coastal overnighter for five

[Wobegone]

I am looking to buy my first sailboat and need coastal capabilities for weekending and room for two adults and three children to sleep. Now the kicker! I want to spend 30000 or less. Can it be done? I have seen that the Hunter 260 looks reasonable but I dont think it will sleep five. Any advice is welcome. Thank you!

[Jeff_H]

I think that it is hard to find a relatively new coastal cruiser that sleeps 5 comfortably for less than $30K. I think that you probably should be looking at somewhat older and slightly longer boats. While you may find a 26 footer that crams in 5 berths, it is next to imposible to find a 26 footer that crams in 5 comfortable berths and still sails worth a darn, and that can carry the gear and supplies to support 5 people even overnight.

While this list includes boats of a wide range of performance and build quaility, all should be suitable coastal cruisers for 5:
Beneteau First 32 (early 1980''s)
Beneteau First 30 and First 305
C&C 30
C&C 32 (Early 1980''s)
C&C Corvette (1960''s)
CAl 31,Cal 2-30, Cal 29 (1960''s-1980''s)
Catalina 30 (1970''s through late 1980''s)
Ericson 31C (late 1970''s)
Ericson 32 (Late 1970''s)
Express 30 (Goman not Alsberg)
Hunter 30 (1980-81)
Hunter 31 (early 1980''s)
J-30
Iwrin Citation 31
Islander 32
Oday 30 or 28
Pearson 323
Sigma 32

Jeff