Back at it again...

[986mkoh]

Hi all,

I posted on here around a year ago looking at getting a late 80s Catalina 30, but I never ended up getting it or another sailboat. I sold my powerboat, and got another one. However, I am now looking at getting a sailboat, mostly because I have enough money to get something that will provide nearly as much room as my current power boat (1985 Silverton 34C).

I'd say the price range I'm looking at is around $50k, and I'd like something around 32 feet, definitely not much smaller as we stay on the boat on a regular basis.

The boats I'm currently considering vary quite a bit, and are somewhat based on what I can find locally within 250 or so miles of NE Ohio.

I've found a 2001 Beneteau 311 for around 50k, and some late 80s Tartan 34s for around the same price. I have yet to actually go out on a sailboat, other than my 13 footer, but I'm going to work on finding some people locally to go out with and learn some.

I plan on travelling as much of the great lakes as I can, and would also be fishing from this boat, so I'd like it to have a reasonably sized cockpit area. I do perch fishing at anchor a lot, as well as some trolling for walleye. I know it's not typical to see fishing sailboats (at least around here), but I don't see how it would be too difficult. I'm getting out of my current boat because it sucks gas, but even more so because it is pretty tender being a 34ft flybridge boat. Plus, a nice quiet ride is all we want more often than not.

Any comments or suggestions are appreciated!

Mike