Best Bluewater Boat Under $35k

[bocasdeltoro]

Hey everyone, I am new to these forums and need some advice for a future voyage. My dream has always been to sail around the world.I plan on setting sail in the winter of 2012 or early 2013.

I am still young and won't have too much money for my first boat, but I really need something seaworthy. I plan on sailing the caribbean and central and south america for the first year or two. I would really love to eventually cross the panama canal eventually, then sail up to california, make the cross to hawaii and hit up the pacific islands and asia. My Goal is to run a small business taking backpackers from one country to another, so a boat over 35' would be nice- if possible with my budget. Or do some type of surf, fishing, spearfishing cheap charters.

Part of the plan is to stay in south florida or the keys and live on the boat for some odd months, while fixing her up and getting her ready for the escapade.

Currently a budget of 15-25k would be ideal, but i think if it came down to it, then I could come up with 30-35(but only if it didnt need too much work).

I have spent a couple of hours a day for the last 2 years looking at sailboats. Problem is that I have not been on a forum asking questions.

If anyone can give me advice on the type of boat and length I should be looking at then that would be greatly appreciated. Any other comments or advice would also be sweet.

Thanks

[Doodles]

The questions are pretty broad and general, so I'd suggest looking at some of the many existing threads on budget cruising and boats. Most of these are under the monohull subforum. A lot of your questions will probably be answered within them.

One other thought is you're going to need a captains license.

Oh, and ... welcome aboard.

[savoir]

Boats that are :

(i) under 35k
(ii) over 35ft
(iii) good enough to get into charter survey, and
(iv) good enough to sail to asia.

don't exist. You will have to rethink your parameters.

[Anonymous7500]

Originally Posted by savoir

Boats that are :

(i) under 35k
(ii) over 35ft
(iii) good enough to get into charter survey, and
(iv) good enough to sail to asia.

don't exist. You will have to rethink your parameters.

Yachtworld has 291 current listings in the US that meet the first two requirements. A small percentage would satisfy the fourth. I agree about the third unless the OP is planning to operate a "cash only" operation and move around frequently.

Old, cheap and needing TLC:
1967 Bristol 35 - Dinette Layout Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by savoir

Boats that are :

(i) under 35k
(ii) over 35ft
(iii) good enough to get into charter survey, and
(iv) good enough to sail to asia.

don't exist. You will have to rethink your parameters.

charter survey? and if you can sail it to the Caribbean you can sail it to Asia just as well.

The trick to accomplishing a goal like this is Don't EVER listen to people who say it can't be done.

I just spent all of 30 seconds on sailboatlistings.com and found at least 6 boats that would immediately fit your needs.

Dickerson 36

Ericson 36-C

Ericson 34

39' Lindsey Globemaster

38' Ingrid (in Mexico)

Cal 35 (will sell for under 35k)


I stopped there... 30 seconds... there are plenty of boats out there these days. Most of them may require a bit of elbow grease and some time and money to get them into cruising condition. But consider it self-financing, just get something with all the basics in working order, upgrade over time. You can even work on the boat down in Panama while your 'chartering' backpackers back and forth to columbia. Just get your name out to the hostels and backpacker hotels and they will start sending your referrals (maybe stop in and buy them a drink every so-often ).

Nothing is impossible.

[boatman61]

How about this....
BVI Yacht Sales Ltd.&

[never monday]

Originally Posted by boatman61

How about this....
BVI Yacht Sales Ltd.&

Here is a professionally built extremely well equipped and well maintained world cruiser at a very low price! These designs are very seaworthy and strong and Kobbe is a shining example of just how nicely finished a ferro cement boat can be if built with care and meticulous attention to detail.
She has been sailed extensively since her launching and has spent the last several years in the Caribbean basin.

no thanks

[callmecrazy]

I read a book once called The Water In Between. It's about a total noob who bought a 36' Ferro Cement boat, never sailed before in his life and didn't know anything about hull construction. He sailed the south pacific for a few years. Awesome book. Guess what happened in the end? NOTHING! The boat didn't sink, the hull didn't crack, nobody died....

just sayin.

[pullord]

Originally Posted by callmecrazy

charter survey? and if you can sail it to the Caribbean you can sail it to Asia just as well.

The trick to accomplishing a goal like this is Don't EVER listen to people who say it can't be done.

I just spent all of 30 seconds on sailboatlistings.com and found at least 6 boats that would immediately fit your needs.

Dickerson 36

Ericson 36-C

Ericson 34

39' Lindsey Globemaster

38' Ingrid (in Mexico)

Cal 35 (will sell for under 35k)


I stopped there... 30 seconds... there are plenty of boats out there these days. Most of them may require a bit of elbow grease and some time and money to get them into cruising condition. But consider it self-financing, just get something with all the basics in working order, upgrade over time. You can even work on the boat down in Panama while your 'chartering' backpackers back and forth to columbia. Just get your name out to the hostels and backpacker hotels and they will start sending your referrals (maybe stop in and buy them a drink every so-often ).

