Hi all,
At the moment, I am beginning the 'scouting' phase of my boat search. I'm not seriously planning on putting money down any time soon, but I'm starting to figure out what I like, and wish to narrow the field down a little bit. Lately, I've come to agree with Don Casey's assertion in "This Old Boat" that whichever boat you choose, it should be one that you find beautiful. With that in mind, I've found myself somewhat frustrated by the options in my price/size range.
What I'm looking for is a nice full-keeled seaworthy cruiser between ~25-30 feet LOA. My budget ceiling is approximately $25k. I like the idea of a good used boat, even a fixer-upper would do, as long as it can be returned to sailable condition without undue hardship. I plan on living aboard with my s/o for some time, so having standing headroom (5'9" minimum) at least somewhere in the cabin is essential. With this in mind, I have a single aesthetic criterion that is very difficult for me to compromise on, and which has rendered my search rather difficult.
I HATE doghouses. Can't stand 'em. The way they interrupt the smooth lines of an otherwise beautiful boat just ruins it for me. They're ugly, blocky, and it seems like almost every design that meets my other criteria has them - Alberg 30s, Tritons, Albin Vegas, Bristol 27s...the list goes on.
So far I've found that the Cape Dory 25D and 28 seem to fit the bill, but I'm sure that there must be others out there with a smooth, continuous coachroof that match my criteria. Can any of you recommend some? Google hasn't been much help, and I'd like to be aware of the options available.
Thanks!
-Jonathan
At the moment, I am beginning the 'scouting' phase of my boat search. I'm not seriously planning on putting money down any time soon, but I'm starting to figure out what I like, and wish to narrow the field down a little bit. Lately, I've come to agree with Don Casey's assertion in "This Old Boat" that whichever boat you choose, it should be one that you find beautiful. With that in mind, I've found myself somewhat frustrated by the options in my price/size range.
What I'm looking for is a nice full-keeled seaworthy cruiser between ~25-30 feet LOA. My budget ceiling is approximately $25k. I like the idea of a good used boat, even a fixer-upper would do, as long as it can be returned to sailable condition without undue hardship. I plan on living aboard with my s/o for some time, so having standing headroom (5'9" minimum) at least somewhere in the cabin is essential. With this in mind, I have a single aesthetic criterion that is very difficult for me to compromise on, and which has rendered my search rather difficult.
I HATE doghouses. Can't stand 'em. The way they interrupt the smooth lines of an otherwise beautiful boat just ruins it for me. They're ugly, blocky, and it seems like almost every design that meets my other criteria has them - Alberg 30s, Tritons, Albin Vegas, Bristol 27s...the list goes on.
So far I've found that the Cape Dory 25D and 28 seem to fit the bill, but I'm sure that there must be others out there with a smooth, continuous coachroof that match my criteria. Can any of you recommend some? Google hasn't been much help, and I'd like to be aware of the options available.
Thanks!
-Jonathan