[Jeff_H]

Gregg,

As I read your list of potential boats, I see boats designed with with a very wide range of potential uses in mind. On the list are some high quality coastal cruisers, some potent offshore cruisers (both higher and lower performance) and a boat best suited as a live aboard than anything else that I can think of. Each of these boat types offer some real advantages and disadvantages depending on how you plan to use them and where you plan to sail.

When I see that diverse a list of potential candidates, I get the sense that the person is new to the sport and has not taken the time to understand the basis for why one boat or another is built the way it is or develop a set of personal preferences that would help steer that person to make the right descision for their own needs and tastes.

In a sport as complex as sailing, we all go through a kind of apprenticeship where our tastes, and goals are shaped by our experiences. There is nothing wrong with kicking tires but in sailing there are no uiniversallly right answers that we, or anyone else can give you. You need to develop a sense of what makes sense for you personally.

With all due respect, I would suggest that you spend a little more time, reading up on sailing, sailing on a variety of boats and looking at used boats to develop more a more fucused understanding of what you would like this boat to be and how you plan to use her. Then come back and we might be able to provide some meaningful input. Right now, anything that we would recommend, would be as accurate as an answer to the question, "How long is a piece of string?" and just about as useful.

Respectfully,
Jeff