[benesailor]

chef2sail; i think you are right on the money. I believe these to be some good choices.

I see my model is right in the mix. I have found the newer models much easier to control at the dock. People say the 400 is porky and slow; yet, i seem to move right along at 7-7.5 quite nicely. I believe now that i own a beneatoy that the construction is actually first rate. Am amazed all the time how well built it is for a 93 with some hard sea miles (and prior race/cruise boat)

 

[bjung]

The OP sets criteria of $120000 and 10 years and gets a slew of suggestions over $130,000 and much greater than 15 years old. Not what he asked for

He also asked for a boat to sail to Bermuda! I think you missed that box!? (Oh, my bad, different thread!)
Seriously though, deducting 20% off YW is about normal, and opening the window on age as Chuckles noted improves build quality and choices.

 

[benesailor]

Seriously though, deducting 20% off YW is about normal, and opening the window on age as Chuckles noted improves build quality and choices.

Are there any well built boats built in the last 10 years that are worthy of a trip to bermuda? I guess he will have to look for a boat that is at least 30 years old.

World Cruising Club - ARC Entries

 

[bjung]

Are there any well built boats built in the last 10 years that are worthy of a trip to bermuda?

Absolutely, just not in the OP's price bracket!
Hence, a little older than 10 years would help keep the price down and provide more and higher quality vessels to choose from.

 

[Hudsonian]

Two additional candidates to be considered are the J/32 and the Jeanneau 34.2. The J/32 was built from 1996- 2003 and Jeeanneau is approximately the same vintage. Both are in the OP's desired price range and have standing headroom and three enclosed cabins. The J/32 is clearly designed to be steered from beside the wheel rather than behind. I don't think that I've ever seen a picture of the helmsman behind the wheel of a J/32.

Jeanneau is masthead and the

 

[davidpm]

Absolutely, just not in the OP's price bracket!
Hence, a little older than 10 years would help keep the price down and provide more and higher quality vessels to choose from.

That is certainly fair.
OK then what would be a better choice closer to 200k?
Or is that still not enough.

 

[bjung]

OK then what would be a better choice closer to 200k?

What would you consider your oldest, acceptable production year?

 

[Skipper Jer]

Take a look at a Nor'sea 27, aft cabin model. Under 40 foot, most sell for under 60K around 10 years old, several have circumnavigated, draft way under 5 foot, the only requirement not fulfilled is the wheel. She has an outboard rudder with tiller. Enclosed head, full galley, manageable ground tackle system, 40 gallon water, 20 gallon fuel, most equipped with 2 cylinder Yanmars fresh water cooled, trailer-able so you can be on the west coast in 6 days, or the Sea of Cortez, or the Pacific Northwest. If you have space at home, she can be stored there during the off season. No longer held hostage by the boat yards.

 

[chef2sail]

That is certainly fair.
OK then what would be a better choice closer to 200k?
Or is that still not enough.

Now your talking. Here are some quality non production boats. Some very nice stable good quality cruisers. Check out the Pacific Seacraft...great boat. I didnt list all the nice Catalina 40s and 38 either.

1999 Caliber 40LRC Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
1998 Island Packet 40 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
View Boat Photos - YachtWorld.com
1998 Pacific Seacraft Ericson 380 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
2001 Tartan 3700 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

 

[davidpm]

What would you consider your oldest, acceptable production year?

Well that of course is the real question?

I've spent a lot of time on 20 to 30 year old boats.
I've also interviewed many many owners and read countless blogs and stories.

The conclusion I have come to is that unless you do a complete rebuilt which I don't want to devote the years to the older the boat higher the probability that several important items will "come due" during the time I own the boat.
It seems a lot like musical chairs.
So I can't answer that question exactly.
It is apparently ultimately a crap shoot. New is no guarantee, brand is no guarantee, surveys miss a lot, Refits can be problematic.
I'm just trying to stack the deck in my favor.
If I could spend 200k sail for 3 years and sell the boat for 200k that would be a much better deal in my opinion than buying a boat for 50k putting three years and 100 into it and selling for 50k after 6 years.
But you never know. I might spend 200k still have to put 100k into it and sell for 100k. The worst of both worlds. That last plan would devastate me financially. I would never recover.

