Boatless - need advise

ian6460 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2002

My wife & I sailed a Hunter 25 on Lake Norman for 5 years but sold her 18 years ago when we started a family. We have been boatless ever since. We have decided it''s time to renew our love for sailing. We are looking for a 28-30 footer which we will use on Lake Norman again. We both will retire in 4 years and will want to move up to a coastal cruiser and live aboard part-time. Any suggestions on a good lake boat. Resale is a definite concern. Budget = $35-40k We do NOT race; looking for comfort as well as reasonable performance. We have looked at newer Hunter & Catalina = not impressed. Looking for a step or two above.

thanks

manateee_gene · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2002

My advice is to look in latitude38.com under their classifieds its the best used boat section around, with as good of prices as anywhere.
Gene

Jeff_H · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2002

Gene,

I have not found Lat 38 to have significantly better prices than Florida. The other issue is the cost of shipping a boat cross country to Lake Norman. With a 5 year plan to sell, I would think that price and not having to ship the boat (even from Florida) would be important. I would suggest that to some extent the best deal may not be an ideal boat, but a boat that is readily available on Lake Norman, whatever that may be.

I would think that Hunters, Catalinas and Beneteaus would be fine in a venue like Lake Norman. (the Beneteau Firsts are generally a little better built than the other two manufacturers but have some ''Euro'' details that may not appeal to you.

If you cna find one, a Tartan 30 or 31 are both really nice boats that are a step up in build quality and performance. Pearson made a number of nice boats in that size range that might suit you and which would fall somewhere between Hunter/Catalina option and Tartans.

Jeff