What cat for newbie live-aboards?

[Southern Star]

Good luck in pursuing your dreams - and keep us posted. In addition, some brands/models may not be represented on the US market at present, but give it time. Unless they were very rare, an example or two will show up eventually.

Brad

[Captain Bill]

It looks to me like you want to have your cake an eat it too. In the short term you want a boat that you can live on in relative comfort for a number of years and on which you can learn to sail. Then you want a performance blue water cruiser for long passages. May I suggest that you look into a condomaran such as an Endeavourcat on which you can live in comfort and learn to sail. It would serve you well while still coastal cruising and living aboard. They make a 36 footer and in the past made a 34 footer, which you can occasionally find on the used market. While boxy in appearance (Thus roomy and comfortable to live in) they sail surprisingly well. They would also do for short passages such as to the Bahamas.

Once you are ready to go blue water, you can sell the boat and buy a more blue water capable boat and give up some live aboard comforts.

I just looked at the Endeavourcats web site and they have a 34 listed on their used boat page.

[Cheechako]

Lagoon 37. The only caveat being they are a little more deep draft than some others. Well built by TPI in the US. Wonderful engine access. Sail great. As mentioned though... make a list of how much you will need to repair or bring up to date. You might find one someone has already done a lot of updating on. Caution: it's hard to be a cruiser if your not a mechanic... with any boat old or new.....