A very specific Serious Question

[Interaxions]

If I have 450k to spend, am I better off buying an older boat for less money and fixing it up with the difference in savings, or a newer boat.

Required:

Imagine it is the end of the world, and my home is going to be my boat. I want to make it as completely self-sufficient as possible, solar, water maker etc. I realize if I spend too much on a newer vessel I won't have enough left for add-ons.

I really want space up to 50' but have been told I may be "safer" not going over 45 like a hunter,

A LITTLE HELP PLEASE! Serious buyer, time is running out!

Thanks very much for input on specs etc, and what I will need. This is not a "vacation" but a permanent life-style choice, and yes I grew up sailing/racing/ etc but never gone for serious bluewater living....

all inputs appreciated re: required gear etc. Also budgeting 36k per year for living expenses, but don't know how much for "hidden" fees like you know...highway robbery charges etc in unknown places....

Thanks again
David L

[omaho5]

$450 large can buy several boats. Then you can donate one to me.
I wll sell my CD 22 and all will be well.

[Interaxions]

Just to be clear I am talking about a seaworthy bluewater sailboat with myself and my wife only, center cockpit, possible pilothouse, solid endurance and liveability, and then I will make sure the gear is the best possible. Suggestions? what or how would you gear yourself with a 450k budget?

[Interaxions]

very cute omaho! I know but I am really looking at like a morgan 51, but the AGE of the vessel has me a little scared only 135k. But I am also looking at doing some chartering in the meantime before the proverbial maneur hits the fan....I know things break etc.

[bljones]

Okay, assuming this is even remotely real, here is what I would do:
spend $150k on the best 20 year old 50'er I could find. here's why- a boat that old has already taken the depreciation hit, and has likely undergone it's second equipment refit, is on it's second owner who now is too old to feel he can sail her, so you will get a 5 year old engine, and 2 year old electronics at half their installed cost. Then convert the rest of your alleged assets NOW to gold. Now you have hard trading material if the signals received by your tinfoil hat are correct.

[kd3pc]

Are we speaking May 2011, or Dec 2012...

as the others say, 450 very large will buy a lot of boat, even the collector quality ones.

If this year I would buy the nicest 40-48 Center Cockpit I could fine...there are several. Model Year does not matter as much as the condition and build quality. Sabre, IP, SouWester, come to mind.

Then equip it with those things that will be needed most, after the stuff hits, so that you can be as close to 100% self sustaining as possible.

Living expenses will be a non-issue after any of the predicted events. KEEPING your stuff will be the thing you spend 100% of your time doing.

If 2012, then I would wait to early summer, as the 2011 event happening or not may make a very big impact on your plans for 2012 and the years following. I am not sure I would want to be on a boat with today's RO watermakers and hope to "find" fresh water (not that it will be any easier on land), as without parts and copious amounts of power, watermaking may consume the rest of your time.

The rest, as they say, is icing on the cake...

[Faster]

Several hundred possibilities here in this N.A. search for up to $350K.

(Sail) Cruiser Boats For Sale

I'd be shopping for the best-equipped most suitable boat for $350K or thereabouts and then know that whatever upgrades and additions I'd need would keep me in the 400 - 450 range.

Hylas, C&C Landfall 48, though older - a good one something like those could well be good for another go-around. I wouldn't let age by itself necessarily be a deal breaker (to a point, of course).

Your budgets (purchase and cruising) will be the envy of many.... it should be easy to find what you need/want.

[delan]

Here you go
1986 Scandi Yachts Deerfoot Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[Minnewaska]

Not sure how real your expectations are for the end of the world. I suggest a boat will be little comfort, as you will find it hard to procure replacement and repair parts in that scenario.

If that is just an analogy to how well you want her equipped, then I would suggest looking for the best hull you can find that was used lightly and may only be 5 to 7 years old. The biggest depreciation hit will be behind you and all the systems should be checked out with low hours.

It is unlikely that you will find something that is perfectly outfitted, but the more you buy already installed, the more of your budget you will have to retrofit the rest. Toys all depreciate by 50% the moment you install them.

A better analogy for me was to have a second/vacation home that we could sail.

[eherlihy]

Given your parameters, I would look at a Nauticat 44...

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi..._id=77233&url=

... but that's me...