Looked at dozens, if not hundreds, of cruising boats for sale. What put me off nearly all of them was: (i) they all needed at least one to two years of serious work to get ready for offshore cruising; (ii) met too many want-to-be crusiers that never got away and were slowly aging. Ended up going offshore in my existing boat (a 1970s 34ft production boat, which you could buy for peanuts), as it was 100% ready; reliable and i knew every inch of it. Now 5 years into a circumnavigation and dont regret my decision for one minute. Moreover, it is surprising, once you get off the beaten track, just how many of the full time cruisers are in older, smaller boats. The old adage: Go small, Go simply, Go now makes a lot of sense to me.

@burtvincent1278

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the insight. I have an old Coronado 25 I have had for years and sailed 3 of the Great Lakes. I intend to circle the mitten this summer and looking for a larger , nicer boat. I think I would be farther ahead to stick with the one I know well.

My Hanse 371 pretty much fills all the requirements. I am 73 and still sail (and race) single-handed.

@themusicalcorner4086

2 жыл бұрын

Good Wind sir!

@reds1325

2 жыл бұрын

73-74 now still sailing and knows how to use KZread. You sir are an inspiration! If only we could hear all the story's. Best of luck to you.

Negative on the dinghy davits. If it's blowing hard enough that you can't tow the dinghy, or in a serious following sea, the waves will rip the dinghy right off and take chunks of your transom with it. Tow your dinghy on short hops. Put her on deck for passages. Spend your davit money on an arch with good solar or beefing up your fridge. And btw, I used to have a Beneteau 500. Fine, comfy family boat at anchor, which is where you mostly are, but not always sea kindly.

@gad5248

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I do not totally agree, the davits are great about 85% of the time, when in rough seas, I haul the dingy and lash it to the fire deck.

Great boat picks! I really wanted a Catalina 42 and then seriously considered the Beneteau Oceanis 45 when I thought about upping the stakes. But I wanted my wife to come along too so now I have a catamaran and avoided a divorce. 😂

@mmccartney6579

2 жыл бұрын

LOL!! :)

@sicasni

2 жыл бұрын

A win-win. lol

@kevinwilliamson3957

2 жыл бұрын

I owned a Catalina 42 MkII. Great boat. but not for living on. I endorse your choice of a catamaran. The only way to live IMHO.

@r.williamcomm7693

Жыл бұрын

Lol. Just remember that divorce is expensive because it’s worth it. 😂

@cmorgan4515

Жыл бұрын

MANS got too know his limitation

In my opinion, this is the most informative, honest and smart sailing channel we can find on KZread at the moment ! Keep up the great work ! Fair winds captain

@susanc.8009

Жыл бұрын

I sometimes agree with him, but mostly don’t. It’s hard enough to maintain a simple boat in good shape let alone one with all the bells and whistles which become problematic and expensive to repair or replace in time. Two rudders and wheels? I’d stay away from that.

Have you ever been in a big sea in a Beneteau Frist?? Talk about banging!! Try Halberg Rassy, Island Packet, Amel etc. maybe not as fast as a First but much more comfortable in a sea any larger than 2-3 meters..... and actually in a big sea these boats will actually be faster than a Beneteau First, particularly to windward. I've seen people freaking out in their Beneteau's and other similar boats. (you know the brands) when they get caught out in 30knts. I have been in 45-55 knots for 2 and a half days between New Zealand and Tahiti in my Halberg Rassy and felt safe and comfortable.

nice tribute to Larry. A hero to many of us.

One important thing when you get older is that you want to be able to stand up straight inside the boat... And you want a boat that is beautiful by your own preferences

@janezjonsa3165

2 жыл бұрын

Standing up, and beautiful... and thats it? You are smart. Thats it.

This was an excellent video. It's so hard to get candid information about this stuff. Your understanding of these issues immediately after one year of cruising are very valuable as everything is fresh in your mind. Your comments about the Catalina 42 and Beneteau 45 we really insightful!!! Making similar videos like this on different makes of boats would be really awesome. Maybe get together with other cruisers and do a go through of their boat like this one.

