Quote:
Originally Posted by JPGaillard
Hi all,
It is decision time. I have to chose between a 20 year old Passport 40 in perfect condition and nearly ready to go and a 10 year old Valiant 42 which needs quite a bit of work but is far superior of course. The price difference once everything is worked in is roughly $100k... A LOT of money.
I am struggeling. I know the Passport 40 is excellent. I am a singlehandler so it is a size I can cope with. It will keep me safe on my solo circumnavigation and the price is not outrageous. Downside is that it is old and may be harder to sell down the road and not as fresh as the Valiant 42 design...
For a $100k difference, or roughly 50% more, is a Valiant 42 really 50% more boat than a Passport 40? Is it not better for me for my first real boat to go for the cheaper one and then in a few years get myself a Valiant 42 or something at that time?
Thoughts welcome.
JP
Keep-Searching.net |
If I was going to solo or circum, the V-42 is the boat I would want. Of course, that assumes all things are equal which they may not be in this case.
I am currently about 100 feet from where they lay up the boats (Cedar Mills). I know the people pretty well that are there. THe boats are very well made and renound for what you want to do.
The Passports are good boats too and I would think they would be better light air performers. THe V-42's stink in light airs. I would feel comfortable in making a long distance passage in a Passport 40.
There are two things I would urge you to consider in this:
1) Are you CERTAIN you will circum? THe V-42, for all its long distance abilities, is a tight boat down below. I would think the Passport more comfortable.
2) Do not by via name. Buy these boats via how they were cared for. I would rather take a well cared for Bene or Catalina around the world than I would a poorly cared for Valiant. Make sense?
If you want something that I think is a bit of a compromise between the two, I would tell you to look at a Tayana 42. That is what my parents have. I am very familiar with the boat. It would be a comfortable live aboard, lots of storage, and would take you wherever you wanted to go. The Valiant is a better boat for a circum - but I think you would be fine on a Tayana 42 (and for that matter, the Passport too).
- CD