I saw the date, but thought it might be useful for anyone who is looking for a great little bluewater cruiser. That is, if they can find one of these, since they are rare. So far as the 32 years go, I have found that if you are cut out for living aboard, there is nothing, absolutely nothing so satisfactory. At this point I'd say I am. Conversely, if you're not cut out for it, regardless of the most noble intentions, you will be off the boat within a year or so. The Greeks were right - "Know Thyself".
8.4 knots is speedy for any 28 footer, much less less a heavy double ended cruiser. I built Toucan from a hull and deck. So, in her case, I filled and faired the prop aperture in the sternpost and rudder and use an outboard. She has a minimum number of through hulls below the waterline. In doing so, it cut so much drag that she will outdo her sisters by over 23% at 10.4 knots. I've seen her do this for hundreds of miles at a time when the wind is over 15 knots and the point of sail is a tight reach or less. I've had so much fun embarrassing much bigger boats over the years it isn't even funny. A clean bottom can pay huge dividends. Aside from the speed advantage, a 28 footer with no inboard has as much interior volume as a 32 footer with an inboard. Where the engine was supposed to be there is 40 gallons of water and a 4 man life raft. In the bow, where the water tanks were supposed to be, there's 200 ft of 3/8" chain. It all balances out.
As an aside... this October, I plan to leave from Titusville, FL and sail down the coast to mess about in the Keys some. From there, sail up the coast to see some friends in Tampa Bay, then perhaps stop by New Orleans for a few days before heading over to Corpus Christi, TX. There, Toucan will get trucked over to San Diego. I expect to spend some time checking out the Channel Islands National Park, then spend a month provisioning for a passage down to the Marquesas Islands. Where I go from there is open, but crossing an ocean is the last major item on my bucket list, so from there I expect to blow downwind to Tahiti, Bora Bora, the Cook Islands, etc., and eventually end up in Australia before starting back. Assuming I come back. I suspect I will elect to take the prevailing westerlies back east, turn left to catch the Austral Islands and French Polynesia again, then up to Hawaii, thence around the NE Pacific high to Puget Sound. While I am okay with doing this single handed it would be nice to have someone along, as it makes such a voyage a lot more fun. So if you know someone who would be interested in being gone for a few years, point them my way if you would. While I would prefer a woman, anyone will do if of appropriate adventurous spirit and sterling character. Nobody around here seems interested. Wusses....