I am shopping for my 1st sailboat and I learned a great deal from this channel. Thank you! Subscribed

@refittingreverie7992

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck with your search! I finally just bought my first.

I knew Larry Pardy hadn't been well lately but had not heard he passed away. Thanks for the update. I attended an offshore sailing seminar with Lin and Larry back in the mid 90's in Vancouver. It was a wonderful experience.

We love our Catalina 42 with its lead keel, keel stepped mast, functional layout, and like you said fairly fast. The Beneteaus are great boats also.

Great video. Interesting thing is I have been looking for a liveaboard cruising boat for my family of 4, and I immediately put the Catalina 42 on my list after I saw one. I grew up sailing a 70s C&C with my grandpa so I definitely appreciate the vintage boats, but these modern production boats offer a lot

Thanks for a great video, there is so much info on what to look for on a sailboat, knowing what not to buy is also very important. So sorry to hear about Larry Pardey, met him and Lin at a boat show many years ago, very nice man, he took the time to chat with me for a few minutes, RIP Larry...

@fcbrandt3810

2 жыл бұрын

ditto re Larry Pardey. Truly they were the ones who started the cursing movement for sure. I'm 79 and looking at how I could start again even with a TAVR.

For me, a boat of shallow draft that will either sit on her own bottom such as a bilger, a centre board/lifting keel or a shallow long keel that will “sit” using a pair of beach legs is my first rule. It just makes cruising so much more independent than always having deep anchorages and marina facilities and greatly increases mooring/hiding possibilities! More videos on boat design/layout/equipment etc would be interesting. For those of us not yet on “the trip”, your experience and opinions are of great interest in formulating our own plans. Thanks and fair sailing, Ray.

Love your channel. A quick subscribe. I like that you are honest and point out the reality that all boats are a compromise. All you can do is pick the one which is the best compromise for you.

Great video, thanks! We discovered that two 6" memory foam mattresses worked better for us than one 12". You can rotate them when they get a little "saggy".

because of most of the reasons you covered in this video especially tankage, sugar scoop, and bed space we just purchased a hunter 41 aft cabin and she is awesome

What an absolutely delightful and verrrrry honest discussion..! Thank you for taking the chance. Fair winds. Cheers !

Just beware of production quality when it comes to production boats. They were mostly designed to suit the charter market, so that means a life span of 7 - 10 years before the problems begin. Everything on them has been optimized, weight wise and number of people on them wise. I have seen a lot of boats where it’s not possible to close the doors anymore. Sailed too hard for the structure! Next important thing as I believe is the Hull shape and the keel form and function, a flat bath tub sort of Hull will bang on short waves rather than cutting them and a long racer shaped keel is likely to cause problems because of the high forces applied to the joints. It doesn’t happen on a daily basis but they absolutely have fallen off before so have a close look at structural integrity! No groundings should have ever occurred. Sauldrives can be a pain, they require oil changes and you have to lift the boat out for it. Not possible to do it in the water. Shaft drive is easier here. Also the large seal can be a problem, if it gets old that’s sort of a time bomb you are sitting on. Beware of timely maintenance and replacement! Also the layout inside may look good and can host a lot of People but in weather and waves... will you be able to walk from stern to bow inside without flying around as soon as the next wave hits the boat? Waves can lift the boat by meters within seconds and YES you will go flying unless there is a good and sturdy rail you can hold on to. Look at the beds. Would you Sleep well in them at a 20 degree angle? Galley: would you be able to stay safe and cook there in weather? How will the boat work short handed? Rigg stable, all lines where they belong? Steering system sturdy? Cables require a lot of power for the autopilot, the lack of feel from a hydraulic steering system and its occasional maintenance needs are downsides but when it comes to autopilots, they work BEST with hydraulics because they just need less power and work more reliable. Many more aspects to think about. IMHO it’s true that the older racer cruiser boats are not the best choice for liveaboard and cruising but production boats also have some huge disadvantages, esp when it comes to structural integrity and unsuitable layouts for life at sea (at anchor they are great!). for me it’s the best idea to look for a sturdy, handmade quality boat that was designed for bad weather and cruising, modest long keel and good old classic wooden seaworthy Lay-out inside. For example swedish boats. Or danish ones. Most important: Go sailing on the boat you are interested in before you buy it no matter how good the offer is. Have a close at everything, take a professional surveyor with you and make sure you don’t buy junk. Fair winds!

