[redbaron]

hey sn.
i just recently went to ft lauderdale and took 3 asa classes. we sailed a 51 gibsy. awesome by theway. ive been in the market for a boat for sometime and since the class it really settled it. here are a list of boats ive found online recently and since im still inexperienced id like to get some opinions on these boats. links below.
much appreciated

Jordan Yacht And Ship Co. (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
1980 Morgan Traditional sailboat for sale in Florida
Used 1980 Irwin Center Cockpit Ketch, Marathon, Fl - 33050 - BoatTrader.com
Used 1982 Irwin Center Cockpit, Fort Lauderdale, Fl - 33069 - BoatTrader.com
Used 1977 Irwin Yachts Mk Iii 37 Center Cockpit Ketch, Gulfport, Fl - 33707 - BoatTrader.com

 

[Faster]

Fill us in a bit on your intended plans.. coastal vs offshore, liveaboard, etc, budget/size limits, sailing area....

 

[eherlihy]

These are all great boats - for the right buyer.

Who are you? Will anyone (or anything) be joining you? How will you use the boat? What is you budget? Where will you keep it? Where do you want to take it? How handy are you, and do you own tools? ...I could go on...

Read the forums, and try to follow what's going on. This is the best free education that you can get.

 

[redbaron]

hey so i plan to keep it in the miami area. sail around the keys and bahamas for now and when the time is right head further south. budget for boat is around 35k. i want a boat big enough to accompany 4-5 poelpe. not a liveaboard just a vacation boat. like to keep it 35-45 ft in lenght. i feel im pretty handy. i work on diesel trucks almost daily for a business. as for boats it could be a new ballgame but id give it a shot.

 

[benesailor]

I would say start with a 30' or less to start. Get a feel for what you like in a boat then graduate to something else in 2 years. You will soon figure out what you like and don't like. Start cheap then work up.

Starting in the 40' club may be a shock to you financially. Many people don't realize that costs go exponentially as you cross the 30' mark. Marina/parts/sails........

 

[TQA]

BIG difference between 35 ft and 45 ft. You are unlikely to find a 45 ft boat in reasonable condition for $35k.

Something like a Catalina 36 from the 80s will be available for your budget.

However go look, there are a lot of boats for sale!

 

[eherlihy]

Boats at the smaller end of your spectrum would be better for your wallet, easier to maintain, teach you more about sail trim, and cause less damage if you screw up.

For what you describe, an autopilot, a wind generator, and a water maker would probably not be helpful, so don't get all excited about these spendy add-ons.

I agree with others in that your first boat, should not necessarily be your last boat.

 

[jimgo]

Other than the ASA classes, how much sailing experience do you have? Do the others have a lot of sailing experience? Are they physically fit? A boat in the 35-45' range needs a LOT of sail area, and that makes things harder to move, harder to handle, and needs stronger "stuff" to support it. That also translates into more expense to buy, maintain, and repair/replace all of it as needed. Slip fees on a 35+' boat can also be tough; not all marinas are set up for boats of that size, and the ones that are will likely charge a premium.

Will the 4-5 people all be overnighting aboard the boat? Does every person need their own separate bunk, or can they share? What level of comfort do they need, especially for the first few years that you own the boat? There are boats in the 28-33' range that will sleep 4-5 comfortably. My Allmand, for example, has the traditional forecabin, plus a separate aft cabin with a double berth. There's a single berth on one side of the dining area, too, and the dining table folds down to create a double berth. So, I could, theoretically, sleep 7. Now my aft cabin's bunk is really only big enough for one person unless the two know each other very well. The forecabin is fine for 2, and with the table down the dining area would make a nice bed for 2, too. So as a more practical thing, we have room for 5 comfortably and without blocking access to the head. But that's still enough for your stated purpose. And the slip/mooring fees would be a lot less, as would most maintenance and repair costs.

 

[jimgo]

To the boats you listed above, the Irwin CC's are beautiful boats. I love the cabin layout, and they are just great. One of our users, Chucklesr, has a 38' Irwin CC. Just to give you an idea of what can go wrong (and this isn't a ding on Irwins, these kinds of things can happen to any boat), check out these threads:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/104260-chain-plate-impact-2.html

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/104772-embedded-chain-plate-maint-replacement.html

And here's a bit of what I went through with my boat:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gener.../98109-apparently-im-not-meant-have-boat.html

I offer these because, as a first-time buyer, I want you to understand what COULD happen. May not happen to everyone, or even all that often, but it's good to be aware going in. I'd hate to see you spend the $35,000 and a few months later experience engine or rigging problems that push owning the boat out of your budget when a $15-20K boat might have served your purposes. On the other hand, if you have the resources to absorb the cost of these kinds of issues, you're free to ignore me (as most here do!).

 

[Sea Dawg]

The traditional is a looker and hate to admit but I don't want to sail a boat unless it looks good. I'd like it better if it weren't a "liveaboard", but it appears well equipped. The engine can be a deal breaker if it's not topnotch. I'd pick the features that really matter and select a boat that already has them. If you want a windlass and autopilot and dodger, you'll spend a fortune adding them. Likewise if the boat has an ancient ill wired panel you may find that you just live with it rather than make it right. Again, pick features you really need that someone else already bought. You'll get more sailing and spend less upgrading and repairing. The comments about exponential costs are true. But for a first boat the mid/upper 30 footer range sounds like a reasonable size. Good luck!