?:
How will you be using your sailboat? Lakes, coastal cruiser,
blue water, days, weeks, months,?
If no extended
blue water is on your agenda, my solution, might be your solution.
I purchased a William
Crealock designed CM 32 aft cabin
ketch diesel coastal cruiser
racer. This was made in 1976 , and not
racer by today's standards, but not slow either.
Hull speed is 7.34 knots. Made over three years in several configurations, with a total production of over 500, so they are still available if one looks.
Front v berth is private, with a shared head with the center
salon galley that converts to another sleep area.
Engine room is below the
cockpit and accessible from under the companion way steps, or from seat openings in the cockpit.
Cockpit is spacious, with lots of room for four to six adults and a lap dog or two. Edison
wheel helm, makes this a pure joy to sail. As the helmsman, you can sit on the high side, or choose to sit atop the rear cabin, for an excellent forward facing view. Really want a view, stand on the aft cabin, and steer with one foot, with the
steering brake gently applied so the wheel stays where you put it. This puts your eyes about 12' over the
water for a remarkable 360 degree view, perfectly stable, as you are leaning, holding on to the mizzen
mast.
The beauty of this sailboat is the 100% private aft cabin with two 6'5" berths, private separate compainonway, and 4 windows. Mine has a separate wag bag head hidden in a birth on one side, along with a sink. Two heads makes this a trully private aft cabin.
The sailboat was originally built as the largest coastal cruiser racer that could sleep six in privacy, and yet be trailered by one or two people easily, and go down any North American road without permits, because of her 8" beam. (I wish it was 8'6" beam, what was Bill thinking about, downtown Boston? )
She
sails well in coastal waters, or lakes, as I use her. Today, you find these sailboats on every corner of the globe, so people have used them in blue
water, but the
rigging is on the light side for big storms.
Hull is hand layed
fiberglass, up to the standards of William
Crealock for coastal cruising, island hopping, and the decks are a sandwich of 1/2"
fiberglass surrounding
marine grade woods for strength under foot. My
deck does not give an inch, and I am over 400 pounds. The
salon height is 6', and sit up straight height in the v berth and aft cabin.
Mine has a six wheel
trailer for storing her
on the hard in winters, or looking for distant water. Pulls at highway speed with normal pick up or full sized car. Displacment is 4500 pounds,
trailer weight, little over 7000 pounds.
Draft is 3'6", so she is good to go most anywhere. The
mast height over the water is about 35', so most all bridges are of no concern as you are cruising. Masts do easily step while on water, should the need arise.
This is the perfect sailboat for me, as my lake has one marina, and my marina has a max
boat length of 32'. At 32', this is the biggest, trailerable, sailboat I could find, unless I spent an arm and a leg, which was not in my business plan. If you look for a deal on one of these, they are out there at very reasonable prices. I have less than 10 G in mine, including all the hole in the water monies that end up in every sailboat. At the marina, or on the water, she captures as much attention, and
sails as sweet as the high dollar sailboats. This sailboat is pure joy for me. Could not be happier. Would recommend one to a friend in a
New York minute. These sailboats can be found so reasonably, I purchased a second boat / trailer to use for
parts, should I need any.