Used Bluewater boat recommendation?

nemier · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

Here's my wish list so far.

- small, simple and strong. (28' - 35')
- built & intended for bluewater, distance cruising.
- tiller steering
- cutter rig preferred, but not essential (sloop = less is more?)
- as fast as possible
- wide decks, allowing uninterrupted passage to pulpit
- full keel
- minimal electronics, or minimal electronics originally designed for the boat.
- designed for singlehanding
- material not important (open mind right now)
- must have a shower (for the Admiral)
...thats just about it for now.

Ladies, Gents & esteemed Sailnetters, can you help me?
Do you know of any vessels that fit this criteria?
Want to spend $25,000 - could spend $75,000 for the right boat.
Looking forward to hear your ideas.

Faster · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

Tough set of parameters..... a Westsail 32 might fit your needs and your budget - not sure if they all had showers on board... once you're in the warmer zones the good old solar shower bags do the trick in any case....

rikhall · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

What about a Contessa? I have never been on a 32 - been on a 26 thought. This quote is inspiring:

"Designed by one-time army tank designer, David Sadler, the 32-foot bluewater cruiser-racer has long been regarded as a tough and seaworthy vessel that inspires confidence in the heaviest of seas. In fact, it was the only one of 58 boats in its class to finish the disastrous 1979 Fastnet race."

thesnort · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

Baba 30 or 35 in rough condition.
oops! Sorry, tiller might be difficult...

JohnRPollard · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

Could you give us some info about how/where you plan to use the boat?

Also, could you tell us why you require a full keel?

Some of the older Pacific Seacraft might work for your upper price range -- like a VERY early Crealock 34 or Crealock 37 (early-mid-80's, in need of retrofit). But they would have a cruising fin keel with skeg-hung rudder (identical to the profile at the bottom of my post).

jrd22 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

Cape George 36, might have trouble finding one in the price range, but I have seen them come up on Yachtworld.

Good luck with your search, John

Sapperwhite · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

On the lower end of your length needs, you just described my boat. Ok Ok, I'm 27' LOD, 30'11" LOA.

nemier · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Guys - thanks!, I very much appreciate your thoughts. Looks like I was on the right track. Here's my thinking so far.

FASTER - I looked at the Westsail, initial thoughts - just a little too salty for me, cramped cockpit, fussy interior.

RIKHAL - the Contesa has got my attention and I will look closer at this.

THESNORT - see Westsails comments, must have tiller too. The Westsail, Baba, Lord Nelson, and Hans Chrisitian all seem similar

JOHNRPOLLARD - more info supplied with pleasure. The vessel will be sailed by myself with my wife along for the ride. She'll be able to take the tiller while I tend to things but otherwise this boat will be singlehanded. I'll be leaving from Vancouver, BC and intend on distance cruising (Yes, a circumnavigation - God willing) My thoughts about the full keel are that I'll be able to take to a grid and dry out for maintenance work as the opportunity allows. I also think it may provide better protection against grounding but perhaps I'm wrong, please let me know otherwise because it's certainly limiting my search. The PSC are on my list, there is a couple in Seattle I may look at. the 31 has tiller, the 34 has wheel. I prefer the 34 but the wheel is a deal breaker. One more thing about the fin feel. I was out buddy-boating a few years ago and my buddy found a reef and ended up forcing his keel right through the bottom of the boat! in came the water, the drama that ensued after reads life a fiction novel...it kind of scarred me...

JRD22 - Now you are talking. I have fallen in love with these boats and have one shortlisted but it's $100,000 more than I hoped to spend. I could buy the boat tomorrow, but then I'd have to work a few more years to pay it off. The cheap boat criteria was made so I could get away sooner. Also a few of the CG's are home completed and look it! Such a shame there.

SAPPERWHITE - very nice boat you have. how do you like the PSC? You can PM me about it or post here if you like. I'm interested to learn more about them.

PalmettoSailor · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Just curious why a wheel is a deal breaker?

JohnRPollard · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemier

JOHNRPOLLARD - more info supplied with pleasure. The vessel will be sailed by myself with my wife along for the ride. She'll be able to take the tiller while I tend to things but otherwise this boat will be singlehanded. I'll be leaving from Vancouver, BC and intend on distance cruising (Yes, a circumnavigation - God willing) My thoughts about the full keel are that I'll be able to take to a grid and dry out for maintenance work as the opportunity allows. I also think it may provide better protection against grounding but perhaps I'm wrong, please let me know otherwise because it's certainly limiting my search. The PSC are on my list, there is a couple in Seattle I may look at. the 31 has tiller, the 34 has wheel. I prefer the 34 but the wheel is a deal breaker. One more thing about the fin feel. I was out buddy-boating a few years ago and my buddy found a reef and ended up forcing his keel right through the bottom of the boat! in came the water, the drama that ensued after reads life a fiction novel...it kind of scarred me...

Nemier,

The majority of PSC Crealock 31s, 34s, and 37s came with a wheel. But perhaps 15-25% of them were tiller equipped. So if you watch long enough you should be able to see examples of both steering methods in any of those models.

The full keel issue is a bit more complicated. I recently wrote this in another thread: "Full-keeled boats have some desirable attributes, but they are not the be-all-end all when it comes to seaworthiness, motion comfort, or absolute safety. Many of the leading off-shore/bluewater boat brands do not use full-keeled underbodies, but instead use fin keels with skeg-hung rudders, some even use robust spade rudders. So as you continue your search, remember that "salty" does not by definition mean full-keeled."

If you are concerned because your friend's fin-keeler took a beating -- remember there are different kinds of fin-keels, and different kinds of construction. I would expect the cruising fin keel on our PSC 31 to withstand every bit the beating that a full keeler would. Perhaps more -- since the lead ballast is external. A full keeler on a reef will be crushing the fibreglass that encapsulates the ballast. A solid skeg can protect the rudder as well.

There are some often unrecognized dangers of grounding with a full keeler. Not too long ago, I read an account of a sailor that ran his full keeler up onto a granite ledge. He bumped and scraped along it, but then got free. Unfortunately, the gouge that was torn in the keel extended past the ballast and into the hollow bilge area. He now had a massive gaping hole about four feet below the waterline. Fortunately he was close enough to shore that the CG could get pumps to him, otherwise the boat would have sunk very quickly (he nearly lost it in the event). The damage was so extensive that the insurance company totalled the boat.

If that had been a fin keeler with external ballast, he likely would not have suffered nearly as much damage. Just something to think about...