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What boat would you pick if living aboard?

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andy
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2005 : 15:19:03

I intend to buy a bigger boat and base it in Seattle. What's going to be My determining factor, other than what I can afford when it happens, is the ability to single or short hand it.
I know one thing, having to round up a crew to go sailing will keep you at the dock. I also know that my wife will probably not want to take numerous legs of whatever voyage I'm on. I think taking on new or unknown crew members can be potentially dangerous . I wouldn't leave the dock on a Sunday afternoon sail if crew is vital to safety when I really don't know their experience and competence. I love to take people sailing but only if I can safely operate the boat by myself, I do that all the time.
Right now, my dreamboat is a J109. It's REALLY fast and has enough cruiseablilty for a couple. I figure it'll take me from Puget Sound to the Sea of Cortez quite comfortably and probably a week or so faster than some 6kt double ender. Now all I have to do is find about $200K!! lhttp://www.jboats.com/j109/j109introduction.htm

Edited by - andy on 04/21/2005 15:42:40

dhunt
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2005 : 08:50:14

My interests are extended cruising live/work aboard for portions of the year - Range from New England to Carribean/Gulf/Belize with most of my time in Carolina to Florida region . . . lots of sand, lots of sun!

This may be heresy but here goes . . . Take a look at the Gemini 103, 34 foot catamaran. It is spacious while having a beam that makes putting it in a slip practical. I chartered one of these for a week out of Gulf Shores -

You lose some of the 'feel' of a keelboat but the ease of life aboard is worth the tradeoff - These boats are new at around 150K loaded. Highlights are:
Bluewater capable with an 18' boards up draft (beachable)
30 HP Diesel
Fast and fuel efficient
Standing headroom throughout
Queen forward stateroom (really comfortable)
Sleeps 8 (I had 6 on board for 5 days, never felt crowded)
2 aft doubles, easily convertable to office/storage
Pressure Hot/Cold water - large shower/head
Huge galley space with propane/ac fridge
Air conditioned
Hard dodger
Tons of space inside and out

It's really quite a boat. On the downside:
It has a lot of windage with little wetted surface so take great care around the docks. Cats tend to 'boom' when waves hit the bottom of the deckhouse structure.

It's pretty nice to climb down the steps at the stern, step off onto the sand in thigh deep water, walk to the bow, hand set a anchor in a few inches of water and watch the sunset. Also nice to park it in 12" of water at high tide and sit high and dry for maintenance until the tide lifts you. The boat I chartered had a sacrificial layer of glass applied so that charterers could just drive it up on the sand (I never did . . . just couldn't bring myself to do it)

I think there is one of these in my future - Used market is thin but exists, usually around 90+ for a nice one.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2005 : 08:14:44

Having spent toooo much time offshore, I would go for something that had length!
I found this [url="http://www.mirabellayachts.com/mirabella5/index.php"]decent sized boat[/url] which is a little over the budget, but very comfortable.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2005 : 08:28:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by atgep
 (Morgan 45 center cockpit) Frank, It looks a LOT like a center cockpit Catalina. Very nice.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I toook a look through the owner's web site photo album. It looks like a beautiful yacht, and at $159K, relatively inexpensive, at least by California standards. Heck, the average price of a "starter" home here in Sacramento County is $379K (must seem outrageous to those of you in parts of the country where houses are still in the low $100K range). It would be fun to go for a daysail on a boat like Escapade, but I don't see myself ever owning anything so large. Single-handing a 45' boat looks like it would be pretty difficult. Has anyone here ever been through a Morgan 45? What kind of access is there to the engine for maintenance and repair?

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2005 : 20:01:54

Might get a few frowns here but.... Gemini 105m alot room

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2005 : 22:26:24

Cheap [url="http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=quick&boat_id=1372922&units=Feet¤cy=USD&access=Public&listing_id=29504&url="]Allied Seawind Mark II[/url]

Not so cheap [url="http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=quick&boat_id=1242927&units=Feet¤cy=USD&access=Public&listing_id=59290&url="]Shannon 38[/url]

My first choice [url="http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=quick&boat_id=1121748&units=Feet¤cy=USD&access=Public&listing_id=64629&url="]Corbin 39[/url]

Of course, I don't have to accommodate anyone but myself, so I'm more interested in seaworthiness and singlehandedness, and more interested in pilot berths than double berths.

Edited by - Sea Trac on 04/29/2005 22:26:58

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