Need some advice!

[Bluefevah]

Good evening folks! I need some advice. I am looking to purchase a used sailboat but with soooo many options I need some advice on where to start.

I have been powerboating for over 20 years on Lake simcoe and the great lakes and plan to stay here for now but under sail. I have a wife, ten month old and a dog with likely another child coming in the next year. I'm thinking we should be in the 34-36 foot range thoughts?

I like to visit Georgian Bay and thus I think a shoal find keel or at least a keel under 5 ft is a must. I'd like air/heat, windless and three stateroom configuration if possible. I'd also like a walk through transom for ease of loading the kids/dog. I believe a single diesel is the way to go for power.

I don't have a lot of experience sailing (I've sailed a bit in the keys) but my wife has a fair bit on day boats.

Any advice would be appreciated. I have a budget of 75-75k.

Thanks in advance! If I'm missing anything or need to be more specific please let me know.

Sean

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[Ex-Calif]

The easy answer here is any number of modern plastic monohull boats. I think a suitable catamaran may be out of reach on your budget but you might find something like a Catalac 10, PDQ32 or Gemini 105.

In monos I like Jeanneaus.

The difficulty might be the shoal draft and A/C

34-36 sounds about right.

[Bluefevah]

Yeah I think mono is the way we want to go. Will this budget fit a semi custom boat or is production the way to go?

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[skipmac]

Not many boats in that size with a 3 stateroom layout. Some of the smaller center cockpit/aft cabin boats will have three if you count the main cabin as a stateroom, at least at night. However I don't know of any that also have a walk through transom.

You might consider a boat with pilot berths for the kids.

AC you can add to most boats if you don't mind giving up the space in a locker. The problem is to run the AC when you aren't at the dock you will then have to add a generator as well. Much more money and a lot more space taken out of a 34-36' boat.

[Bluefevah]

Very good points. I'll take them into consideration!

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[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Bluefevah

Yeah I think mono is the way we want to go. Will this budget fit a semi custom boat or is production the way to go?

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I may be reading between the lines here but I am guessing you want

- Easy to maintain - not lot's of teak and "unique" systems
- Production boat has plenty of support - parts, mechanics etc.
-Toss the kids and dog on board and have great weekend/weeklong adventures

I have not seen many custom/classic boats with stern entry.

And not to disagree with skip but 36 foot plastic monos are teh heart of the charter market. My buddy bought a Jeanneau 35/36 out of charter. Great boat 3-berths. I charter a Hunter 35 in SFO. Great boat 3-cabin.

The shoal draft and A/C are tough unless you go custom or catamaran.

[Bluefevah]

Yeah I'd say your pretty close there. We tend to do a few week long trips every season and I think what you have said makes sense.

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[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Bluefevah.

[Kenomac]

Don't get too hung up on A/C, we have yet to turn ours on in over four years. The inside of the boat will always come to roughly the same temperature as the water. Diesel heat on the other hand, is very nice to have. if you plan on spending lots of time at anchor, I'd say you should concentrate on boats with a genset (generator). You really don't want to be putting on hundreds of hours on an engine idling to charge the batteries. it's bad for the engine.

[Greggegner]

We sail Lake Michigan...air went out last year. We decided we don't need it until we go South in 5-6 years. I am looking at a solid fuel heater as we run the heat almost every night when at the dock. At anchor your boat will stay cool and a few hours of heat would be good for the little one. At the dock a12v fans and 1 box fan keep us comfortable. I wouldn't get a 3 cabin mono hull under ~42'. The cabins are just to small. Let us know what you get.


Greg S/V Sweet Dreams

[Bluefevah]

Thanks all for the comments. there are obviously some great differences between power and sail so your input is valued.

There seems to be a lot of c and c 38's around. I fear they may be a little tighter than the newer production boats but I understand they are solid and we'll built. thoughts on some other brand options for a solid cruiser?

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[gunkylump]

1992 Catalina 34 MKII sailboat for sale in New York

Something like the above perhaps?

gunk

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Bluefevah

Thanks all for the comments. there are obviously some great differences between power and sail so your input is valued.

There seems to be a lot of c and c 38's around. I fear they may be a little tighter than the newer production boats but I understand they are solid and we'll built. thoughts on some other brand options for a solid cruiser?

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I am not familiar with C&C 38s but someone will surely come along soon.

There seems to be a lot of supply of boats in Canada and a lot of 38-40 boats well below your price point.

I am sure you are looking at ads but this migh help...

Boats For Sale

It might be time to go look at some boats and get a feel. Tight or not tight - Only you and the 1st mate can decide that...

[bensolomon]

I have three kids, a wife, a yellow lab and a 30 pounds dog. We get along great on our 1990 hunter legend 37.5. For air, i bought one of those stand up portable a/c units and they work great in the chesapeake heat. No boat will have everything you want, but you can get close.

Ben

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by gunkylump

1992 Catalina 34 MKII sailboat for sale in New York

Something like the above perhaps?

gunk

+1 If you are going to buy a production boat, IMHO Catalina is the best choice. The are roomy, sail well and they are reasonably well built.

Having said that, I'd have my eye out for a Bristol 35.5.