Columbia 45?

[sww914]

We looked at a Columbia 45 yesterday. I haven't ever seen a boat that size with that much space inside. I think it's an ugly pig on the outside but it's like a dream inside. We're looking for something to liveaboard for a couple of years and then cruise down the west coast, through the canal and into the Caribbean. We are a family of 3, husband, wife, and 11 yr old son. We'll have 50K to spent at most, less for a boat that needs more work. I can do it all myself if the deal is right. I've sailed a lot inshore and near the shore, no bluewater, and my wife has no sailing experience, we're working on that, but she was a USCG Mechanic and did a lot of SAR on small boats.
How does a Columbia 45 sail? It's a motorsailer so I know that there are compromises, I can see that it's a motorhome on a hull, but will it sail well enough to get out of it's own way?

[sander06]

Check out...Columbia Yacht Owners Association