With $75,000....

[druid]

I had a C36 for 17 years and it's a great boat! I tend to go older because I don't like a lot of the newer designs. The walk-through transom is nice, but the huge fat *sses of the sugar-scoop designs and the vertical bows don't look good to me.

An older boat may be in better shape than a newer one, depending on how it was maintained/upgraded. For instance, I rewired my C36 because some idiot used WAY too thin wire for the 12VDC system. I put in GFI AC outlets. I re-did the steering system up to Edson Specs. I had 6" high-quality foam in the fwd cabin. And so on...

But the best way to go is get on/in a few boats, imagine them in rough seas, and see what you like.

druid

 

[TimCup]

I'm for newer and smaller-

I recently sold my C30 due to a move but am ready to buy my next boat. I do not want to buy a brand new boat but plan on spending around 75K and satisfy that bigger boat itch."

Simple reasoning- most newer boats are beamier, so you're getting more interior space per foot; most maintenance and dockage is based on length, so that extra interior space is like free!.

OTOH, you do want to satisfy that itch.....

 

[petersea]

OK not the most popular opinion but I will go ahead and offer it...........With 75K I would invest/bank it and get what I could in interest. take the interest along with all the other associated fees of ownership and charter when every I wanted to go sailing. Do some honest math about cost (slip rental, insurance, maintenance etc etc don't forget to take into consideration your time for maintenance be all inclusive right down to washing the boat) then do some honest evaluation about how much you will use the boat and see if it is worth it to you. Try to get a true "cost per hour" of ownership vs chartering. Sometimes chartering can be cost effective and remember you will almost always be able to charter a newer and bigger boat. If you get past that and really want to buy I suggest you get the newest, largest model that will accommodate your usage. Resale will be easier on a late model 32 footer then an older 42. Just my opinion..........