Help me find my future boat!

Leland · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

I am looking for a boat to buy a few years down the road. I figured why not get all you knowledgeable people to help. I plan on doing some extensive cruising once I get the chance and I am trying to get a good idea of what boat is a decent choice. In the meantime I am still learning on my oday 23 and looking to crew to get more and more experience.

Lets see...size. I am looking for something in the 35 to 40 foot range. From what I can tell I think anything bigger is to much boat for me to maintain and handle. Looking at a crew of around 4 people.

rig/performance....sloop. I think that while a ketch or similar may be easier to handle, the price of maintenance/upkeep would be a little more than I want. Suggestions are wanted and I love the look of a dual masted vessel so if you can convince me go ahead. I need the vessel to be blue water capable but not ridiculous. I don't plan on sailing in the perfect storm and with the weather forecasts of today a lot more boats appeal to me. I guess a beefier cruiser race/ lighter cruiser. I want to do some island hopping but understand that I can be restricted by deeper draft.

price....I plan on spending around 70,000 give or take altogether. I realize that I will probably have to do some upgrades/restoration as it is inevitable on an old boat unless the previous owner was awesome and had my exact thoughts as to what I want. So what I am trying to say is I am ok with buying a boat that needs some work. I don't want to deal with having to fix the structural integrity but I want to put some elbow grease into it in order to learn about the boat and make it that much more desirable for me. Cheaper is always nice though.

Layout/Style....I love rich wood interiors and that old ship like appearance. Flush deck is a real turnoff. I am not trying to beat any world records. That is my preference anyways. I love an aft cabin. I haven't made up my mind on aft **** pit or center cockpit. Advice on both would be great.

With all this said I am open to any and all suggestions. I have recently been looking at cape dory's but they have that quarter berth. Let me know what you all think!

bestfriend · #2 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

Hmm, thats a tuffy. The conflict is with getting the aft cabin and the old ship like appearance in that size and price range. You can find it easier the larger you go, but then you get out of your price range. Take the Passport 40 for example, which can be had in the mid to low 100K these days. The older designs with that type of interior, say from the 60's and 70's, have that interior look, but also come with the quarterberth. I am sure there are some out there, I just can't think of any off hand. My CS34 is in that range, has the aft cabin, but is a more modern layout and style and I think that is what you will find a lot of in the range you are looking at.

Leland · #3 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

I am not completely opposed to new styles. for some reason I just don't like the look of fluch decks and solid port holes. I love that angled bow and bow sprits though but I realize that I will probably have to sacrifice personal preference. I guess I'll just keep looking. anybody else have any ideas?

Leland · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

I am not completely opposed to new styles. for some reason I just don't like the look of fluch decks and solid port holes. I love that angled bow and bow sprits though but I realize that I will probably have to sacrifice personal preference. I guess I'll just keep looking. anybody else have any ideas?

camaraderie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

Some of the older HalbergRasseys (35) might fit the bill.

kwaltersmi · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008

Try either of these:

Islander Freeport

Cabo Rico Tiburon

Both can be blue water capable if fitted out correctly. Both have some "old world/classic shippy" character to them. Both have nice master aft staterooms. Both can be had in your price range.

ehmanta · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008

LeLand,
You might be interested in looking at the Tartan 37 c/b. She's capable of blue water, fairly quick, teak interior, beautiful Sparkman-Stevens design, and she's in your price range. They made 486 of these and many have been upgraded over the years and several have circumnavigated. Her numbers are almost identical to those of the Passport 40.

Good luck, and don't mind my biased opinion!!

Leland · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008

I do like the design and layout of the tartan. I have just heard bad things about the cored hulls. I guess that can be a real problem.

ehmanta · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008

Leland,
The cored hulls have not been an issue with the Tartan 37. I know it's not the ideal hull to have if it does get moisture, but the coring on the T-37 is only in the large panel areas and not too close to the centerline where any impact would likely be. The outer skin of fiberglass is quite thick and then they laid the coring, then woven roving over that. Its a stiff hull with no flex. All of the bulkheads are tabbed neatly.
The downside for the T-37 is that the storage for fuel/water/propane is a little limited. 50 fuel, 90 water, and propane was usually added retro with a 13 # tank.
She sails with the fingertips and is nice to look at.
Tom

cardiacpaul · #10 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008

operative term...
"to buy a few years down the road"
Start looking a year and a half from that date.
To give you an opinion now wouldn't be worth a heck of a lot.