[bailey]

We are in the process of buy a sailboat for our family. Most of my sailing experience is on very small boats, with occasional short trips on my brothers 50'' Pearson.

We have looked at a nice O''Day 322, a Hunter and Catalina.... We like the interior of the O''Day at this point. However I have a few concerns... which is the better built boat?

The mast of the O''Day does not go all the way down to the keel, it is bolted to a beam (I guess). Does that have a great effect on saftey and the way it sails?

Are these easy boats to sail (all the owners of them say "yes")?

We are a husband and wife with 9 year old child and will basically be cruising the East coast for weekends and week long vacations, however we do want a boat we can take down to the Bahamas....

No ocean crossings for us! (yet)

I''d really appreciate some feedback and/or suggestions.

Thanks
bailey@cape.com