Offshore Cruiser

[sailingdog]

So, basically, you're looking to get a boat for a cruising couple in their early 50s' that you can use as a boat now... that has space enough to fit two grown children who may come out to visit once in a while.

Hmm... lots of boats would fit that situation... and you've got about five-to-ten years before you really need to get the boat, since your children are 5 & 7.

I'd say hold off on getting a bigger boat for now... and sail the Catalina 22 with the kids... and then start looking in five-to-seven years.


BTW, glad to help on the blister repair.

Originally Posted by SunnySideUp

Your right SailingDog, Garbage in ----> garbage out...
I'm 40 my wife is 38 we have two kids 7 and 5 after they have been pushed out of the nest we are looking to start cruising. We are looking to start with the bluewater and then move on from there. We have been sailing for a few years. SunnySideUp our current vassal is a 22' Catalina. She has been out of the water for blister repair, which by the way went very will (thanks for the advise there to sailingdog). I have been taking sailing outings and class at the local school here (Windsong Academy) at home. My thoughts on a new vassal are drifting to a Tartan 4600 or 4300. I hope this helps.

Thanks again.

[JohnRPollard]

I'm having some trouble with the timetable. If you aren't planning to buy the boat until the kids have left the nest, then I'd say you are maybe jumping the gun a bit. There will be all kinds of new/different models available at that point.

In the meanwhile, however, you have many good years of family sailing ahead of you before the kids head off. Unless you are an absolute minimalist, you may want to consider something larger than the Catalina 22. The C22 is a fun little boat, but there is no getting around that it is tight for a growing family of four. In your shoes, I'd be scouting around for a low-mid-30 foot coastal cruiser (Catalina, Beneteau, any number of vintage models, etc etc etc) to use until the time comes when you truly need the "bluewater" boat .

But maybe what you're saying is you want to get the bluewater boat now, to use later?

[sailingdog]

It depends... for day sailing and such, a Cat 22 might be fine... for coastal trips or weekenders, it'll be a bit on the small side in a few years.

The Hallberg Rassy Rasmus is a nice bluewater capable boat that is pretty well suited to a daysailor/weekend boat. Not as big inside as some of the coastal cruisers...but would be a good choice in the long run...and if you're going to upgrade, might be worth getting into the bluewater boat now.

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by blt2ski

Alex,

If you are aiming at the OP, he is saying a NEW boat, which the above mentioned Tartans are! Altho maybe NOT to your stds......

Actually I like the Tartans, I would not want one to own, but like them. Some are pretty.

The OP is planing to sail in 20 years, he has 2 kids (7 and 5), it will be at least 15 years before he goes...lets be realistic.

I don't even know if I am here tomorrow....

If I was going to go around the World, I would go in a HR, nothing else, and a new one...not some crap boat from 1457, even if the hull is 56 feet thick and the fibre glass is made from pigeon wing mesh....

So my opinion, and it is what I posted, is GET A NEW BOAT. that's what I meant. Then made a joke, would someone go to sea with a 1974 life vest? Or a 1956 radio?? I wouldn't, so why should the boat be that old?

[blt2ski]

I noticed on the cruising world website last night, that the T4300 is the CW domestic ie north american boat of the year, with the delphia 33 as teh import boat of the year, and a special mention of the Sabre spirit as a BOTY too. The spirit got the daysailer BOTY at sailing world, X41 as off shore racer, and the laser 3b? or some such thing, got the BIG overall BOTY.

If a smaller boat is wanted for the next 10 yr or so, ie mid 30's, the Delphia is a nice boat, as is the X34 and the new Dehler 34. , All three make 37' boats too. I ahve been on both Delphias, but not the other two, but like all things, brochures make them look nice! I am a little prejudice towards racer-cruiser style boats, which these three are.

marty

[Robby Barlow]

Originally Posted by SunnySideUp

We are looking to start with the bluewater and then move on from there.

Sorry SSU, what do you want to move up to after you finished with the bluewater sailing?

[blt2ski]

Now that I went back and looked, the X was the best crossover yacht, the club Swan 42 the best offshore racer! Sailing worlds results here

CW's link to BOTY is HERE
Marty

[alsobrsp]

Please, please don't wait. Your kids are young and won't even notice that you moved onto a boat. The learning experience alone is worth millions. There are a number of number of great correspondence schools out there. I read of one couples child going to Harvard, I think it was one of Tom Neale daughters. My wife had to teenagers when we got together or we would have done it too. When they go off to college we are gone. We only have 3.5 years to wait, you have 13 if you don't go now. 40 is way better than 53, I'm 37.

If you are concerned about finances then pick a big coastal city and work there, you might even be able to ride your bike to work. I looked hard at St. Pete, great marina right downtown. It does depend a little bit on what you do. But open a map and have a look at all the big cities you can choose from.

If you don't believe me go get the book "Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach"[1]. Read it twice. Then do what needs to be done.

This is just my two cents.

[1] www amazon com Sensible-Cruising-Approach-Philosophic-Practical

Originally Posted by SunnySideUp

Your right SailingDog, Garbage in ----> garbage out...
I'm 40 my wife is 38 we have two kids 7 and 5 after they have been pushed out of the nest we are looking to start cruising. We are looking to start with the bluewater and then move on from there. We have been sailing for a few years. SunnySideUp our current vassal is a 22' Catalina. She has been out of the water for blister repair, which by the way went very will (thanks for the advise there to sailingdog). I have been taking sailing outings and class at the local school here (Windsong Academy) at home. My thoughts on a new vassal are drifting to a Tartan 4600 or 4300. I hope this helps.

Thanks again.