Best sailboat?

[SpellboundHR49]

I was disappointed to find Swan's, Stevens as a result for a best boat search. Both nice boats but if we're talking about "best" offshore, there's a class above. I've got to go with Hallberg Rassy first then Hinckley, Vallient, Tyana, Lord Nelson. All true blue water boats. I was single handing my Hallberg Rassy 49 off Cape Fear, In a North Easter, It was blowing 42 mph steady and seas at 12 plus. For Spellbound our HR 49, this was wonderful day at sea.

[mitiempo]

And not Morris?

[SpellboundHR49]

Yes, Morris too. I don't care for the models with large salon windows i.e. the 48 but the 51 is real nice. flat decks, good freeboard, hard dogger. I'd love to take the new 29 out for a sail.

[mitiempo]

I prefer the older Morris boats like their 36 and 38.

[Waltthesalt]

To get an idea about older boats you might want to look at Daniel Spurr's book "Heart of Glass" It's an encyclopedic book on the history of fibergalss boat building with info on manufacturers that are no longer in business. For serious blue water cruising you might want to consider one of those Perry designes Tiwanese built boats like the Baba 30. The Westsail 32 is a US built blue water heavy dury cruiser boat of the 70's vintage. A bit lighter but still a heavily built offshore boat is the Allied Seawind 30.

[otiscj37]

The guy that posted the Pacific Seacraft boats is right! You need not read more! The 20ft. Flicka will take you anywhere in the world you want to go! And that is their smallest boat. I do like Macgregors, and I have a few, but that thing(26) he makes now is not a sailboat it is a joke! I sailed a Westsail 32 a long time, and that is very good, but if you want small, The Flicka is it, No better(We are talking safe here) Happy Sailing, Capt. Tony

[mjasko]

When this thread started almost 11 years ago, the question was about a good blue water boat around 40 feet. Since then the focus seems more about good and safe blue water boats at any size.
Well I want to slight adjust the topic. I am back to 40 ft plus and less blue water and more coastal.
So we are looking at a boat that draws 6 feet or less. However coastal sailors r get off shore some and can always have a blow when the y least expect it. We reentry had 45 plus 50 miles out of Boston although the NOAA sail to expect no more that gust to 25. It never went below 30 for the rest of the day. Our Bristol 41.1 handled it like it was an everyday affair. I spent 3 years on the 1980’s Bristol 41.1 but more recently, I have been sailing on a new Hunter 44. Both boats were equipped the same, new reefing sails, engines and Trans and electronic. Wirth the updated equipment the Bristol owner had far more in her than the Hunter owner.
My guess is that the Bristol is a much safer blue water boat yet with a retractable keel draws less water than the Hunter. However, the Hunter will out sail the Bristol on all points and is much more comfortable below. Now I am trying to buy my own boat and it will be over 41 feet. I sail short hand when I can, just me and my gal. . Not sure which way I will go since for me it will be mostly coastal sailing and in the islands. I don’t feel the Hunter is nearly the boat the Bristol is but like a lot of the newer boats, she is built for comfort and ability to sail.
I would welcome everyone opinions about their own boat sand what they like and what they wish was different.