Very, very useful and informative and so good to hear a real cruiser’s opinion!

Half about work-arounds for this boat, a third about advantages of Beneteau 42-ish boats, then back to why not to buy an IOR rules boat or older boats with limited space compared to $100k+ production boats. The best info comes after the halfway point, and it is useful commentary, so many thanks and a thumbs up to Lady K Sailing.

Thank you for not sugar coating things and delivering great incite on what not to do.

Well said! We have a Tanzer 26 (super small) but happy to be out there on the Great Lakes and will do so for a few more summers before buying the Next Boat. We chartered a 4 yr old 2014 Jeanneau 379 in the Med & it was sheer pleasure to sail. Under powered engine so for sure you want a reliable a strong engine vs boat size. Also, we had one day of beating into really, really bad weather and this boat was not great. But I would not hesitate to buy a bigger version of this boat as it was just so comfortable to sail. Thing is, most people are not going to cross oceans, so these production boats are really nice to sail and be at anchor. We also chartered a Bavaria 39 2006 also in The Med and she sailed great, was super comfortable. Yet everybody trashes Bavaria. It costs lots of $ to equip a boat for an ocean crossing so you can have your boat shipped across for not that much more. So, maybe Tim's point on comfort and these production boats is right on as likely 95% of these sailors will never cross an ocean. They might as well be comfy!

I agree with you on the Catalina 42. I seen a lot of boats, the layout is really useful. Thank you!

Thank you for all your insight. I am headed to Florida in six days to inspect a boat. I am a bit older, a bit bigger and you have confirmed so many conclusions I had made. I hope to see you out there this coming season.

Absolutely love a tumblehome hull, very pretty boats, I'm in the process of buying a Nebe Miura 31', a GREAT little offshore capable boat built in Cape Town designed by Oswald Berckemeyer, they have a very pronounced tumblehome but boy do they sail well, Cape to Rio class winners, Cape Town St Helena return single handed overall winners and more circumnavigations than any other boat under 33', rounded the Horn too.

Subscribed. Great video. Thank you for not hoarding your knowledge. Cheers from North Bay, Ontario.

We did two years, one at a time with a few in between, on a CS36T. My conclusions about boats was pretty much spot on with yours. You are right on the money concerning the equipment you should consider essential. Thanks for a great video!

Thank you! Excellent video especially since we are looking now.

There really is an endless parade of boats available for the would-be world traveler. Ever since the late 60s when fiberglass came into its own boats and designs just blossomed. So I feel I’ve seen every boat ever built or designed since the 60s because of the kindness of Yachtworld it’s great to hear and see videos of boats In three dimensions. Thanks for your viewpoints every video leaves me with another kernel of information well done

OK Tim, you had me going there for a sec. I thought you were going to try to tell us that IOR boats were preferred for cruising over modern production boats. Good job on the objectivity and cruisers insight. In our experience, comfort is key. Unless you are doing an ocean crossing, most boats will get you from point A to B safely. Our Jeanneau has done the ARC Caribbean 1500 from the Chesapeake to the BVI's 13 times and twice has returned from the Caribbean to the US via Bermuda. I would put her up against anything out there because she is solidly built, she is fast and she is comfortable. I'll take the 15 year old production boat over the 40 year old limited production boat.