Nothing is impossible.

--just takes determination and save yr money,,,that erickson write-up reads like a total refit right down to all new wiring and would probably be a deal at 25k,,great lines and comfort for 36 feet,,,yes it sure is a buyers market these days of high unemployment and zoomers{boomers?} going into retirement homes,,

[skipmac]

Finding the boat to fit your requirements should be doable, especially in today's economy. Plenty of distressed owners out there.

However to get a really solid boat for that price you might have to settle for very basic amenities.

The passengers for hire is another issue. If you try that in the US without a captain's license you are asking for big trouble. Outside the US you might get away without a USCG license but will be violating local work restrictions and risk the ire of the locals and possible legal hassles in a third world country. Either way you would have to do this very under the table, cash business.

Regarding the potential customer base, they can buy tickets for most places in the western hemisphere for a few hundred bucks and get there in hours instead of weeks. Unless they were going for the fun of the sail it would not make sense at all for transportation.

Also have to consider that in many countries outside the US, if you show up with passengers (or even crew) on a boat, you will be liable for them in that country and someone will have to show proof of a ticket out of that country and enough money to satisfy the locals that that party will not be a be a vagrant begging off their economy.

[pullord]

Originally Posted by callmecrazy

I read a book once called The Water In Between. It's about a total noob who bought a 36' Ferro Cement boat, never sailed before in his life and didn't know anything about hull construction. He sailed the south pacific for a few years. Awesome book. Guess what happened in the end? NOTHING! The boat didn't sink, the hull didn't crack, nobody died....

just sayin.

--noticed on websites from NZ and OZ that there is alot of FC hull boats for sale down there so they must be half- seaworthy,,plus prices are much less for late-models than GRP{glass} hulled boats in american market,,however most brokers will honestly tell you that an FC hull boat is hard to sell in north america so if you buy one be sure it is what you want cause it will be very hard to resell unless dirt-cheap,,and even then some just dont trust FC hulls because of the rumours that they disenagrate in rough pounding waves,just saying is all im saying///

[never monday]

Originally Posted by pullord

--noticed on websites from NZ and OZ that there is alot of FC hull boats for sale down there so they must be half- seaworthy,,plus prices are much less for late-models than GRP{glass} hulled boats in american market,,however most brokers will honestly tell you that an FC hull boat is hard to sell in north america so if you buy one be sure it is what you want cause it will be very hard to resell unless dirt-cheap,,and even then some just dont trust FC hulls because of the rumours that they disenagrate in rough pounding waves,just saying is all im saying///

with the prices of 80's GRP boats. Theres no reason to look at ferro.


just say'n........

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by never monday

with the prices of 80's GRP boats. Theres no reason to look at ferro.


just say'n........

You mean the prices of 60's and early 70's boats, right?

I certainly wouldn't go looking for an FC hull, but if I was in the market for a larger boat on a strict budget, and it showed to be a sound hull (and a proven passage maker), I wouldn't automatically discount it. Unless they've sat at the dock all their lives, the ones that 'disintegrate' have already done so. Which is why they are so rare given the thousands that were built in the 60's and 70's. Some were done properly, most weren't (to my understanding, I'm no expert).

But you're absolutely right, there are plenty of plastic boats out there that would show in better condition, for the same price, than the one or two you'll find with an FC hull... so, agreed, the issue is moot.

[pullord]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Finding the boat to fit your requirements should be doable, especially in today's economy. Plenty of distressed owners out there.

However to get a really solid boat for that price you might have to settle for very basic amenities.

The passengers for hire is another issue. If you try that in the US without a captain's license you are asking for big trouble. Outside the US you might get away without a USCG license but will be violating local work restrictions and risk the ire of the locals and possible legal hassles in a third world country. Either way you would have to do this very under the table, cash business.

Regarding the potential customer base, they can buy tickets for most places in the western hemisphere for a few hundred bucks and get there in hours instead of weeks. Unless they were going for the fun of the sail it would not make sense at all for transportation.

Also have to consider that in many countries outside the US, if you show up with passengers (or even crew) on a boat, you will be liable for them in that country and someone will have to show proof of a ticket out of that country and enough money to satisfy the locals that that party will not be a be a vagrant begging off their economy.

--be very careful doing what is described above as i know absolutely of a case told to me by a carribean-based attorney of a US citizen who lost their boat to the authorities for running an unlicensed charter biz,,they had no local{resident} partner and were unsuccessful in retreiving their seized boat plus they were deported immediately for working without a proper permit{visa} after being held in prison for a week and escorted under guard to the airport where they were deported back to USA,,in some third world nations like panama etc. it is possible to do this charter work off-the-books, but make sure you are padding=off the high level guys or your bribes are wasted on low level flunkies who wont even acknowledge your payments if they come under the microscope,,be wary of BS storyies,,your competitors{residents} will inform on you fast.

[Doodles]

Regarding the backpacker transport business, you might want to look at this story. Seems the competition can get pretty ugly.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post621059