Whats a good boat to sail the Caribbean

[Tetepare]

For $30,000 most likely the boat you find is going to need a $15,000 standing rigging and at some point $5000 engine rebuild. The standing rigging can be avoided with a Great Lakes boat that's only been used in fresh water.

[SV Sailfish]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

A good boat to sail the Caribbean is one that’s afloat.....

Even with your budget the options are endless!!

And congratulations Houston Astros!

[Smokeys Kitchen]

Originally Posted by SV Sailfish

And congratulations Houston Astros!

Maybe we can get one of the Mods to take care of that last comment

Go Blue!

[CaptsWife]

Originally Posted by ALAIN97133

Hi!
You should be looking for the smallest sailboat that can do what you want, not the largest you can afford !
I found in July 2014 a 6 tons Ericson 34 (1989) in excellent shape, fresh water sailboat from lake Michigan. I sailed it with my son to NY/NY via Erie canal & Hudson river & then alone to St-Martin -French West Indies. Very good sailboat with 3 cabin layout. Remember that when your crew is sleeping, you're alone to handle the sailboat during a passage
Only sad note: Although my boat was out of the water, in a corner of a shipyard, hurricane Irma brough my mast down with the help of the mast of the sailboat next to mine, folded in two pieces plus a deap cut halfway up the mast. No way to repair it... My trip to Vancouver is postponed for some time

Nice!

[hamburking]

I like, and hope to one day own, the old Pearson 35 with swing keel. Very solid boat, with shallow draft. Simple, strong and capable. And cheap to buy!

[SV Sailfish]

Originally Posted by Smokeys Kitchen

Maybe we can get one of the Mods to take care of that last comment

Go Blue!

[Madwand]

You found a beautiful Catalina 34, why are you still looking? You dont need an ocean crossing boat for the Caribbean.

[Jim van Cleve]

You can do much better than a Catalina.

[gmarlow]

Hi there!
The standing rigging point is a good one . I put $10 k into my boat three years ago to replace everything . It’s a 1987 Moody 346 , blue water boat built to Lloyd’s A1 with a bulge keel so draws only 3’9”. She has sailed the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Bahamas. She’s in Punta Gorda if you would like to see her. $35 k

[LTDsailing]

Here are a few options we have listed in Grenada:

1989 Beneteau 350 for $35k 1989 Beneteau Oceanis 350 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

1986 Irwin 53 for $50k 1986 Irwin 53 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

1977 Pearson 365 for $37k 1977 Pearson 365 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

1968 Cal 26 for $25k 1968 CAL 36 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Let me know if you are interested in any of these options and I will send you more information.

Beam winds!

[ALAIN97133]

Originally Posted by hamburking

I like, and hope to one day own, the old Pearson 35 with swing keel. Very solid boat, with shallow draft. Simple, strong and capable. And cheap to buy!

Swing keel or centerboard ? For shalow water cruising, I really like the Pearson 40 even though the internal layout is outdated

[hellosailor]

I would argue that a charter fleet boat is by default not going to be a "bluewater" boat. Charter fleets like big cockpits and wide cabins, which are great for entertaining. Bluewater boats should have narrow cabins, so you can't be thrown across that useless gaping space. And small cockpits, so they can't be filled with breaking waves tossing in hundreds of pounds of water.

You see a dichotomy forming here, between what a charter fleet needs and what a world cruiser needs?

But having said that, the OP needs to define what they think "bluewater" should be, otherwise we're all throwing darts in the dark. Pretty much anything can sail across the seas and around the world, and already has done so. Sometimes with less adventure than others.(G)

[Jim van Cleve]

I sail a 1968 Pearson 35 in the Fijian archipelago and can attest to its strength and the desireabiliy of the swing keel. I paid $20k for a duty paid boat and may have invested 10k and untold labor. My 5th boat rebuild. The boats are there for 15-20k, but will you enjoy the work.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, blue_buddha, and gmarlow.

[ALAIN97133]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

I would argue that a charter fleet boat is by default not going to be a "bluewater" boat. Charter fleets like big cockpits and wide cabins, which are great for entertaining. Bluewater boats should have narrow cabins, so you can't be thrown across that useless gaping space. And small cockpits, so they can't be filled with breaking waves tossing in hundreds of pounds of water. You see a dichotomy forming here, between what a charter fleet needs and what a world cruiser needs? But having said that, the OP needs to define what they think "bluewater" should be, otherwise we're all throwing darts in the dark. Pretty much anything can sail across the seas and around the world, and already has done so. Sometimes with less adventure than others.(G)

Hi! You're right about the difference between a good offshore cruising boat & a charter boat, but the new charter sailboats have open transom where the breaking wave can exit the cockpit as fast as it filled it The biggest problem with former charter sailboats is the engine(s)... Charter "sailors" run the engine all the time, be it for ice cubes or to motorsail against the wind & many offshore sailors with former charter sailboats had to do an overall on the engine or had to replace it altogether Cheers