Keep sailing Tim.. I'll keep watching ya. Thanks for sharing. See you next week, my friend. If I had, your type of money. I would go for the 45 too 50 foot range. Just because, I would have room to expand inside my boat.

So sorry for the loss of Captain Pardy. He was a great soul. He and his wife touched so many lives. And thanks to you too for sharing your knowledge.

Nice honest presentation!!

I’ve had a Catalina 380 for two years. Sail it a lot. A friend has a Catalina 42. Fantastic boats for all the reasons you suggested. NO regrets. My first real sailboat of this size. I lucked out with my choice (shopped for a year and a half). This is a safe bet for anyone looking for a boat this size in the 100k range in great shape with a bunch of extras. Thanks for affirming my choice.

Thank you. It was great to hear a What-I-have-learned from you coupled with This-would-be-my-next-step. Tremendously insightful for those of us trying to wrap our heads around what to buy. Thank You.

I agree with you on the Catalina 42 being a very well thought out boat- almost bought one myself. However, I was on my Hunter 410 during the Georgetown Cruiser's Regatta when you were there (have video of Candace in her mermaid outfit on the rope swing at Chat N Chill), and saw quite a few Hunters cruising the Bahamas. My '99 410 is European Union CE A-rated for offshore work, has very good tankage capacities, room for a watermaker, decent stowage space, and sails well to boot. We'll be heading south again once this Covid mess is over.

Now... That! was some honest, humble and righteous info. Capt Lady K hit the mark and then some. A true pleasure 👍👍

First of your videos I've seen. Sounds like well thought out advice and general information. Thanks.

Excellent episode , thanks

I enjoy all of your videos. You have a unique way of producing them in a believable "off-the-cuff" way that is free from the pre-staged and the "tired" old content. I'd go sailing or have a beer with you anytime. Agree with a lot of your points here Tim. For myself, having managed and worked in Marinas, boat yards and racked up some respectable miles in the delivery business, I think you made some good observations about production boats. Especially with your notations about tankage, refrigeration, the sail-ability of the Oceanis 45 and the durability and value of the Catalinas. Before I go any further, it might behoove me to say that I am a long-time owner of one of these brands and that this comment is in no way a "dig" or negative account towards any brand of production boat. They have their place and they do a great job of fulfilling a lot of needs. They all have faults, they all have good points and they all have suitable uses. In my experience, production Boats are normally built to a specific "price-point" and generally have an adequate quality of build for the "Coastal Cruiser" or long weekend length user. There are a handful of brands that are built with the serious cruiser in mind. Honestly, for an experienced sailor, it's not difficult to find more things you don't like than the things you do like on most of these boats. Some of the stuff I've seen on these boats would make an experienced Blue water Sailor exercise all of his/her extensive vocabulary. In talking about long-distance Cruising or Passage-making, , one cannot leave out the importance of Safety, Available storage, Intelligent use of space, Ease of "Planned Maintenance" and keel and rudder configurations. It goes without saying that knowledge about these points is important when searching for a boat for the kind of use your video explains. Speaking of intelligent use of space, a very good thing to keep in mind is that the "space" inside a boat has nothing to do with Storage, Safety or Maintenance. I also think it is safe to say that "open space" inside a boat has become a priority on most of the production boat builder's architect's tables. They know what sells boats. Or at least their Management does. Few, if any.. really draw out lines for boats that would appeal to the experienced and knowledgeable cruiser. They also know that first impressions are lasting (buying) impressions. I've seen it happen many times. When someone usually boards a boat for the first time, (usually with a salesperson) they are immediately led through the massive cockpit and straight on down below to admire the "layout" and all the "open" space, bells and whistles. Think about it. How many times have you seen any new buyer spend any time on deck to check out rigging, fittings, sail control, deck layout, anchor/rode capacity/storage, cockpit/deck scuppers, boarding methods and much more before proceeding below? If they do stop for a moment, that drop transom that hides and prevents access to the liferaft or the "wow" factor of those twin wheels that lack engine controls on one side will always hide their dirty secrets. I've even seen one very popular manufacturer install factory autopilot controls within 10 inches of a powerful electric winch. (if the AP was activated, it might have been installed that way on purpose, seeing how the boat would swing through every degree on the compass when trimming the headsail.. as long as the button was pushed.) Ask me how I know. Being from a race background (like you), my first concern was that the boat would not be a pig (slow) on any point of sail. This became my first priority in searching for my Cruiser. Little did I realize that in real everyday use, things like the aforementioned replaced that concern (or moved it down the list) with the points mentioned above. (and I knew better) It is true that there are no "perfect" boats built that checks all the boxes. A question that I get asked a lot is: "What kind of boat should I buy"? My answer is always the same in the form of the question: "Exactly what are you going to use a boat for?" I apologize for the long comment. But I know there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of folks out there who have never considered what they are about to embark on or are easily led down the yellow brick road of fun and freedom. I've watched it happen over the course of many years.. Who wouldn't? Good luck to you.. and if the borders ever open again and you're in the North Carolina coastal area, give me a shout. My username is my boat's name. A Catalina 380.

