Is the Columbia 45 Motorsailer Ocean Worthy?

[BluewaterDreamer162]

Hello all,
I am new here. I have been sailing for a few years but have never sailed anything over 32 feet and have never left the Pacific Northwest.

I am looking to move onto a sailboat with my boyfriend (who is a much better sailor than I am) and we are interested in a Columbia 45 Pilothouse Motorsailer. It's roomy, in good condition, and seems to sail nicely around the Sound here. Our question is:

How do Columbia 45 Pilothouse Motorsailers do in the ocean?

We know Pilothouses tend not to perform as well in the ocean but we plan to reinforce the pilothouse windows and refit the engine. We plan to sail to South America with another couple in a few years and want to buy a boat to take us there. We also plan to comfortably live aboard before then. Finding a comfortable liveaboard and bluewater sailer is the challenge.

Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Denise