What is your favorite " Cruiser " ?..and why ? ?

[CaribbeanCraig]

Originally Posted by zeehag

some chain plates had been replaced..seems this boat was laid over on her side on santa barbara breakwall before 2002, or during 2002. i found 2 cracked chain plates, aft, port, and replaced them with 304 ss. thicker than original 316. i have spares, as i anticipate some kind of chain plate fail, as forward ones, port, are original, and glassed in.
i plan to revise the chainplate nonesense to external plates with internal backing plates.
previous owner rerigged her in 2004, so i am good to go for a while, as i only stressed it for 4 yrs now. looks decent and i will try to get 20 yrs out of her current rigging.
i love this boat..easily repaired, easily sailed, runs like a she devil and comfortable in winds above 40 kts...lol perfect!!!! bring on the chubascos, prefrontals and whatever we can find, without names.. we flyin!!!! jib and mizzen. perfect. autopilot..perfect....and i can cook food on stove in these winds...rodlmao.

She's a beauty ! Thanks for the latitude ! Nice interior job btw .

[ColdEH]

Just got a Bristol, and love it , Ted Hood designed great boats.

Regards

[CaribbeanCraig]

Originally Posted by typhoon

Just got a Bristol, and love it , Ted Hood designed great boats.

Regards

R.I.P. Ted Hood One of America's great yacht designers and sail maker

I have read much about him .

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanCraig

R.I.P. Ted Hood One of America's great yacht designers and sail maker

I have read much about him .

Yeah I personally loved his little harbour series

Dave

[s/v Beth]

I am the only one that owns their favorite cruiser? All boats are a trade off, but my Valiant seems to do every well. Not perfect, but well.

[CaribbeanCraig]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

I am the only one that owns their favorite cruiser? All boats are a trade off, but my Valiant seems to do every well. Not perfect, but well.

Though I have yet to step on one . I have read that this boat was the game changer in cruising ( Thanks B Perry ) . Does it have emergency tiller steering and where is it located ? I have seen it on a Westsail 42 within the aft cabin and seems thats a funny place to have it .

[Cheechako]

The Pearson Countess is a beauty... albeit old school/small for her stated length...

[Mike OReilly]

I guess I gotta put a plug in for my boat, a Rafiki 37. They're pretty rare, but if you can find one, look at it. This said, I love Valiants, Bristols, Formosa, Tayana, Babas, etc. ... yeah, I'm a sucker for those classic lines.

[laika]

Always liked Ingrid 38. Or the Alajuela 38. No experience on the Alajuela but basically a cutter rig version of the Ingrid and built to a very high standard.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanCraig

I'm in the market for one and finally pre-approved ...yay me .
and Why do older boats have more character ? I love a Perry , Alden etc...many more..

I don't see older boats having more character, I think they show somewhat more experimentation and a subtly different purpose than newer boats.

The early days of glass boats there was comparatively more money floating about for boats, there was a pent up demand, and no market of used glass boats to undercut new boat prices which were reasonable enough anyway. Consequently builders could afford to be a little more experimental without risking bankruptcy.

The change in purpose has to do with the developing market for sailboats. Initially a lot of boats were built as racer-cruisers, they had berths for a race crew and a galley intended for use underway. In the 1970's you started to see more segmentation of the market: boats more clearly fell into the categories of coastal cruising, offshore cruising and racing. Cruisers tended to have interiors more geared towards spaciousness and entertaining, racers became more stripped down. On the cruiser side, still the bulk of the market, while there may still be as many or even more berths than earlier, most are not suitable for use underway. Even the dedicated cruisers like Valiant, the interior is laid out with one or two good underway berths, and otherwise is given over to a pleasing interior meant for living and entertaining at anchor or in harbor. Consequently there are few good offshore cruisers 30-40' that can accommodate a family. The change is subtle but visible when you look for it.

[s/v Beth]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanCraig

Though I have yet to step on one . I have read that this boat was the game changer in cruising ( Thanks B Perry ) . Does it have emergency tiller steering and where is it located ? I have seen it on a Westsail 42 within the aft cabin and seems thats a funny place to have it .

Emergency tiller is usually in the cockpit locker, ready to hook onto the rudder post just posterior to your posterior (where you sit when you steer)
Hope that helps.

[zeehag]

newt i own my favorite cruiser, or am i on your ignore list......lol

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by zeehag

newt i own my favorite cruiser, or am i on your ignore list......lol

why Zee, I never would have guessed!

Jim

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanCraig

I'm in the market for one and finally pre-approved ...yay me .
and Why do older boats have more character ? I love a Perry , Alden etc...many more..

This seems to be a way to ask for advice about what boat to buy without getting the inevitable response that you should go search all the old threads first. Good move.

How many people as regular crew? Any kids?
Sailing experience?
How handy are you?
What's your budget to buy and outfit the boat? (living and cruising costs extra.)
Where are you? Where do you want to sail out of? Which coast do you want to set off from and more specifically where on that coast?
Where to you want to go?
Are you looking to cruise extensively or liveaboard and occasionally take several weeks or months off to nip around the Caribbean or Baja? Or do you intend to stay close to home in fairly protected waters?
Any really strong preferences to start with? (full/fin keel, mono/multi, spade/skeg/attached rudder, sloop/cutter/mizzen rigged)

[CaribbeanCraig]

Originally Posted by Adelie

This seems to be a way to ask for advice about what boat to buy without getting the inevitable response that you should go search all the old threads first. Good move.

How many people as regular crew? Any kids?
Sailing experience?
How handy are you?
What's your budget to buy and outfit the boat? (living and cruising costs extra.)
Where are you? Where do you want to sail out of? Which coast do you want to set off from and more specifically where on that coast?
Where to you want to go?
Are you looking to cruise extensively or liveaboard and occasionally take several weeks or months off to nip around the Caribbean or Baja? Or do you intend to stay close to home in fairly protected waters?
Any really strong preferences to start with? (full/fin keel, mono/multi, spade/skeg/attached rudder, sloop/cutter/mizzen rigged)

Here is what I can give you thus far .

I have chosen Sail over Power
Full Keel with protected prop attached rudder
Water Sports capable ..meaning climbing back aboard .
Aesthetic quality in the interior ..prefer wood over white
Mainly for Gulf and Caribbean cruising
Not sure about a ketch rig yet...