As a Liveabord for 8 years on Regulas a 37ft Lancer Sloop, this is a great video and one I wished was available when I made the liveaboard plunge back in 1996!

@gregorytimmons4777

3 жыл бұрын

Just moved onto a '79 Lancer 29'. Some work to be done but it's in better shape than most i have looked at. Wasn't familiar with Lancer. Had looked at a lot of Catalina boats. A couple of other brands. Not as easy to get info on. Don't even know where they were made.

Absolutely fascinating, I learned a lot, thank you

I had a Catalina 320, a perfect boat for a young couple but with limited range in fuel and water supply. Catalinas are great boats! The 380, 385, 42, etc, they all have very smart layouts. Now we have a Beneteau 423, owners version. Like the Catalinas, very nice layout; good fuel and water tankage, and now that I’ve had two back surgeries, an in-mast furling main and electric winches are making life much easier. I highly recommend the 423 owners version as a cruising, or live aboard boat. Very informative video. Fair winds Captain!

We are lucky enough to have bought a Catalina 42 named Marley's Ghost a couple of years ago. It is a very special Catalina 42 to us, since it was Gerry Douglas''s family boat for many years. Sails beautifully. 8.5 to 8.8 knots on a good breeze and rock solid. I totally agree with all the comments you've made. We have in-boom furling and at 60 years old, not having to manhandle the sail is fantastic. I will add that on a larger boat and older cruisers, an electric winch for the main is also almost a must. If you are ever in SoCal, you are invited to sail with us. Catalina island is a great get away. Looking forward to the HaHa next year. Our first time .

Your advice matches well with what we thought through. We just purchased a Catalina 310. Sailed a Capri 22 for the past decade. Very much enjoyed the Capri. But the mid-cockpit traveler banged up my short wife's shins and she sailed less after breaking her ankle a few years ago. Now retired approaching 70, we want to comfortably cruise mostly shorter destinations. Walk out transom, roller furling main, and creature comforts similar to our 24' Winnebago match our needs for the next decades. The boat's size will be more than enough for now, yet won't grow too large to handle as was "mature". Most importantly, as we were doing the deep cleaning after taking possession, my wife said, "I really like this boat!" I am currently upgrading the electronics to current standards. But beyond that, it has needed very little. The price was good to allow investing in the new electronics. For those days I want to have more "excitement", we still have out O'Day 19.

