Nice cruiser in the 60 to 65ft range

[videorov]

Something thats sails like a JBoat and is strong but has more room?

[freetime]

$£?

How much do you want to spend on it?

Hanse 630?

[RobNicolls]

A larger volume hull is likely to lose the fine entry of a JBoat hull as well as the relatively slender lines these boats are known for. It will therefore increase displacement, thus some performance will be lost. But that is the equation here. If you are looking for a serious blue water boat of about this length, with good strength and larger volume, then you should look at the Hallberg Rassy 62 (some second hand models available), possibly the Oyster 655 (or an earlier/cheaper model second hand), or there's a Contest 60 and 63 (centre cockpit). X-Yachts have a new 65 in build - first deliveries in 2009. The new Sweden Yachts 54 is a superb boat, a little smaller but set up for single/short handed sailing. There are some other good second hand boats available in this size range, one of the best in my view is the only Seastream 65 ever built, which is an Ed Dubois design and superbly built by Southhampton Yacht Services/UK, completed in 2006. It's a full epoxy build, vacuum infused, oven cured, and very lightly used. Search Yachtworld.com for Seastream 65 for details. You would probably want to put a skippper on her which you might not want to do, in which case the HR or a similar boat which is easily handled, might be the go. Hope this helps.

[RobNicolls]

I should have also said that there are ofcourse a number of other European boats that you might look at. These include Hanse (as mentioned) Francini (Italy), Northwind (Spain) Garcia (Spain - aluminum blue water boats), and Comar (Italy) - to mention a few. They all buid boats in this size. Some of these in my view are better suited to Med type conditions meaning they tend to be of a lighter displacement to deal with the light airs of the Med and the odd regatta, than designed to deal with extended blue water passage making. And I'm sure there will be build quality differences between them. It really all depends on what you need the boat do, where you want to take it, and how you want to sail. Displacement, which is the main discriminator I suspect, is either a curse or a blessing. Rob

[imagine2frolic]

Deerfoot???????

[jzk]

Gulfstar 60?

[Sandero]

How bout Swan?

[camaraderie]

Why stop there?! Frer's design Hylas 70 is priced like many of the 60 footers and should cook!
Hylas Yachts

[videorov]

Dollar amount around $200 to $300,000

[Hud3]

v,

I'm curious; have you found any prospects in that price range?

[Vasco]

In this price range about the only 65 foot boat you'll get that's in semi-decent shape will be a MacGregor 65.

[dcstrng]

Originally Posted by Vasco

the only 65 foot boat you'll get... will be a MacGregor 65.

Yep, $300K doesn’t go very far in that size – rather liked the McGregor 65, however. Lots and lots of plastic, and I don’t think the “pilot-house” version was particularly striking, but the earlier one caught my eye as a possible replacement for the Irwin I had -- was aboard a couple of the 65s at the boat shows in my younger years – always drooling…

[Vasco]

I was on one and it was certainly a strange interior... shag carpet and plastic.

[imagine2frolic]

I was on one at a boat show, and it gave me the Saturday Night fever feeling. Just the flashing lights were missing!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joli]

Hmmm
A J 65 rates what? -30
A strong boat would be an Oyster or Hinkley?
Lots of room, maybe a cat?

For $200k!

Wow, tell me where to sign up. I want one also.