Need to move up from a starter 23.5 to a boat that I can spend lots of time on. That is the most important feature right now. Would like to skip the interim step and go to around 32 feet. Not going to trailer. Need headroom of at least 6'3". Would love to get boom away from cockpit as far as possible. Cannot afford a new model but am not sure how old is still acceptable. Seems the newer models are more people friendly. Know very little about diesel engines. Would appreciate any friendly input. Thank you, Scott
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....next step is to determine budget $
Scott: Now that you know the approx. size, you need an approx. budget!
Scott: Now that you know the approx. size, you need an approx. budget!
Good luck
I know Andy's boat and you need to take a look. We all would like to move up but to a bigger boat, but bigger boat, bigger sails, winches, bigger problems. I have 28.5 with 6' head room, and the Yamar diesel and found club members willing and ready to help with all the maintance and problems. I now feel confortable with the diesel and would not like to go back to a outboard. Good Luck
I know Andy's boat and you need to take a look. We all would like to move up but to a bigger boat, but bigger boat, bigger sails, winches, bigger problems. I have 28.5 with 6' head room, and the Yamar diesel and found club members willing and ready to help with all the maintance and problems. I now feel confortable with the diesel and would not like to go back to a outboard. Good Luck
a biased opinion?
Well then, I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas, but I've noticed that the mid-80's vintage H31's are getting pretty cheap, relatively speaking. I've got an '87 H31 (which, incidentally, I'm NOT trying to sell) but I think they're going for around 25K. I've had it for several years. Great boat, and it has plenty of headroom... 6'4"? Something like that, and lots of room... 11' beam, or maybe 10'11" This boat is a really comfy part-time liveaboard, in my view. I spend a few nights per month aboard, and it is ideal for 2-people. It sleeps 6, but you can only do that if you're having an orgy. Just kidding. Plenty of room for all the stuff you need: TV/DVD player, stove, microwave, stereo, shower, etc. Although the 'shower' is really just a good way to clean the head, unless you REALLY need a shower. Anyway, I think the boom in the cockpit issue, in my boat, is completely solved by having a dodger, which extends a couple of feet aft of the companionway, and keeps you guests from putting their heads in the wrong place at the wrong time. Diesel engines? All I can say is that, properly maintained, the Yanmar 2GM20F will last the life of the boat. With diesels, oil changes and fuel filter changes at proper intervals will make them last a LONG time... you might occasionally encounter gremlins in the cooling system, which are usually easily solved, but will drastically shorten the life of the motor if you let them cause it to overheat repeatedly. I had to replace the mixing elbow last year. Not much fun, but that was my only mechanical problem. This boat is easily sailed singlehanded, or short-handed... all lines lead to the cockpit, including the traveler and reefing lines, if you take the time to run them through. It's a bit beamy, for it's length, and sometimes it won't 'point' as well as I'd like, but the beaminess gives it some stiffness, which is good, as the keel (on my boat) makes it a bit more 'tender,' if that's the right word, in the big winds I encounter in San Francisco. The 'clutches' on my boat probably need replacing, but the standing rigging still looks really solid. The quasi B&R rig works well, with the spreaders swept back a bit, and the backstay is almost an afterthought, but sometimes, when running, the main rests aginst the shrouds. A boat like this that had a gennaker in the sail locker would be worth a few dollars more in my book. Spinnakers are a hassle sometimes, unless you're racing, with a crew that knows what they're doing.... but an asymmetrical with a snuffer is an ideal solution when shorthanded on my boat, but it put me out to the tune of $1500 or so. Go for the boat with the most cool stuff already on board, and you'll get it for a fraction of the price. But you knew that, of course. Anyway, In my opinion, for an affordable coastal cruiser, this boat is perfect. Obviously, make sure you get one that has been well maintained and lovingly cared for, if possible. I'm sure there are some lemons out there. Thank goodness for SAMS. But, let's face it... there are LOTS of cool boats out there, and it's ALWAYS a buyer's market. This works for me, and my friends... but I guarrantee you there are lots of other opinions from folks who, for good reasons, love their boats. Good luck. Let us all know what you end up with. RJ