Hello! From the Great Lakes! Just came across your channel. This is the second video I've watched so far, and my wife and I liked it a lot. You have a very practical look at presenting the different boats, something not many people on other channels have. Just subscribed and will be catching up/following. Can't wait to see what we learn from you. We own a Catalina 25 currently, and in 5-6 years plan on buying a liveaboard/blue water cruiser. I should mention on a budget (That's why I was thinking Pearson, 424 or 464). We plan on sailing out of the great lakes in about 7-8 years and start cruising around the world. I hope we learn a lot from you! Until then, have a good sail planned for Wednesday from Beaver Island, Michigan to Mackinac Island, MI to watch our kids soccer game against our Island's rivals. Sailing back on Friday with the kids. Can't wait! Nick and Candice

thank you for sharing, finally understand what you talking about, best video by far, thank you

Very well put together. I agree with your recommendations. for an older couple wanting to cruise a boat 40 feet or bigger I recommend a bow thruster. I like the 380 and 42 Catalina and the Beneteau 361, 36.7 and 411 for me to go cruising. I am more of a day sailor / racer and my idea of cruising a month or two possibly three months at a time.

Great Info, had a Hunter 30 and have been away from sailing for 10 year, but time to do some more sailing :) your info is right on the mark. Thanks.

@piratepete4322

Жыл бұрын

I lived and cruised aboard a Hunter 30 in SE Asia with my wife for 2 years. Biggest 30 ft yacht I’ve ever been in. Even had aircon +2kva jenny.

Great information and in depth comments and suggestions. Really helpful

Good honest appraisal, I think the biggest factor is going to be budget.

Truly a good video. I’ve had so many boats and sailed many. My top choice was the Beneteau 45. Like you said roomy plus plus. $ wise a 42 Catalina is also extremely good low priced , excellent handling safe boat n good factory support at any age. Me, @ 72 will seek a 39-41 ft Jeaneau or beneteau . Had them in smaller sizes , can’t beat the dual wheels, walk thru etc. and usually the 5-6 draft. Again great comparison thx

Great job describing all the options

Best boat I ever owned was our 1986 Kelly-Peterson 46. A real KP, not one of the knockoffs like the Formosa. Solidly built. Fantastic sailing characteristics. Not as roomy down below in the "open concept" way that a modern BeneHunterLina is, but a real true blue offshore boat. We cruised for 8 years and put 30,000 nm under her keel before we finally swallowed the anchor. Not the cheapest out there but up there with the best.

Great video - very honest. I have a 2014 Bavaria Cruiser 37. So smaller end for cruising but a nice set up to be that size. Not least on the affordable side (relatively). It does lack the extra heads compared to 40 feet. But good on tankage etc that you point out. I love the bathing deck that lifts up and down, a true luxury. I’d add that a solar arch with davits built in are on my wish list. Sailing in Norway means a cockpit tent up and down. So an arch is a stable place for solar panels and the dingy. Hope you get what you look for in the future. Oceanis 40 plus is our dream boat too ;-)

Thanks for sharing your experience...

A very helpful video , well done sir 👍

Excellent video and advice!

For the price of that Oceanis 45, you can get an Island Packet 45. Mind you, with 20% less space inside almost. But 90 gals. more water, 35 instead of 21 on Motion Comfort Index, 44 instead of 29 on the Stability index. A capsize factor of 1.7 rather than 2.1 (not even considered blue water by racing standards). A range on engine/fuel of 560nm as opposed to 255nm... If you run over a large floating log or debris, the Island Packet slides over it instead of losing the prop, rudder or god forbid, the keel, since none of these are protected on these modern production boats. Just explain the consequences of that prospect to your family, see which boat they'll pick. Finding a safe anchor spot in a 4.8 draft boat can be a lot easier than in the Oceanis' 7.1 feet. So to me, something got lost in the Vendee Globe and the likes fandom, that will make sailors subject their loved ones to many extra risks and much less comfortable sail in order to gain generally an extra knot in light air... Fine for sipping martinis and winning the Sunday race in the harbor, but an Oceanis 45 is not a good cruiser choice in my humble opinion. You'll survive... "La Vagabonde" did it in a lesser boat. But dollar for dollar, a boat like the Island Packet will get you in MUCH more safety and comfort, and leave your wife with the feeling that she might want to go back again the next time around... :)

Thank you for sharing this with us.

i have cruised on boats from a bruce roberts 34 to a 22ft falmouth oyster dredger, 10 atlantic crossings 60,000 miles offshore 4 atlantic crossings in the oyster dredger. loved all of them.

