HELLO JACK (WHOOSH): Thanks for the latest response and the additional insight that it offers. Here goes with some more feedback to (hopefully) help you and others identify where we are at this time. We have been more focused and searched harder than probably seems evident with all our questions. But again, we are wrestling with compromises, and hope that we will gain insight here to help us make the right choice. There''s a lot of "conventional wisdom/urban legend/hot air" out there and plenty of armchair sailors/brokers/salesmen ready to perpetuate it. Again, thanks so much for the time and effort you have already expended in sharing your experience and knowledge!!! I hope: (1)We don''t wear you out; (2)Others who watch and read (as we did for quite some time) will get something out of this; (3)Some of the seasoned vets will "weigh in" with their reaction to the questions and compromises we are trying to resolve (or just tell us we''re "all wet" on any issue). HERE GOES WITH MORE DATA: (1)THE SPECTRUM: Cabo Rico and Sabre are indeed dissimilar in many ways, and they represent the opposite ends of what we are considering. We seek the "experienced truth" regarding compromises running from Sabre sailing ability to Cabo Rico construction, traditional styling, and seaworthiness. In short, if it looked and was built like a CR, and sailed like a Sabre, we would talk to the bank and get in
line (undoubtedly, there would be one)!! Pacific Seacraft, Valiant, Cabo Rico, etc. CAN be had with reduced exterior teak, and this is becoming a popular approach. I hope all this translates to "they''re wrestling with compromises, hot air, and boatshow wisdom" rather than "they''re all over the place with their thinking"!!! (2)DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: We are not "hard
line" on anything but draft, and there''s a reason for that. You CAN sail in the area with deeper than our 5 foot target, 6 foot absolute max., but not to our property there, and there are boats that do meet this requirement. Otherwise if a quality builder uses reasonably conventional approaches and materials, and has a proven track record with their product, then we don''t have a problem. I feel as you do on the cutter
rig as a way to tout more sail area, but can see the value of the increasingly popular idea of the detachable/movable inner forestay (with a hank on staysail ready in its bag below). Also wouldn''t a boat well built, seakindly, and stable enough to take us to Bermuda comfortably, and without anxiety, still be able to do without some of the systems, redundancy, and storage needed to cross major oceans? I hope we have not missed on this possibility for compromise. (3)OTHER BOATS: We have been aboard and have current literature on most all of the European boats you mentioned. We really liked a couple (Hallberg Rassy, Najad), but here''s what we have found. In the 36 to 40 foot range (NOT hung up on ft. per se, but not sure what sense it would make for most folks if I said 20,000 lb. range) they cost $350,000 and up new because of the dollar vs Euro thing. We have watched the listings for brokerage boats and found very little so far. Bottom
line is that we are aware of the better of these boats, and do have our eyes open in that direction. Please though, continue to mention anything we might have missed! We agree with you in that it looks like some of the Europeans do a good job and have a fine track record. (We were not impressed with Bavaria though) We also had spotted the Southerly with its swing up keel, but the above on cost and availability also applies to them... And as you say it''s a bit of a departure fom the norm (?popularity, resale, longevity, does anyone remember the Clearwater?). (4)QUESTIONS: Could you (or anyone) comment on the following? (A)SABRE: suitability, safety, pros & cons, etc. if taken to Bermuda, Belize, etc. Would you sail a Sabre to Bermuda in a heartbeat, as you would the better Europeans? (B) CALIBER: Inshore sailing ability, quality, design approach, track record, etc. To us they look good, offer a lot for the money, etc., but we would like to know more. THANKS AGAIN... George & Marilyn.