Well then, I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas, but I've noticed that the mid-80's vintage H31's are getting pretty cheap, relatively speaking. I've got an '87 H31 (which, incidentally, I'm NOT trying to sell) but I think they're going for around 25K. I've had it for several years. Great boat, and it has plenty of headroom... 6'4"? Something like that, and lots of room... 11' beam, or maybe 10'11" This boat is a really comfy part-time liveaboard, in my view. I spend a few nights per month aboard, and it is ideal for 2-people. It sleeps 6, but you can only do that if you're having an orgy. Just kidding. Plenty of room for all the stuff you need: TV/DVD player, stove, microwave, stereo, shower, etc. Although the 'shower' is really just a good way to clean the head, unless you REALLY need a shower. Anyway, I think the boom in the cockpit issue, in my boat, is completely solved by having a dodger, which extends a couple of feet aft of the companionway, and keeps you guests from putting their heads in the wrong place at the wrong time. Diesel engines? All I can say is that, properly maintained, the Yanmar 2GM20F will last the life of the boat. With diesels, oil changes and fuel filter changes at proper intervals will make them last a LONG time... you might occasionally encounter gremlins in the cooling system, which are usually easily solved, but will drastically shorten the life of the motor if you let them cause it to overheat repeatedly. I had to replace the mixing elbow last year. Not much fun, but that was my only mechanical problem. This boat is easily sailed singlehanded, or short-handed... all lines lead to the cockpit, including the traveler and reefing lines, if you take the time to run them through. It's a bit beamy, for it's length, and sometimes it won't 'point' as well as I'd like, but the beaminess gives it some stiffness, which is good, as the keel (on my boat) makes it a bit more 'tender,' if that's the right word, in the big winds I encounter in San Francisco. The 'clutches' on my boat probably need replacing, but the standing rigging still looks really solid. The quasi B&R rig works well, with the spreaders swept back a bit, and the backstay is almost an afterthought, but sometimes, when running, the main rests aginst the shrouds. A boat like this that had a gennaker in the sail locker would be worth a few dollars more in my book. Spinnakers are a hassle sometimes, unless you're racing, with a crew that knows what they're doing.... but an asymmetrical with a snuffer is an ideal solution when shorthanded on my boat, but it put me out to the tune of $1500 or so. Go for the boat with the most cool stuff already on board, and you'll get it for a fraction of the price. But you knew that, of course. Anyway, In my opinion, for an affordable coastal cruiser, this boat is perfect. Obviously, make sure you get one that has been well maintained and lovingly cared for, if possible. I'm sure there are some lemons out there. Thank goodness for SAMS. But, let's face it... there are LOTS of cool boats out there, and it's ALWAYS a buyer's market. This works for me, and my friends... but I guarrantee you there are lots of other opinions from folks who, for good reasons, love their boats. Good luck. Let us all know what you end up with. RJ
Hunter Vision 32
I had one for nine years. Great boat. No rigging worries (free-standing mast) Easy to sail. Wonderful interior. Check one out. Read the owner reviews. I was looking at a Gulf 32 when I purchased the Vision. Very different boat but also worth looking at, alto older and with a generation-earlier systems. Most of the Vision systems are still contemporary. Others: Oday 30, Erickson 32, Newport 33, Catalina 34, Cal 34. Rick D.
I had one for nine years. Great boat. No rigging worries (free-standing mast) Easy to sail. Wonderful interior. Check one out. Read the owner reviews. I was looking at a Gulf 32 when I purchased the Vision. Very different boat but also worth looking at, alto older and with a generation-earlier systems. Most of the Vision systems are still contemporary. Others: Oday 30, Erickson 32, Newport 33, Catalina 34, Cal 34. Rick D.
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