to sail to teh islands. So like everyone said, it really depends on your use and what you must have on board. If you get to Havre de Grace I'll be glad to give you the 50 cent tour. BTW - I know Tony Tuma - grate guy and very solid reputation. He use to work for Tidewater sales, I don't think he is there anymore.
Give us some parameters...
More you tell us, the more we can tell you. H31 84 - 86 is a great "first big boat", relatively low cost (20-25K) with lots of room. They are everywhere on the bay and relatively easy to maintain and handle.
More you tell us, the more we can tell you. H31 84 - 86 is a great "first big boat", relatively low cost (20-25K) with lots of room. They are everywhere on the bay and relatively easy to maintain and handle.
More info
Thanks for all the responses, I own the h23 with two friend which has been great. Our slip is at a friends house on the Magothy. The slip will handle up to 45 feet, but the depth at low tide is only 4.5 feet. My friends and I want to split the cost again. We all have small children and want something that is more stable, and can push through the chop, not stop dead in it. But we do enjoy performance sailing. Our h23 doesn't have a centerboard, just a shallow winged keel. Our buget is under $50,000. We are all pretty handy, but the less exterior wood the better. Any thoughts on diesel verse gas inboard?
Thanks for all the responses, I own the h23 with two friend which has been great. Our slip is at a friends house on the Magothy. The slip will handle up to 45 feet, but the depth at low tide is only 4.5 feet. My friends and I want to split the cost again. We all have small children and want something that is more stable, and can push through the chop, not stop dead in it. But we do enjoy performance sailing. Our h23 doesn't have a centerboard, just a shallow winged keel. Our buget is under $50,000. We are all pretty handy, but the less exterior wood the better. Any thoughts on diesel verse gas inboard?
H-27
I am down the bay from you, and have a new H27. It would be at the upper edge of the budget, but you could find close to that price range. That being said, it handles fantasticly. Yes it is not designed for off shore blue water sailing, but it draws 3.5' and can run 6knots with full tanks. I have had only cosmetic problems with it. I did remove the aft cabin door, but it is only SWMBO and I. This gave more access to the "hanging" locker. I know others will disagree with me, but there is nothing like having all the problems paid for at once. Another couple I know purchased a much bigger boat for the same money. They are spending a large amount of time working on it where as we are spending the time sailing it.
I am down the bay from you, and have a new H27. It would be at the upper edge of the budget, but you could find close to that price range. That being said, it handles fantasticly. Yes it is not designed for off shore blue water sailing, but it draws 3.5' and can run 6knots with full tanks. I have had only cosmetic problems with it. I did remove the aft cabin door, but it is only SWMBO and I. This gave more access to the "hanging" locker. I know others will disagree with me, but there is nothing like having all the problems paid for at once. Another couple I know purchased a much bigger boat for the same money. They are spending a large amount of time working on it where as we are spending the time sailing it.
Dave
You ought not to have any trouble finding a great boat within your budget. I may get flamed for saying it, but, stay the hell away from gasoline-fired inboard engines. It's just not worth the risk, besides, you will be hard-pressed to find a sailboat less than thirty years old with and inboad gasser. Best of luck to you.
You ought not to have any trouble finding a great boat within your budget. I may get flamed for saying it, but, stay the hell away from gasoline-fired inboard engines. It's just not worth the risk, besides, you will be hard-pressed to find a sailboat less than thirty years old with and inboad gasser. Best of luck to you.
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