Best buy in a solid cruising boat (go anywhere, $30k or less)

[thomm225]

Pacific Seacraft Mariah 31 ($29,900):

1978 Pacific Seacraft Mariah Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[sully75]

I've heard the Mariahs are super slow?


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[Cheechako]

Not from actual experience but from what I've heard and read, the Downeaster boats are notoriously poorly built. I say this because I looked into them as I kinda liked the design at one time.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by sully75

I've heard the Mariahs are super slow?
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Yeah supposedly are hard to go to weather in.... which is why they are often very cheap to get. Also they don't have the beam and inside comfort of a Westsail....

"I know this has been done to death, but how does a Westsail 32 do in one specific scenario: close hauled in a nasty chop? That's one where I've been dissapointed with the Triton and also gotten kinda scared. Possibly because I have too much weight in the bow and stern but the stuff that there for the most part is necessary.

Anyway, will the Westsail hobby horse in the waves and get slowed down or barrell through? I'm less concerned about speed but more with consistent progress."

but then the WS, HC or Mariah aren't going to weather well.... I've sailed a lot with a WS32 and the HC 38 in my avatar. Both hobby horse some, and wont move much at all even motorsailing into a heavy chop. You just have to crack off and go for power and speed. but that can almost mean sailing sideways from your destination!
The Alberg 35 would be a great boat, or the Cape dory 33+ etc. They aren't as "bulletproof" as the heavy boats but sturdy.
No one has mentioned the CSY boats... they may be the most sturdy bout out there....

[Suijin]

Allied Seabreeze.

I know a few previous owners who have moved up and said when it got really snotty that they wish they were in their Seabreeze.

What kind of budget do you have for upgrades/refitting? I ask because I think you're going to be extremely hard pressed to find a $30k 35' boat that is ocean ready. You're likely going to find tired examples of most of the boats mentioned. That said, people do get lucky, searching long and hard enough, and make an extraordinary find.

[sparrowhawk1]

FWIW I love my Colombia 11.8 by Alan Payne You could definitely find a 9.6 in your price range. Strongly built with good performance.

[valhalla360]

Another vote for the Catalacs though for the under $30k, you are probably down to an older 8m versions to get down to $30k.

Maybe a heavenly twins though much more limited in terms of interior standing room.

[Cheechako]

CSY 33 and 37 info: They are a bit rare to find though...
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=1750
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=2008

[CLady]

How about a Bristol 35.5
There are a few listed for 39k that probably can be had for considerably less especially this time of year.

[sully75]

Bristol 35 looks pretty great.

Do you think the Alberg 35 would have the same sort of hobby horsing thing that the Triton can get in a nasty chop? Or would the longer length ameliorate that to some regard?

The Triton is super well mannered I think in almost every way. That's the only way it's sort of failed. Also because I'm using an outboard, it can be an issue in a chop. Partly because I don't have the mount totally sorted out and could do with a longer shaft outboard. It's actually done respectably well.

But good windward performance is a pretty big deal I think.


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[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by sully75

Bristol 35 looks pretty great.

Do you think the Alberg 35 would have the same sort of hobby horsing thing that the Triton can get in a nasty chop? Or would the longer length ameliorate that to some regard?

The Triton is super well mannered I think in almost every way. That's the only way it's sort of failed. Also because I'm using an outboard, it can be an issue in a chop. Partly because I don't have the mount totally sorted out and could do with a longer shaft outboard. It's actually done respectably well.

But good windward performance is a pretty big deal I think.


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Boats with overhangs will HH some.... but it seems to me the key is being able to get the boat to MOVE thru chop. If the boat keeps moving it's not so bad... but when it cant punch thru the chop it's terrible! Blunt heavy boats like the HC, WS and Dreadnaught wont keep moving to weather well. I think the Alberg would. But if you are super sensitive to the HH'ing... maybe a lighter design would be for you.

[Scout 30]

There's an 35' Alden designed Fuji Clipper Ketch on Yachtworld that looks pretty sweet.

[Scout 30]

There's a Freedom 33 on Yachtworld with a new Yanmar listied at $22,500.

[oldragbaggers]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Pacific Seacraft Mariah 31 ($29,900):

1978 Pacific Seacraft Mariah Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

If I didn't already have my boat I'd go for this one in a hot minute. Mariah's are one of my favorite boats and I don't think you can go wrong with Pacific Seacraft.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by sully75

The Triton is super well mannered I think in almost every way. That's the only way it's sort of failed. Also because I'm using an outboard, it can be an issue in a chop. Partly because I don't have the mount totally sorted out and could do with a longer shaft outboard. It's actually done respectably well.

But good windward performance is a pretty big deal I think.


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Every once in a while I get in that situation and found that motorsailing is best. Just lock the outboard to center and run at about medium speed, and sail upwind as normal with a flat main and boom in as tight as possible.

My bracket though has a 14" swing and my outboard is the extra long 25" shaft but it's only a 5 hp.

If I have plenty of room, I'll just sail without the motor and fall off the wind. I'm talking in a relatively tight channel.

A few weeks ago though I left Kiptopeke and the wind (SE) was strong and the waves were big, I was 60 plus degrees off the wind just to drive through it. Took about 8 hours to cross 17 miles to a near SE direction. The wind kept swing west but I had to get some room away from the bridge before I tacked.