What 35-45' Circumnavigator to Choose for Up to $375k ?

[toby24b]

OK folks, it's decision time. My family wants the adventure of a lifetime. So I am going to take them (wife, 3 boys of 4, 7 and 9) on a circumnavigation from the UK ending in NZ where we will live. Plan is to take a year or so. We have up to £240k/$375k, so the boat is used, whatever it is. I am an experienced monohull sailor, but the wife is not and the kids are too young to help so I must bank on working the vast majority of the passages effectively solo. She can help on nighttime watches, of course, and willing to learn much on the way, but I can't assume anything!
We want a multihull for comfort, space, and safety (ie more speed than a mono to avoid the worst weather patterns).
So our reqs in this order are safety then comfort. That said, I've heard that there are many charter barges out there in multihull land, and I'd rather be tucked up in a 50ft mono, than something that won't perform when I need it to as that's part of the point of going for a multihull.
We don't care about cabin configuration/no. of heads/kitchen up or down. We can't be that fussy! It'd be nice if the kitchen were up, or if down, then down a la Catana, which seems very nice. But the kitchen must work wherever it is.
Looking around the dream would be an Atlantic 48 for the front cockpit safety/visibility, and having everything to hand, but on budget it isn't happening, is it?
As a final proviso, the $375k must cover everything on the boat, so leave us some budget to add in water maker, bimini, (although most seem to have this) freezer, sat phone, solar panels, wind generator, and some damned good diesels, if the choice doesn't have this!!! Good luck all!

[imagine2frolic]

If you're doing the tradewind then it's hands down a multi! That kind of money will get you a nice cat. A good place to look is the Caribbean for a used cat. Why not start in a nice setting?..........i2f

[smj]

My vote if you can find one in that price range is the Freydis 46

[maxingout]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

If you're doing the tradewind then it's hands down a multi! That kind of money will get you a nice cat. A good place to look is the Caribbean for a used cat. Why not start in a nice setting?..........i2f

I agree. Starting your voyage in the Caribbean will increase the odds of a successful family adventure. Sailing your young family to the Caribbean might be starting off on the wrong foot. If you have a bad North Atlantic and transatlantic trip, it could nip the entire adventure in the bud - stop it in its tracks. There's lots of cats to choose from on this side of the ocean. Cats are great trade wind yachts, and starting out in the Caribbean would start the voyage in the trades. In fact, you would be in the trades the majority of the trip on the way to New Zealand.

[toby24b]

Originally Posted by maxingout

I agree. Starting your voyage in the Caribbean will increase the odds of a successful family adventure. Sailing your young family to the Caribbean might be starting off on the wrong foot. If you have a bad North Atlantic and transatlantic trip, it could nip the entire adventure in the bud - stop it in its tracks. There's lots of cats to choose from on this side of the ocean. Cats are great trade wind yachts, and starting out in the Caribbean would start the voyage in the trades. In fact, you would be in the trades the majority of the trip on the way to New Zealand.

Point taken...but if we take it easy, wait for settled weather to get to the Med (often the hardest bit of all is getting across Bay of Biscay in s**t weather round these parts), then to Azores/Cap Verde at the right time of year, we've got a good chance of doing the transatlantic OK. I am more than happy to get a Caribbean/US boat, as it gives me the chance to a/. take several weeks away with a couple of boatie mates to do the delivery trip back to the UK b/. find out how the boat does on a proper passage before dumping the family in it.

[toby24b]

By the way, Maxing Out, great site, like it a lot, very informative!

[toby24b]

Originally Posted by smj

My vote if you can find one in that price range is the Freydis 46

Thank you SMJ, go on...what are your reasons? It's not a boat I know well.

[Factor]

Toby - I know this defeats the purpose - but - with that sort of money you can buy some good stuff in NZ

[Akita]

There's a Chris White Atlantic 42 for sale at the moment (built by Lombardi). There isn't much (anything?) better IMHO. I think I saw it on yachtworld.com but you can always check under brokerage on Chris' web site to be sure (chriswhitedesigns.com).

If there was any way I could afford it short of a felony I wouldn't be mentioning it here

Discalaimer: Not a dealer, broker, builder or affiliated in any way other than thinking he's the best cruising/voyaging multihull designer in the world and that John Lombardi is right at the top of the list for builders.

[scrumble]

For that sort of money you can have a 44 or 48 Oram built in Australia with diesels and a forward cockpit and still retain an aft cockpit for the relaxing.

You would just do your half circuit the other way and teach the family to sail beforehand whilst still behind The Reef!

[ka4wja]

Toby,
Wishing you and your family good luck and fair winds on your "adventure"....
I do have something to contribute that might be of use, although I'm NOT a multi-hull sailor.....

I do understand that everyone is different, and all kids are different....but I'd like to disagree with you somewhat here...

Originally Posted by toby24b

My family wants the adventure of a lifetime. So I am going to take them (wife, 3 boys of 4, 7 and 9) on a circumnavigation from the UK ending in NZ where we will live. Plan is to take a year or so.....
I am an experienced monohull sailor, but the wife is not and the kids are too young to help so I must bank on working the vast majority of the passages effectively solo. She can help on nighttime watches, of course, and willing to learn much on the way, but I can't assume anything!

Give you kids a chance / opportunity to become fully involved and they WILL surprise you!!!!
While I grew up boating/sailing (my Mom has got photos of me "swimming" off the transom of our boat at 1 year old...), I do know that your kids will surprise you with what they are willing, and CAPABLE of doing!!!
At age 5 - 6, I could hold a compass course....and by age 7 - 8, I knew how to chart a course, figure the mag. variation, and plot our position on a chart......
And in a few years, I was ready to stand watch.....
(Although, we didn't sail across the Atlantic until I was a teenager, we did many a long passage to/from Caribbean, etc. prior to crossing the Atlantic....)

My point is:
Do NOT discount the capabilities of your kids!!!!
They will be willing and able to do much more than you think.....and when referring to new sailors, or those with only minimal experience, I actually find most kids are more comfortable sailing offshore, than their parents.....

Okay, for what it's worth, that's my 2 cents.....

Fair winds...
John

[richalex1954]

Hi Toby,
There are some very good Prout 46 catamarans in your price range.
Another one to look at is the Dean 440 or 400 they are strong and I have owned one in the past, never had any problems with them at all.
Richard

[shipofools]

got to second the votes for the oram and the chris white boats.

[Laidback]

The New Leopard 38 - 279K

[Tropic Cat]

You didn't mention a time frame, nor how much free time you'll have to get the boat into cruising shape. If you were to postpone a boat decision to later on in the year most would say that you'll be able to get more for your money buying a boat in the states. 2hulls.com or cruisincats.com have many boats to choose from.

The odds of locating a used boat in circumnavigate condition are long odds at best. I would suggest that any boat bought in the Caribbean would have to visit the states anyway for refitting before you sailed her home as repair costs are more manageable here.

Next I'd suggest keeping your boat purchase budget around the $250K-$275K range as used boats are used boats after all... and will require some additional investment.

Lastly, finding a boat surveyor you have confidence in, will be very important if contemplating a long distance boat purchase.