Which sailboat for the caribbean

[tightgroup]

Our plan is to long term cruise the caribs, in 3 years. we have been looking at different boats for this adventure. We have narrowed our choices to the following;

1: CS 36T
2: Tartan 34C
3: CS 36 Merlin (Casto design) Swim platform (big plus in my book)

We are a couple retired plus a Golden. Some sailing exp. but learning from our current boat a C&C 25. I have a 25K budget to purchase the boat + another 35K to fix or refit . Now just because I have a budget does not means I have to spend it.

We will anchor/sail the majority of the time, and we plan on being in Aruba or Curacao, for the hurricane season.

So what would be your choice for a sailboat to sail the Caribbean seas?

[Teknav]

Hiya TightGroup! Google Beneteau Oceanis in the 30 footer class. If I were in your shoes, that would be my choice when sailing the Caribbean. Good luck!

Mauritz

[Torch]

Those are good boats but the drafts might be a bit high for the Caribbean.

I'm curious why you have a $25k + $35k budget rather than a $60k budget. Is it a cash flow issue? Your options would expand if you had more than $25k for the initial purchase.

[bobconnie]

Look at the draft !! Try for 4 and a half foot draft if ya can ! Or less even is nice ! opens up a lot of great ancorages all thru the Carribe! And even helps for some entrances to some major harbors In the Bahamas and some of the Islands as well ! Just my 2 cents

[tightgroup]

Originally Posted by Torch

Those are good boats but the drafts might be a bit high for the Caribbean.

I'm curious why you have a $25k + $35k budget rather than a $60k budget. Is it a cash flow issue? Your options would expand if you had more than $25k for the initial purchase.

Excellent question. Every boat I looked at used from 70's to the 90's needed work, and then there was stuff I wanted done. Like new standing & running rigging, rebedded the stanchions and new lifelines, new compositing head, new tanks water + fuel, water maker, revamped battery and recharging system.

The Tartan 34C has a nice shoal draft at 3'10 with the centerboard and you can get a clean one for less than 12k but no swim platform The CS36T is my fav but not well suited for the carib, I sailed on these in my younger days

The CS 36 merlin by Tony Castro, though its a pan grid glued laminated structure, does have a swim platform and is spacious enough. though i doubt the merlin will sail as well as the CS 36T .

If only I could bolt a usable swim platform on the tartan

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

Our plan is to long term cruise the caribs, in 3 years. we have been looking at different boats for this adventure.

We will anchor/sail the majority of the time, and we plan on being in Aruba or Curacao, for the hurricane season.

So what would be your choice for a sailboat to sail the Caribbean seas?

why. Curacao or aruba for. hurricane season--easy to get to but a bit difficult to get out of
and as above shallow draft we draft and in parts off crib that is perfect

[tightgroup]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Hiya TightGroup! Google Beneteau Oceanis in the 30 footer class. If I were in your shoes, that would be my choice when sailing the Caribbean. Good luck!

Mauritz

Im surprised you did not mention the DHC 6 on floats. I flew DHC3 on floats bush for Air Amos Quebec and a few beavers plus a nice older Beachcraft D18s

Why do you like the bene's ??

[robert sailor]

I'm bias as I used to own a CS36T and put about 7000 offshore miles on it, that would be my choice given your group of 3. They do come in shoal draft with a Scheel keel.

[tightgroup]

Originally Posted by chuckr

why. Curacao or aruba for. hurricane season--easy to get to but a bit difficult to get out of
and as above shallow draft we draft and in parts off crib that is perfect

Wife has a Dutch passport, we could have a little getaway place and earn money while on shore. But I have not yet looked at all the details, but I am in the planning phase

[Teknav]

Hiya TightGroup! Oceanis sailboats have the stern's platform that you're looking for. Look them up! Good luck!

Mauritz