[BarryL]

Hi.

Your requirements and budget are going to make it difficult for you. In order to get a boat big enough for 4 adults overnight on for 4 days you are looking at something 35'. If the adults are two couples, and they are real friendly and you don't take much gear, then maybe a 30' boat would work. You'll have to decide how comfortable you need to be.

For 20K you're looking at old (late 70's / early 80's) Catalina, O'day, Newport, Pearson, Hunter, etc. 30' boats.

If you want something bigger, then you'll be looking at even older boats.

To be honest, if you really want to fit 4 adults in the cockpit, spend 4 day trips with 4 adults, and be competitive on the race course, you're looking at 30K easy.

good luck,
Barry

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

My second boat (first 'big' boat) was a Newport 28. I was looking to move up from a Catalina 22 to something my family of 5 could spend weekends on. The Newport 28 was great for day sailing: easy to handle, capable of handing 25 kt wind and 6' waves, spacious, etc.

It was fine for a night (and OK for 2 nights) for my family (wife, daughters 11 and 8, son 5), and everyone had a bed. The problem was there was no room for gear when we were in 'sleeping' mode. By the second night I was tired of stepping over gear, moving stuff from the cabin to the cockpit, and otherwise having very little space. If you can tolerate those conditions for the length of your trip, then a 28' boat would work for you. The good things about 28' boats is that they are affordable, you can definitely find a good boat for under 20K.

For me personally, when I wanted to start spending a week or so onboard, I sold the 28 and bought a 35'. The extra length and width and interior space makes spending a week aboard very comfortable.

In 28' boats I like Newport (obviously) o'day, Sabre, Tartan, and a few others. Catalina 27 is very affordable, but may be too small.

Good luck,
Barry