Refining my shortlist (seems to keep getting longer!) for buying a 35-38 footer. My requirements in this order are: absolutely uncompromising seaworthiness; sufficient space for family with two small children on a circumnavigation; total budget of approx 100K; decent 'salty' looks. My standard for the seaworthiness is that she should be capable of a Cape Horn passage -- still a dream for us, but the option should be there. The flip side is we don't necessarily want a tank -- we want a sailing boat. On space, we need good forward cabin area for the children plus some sort of quarter berth though not necessarily a fulltime double since we parents will often be living out of the saloon. The budget means approx 80-85K for max purchase assuming that even a clean boat will need 20K in near term upgrades to rigging etc. The ideal would be 70K but for the perfect boat we'd go much higher. We are pretty traditional in sense large motor, lot of electronics, watermaker, freezer and other wizardry does not interest.
So here's my list. If anyone can comment would be MOST grateful.
1. Freya 39 (good ocean boat, problem is there are none about)
2. Valiant 37; possibly a blistered Valiant 40.
3. PSC37
4. Rafiki 37 (to my mind a superior version of the Tayanas etc. Good ballast/displ ratio plus there's no annoying bowsprit).
5. Wauquiez Pretorien 35 (really not beautiful, but SO capable and practical).
6. Bayfield 36 (good specs, not to mention pretty, but very little owner feedback out on the web, so hard to gauge).
7. Shannon 38 (certainly lots of good history, but looks something like a more expensive version of the Bayfield).
8. Morgan 384 (really good value and good sailing though I understand there are construction questions over the hull-deck joint and bulwarks).
So quite a range. I'm nothing if not open minded! Thank you again.
So here's my list. If anyone can comment would be MOST grateful.
1. Freya 39 (good ocean boat, problem is there are none about)
2. Valiant 37; possibly a blistered Valiant 40.
3. PSC37
4. Rafiki 37 (to my mind a superior version of the Tayanas etc. Good ballast/displ ratio plus there's no annoying bowsprit).
5. Wauquiez Pretorien 35 (really not beautiful, but SO capable and practical).
6. Bayfield 36 (good specs, not to mention pretty, but very little owner feedback out on the web, so hard to gauge).
7. Shannon 38 (certainly lots of good history, but looks something like a more expensive version of the Bayfield).
8. Morgan 384 (really good value and good sailing though I understand there are construction questions over the hull-deck joint and bulwarks).
So quite a range. I'm nothing if not open minded! Thank you again.