I have met them in different ways in the past. I was introduced by friends. Another, I started my relationship with when we met at the lake. My last, well I took her from a friend of mine. I loved everyone. Each was good to me in her own way. But for my next match-up I turned to the internet.
Much like for people, the internet provides those seeking boats with a nautical “Match.com”. Yachtworld. I am spending hours every day on this site. Honestly, my wandering eye has lead me here for years. And as pointed out to me by Jeff & Jean of “Twocan Sail”, the profiles and pictures won’t tell the whole story. Its the items that aren’t emphasized or pictures that aren’t published that you have to watch out for.
But the search isn’t quite as easy as pulling up your favorite looking “girl” and sailing away forever. This is just a start and a great time saver. You can look at deck layouts, interior setup and many features. This starts to give you an inkling of the type, size and condition of boat you are looking for. Lets face it, prior to the internet you had to go physically see a LOT of boats. Now you can see many and narrow your search to a few, then find ones close by that you can check out. With the feed back from seeing them, go right back to the internet and refine some more.
Now, nothing replaces sailing the boat for a long time. Crewing on boats, having starter boats, or chartering all prepare you for the boat you want. Even if you don’t buy one of the ones you operated. Why? Knowing what you don’t want is as much of the process as knowing what you want. As they say, all boats are compromises. They are, but not against some absolute reference or standard, but they are compromises with yourself and true needs.
Personally, I want a boat that looks good. That I can use for coastal cruising, but could make a long range cruiser if I choose to go further afield. My wife on the other hand cares less about the sheer line, the tankage or suit of sails and more about interior space and a walk around queen berth (great in port, not so great underway). For her, she looks for comfort and not camping on our adventures. I have to admit that I might say a pipe-berth is good enough; but really I like the comforts too. My point here is listen to yourself AND your partner (if you have one, otherwise just do what you want); your adventure will be much more enjoyable if you do.
Our needs go beyond ourselves and include our son. He can’t quite articulate his needs in the boat; so he will adapt. But that doesn’t mean I ignore his needs, I just have to put myself in his shoes. As he grows, a place of his own becomes more important. So this becomes a feature that the future boat must have. I don’t think a pilot berth will qualify or a quarter berth; though it might have to do depending on budget. A cabin, with a door will afford him and us the privacy we often need. There’s only so much togetherness a family can take
So where are we? Right now we have zeroed in on a few boats that are help us decide what is a preference and what is a firm must have. We are also working with a broker to help us. I really feel that its as much my responsibility as his to find the boat, so I am still actively looking and he is actively looking. I send boats and he tracks down particulars. We will be walking through a ton of brokerage boats this weekend. Maybe we will find the perfect one. More than likely we just move things from preferences to requirements and vice-versa.
The requirements we have so far include :
- Diesel Engine
- Two cabins
- Separate shower stall from rest of head
- Settees that can be good sea berths
- U or G shaped galley
- Fully Battened Main
- Roller furling headsail
- Sound deck & hull
The preferences:
- 38 to 42 feet
- 2 heads
- 3 burner propane with oven and working solenoid
- Electric windlass
- A/C and heat
- Gen-set
- Radar
I would say I like simplicity, but that just isn’t true. I have a preference for air conditioning and a genset. Clearly that doesn’t imply simple systems. Still, they are only preferences.
Electronics for the most part, I keep off the list. Each year the features improve in gadgets and often for less cost. So unless they are brand new, I likely don’t care what electronics a boat has.
Models
I have walked over tons of boats the last month. I mean this both figuratively and literally. I went up and down many companionway ladders a few weeks ago in Charleston, SC. I head to the Gulf coast soon to look at boats there. Mostly I pour through Yachtworld. When the boat looks good I call the broker and most of the best looking boats then reveal themselves to have issues.
But what are the ones that I am looking at:
| Morgan 41 Classic late 80s
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Ted Brewer designed underbody, still looks like OutIsland topsides. Layout works, might condider | Y |
| Morgan 382, 383, 384 – 384 tall rig and cowl vents
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Another ted brewer designed boat. 383 and 384 have taller rig. V-berth is narrow for a couple. Quarter berth is where other crew would sleep. Good settees for sea berth on either tack | Y but not for parents |
| Pearson 365 Ketch 79
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Solid boat, with separate shower. Appears semi-custom finished interiors as there are minor differences in layout. For instance, some have a quarter berth. | N
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| Pearson 385 center cockpit
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Solid pearson boat. Lots of room below and still a good looking sheer line for a CC (of 38 foot or less). 2 staterooms and 2 heads for guests and son | Y
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| Pearson 422 | Similar to the 385. Longer, more tankage and a centerline queen berth. Pricing a little bit higher than we want… but a lot of boat for the money | Y |
| Cape dory 36/40
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A full keel traditional new England boat. Separate shower in head in some layouts. Go anywhere boats. The 40 had optional second stateroom with quarter berth. | 40 Y |
| Bristol 35.5 maybe
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| Pacific Seacraft 40
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Canoe stern Perry design with separate shower in head. Considered a great offshore boat. Too expensive | Y |
| 1984 gulfstar 36 or 37 | ||
| 1982 Tayana Cutter 37
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Canoe stern and spoon bow. Full keel. Sep Shower and a quarter berth for kid/guests | Y |
| Valiant 37 esprit 1979
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Before 80 or after 82. Blister problems otherwise. Another good perry design, separate shower in head and quarter berth. | Y |
| Bayfield Cutter 36 1986
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Sep Shower and a tub. Tiny but a tub…. Looks to have 2 cabins. Clipper bow on 40, doesn’t look so bad on 36. | Y |
| Southern Cross 39 – not a full keel (a lot like Pac Seacraft)
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Essentially a double hulled boat with airex core throughout. Most have owner finished interiors so layouts vary hugely. | ? |
| Cabo Rico 38 b-plan interior – a full keel boat
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Plan-b layout has a quarter berth and sep shower (though really small). Another go anywhere boat | Y |
| Hans Christian/Telstar 38
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N |