Hi all,
have been shopping seriously for an older sailboat for the Chesapeake Bay. Right now I am considering a Morgan 32 or a Cal 35, both from the 1980s.
I have considered looking at a Cape Dory 30 motorsailor, but I figure that it would be a poor sailor(?). And I may look at an Irwin 34 (have not seen one up close in years).
Anyone want to chime in with some comments?
I have owned a few sailboats in the past, but none as old as what I am looking at (20 yr or more), so I am moving slow on this purchase.
I want 5 ft draft or less, probably want to avoid a centerboard, and just want to do some serious gunkholin'.
A Golden Hind might be a good choice for you, especially if you're looking to gunkhole and don't want a keel/CB boat. The Golden Hind is a 31' twin keeler, which has a relatively shallow draft.
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Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Salty...I would focus on lighter, faster boats for the light airs of the Bay. Certainly not Cape Dory's. The Irwin35Citation would seem to be the best older boat I can think of to meet your needs and budget range. Nice sailing boats! The Cal 35 would be suitable as well and it is a nice boa but it will be slower.
The Golden Hind is definitely not a fast boat... But your definition of gunkholing and mine may differ significantly.
Quote:
gunkholingCruising in shallow water and spending the nights in coves.
I like to gunkhole as well... and have a trimaran for that very reason... there are places I can go, no keelboat would dare try and follow...
BTW, what is your budget in the project...that might help exclude certain boats..
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
I don't consider that gunkholing... I draw 14" with the centerboard up... and that's gunkholing...
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
My idea of gunkholing is where a boat can go whose draft is 5 ft or less... (the Morgan 32 draws 4 feet).
My budget is 25 to 50k, size 35 ft or less........ a cheaper boat, I would expect to spend some money on it. If it costs 50k, I want it to be in good shape.
But your definition of gunkholing and mine may differ significantly. 
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