John
The last post, concerning the Slocum, sounds like an Idea to me, Ask those that cruise what they have and why they chose that boat, there your getting first hand knowledge of the boats..
A couple things to remember, most of your time, your setting at
anchor. and how stable is it at that area.
As for myself, I'm living and cruising on a Beneteau FIRST 42, much like the 456 you mentioned. The price is right, as you can pick one up for 100K or less. The wife and I chose the 42 as we couldnt find a FIRST 38.
We wanted a boat we could both handle, singlehanded if needed, and roomy enough to be comfortable at
anchor. We've turned the rear quarter into a pantry with ELF shelving and the forward head into a a water closet, as thats where the watermaker is now and a tool locker. spare parts and such.
Its a fast boat, and very seaworthy as it was built for all-out racing in open ocean events. more than we will ever put it through. Easy to move around, will turn in its own length and a real pleasure to sail.
At anchor, we have had to do a couple inventive features to get the boat to settle in, as to run a
line off the
anchor chain to the rear
winch to point the boat into the swells, but thats the point.. The boat is workable.
I guess the main reason was that I dont like bad weather, and this boat gives me the ability to run my butt of to avoid such weather..If I can keep myself a couple hundred miles below the 564 milibar
line, I'll be doing fine.
Check out the books from Lisa Copeland where herself,her husband Andy and three sons traveled around the world on a FIRST 38... He goes into detail why he chose a modern racing hull for cruising.....