[me262]

I have been looking at boats for about 2 yers now, trying to find ''The One''. To confess, I have bought two ''trailer sailors'' (a Hunter 22 and a Neptune 24) which I have rehab''d and have bay sailed on the Texas coast.

This site has many very qualified people with very relevant opinions as to the type of boat and gear needed for any paticular endeavour. The mere fact that so many are here to share their wealth of information is a credit to not only temselves, but the ''brotherhood of sailors''....Thanks Guys and Gals!

My dilemma seems to be shared by many sailors and sailing wannabees on this site: With soooo many boats for sail out there, how can I get a capable boat for very little $$$$$$?????

I have looked at Albin Vegas, Pearsons, Tartan 27, Cal 2-29, Mercator, Watkins, Hughes, Columbia''s, etc, etc, etc. All boats were under $10K (some under $5K) and most were in very sailable condition. Their respective owners associations swear by most of them to be very capable open water vessels.

With myself not having the expertise to know if a boat is a truly Caribbean explorer, does anyone have a feel for which designs are ''The One''s'' to look for?

I know how to look at chain plates and evaluate the interior layouts and features, but where do you draw the line between a marginal boat and a real gem?

Thanks again!

[paulk]

It would help to know more about your parameters. You mention the Caribbean and a string of boats/boat builders, but don''t say what you''re actually looking to spend or whether you''re singlehanding, for example. With the prices you do mention, the age and construction of candidates can begin to be a problem. It can get rough and windy in the Carribean. (Tropical storm Gamma is now heading towards Florida.) You want something that will stand up to the beating it''s going to get. Pearsons and Tartans have decent reputations in that regard, but a well cared for Hunter might hold up better than a worn-out Hinckley. Anythng you buy should have a thorough survey, especially if you''re heading offshore.

[me262]

Livaboard and travel when I get to the destinations. Probably sail with one other person. Budget for bare boat: <$10K.....

[BlueWaterCruiser]

With soooo many boats for sail out there, how can I get a capable boat for very little $$$$$$?????
Hi,
I''m retired... straight, fit condition, no drugs,
or alcohol, no attachments, no debt, no children.
Have no sailing experience, but am actively looking for a sailboat and am willing to share
a joint-ownership as I can contribute as much as $1800.00 monthly toward payment
and cruising expenses. Only offshore experience I have is when I worked on shrimp boats,
off the coast of Daytona Beach, Fl.(sometimes 60 miles out, Royal red shrimp in 1200ft of water), after college for about 18 months.
I''m very mechanically inclined in that I can repair almost anything and don''t mind doing
whatever it takes to get the job done as I have owned 5 businesses (or they owned me)
and had to take care of business...when the need arose.
If you will please take a look at these just to give you an idea of what I have in mind...
also am open to suggestion.
Just copy and paste entire the links into your brower (Internet Explorer) address bar:

http://www.marinayachtbrokers.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp;jsessionid=anINP8aJ-g8g?slim=broker&boat_id=1434923&ybw=&hosturl=marin ayachtbrokers&&ywo=marinayachtbrokers&&units=Feet& access=Public&listing_id=2425&url=&hosturl=marinay achtbrokers&&ywo=marinayachtbrokers&
Also: http://secure.adpay.com/ClicknBuy.aspx?pid=656247484E595766697257746332776 75165374453673D3D&adid=1001744413-01
These boats or similar can possibly made ready for offshore passage at a reasonable cost or (so it appears).
I''ll be in Tampa, Fl., on 12/02/05 looking at a few boats.
Please respond at your earliest convenience.
Regards,
Ray Gunn
Email: phase1se@yahoo.com

[BlueWaterCruiser]

[BlueWaterCruiser]