Need Advice on a Blue Water Cruiser

[shaisimon81]

hi there to all the sailors.
we are a couple with 3 young kids that have a plan :
we want to sail from us/caribbean through the panama canal cross the pacific to australia.
we have 2 years to accomplish this magnificent peace of earth.
we need your advise of a boat model to start searching for
bearing in mind these important points:
1.our budget is 200000 u.s $
2.we want a newer boat 2000 and up.
3.must have bluewater capabilities (keel,sails,water,fuel etc)
4.42 to 47 feet
5.sloop or cutter rigged
6.single handed capabilities.
7.preferably aft cockpit
8.a known brand .one that is easy to sell when you want it.

thanks
shai & orly

[Sonadora]

change your model year and you will find terrific boats from the 90s that would fit your bill.

My personal choice would be Baba/Panda/Tashiba 40.

[ohdrinkboy]

Your item #8 could be a problem. What do you determine "easy to sell?" I would plan on at least a year to sell most boats in the current environment.

[rolandgilbert99]

Originally Posted by shaisimon81

hi there to all the sailors.
we are a couple with 3 young kids that have a plan :
we want to sail from us/caribbean through the panama canal cross the pacific to australia.
we have 2 years to accomplish this magnificent peace of earth.
we need your advise of a boat model to start searching for
bearing in mind these important points:
1.our budget is 200000 u.s $
2.we want a newer boat 2000 and up.
3.must have bluewater capabilities (keel,sails,water,fuel etc)
4.42 to 47 feet
5.sloop or cutter rigged
6.single handed capabilities.
7.preferably aft cockpit
8.a known brand .one that is easy to sell when you want it.

thanks
shai & orly

Item 8 may conflict with 1 and 3, most bluewater boats for a family going to southern pacific locations are either over $200K or are older boats, strongly built at the time fibreglass was cheap, and may not resale "easily".

[shaisimon81]

On #8 I meant not a custom built boat or an awkward model....
thanks

[Sabbatical II]

Are you intend selling the boat in Australia? If so, then I suggest buying a production boat that is well known in Australia. My preference would be Catalina because they are a one of the better production boats and not uncommon in Australia. Because they are American made, there are advantages when importing to Australia because of the free trade agreement between Australia and US. There are many Aussies buying in America and sailing back to Oz because the market price for boats is about double that of America. While not everything always goes to plan, this sounds like a good one to me.

[vtcapo]

Originally Posted by Sonadora

change your model year and you will find terrific boats from the 90s that would fit your bill.

My personal choice would be Baba/Panda/Tashiba 40.

I don't know about you but if I had a 200K budget I would have no problem finding a bluewater boat in the 40-50' range here in Florida that is 10-12 years old and possibly newer.

Remember, it's a buyer's market. The only problem with boats that cost more is that the seller is likely not desparate to sell and will hold his price. All and all you should have the pick of the litter down here in sunny Florida.

RT

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Sonadora

change your model year and you will find terrific boats from the 90s that would fit your bill.

My personal choice would be Baba/Panda/Tashiba 40.

Mine would be a Bristol 41.1 or 43.3, or if you want a Perry design, a Passport 40. If you need something cheap, a Pearson 422 or 424 might be appropriate. But these are 1980's boats, not post 2000.

If you want a newer boat, Sabbatical II's advice is also sound. I'm not a big fan of contemporary production boats, but IMHO the Catalinas are the best of the lot.

[vtcapo]

Here is a site that should keep you occupied for hours. Many boats in your age and price range to choose from. When you get a better idea of what tickles your fancy I am sure someone on this forum can advise you concerning this or that model.

Sailboat Listings - sailboats for sale

Don't go blind...

RT

[shaisimon81]

Thanks to the replyers
what do you think of the catalina Morgan 440 ?
will it provide the needs ?
anyone with experience on this boat?
I looked up and the asking price for 2005-2006 boats is around 260k what do you think is the reasonable price ?

[Boracay]

You don't say how much money you are prepared to loose on this. A $200k boat from the states is going to translate to a $300k+ boat when on the market in Oz. Times are tough here and not looking likely to improve much over the next few years.

So, unless you are planning to take a major haircut I'd go for something cheaper.

Try emailing a few brokers in Oz and ask what sells here. Specifically I'd ask how they would feel about selling a Beneteau Oceanis 423, a Leopard 40 or a Lagoon 38.

[shaisimon81]

planning to start in u.s and sail to australia.....

[joemac4sail]

I have to agree with going back to a mid to late 90s boat. Then look for a high end production blue water cruiser. The various types of which, have already been discussed at length on the forum. There are thousands of used boats on the Market from the 2000. But you will find that the price drop per year of a 90s cruiser has levelled of to a few thousands, rather than the tens of thousands of a 2000 boat. Quality sells, so don't limit yourself to an aft cockpit, check out some of the centre cockpit cruisers. Many were specifically designed with blue water cruising in mind.
Regards Joe

[JJ77]

Although this one does not concur with point 2,it would be worth a look;

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...ng_id=1808&url

add a watermaker and bring some extra cans of fuel and off you go.

Someone spent serious money on it.

Cheers,
JJ

[sv Shearwater]

How about a Saga 43? A design with bluewater in mind and with the tough market you should be able to get one around the $200k mark.

This is tough criteria to me. The 200k, 2000 or newer is easy as long as your are loose on the "bluewater" part. Really anything can be "bluewater", so perhaps that isn't really a criteria.

I think you have to define some bounds on what type of boat you really want first, then apply the budget and age criteria second. There is a big difference between say a Passport 40, a Beneteau 400, and a J/130, but all might fit your budget and age criteria (barely).