30-32 ft Boat Ideas?

[ilnadi]

Looking to update from Catalina 25 on account we don't fit in it with one kid and another one on the way (no claims as to whether C25 is big enough; we don't fit in it). Sailing out of Oriental in the Neuse River/Pamlico. Mostly day-sailing and dock-to-dock cruises. Will probably start anchoring out in a while.

We are trying to be pragmatic since our needs are kinda simple, just looking at what is available (Catalina 30, Pearson 303, O'Day 31, Endeveaour 33, Irwin 35) in the area. I cannot see that it is worth trucking a boat when we have so few specific requirements.

Here is what we do have:

• Traveler on cabintop (to get the mainsheet out of the cockpit with a toddler and a baby AND to be able to have dodger/bimini on account of me being really pale)
• More that a Quarterberth behind the nav station. This one seems impossible at this size range (so I am talking the admiral out of having an aft cabin with a door) but at least a double would be nice.
• Decent galley (must cook!)
• Roomy cockpit (hopefully we'll never get swamped, lounging is a higher priority)
• Not tender, can be slow, will never race, comfort higher priority, U get the picture

Any thoughts are welcome. In the end we'll probably pick the cleanest boat available regardless of brand or configuration; but I'd like to go in educated.

[SailorMitch]

What's your budget? That will help with suggestions.

[ilnadi]

Depending on the boat having: AC, Dodger, Bimini, Usable Instruments, Standing/Running rigging and cushions replaced at least once (assuming this will be a 1980-1985 boat), engine <500hours, bottom antifouled last two years, etc
$25k-30k if the answer to all are NO
$40k-45k if the answer to all are YES
somewhere in between in real life

[Faster]

Aft double on a Catalina 30 is barely a double (limited clearance under cockpit sole) but otherwise it looks like you want a Catalina 30. At the upper end of your budget an older Cat 34 might fit. Watch out for the 30 - 32 foot French boats, they seem to try to cram a 36' interior into 30' and call them doubles.
Can't imagine your having any trouble finding an appropriate boat in your area.

[Ronbye]

Check out the Rival 32- Keno at http://ybw.yachtworld.com/core/uk/li...74383&url=true

I have a Rival 32 sailboat, excellent offshore / coastal cruiser. Highly recommended.

[jared]

The Islander28 has the track on the cabintop and balances well enough that it will self-steer on most points of sail. A Pearson32 is also a very nice boat with a bit more room in it. But, if you want more than a simple quarterberth...You may need to push up considerably in size.

The Islander offers a full v-berth forward, and one settee converts into a double bed (full size) across the main cabin, so you do wind up with a double plus the V.

But given the need for about 3' for an engine, and then splitting up the remaining width between two quarterberths or a quarter plus a lazarette...You may push yourself up into the 36-38' range and then you've got a lot more boat to handle solo while you're wife is with the kids.

Practical Sailor publishes a couple of volumes of their reviews of various boats, most include drawings as well as the reviews, so reading those over might be a fast way to see a lot o fboats in one place.

[sailandoar]

Try to get access to back issues of "good old boat". Check the website and if they have articles on vessels you are particuraly interested in then buy back issues on line or try inter-library loan. Robert Perry NA has done many of the articles in the magizine evaluating older boats and looking at pros/cons, price ranges etc.

We just gave away a 12" high stack of them and folks were excited to get them.

www.goodoldboat.com

[ilnadi]

Thanks for all the advice. When the old boat is sold and we are ready, I'll look at these resources.