I don't know the three boats you mentioned well. I looked at a
Marine Trader 50 when we shopped for our boat. That one needed more
work than I was willing to provide.
We ended up with a DeFever 44 and are 3 legs from returning to
Florida from a 2 1/2 year circle of the Eastern and Western Carib, including
Colombia. Several DF44's have done the Great Loop, but you may need to hinge the
radar arch (if not already done) depending on which
route you take near Chicago.
You don't have to have a Krogen, Selene or Nordhavn in the
Caribbean or coastal waters. An almost new DeFever 45 recently made the trip across the Pacific carrying some bladder
tanks on
deck. I don't recommend that, but it can be done.
You should look for, at least in my opinion:
1) Weight/Displacement (the heavier the better)
2) Stabilizers - needed for the
Caribbean not Great Loop, very expensive to add (40-50K)
3)
Fuel Storage - more allows you range and selection of better
fuel prices, at least 800-900 gallons
4) Room/Storage - we
sold the house... everything we own, plus full spares are aboard the boat
5) A boat that looks like it will
survey well, at least increases the odds it will, unless you like working on boats.
If
funding allowed it, I like the Nordhavns and Krogens, but otherwise I think the DeFever 44 Sun
Deck, 49 RPH or 49
Cockpit are good values. Perhaps a
Grand Banks 49, but those are not
cheap. The Hatteras LRC designs may be worth looking at.
Good Luck! Bob
M/V Mar Azul
Roatan Honduras