Actually re-reading your question, I am guessing that you are trying to get a handle on my point of view on boats as it pertains to the basis of my comments. For my own boats, currently I frankly tend to prefer higher performance cruising boats. These tend to be at the ''racier'' edge of what most people would call cruising boats. I love wooden and traditional yachts and I''ve actually owned a few. These days I don''t have the taht kind of time to spend on older boats But I spend a lot of time sailing on boats that represent a pretty wide range of styles and types of boats.
So, I guess the answer is that I have sail on a lot of boats. I personally have owned 10 boats not including the Farr 38 that I am buying. They are as varied as a 1939 Stadel Pilot Class Cutter or a 1949 lapstrake Folkboat, to my current Kevlar/vinylester Farr designed Laser 28. Between my Father, mother and brother, members of my family have owned a more than a dozen additional boats. I often go out and race or sail with people on their boats. So for example in the past year, I have been out on a Gaff rigged Herreschoff 12 1/2 (Doughdish), a 16 foot custom built wooden, lug ketch rigged sailing canoe, a JY15, a 23 foot Dias designed custom built wooden gaff rigged sloop, Cal 25, Catalina 27, Ross 930, Tartan 31, J-105''s, Beneteau 38s5, Farr 11.6, a Farr designed Beneteau 40.7 and a Brewer 12.8.
As a hobby and just to be helpful, I also help people who are looking to buy boats (I am not a broker). As a result I end up aboard a lot of boats. This year for example, for myself or on the request of others, I have been through a detailed ''first look'' at a Dehler 34, Pearson 35, Alberg 35, J-35, J-36, Express 37, Farr 38/11.6, Hunter 30,Tripp 38, Tripp 41, Custom Farr 40 (not the one design). I had surgery this spring so it has not been a particularly active sailing year for me.
At different times in my life, I have also worked as a yacht designer or in boat yards. This has given me a lot of detailed exposure (more than I prefer to have had sometimes) to the way that boats are built. I also used to do most of my own maintenance and so, being outgoing, I have also spent a lot of time helping other people make repairs to thier boats. This too has helped shape my opinions.
Is that what you were asking?
Regards
Jeff