What I'm getting at is that I'm 62 my father is still alive and healthy. I want to be as prudent as possible so I can still have fun but not end up penniless.
My problem is that I'm not wealthy enough so I can afford to loose a couple hundred k.
But I have enough resources so I could if necessary buy a boat in a wide range of cost categories.
That makes the choices harder in my opinion.

At some point we all have to take our chances or not, there are no guarantees in life.
I figure there is nothing wrong in looking before leaping however.

 

[Cruisingdad]

The OP sets criteria of $120000 and 10 years and gets a slew of suggestions over $130,000 and much greater than 15 years old. Not what he asked for

He posted in another thread the pro and cons of buying newer ( with less wear and tear but already depreciated) vrs older with replacement costs and upgrades necessary right away. he obviously decided on newer

What is available are some nice cruisers which are suitable for his purpose, I like the 38 ft Catalinas the best. All are production boats

The 36 CC Beneteay I dont think will suit your purpse. It is OK as a Bay boat. It is ponderously slow, and the sea motion is not gentle. My freind 2 slips from me has one. You are virtually 24 ft from the bow at the helm.

If you are willing to go another 3- 5 years out, production boats still quality and it opens up the 40 fters.

David I know you can handle a 40 ft easily and the added length and weight will give you icreased comfort at sea, anchor and more tankage.
I still prefer the Catalina

View Boat Photos - YachtWorld.com
View Boat Photos - YachtWorld.com
View Boat Photos - YachtWorld.com
View Boat Photos - YachtWorld.com
2002 Beneteau 393 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
2005 Beneteau 393 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Davidpm,

We owned and cruised on a C380 for a few years if you have questions. Happy to answer them.

Brian

 

[Hudsonian]

The original poster said, " I would love to have it as small as possible. The further under 40' the happier I would be." Most responding seem to ignore his size criteria which are very sensible indeed. Bigger boats have the potential drive older cruisers out of sailing faster than would be the case if they were sailing more moderately sized vessels. This guy is 65 years old. How long do you expect him to hoist a 350 sq ft mainsail, or a 33 lb anchor? Several older friends have been overwhelmed by the demands of the bigger boats -- expensive maintenance and strength demands -- and dropped out of sailing altogether. OTOH, I know couples in their eighties who continue to cruise for months each year aboard a J/28 and a Sabre 34.

If the OP had said, "I'm looking for a comfortable, midsize car" would you suggest a 2T FWD dump truck with an extended cab?

 

[davidpm]

OTOH, I know couples in their eighties who continue to cruise for months each year aboard a J/28 and a Sabre 34.

Do any of the boats like this or maybe slightly bigger have two cabins?
Sadly this is not my requirement and I have not been able to get my wife to budge off it.

 

[Hudsonian]

Yeh, the J/32 and the Jeanneau 34.2 both have three cabins. Info on the J/32 is still available on the J/Boats website. You'll have to dig a little harder to find info on the Jeanneau

 

[bjung]

With a max of $200k, you certainly have some options in new boats from the big production builders, but you will loose more selling it after 5 years of cruising. Those 5 years, "should" however be free of big expenditure and needed upgrades versus used boats.
I agree with Chef on this:1998 Pacific Seacraft Ericson 380 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com.
This would be a very nice cruiser, if you can budge on the draft:
2005 Wauquiez Centurion 40s Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
Every boat will be a compromise of some sort.

 

[vtsailguy]

Thought I would post my final update!

The Best Boat for Cruising with Children | Sailing With Kids

 

[davidpm]

Thought I would post my final update!

The Best Boat for Cruising with Children | Sailing With Kids

Nicely written. Good luck with your new boat.

 

[vtsailguy]

Thanks! I learned alot from the forums reading all these "best boat" posts and tried to distill it for others.

 

[Hudsonian]

Another boat that meets the original poster's criteria is the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35.