While sailing most of my life (started as crew on a friend's Highlander in the 50's) I didn't get into the sport for real until started leasing a Dufour 30' in the late 80's. A great way to get into the sport with all of the upside and very little of the downside (breakdowns, mechanical issues, etc.) If I "broke" something then it would have been my expense, otherwise the owner paid for all wear and tear expenses.
Late in the summer of '89 I came back from a cruise on the Dufour to find a note on the marina's bulletin board that our Dock Master was selling his 1981 Hunter 33 for well below market value. The boat was in pristine shape but very basic instrumentation and no goodies. Two weeks later I owned my first boat! Over the years I was continually upgrading (electronics, added refrigeration, and eventually re-powered, etc.). I'm 6'-3" and over the years got a little tired of not being able to truly stand up down below. So I started dreaming.
Fast forward to 2007 when motoring around the harbor I smacked an uncharted rock. My insurance company wanted to "total" the boat. I accepted the offer and using the insured value of the boat in my pocket to use as a down payment, I started shopping.
A year and change later, after looking at about 25 possibilities I found (in Marblehead, MA) an absolutely pristine, extremely well-equipped 1997 Hunter 376. All the goodies - electric windlass, electric halyard winch, factory installed genset, factory installed reverse cycle a/c-heat, freezer, fridge, you get the picture. The biggest added benefit was that it was a 1-owner boat with full documentation of everything done since she rolled out the factory door.
And I can stand fully erect down below!!! No more moving around below like a hunchback!!
Late in the summer of '89 I came back from a cruise on the Dufour to find a note on the marina's bulletin board that our Dock Master was selling his 1981 Hunter 33 for well below market value. The boat was in pristine shape but very basic instrumentation and no goodies. Two weeks later I owned my first boat! Over the years I was continually upgrading (electronics, added refrigeration, and eventually re-powered, etc.). I'm 6'-3" and over the years got a little tired of not being able to truly stand up down below. So I started dreaming.
Fast forward to 2007 when motoring around the harbor I smacked an uncharted rock. My insurance company wanted to "total" the boat. I accepted the offer and using the insured value of the boat in my pocket to use as a down payment, I started shopping.
A year and change later, after looking at about 25 possibilities I found (in Marblehead, MA) an absolutely pristine, extremely well-equipped 1997 Hunter 376. All the goodies - electric windlass, electric halyard winch, factory installed genset, factory installed reverse cycle a/c-heat, freezer, fridge, you get the picture. The biggest added benefit was that it was a 1-owner boat with full documentation of everything done since she rolled out the factory door.
And I can stand fully erect down below!!! No more moving around below like a hunchback!!