Good points, especially on the IOR class hulls. They sail fantastic in wind but then you are actually working versus the slower displacement cruising boat where it's a bit more relaxed and stable.

Great points you make! Comfortable sleeping arrangement is very important, center cockpit with aft stateroom and private bathroom for those older sailors your talking about:) Agree on the in mast furling, larger tankage, water maker, dependable engine and refrigeration are all a must!!! Hell when I started sailing, wooden boats like K-40's and the like, they didn't have a third of the amenities as Lady K:)

Pure common sense ! Great ! I like the Jeannneau's a lot .

Great video and advice Ive had new and old yachts Its Very hard to decide what's best overall

Good video spot on agree with all your points, look forward to more videos hope to make my own sooner than later

Great advise from your experience. Thank you for sharing.

@bellasassysailing2191

3 жыл бұрын

That would be 'advice' not advise... ;)

Good advice. Thanks. Currently retrofitting a Chrysler 26 and this helps me decide what to put into it. I gutted it completely and am starting fresh with just the shell.

@LadyKSailing

3 жыл бұрын

I had a Chrysler 22!!!!

@gp-gm6ev

3 жыл бұрын

@@LadyKSailing also. Nice to see another Canadian on these sailing channels. Edmonton is my port of call but used to live in South River Ontario.

@gupjeffrey2584

2 жыл бұрын

@@LadyKSailing My 2nd boat was the Chrysler 22. I sail out of Parry Sound. Raised 2 kids and a standard poodle on that little pocket cruiser.

I bought a Walmart foam mattress a few years ago and they are actually really good!

Thank you for thoughts - This is a great video, very helpful; 😊👍

This is a very helpful video. Thank you for this!

Times change....back in the 70's, a lot of folks built their cruising boats (Mine, a 55' Herreshoff 3-mast schooner, Valkyrie...and I'd sure like to know where she is now) but now it is MUCH cheaper to buy a fully found boat and just GO. Mind you....the five years in the boatyard was some of the best times of my life. -Veteran '66-68

Spot on about IOR' s limitations for cruising. I will say though how many keel repairs are made on the production boats your praising, especially if it has been a charter boat, and if damaged how good was the repair which needs to be done extremely well by a super good professional.

That you for your opinion. This is great information. Have herd this before but you broke it down for living in. Speed is nice but livability makes what you state more enjoyable.

Thanks so much for sharing homie! We are just getting ready to start our adventure and sell all of our stuff and buy our “perfect for us” sailboat! Hope to catch ya out there🤘🏻🤘🏻

Hey, nice vid. Plenty of good advice. I need to add one point, in a seaway you need lots of hand holds. In a big open space, great for entertaining, you will get thrown around like a ping pong ball in a choppy sea.

@johncolley6225

2 жыл бұрын

Agree! I'm looking at an Ericson 35, all I want in a boat for cruising!

Very excellent....many thanks

Honesty and straight to the point...🤙🤙🤙

Super video - thanks a bunch for sharing!

thanks for the tips, will b waiting for ur next vid

Nice I have been researching boats all week and I determined the same conclusion. Considering price, parts service and modern boat tech and less fixing, the production boats are pretty good. They are lighter but with better weather maps and charting they Cha avoid heavy storms.

Can't argue with this, great job!

My favorite is the Beneteau 46.1. Just amazing.

I've been researching prospective boats for a moth or so with the intention of buying my "dream boat" and I hadnt really looked at Beneteau or Hunter. All the Beneteau I found through my first quick searches had aft, race type helm configurations that didnt look like they would be very comfortable sailing in weather. I did find a center cockpit Hunter 45 that does look a lot like what I'm looking for though. Now I'll have to do more digging on Hunter to see if I can find a consensus on them. That 45 I found really made an impression though.

