45' + blue water cruiser

[sailortjk1]

With the amount of money you seem willing to spend on a 445 and if fit and finish are high on your priority list, I would think you should be taking a close look at the Tartans. You may have to shorten the LOA a bit to fit your budget, Than again I don't know your budget, but a T4000 is a beautiful boat and would be a real head turner.
I know, it is sacrilegious to even mention the word Tartan around here, but they seem to have put all the nastiness of the past behind them.
Talk with some recent owners and see what they have to say. I see plenty of new Tartans on our docks because the local dealer is located on our premises. Every time a new owner takes delivery of one, they always seem to end up as dock neighbors.
Tartan Yachts Product Catalog - Model Overview

[ryusui]

Faster I agree I don't care much for the layout of the beneteau 41 or 45. Ive looked at them both. Im not concerned about money really, but I figure im going from a sc21 raceboat to a 44 ft cruising boat is a big step the systems are very different, and not wanting to drop a lot of money right away. Ive also sailed larger boats bur that was day sailing much different than what im planning. I will give the tartans a look. Im open to anyboat but so far the c445 seems to best fit my general uses and could probley race her also.

[sailortjk1]

Originally Posted by Faster

Nice problem to have!!

FWIW at last year's boat show we much preferred the C445 over the Bene.... but we weren't looking at the 55... big difference in that 10 feet!!

Sad to say especially as a Bendy owner, but I could not recommend anything they have built since around 2008; anything after the three numbered Oceanis Models; 473, 393, etc. They MIGHT be coming back around to some better looking lines, but now they have started with the Fiber Glass Arch. It does not look "Too" bad on the larger models, but I hate the look on the Mid-Forty Footers. It reminds me of those spoilers you see on Power Boats.

The First Series is an entirely different animal.

[ryusui]

That's the reason I really liked the oceanis 54 but they don't make them anymore. I really like the set up of twin nav stations ( one at each helm) but I don't like the arch or the iron keel. Also im a little concerned about the quality of it compared to the catalina 445. The extra 11 feet would be great and the layout underneath is amazing but it all boils down to quality. I know Catalina is good I have a lot of friends who race them and you can find them everywhere and most people have nothing bad to say about them but I hear a lot of negative about beneteau. So it makes me a little uneasy. However as you suggested the first series is nice and I like the layout of the first 50. I am planning on attending the Miami boat show next month and kemah boat show so I hope to put evrrything at rest after I get on all the boats and do more research. As always I appreciate any ideas and or thoughts.