Newport 33

[Andyman]

I currently am learning to sail on my 72 Aquarius 23. It's a great boat, no doubt. However, I'm also looking at the Newport 33's as a possible live aboard in the next couple years or so. I like the interior layout and a little research I have done seems to indicate that they are good sailers. Most likely I'll end up in the Puget sound area and will likely just spend the rest of my time there. This is not to say I wouldn't like to sail to Mexico but I don't know if the Newport 33 is the boat to do that with? Any comments on the good, the bad and the ugly would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Andy

[Faster]

In our last boat hunt we looked hard at the Newport 33s... they had a lot of the features we were after, the layouts looked good, (and there are few differences year to year), the size was right for our intentions which included lengthy coastal cruising doublehanded.

In the end we found something we liked more, but overall I was quite ready to consider a N33. Good pedigree (Mull design) and many had been nicely outfitted by POs.

As a caution I will add that we looked at one with really severe delamination in the deck/cabintop area, (didn't need the "tap test", the deck was bubbled up in several places) and though that kind of turned me off I didn't see the same in other examples.

I think if you get a good one it's a boat that could well be used as a coastal liveaboard for a couple, as far as offshore, that would be debatable. This boat would not likely make the top ten of most people's best bluewater boats. (though no doubt some have done so, esp a downcoast trip like what you mention)