Great video and very practical comments.

Hey thanks. Makes me feel good about the Oceanis 381 I just bought. Everyone else craps on production boats. I think it's perfect for the Caribbean cruising I have planned. The previous owner brought it across the Atlantic too. I have the 2c/2h by the way. Plan to just use the front head as a wet locker, or in case the other one breaks, built in spare :)

Thanks for the education on boats.

Interesting. I have been thinking about trading up from an Aphrodite 101 to a Hughes 35. I am still a performance sailor and don't like to give it up when cruising. Like the way you adapt. Good insights. Thanks.

Thanks. We have a 32ft westerly fulmar since 2007. Bombproof but husband wants to upgrade for early retirement comfort as liveaboards in about 5 yrs. Love Najad, halberg rassey & oyster design but can’t afford them. Finally he is coming around to production boats. Beneteau CC 40-45 has caught his eye.

Sad hearing of his passing. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet and talk to the man.

I'm reasonably new to sailing and cut my teeth on a Catalina 42 and she was a great live-aboard but I'm not a Vbirth sleeper. I was looking to buy one and ran across a Catalina 400 that won hands down. Large aft cabin, twin helm and as livable the 42.

Buy the biggest latest model fiberglass boat that has not been rented out that you can afford. Most of the time you have a boat you will be anchored or in yacht club pen so you want comfort and somewhere to store ALL of the stuff you will need and want. I bought a one owner beneteau 44 that had very little use as i knew the owner. It was 10 years old. It was in yacht club pen and we repleced lots of electrics and wiring and pumps nav lights etc etc and added lots of ventilation. In with the new and into spare parts after service for the old. You have the option to replace equipment in port or spend time fixing things when you are sailing and somethin breaks. Also if you go to a big marine dealer with a big order you should get a big discount. At about 10 years things start to break. Now when i sail i know what is not going to need fixing and can enjoy sailing and relaxing. Yes yachts cost money. I have A$6000 of brand new parts and bolts nuts electrical tinned wire and fittings filters belts starter motor alternator pumps rolls of ropes and the list goes on. Why because i dont have to spend half a day chasing parts and i got a good discount by buying lots at once. Boats are expensive and if something will break it will do it when it is most inconvenient. Due to covid i have spent last 7 months living on my yacht in philippines. Saved me A$20,000 in hotel bills. My yacht club fees and pen fees were A$3000. I got lucky . Covid sucks but living on big yacht its enjoyable. Best of luck to you all.

Great video. Look at the hunter 40.5 legend series. 1990-1996. It’s an awesome boat.

Spot on. Exactly what i have found except in OZ draft is an issue that needs thought.

I delivered a 2000 Hunter 46 over 5000 miles. Totaly changed my attitude to Hunters and production boats in general. Thats why I now have a Bavaria 50 Cruiser.

@chrisscott1958

3 жыл бұрын

i had the good fortune to meet a couple from Alaska who keep their Hunter 54 in Florida, what a beautiful boat and so roomy. It was however the quality that struck me most.

I owned a 1990 Catalina 30 MKlll I lived on it for 2 months to me it's a great little boat here in Miami Florida I selled in Biscayne Bay went down to the keys back great little boat I totally recommend

Thanks for your video and for sharing your thoughts. And you are absolutely right with most of your arguments. But in the end, a sailboat is always a compromise. And the biggest compromise in size and age is the "size" of your wallet. Newer and bigger is always better, but the wallet decides if you go for a newer 45" boat or a 34" oldschool boat from the 70s or 80s. And I know several cruisers who will always prefer old style sailboats, because they were often made with higher quality wood and real thick full fiberglass hulls and not in sandwich mode and computer calulated minimum fiberglass layers. And this modern "IKEA style" interiors are also not everybody's taste.

Thanks sir. Lots of informative stuff!