Any suggestions...???

[SailorClint]

Looking for new ideas for my next boat. I have some ideas based on my research, but don't want to bias anyone as I am curious what you all might recommend that perhaps I haven't thought of...

Type of hull: Monohull
Length: 35-40'
Crew: Singlehanded with WOL (woman of leisure). However want the boat to be able to accomodate the occasional 2-3 guests for a daysail or weekend trip.
Type of sailing: (here's where it gets tough) Mostly coastal cruising along gulf of Mexico & east coast, but want to safely be able to make extended cruises throughout entire caribbean, Bermuda, and South America. Also, want to be able to make daysails in hometown of Pensacola.
The Rub: I know I can't have it all, but... I am looking for a boat that isn't such a pig that it is uncomfortable to make daysails and island hop in the caribbean, but yet sturdy enough to feel safe making a bluewater trip to Bermuda or the southern part of the caribbean when I want to. Any thoughts??

[mitiempo]

Budget?

[blt2ski]

Name a boat brand, and what you want to do will do it. Be it a Hunter, Beneteau, jeanneau, Oyster, swan etc. Too many doing what you are doing with just about ANY boat from the mid 30' range on up.

If leasure is the thing, the newer design deck salons seem to be the some what rage. Not my cup o tea, prefer the non DS models.

With guests, I would choose one of the three room setups vs my prefered choice of a 2 room, ie V berth and rear state room with a large storage under the cockpit seats. The 3 room versions you loose the storage area.......and the head area is (typically) smaller.

I like the jeanneau's, bendys in the first series is prefered, Catalina......not sure I would want a Bendy oceanus series. No hunters for different reasons shapes or forms, but everyone I know with them like them, just personal preferences I do not like about them, similar to the B OCeanus series vs first series. Sailing among others not to my stds, ie slower than I like for the given size. Dehler, Dufour, Island packet, to name a few others that would work. The IP's again would be ruled out due to slower than I like sailing stds.........good boats...........

Just my 01 not that it is worth much.

[chall03]

Hey Blt2ski,

Curious why are you anti Bendy oceanis?? Just because they are slower boats than the firsts??

[blt2ski]

Chall,

Basic issue along with I do not like the looks. REmind me too much of the Bayliner Buccaneers I saw growing up here. Even the new jeanneaus are getting that look.

Otherwise, no issues with them. All personal likes and dislikes. They are a good boat for some, not others.........They would work for what OP wants to do, not my first choice.

Marty