Looking for a LiveAboard-PassageMaker

[TradewindSailing]

Hello all,



We plan on island hopping.

Budget for the boat is 180k plus some 40k for upgrades/equipment. We are looking for something safe, reasonably fast.

We had some moisture problems with the C&C and would like to stay away from wood core, or at least limit it to areas without a chance for water intrusion.

We believe a Shannon 43 would fit the bill, but the asking prices for old boats are out of range. We could go for an even older KP44, save money on the boat and put it towards repairs maintenance. We don't really like the center cockpits, aft cockpits provide plenty of space for two adults down below.

Hope that explains our thoughts and you guys can point us towards some alternatives!

[sailingdog]

Just because you had previous moisture problems on the C&C 38, doesn't really mean you should stay away from cored decks. The best material for cored decks is still end-grain balsa IMHO. What you have to do is make sure that the deck hardware is properly potted and installed, rather than avoid cored decks.

Cored decks are much stronger and lighter than solid-laminate decks, especially on larger boats, where the size of the deck would require much too thick a laminate to make it feasible.

Just spent the better part of a week, cruising on a C&C 38, and can't figure out why you thin you need more boat than that for just two people. We had six people aboard the boat I was on, and it was just fine... it'd be really quite nice for a couple to sail.

The C&C 38, if properly maintained, is an excellent boat, quite seaworthy, and would leave you much about $80k of the purchase price budget for refitting and upgrading.

[sailingdog]

However, she may be far more seaworthy than some of more comfortable, floating condos that you may be considering. I would recommend you get a very seaworthy boat, that is also comfortable enough to live on, especially if you're planning on going across the Pacific.

Given your budget, I'm guessing that you're looking at a used boat, rather than a new. New boats in the size range you're talking about are considerably more expensive than what you have budgeted. Things to consider about boats and the way they are constructed.

1) Look for a manufacturer that did not use a large hull liner, so that you have access to most of the hull. If you're on a long passage and have a leak in a boat with a hull liner, it is often difficult to get access to the leaking area to stop the leak and make repairs.

2) Look for a manufacturer that has made the deck with solid fiberglass and backing plates where any hardware passes through the deck. If they have not, try to find out if they have "potted" the deck there, and removed the core and filled the area with thickened epoxy. Either way, the deck's core should be protected from any leaks that occur where the hardware passes through the hull.

3) The chainplates should be very well fastened and easily accessed.

4) The hull deck join should be mechanically fastened, as well as chemically bonded. Through-bolting is the preferred way to secure the hull deck join.

If the boat has a cored deck, which I'm not particularly a big fan of, the through hulls in the hull should be in a non-cored area, that is heavily reinforced.

Furniture and bulkheads should be heavily tabbed to the hull, as should the stringers used to stiffen the hull.

[camaraderie]

Alden 44, Mason 44/43, Halberg Rassey 43/42, HansChristian 43 (if you like traditional!),Oyster43, swan42...are all good cruising boats that meet your price/draft/aft cockpit specifications. Aldens & Mason's generally are keel centerboards with shoal draft when board is up.
I wouldn't limit yourself on draft except maybe beyond 6' as you can carry that easily in the Bahamas and Caribe...ICW may require a wait for tide in a couple of places depending on dredging!

[camaraderie]

TWS...
Sounds like you have a good handle on what is important to you and I think a trip to Annapolis is probably the best way to proceed as the choices are enourmous and you can put "hands on" some of these boats. I would also suggest south FL as a place to shop as there are a lot of "end of the dream" boats there. Lots of beat up boats too that you have to sort through....but worth it when you find a gem at a great price due to all the competition.
We went though a similar process a few years ago...our citeria were so strict that it took us 1.5 years to find the right boat...and when we found it, several of our criteria went out the window due to love at first sight!
Example...teak decks...we didn't want 'em either but they came with the boat. Went through a hurricane with them and not a drop of water below so ya never know! Have fun looking!

[jane pettitt]

We're looking at a heavy steel yacht for liveaboard and wonder if anyone knows how it will sail in 4+ winds- its has a broad beam - 4.70m, is 48' long and is HEAVY! 23 tons displacement!
Anyone got any advice?
Than k you.

[sailingdog]

It would help a lot Jane if you said who made the boat, and what the design was....if not, at least who designed it. Steel boats can be good boats, and they can be horrible boats. Some sail well, but not in very light winds, some don't sail well, even in the heaviest of winds.

[btrayfors]

Here's a Kelly Peterson 44, apparently in excellent cruising condition, and in a distress sale:

http://www.johnsboatstuff.com/Articl...EST%20CRUISERS

Bill

[btrayfors]

Well, heck, that didn't work.

Try this one: http://64.70.221.24/DiscBoard/viewtopic.php?t=408

Tricked by Windows....again!

Bill