What am I missing?

[cupper3]

I think I have narrowed down the TYPE of boat I am looking for.

• Preferably a ketch
• Preferably center cockpit
• Maximum of 125,000 as a LIST price (not selling price); much less is preferably
• Price depends on age and condition of rigging, engine, sails
• Current electronics if possible (old ones are worth very little)
• Dink with motor
• no teak deck

Boats that fit this include:

• Morgan 416
• Endeavors
• Gulfstar

Additionally, I am tall (6'4") so that limits some choices.

Am I missing something I really should be considering?

Thanks in advance.

[puddinlegs]

You might find a Hylas 44, but they're probably a bit beyond your budget for the most part. Why a ketch, and why center cockpit? There'd be so many more really great choices if you could go the more standard route, something like a Nordic 44 would be a nice boat. Bob Perry's the designer. He's a tall guy and generally draws boats that work well for taller folk. Electronics... remember that this is changing incredibly quickly, and in the big picture of the costs of running a 40' + boat, really not that large of an expense unless you're having to upgrade everything all at once. So long as its new enough to talk to each other a la NMEA and there are replacement parts/individual displays available, the absolutely newest latest is nice, but not necessary. I'm guessing that within the next couple of years, there are going to be a lot more boats running their electronics to a small boat NMEA plug-in wifi box, then to an IPad/Iphones, or similar devices. Yeah, they're not as robust, but you can easily buy 4 or 5 of them before you approach the price of a medium sized chart plotter. Dink with motor.. again, icing, certainly not the cake. Don't let the lack of one steer you away from the right boat. These will cost you less than a new main. So long as you keep the forest 'fore the trees, there are many great boats around for your budget if you're patient and can travel a bit. Have fun!

[PBzeer]

Might take a look at the Whitby 42 as well.

[BCJET]

Draft and maybe mast height depending on where you are going to dock her.

[treilley]

Don't worry about a dink with a motor. Buy your own once you determine your needs for a dink. They usually come rode hard and put away wet anyhow.

I agree to not worry about electronics too much. Very few boats will come with anything current. Again this may be a personal preference. Are you a Garmin, Raymarine or Lowrance, etc guy?

How about build quality, fit/finish?

Tankage? This is a lot harder to improve than the dink or electronics.

I would not buy a CC unless you know you love sailing a CC. Very different beast from an AC.

Will you be living aboard? Blue water cruising? Dock queen?

Upwind performance? Light air performance?

Engine hours?

Age of standing rigging and sails?

My advice would be to buy the best boat you can in your budget reserving about 20% for upgrades. Even if you get something a little smaller and newer you will be better off.

My wife and I looked for quite some time at 42-50ft boats and found nothing suitable until we started looking at newer 40 ft. boats. We then found our Caliber which has met more of our needs than anything else on the market. An early 90s 40 may work well for you.

[jordanship]

Ketch is the key word - a dying breed of yachts. How about an Amel?
+1 Forget the dingy requirement.