Buying a Liveaboard in the PNW

[SteveMH]

I am an inexperienced sailor that got a late start (59yrs old) but I am hooked. Most of my experience has come from a local sailing club. I live in a dark dinghy basement apartment and have decided that I would love to live aboard a sailboat and yes I am used to very small spaces and few possessions. My budget is a max of $85K. I have done a modest amount of tire kicking but brokers so far seem to just tell me what they think I want to hear. I think that I would like a 35-38 footer preferably with two private cabins and one head/shower. The only boat that I have seen that appealed to me was a 35' Wauquiez early 80's vintage but it had its original Volvo which is hard and expensive to service in the Pacific Northwest. We frequently have light air particularly in the summer so heavy full keel boats generally are out. Most of our waters are deep and with all of the thousands of islands rip tides and strong currents are common. I believe in the KISS principle but I do want a degree of comfort as this will be my full time home. I plan on taking advantage of sailing the inland passages from Seattle to Alaska. After a degree of experience and comfort I would like to sail down the coast to Mexico/Central America and try life on the hook. No, I don't plan on crossing oceans but will single handle frequently.

Since there seem to be a number of very experienced sailors in the SailNet community perhaps you can offer some insight so that I can narrow my search especially given my budget. I am not married to a particular style but prefer substance over flash. Thanks in advance for any help. Steve

[serenity4u2]

Real Glad to hear your plans steve... I'm also in the market for a LA in the PNW... By my own addmission I am getting a little soft and enjoy comforts I would have passed up in my 20 and 30's... I have opted for a CAT- more specific a Gemini... I did find one located in OR for slightly above the 85K budget you stated... I like the layout and the price... The idea of easy enclosure makes for a nice addition as a LA plus for sailing in the PNW weather. I can understand wanting a lighter boat for the pugent sound.. Some of that other cruising you plan to do makes me wonder if you will be eliminating many great boats that have heavy and full keels... Not desiring to get into the argument of blue water vs coastal cruising... Still, I believe the Pacific coast can be pretty rough sailing... If you did go that route- a 35' young sun was a boat I was recently on and liked it. It is a heavier boat. I am curious if you are talking with any LA's in your area up here in the great PNW... There are lots of great blue water cruisers but I would not want them as a LA in the 35 foot range... Good Luck Steve....

[serenity4u2]

Steve I was trying to post a listing for that Gemini in OR and also a 35' young sun in your price range.... Having trouble posting link... Good luck

[blt2ski]

For here in the NW, Full keels will spend a lot of time! HEck I did 70 miles oer the weekend, with but 2 maybe 3 puffs of wind over 6 knots, most of the time it was less than 5, all the way down to the 0.X range!

As far as draft goes......deep keels work just fine here. I spent most of the time in 300-600+' of water.

I know of one fellow that has taken a <10 yr 45'ish foot Hunter to mexico and back. No issues. Going up the inside channel to alaska should not be a big issue either, just make sure you have the HP to go thru the upwards of 20 knot currrents. Altho the 10-20 knot areas, you wait for slack, even if going with the current.

In the end, there is not a really good, nor a really bad liveaboard IMHO, as I know of one fellow living on a 30' Jeanneau like I have, and enjoying himself. A fellow next to me lives on a 27' Bayliner with his boxer! so lots of choices.

Marty

[SteveMH]

Sounds as if there is a personal comfort level with lighter production boats such as Hunters. I admit that I have been leery of them as so many seasoned salts seem to trash them to varying degrees. I realize that they are not Hinckley's or Swans but will they withstand the demands of a liveaboard arrangement and yes given the potential for rough waters in the PNW are they up to the task?

[blt2ski]

We in general IMHO do NOT have what I would call rough waters, unless you are in the straight of juan de fuca all the time! 3-5' waves in 30+ knot winds, is not what I would call rough seas in Puget sound general from Admirality bay south to Olympia. You might see some larger ones in the Straight of georgia too, but, if you are truly cruising, and not having a deadline to get some where, if these types of seas and winds come up, there is usually a harbor with in an hr or two you can stop at!

You will NOT need a tyical blue water cruiser. A Bendy toy, Hunter, catalina, Jeanneau( what I have) etc will work just fine. As will older non built models that are equal for there time build quality of Erickson, Islander, San Juan etc.

Some folks like pilot house versions, as they work better in the colder times of the years. Others are happy with full enclosed cockpits, or bimini's etc.

I personally do not know of a Hunter owner that does NOT like there boat. Including a few on their 3rd or 4th one, same with Catalina's etc. Yes these boats are on the lower price point, but still do give you a pretty good bang for the buck. They may or may NOT meet "your" needs tho! i would not worry about sailing any brand here in the NW, from 20' trailer sailers on up.

marty

[mightyhorton]

Steve, I've spent a lot of my life cruising Puget Sound, BC and a couple of trips to SE Alaska, though currently am based in Mexico. You are right about light air in PS in the summer, but you can run into quite a bit of wind during the other three seasons. A boat with some weight to it is IMHO more comfortable and capable for year 'round sailing. You can get knocked around a lot in the Sound from Seattle/Tacoma and northwards. The farther afield you go, the more you will want a strong seaworthy boat. Cruising the PNW is a lot more fun when everybody else is staying home because it isn't summer.....

[Andyman]

I am thinking the same thing...living in the Puget sound somewhere. I was up in Vashon Island two weeks ago and looked a beautiful Catalina 34. Perfect for a live aboard for two people...at least for me. Great layout, great deck. Plus you can find parts for these boats as the layout hasn't changed much over the years. There's also a good Catalina 34 forum. Here's a link to the 34 that's for sale up there. I think he's asking around $54K.
Picasa Web Albums - Dave - For Sale - 88...

Andy

[CaptKermie]

Steve
I may not be as experienced (Sail wise) as some others on this board but I am home grown in the PNW and familiar with weather here (55 yrs). It rains alot here, more than we admit to. We have short summers and long dark winters. We also get a fair share of storms during some years (2007-2008) comes to mind. Wind can howel down the Georgia Strait uninterupted for many miles. You will spend way more time at the dock than out on the water in you LA boat. I am not a Hunter fan but I do know they build those boats to appeal to the second half of the buying decision. For LA I would give serious consideration to that second half appeal, after all it will be home. We may not get the rough seas one finds off shore but I asure you it can get pretty snotty out there, especially in the Georgia Strait. Since you have no plans for ocean crossings go with a beamy coastal cruiser that has ample living space and don't let any Hinkley/Swan owner sway you from the production boats comforts. I have heard of Hunters referred to as dock queens but if I was a LA a dock queen would make a whole lot of sense.

[anthony11]

Originally Posted by CaptKermie

Since you have no plans for ocean crossings go with a beamy coastal cruiser

Are beamy boats inherently suboptimal for offshore sailing?