OK, Do I Want . . . ?

[Don1500]

1. Tiller - Wheel
2. Radar - Y/N
3. Aft Cockpit - Center Cockpit
4. Center Board - Fixed Keel
5. Swim Platform rear deck
6. Sails Dacron - Mylar
7. Back stay - single - dual - none
8. Roller Furl Jib - Y/N
9. Roller Furl main - Y/N
This is just basic stuff, big add ons, not the little stuff like a Swim ladder,
Anything else that is either/or? Things that would make or break a sale for you.

[SaltyMonkey]

Depends on size of boat

[Drew13440]

Depends on size of boat

Plans? Where/how will you sail?

[SkiprJohn]

1. Tiller - Wheel Wheel if your boat is 35 or larger
2. Radar - Y/N Yes if your boat is used in an area where there is lots of fog
3. Aft Cockpit - Center Cockpit - This is a personal preference. I don't like CCs
4. Center Board - Fixed Keel - Centerboard for predominant very shallow area sailing
5. Swim Platform rear deck - Nice feature on large boats. Good for diving
6. Sails Dacron - Mylar - Dacron unless you are a flat out racer
7. Back stay - single - dual - none - Depends on the boat's rigging design. I like duals. I don't like rod rigging.
8. Roller Furl Jib - Y/N - Very handy. I like them
9. Roller Furl main - Y/N - No, I don't like them. Not as efficient as a reefed main when rolled in.

Well, there you go. That's just my humble opinions. Others will have their own opinions I'm certain.

Kind regards,

[Don1500]

Originally Posted by Drew13440

Plans? Where/how will you sail?

This is if you were going to build a Atlantic Cruiser, 30-35'.

Skipper John, you got it. About the back stay, Never knew there was a rig that didn't have one, but I guess some Hunters don't.
On the roller main, there is a type that rolls into the boom instead of the mast, would that make a difference? (Furlboom: In-Boom Mainsail Furling and Reefing System )

[Pete7]

Don, your choice is the keel type, centre or rear cockpit and the price. Things like sails will either be in good condition, in which case keep them for a few years, or worn out, then the price should reflect this, meaning you can replace them with Dacron.

Pete

[Roaring Girl]

SkiprJohn about right - except we really like a centre cockpit. This isa personal preference, and IMHO partly depends on what's available in your price range while you're in the market!

Boom furled mains on a liveaboard boat must be a pain. We had one on a 23' sloop and it was extremely annoying. If there was enough wind to reef it was difficult to handle it. In the end we put reef points in the sail and did it that way. Much easier.

[David_Old_Jersey]

About now is when the punchline often arrives............


$15k and a minimum of 50 foot

[Don1500]

Ya, $15K max and 50' Min, ya, that's about right, and the bottom was just painted, that's the ticket!

Actually I am thinking $30-85K, (at $30K I can do $50K worth of fix-er-up and still come in under budget, at $85 I better be able to sail away), and 27-35'.
Below $30K you start running into structure problems (Keel fittings, mast step, broken seams). I can do most stuff on fixing a boat, glass work, electrical, rigging, but structure is a bit beyond me and I would rather not have the problems. This is not to say that a more expensive boat never have these things, but a good survey should find them, then walk away.

As for the swim platform, I was thinking more along the lines of MOB recovery than going diving. I think the platform is a big plus, but not a deal breaker.

[Liam Wald]

No offense Don, but I am always amused by people who ask others "what they want". It just seems silly to me.
What kind of boat should I buy, what color should I paint my house, what should I eat for breakfast, on and on...
Seems to me it would be just awfull not to know "what you want".

How can I, or anyone else tell you what you want?

[Don1500]

Originally Posted by Liam Wald

No offense Don, but I am always amused by people who ask others "what they want". It just seems silly to me.
What kind of boat should I buy, what color should I paint my house, what should I eat for breakfast, on and on...
Seems to me it would be just awfull not to know "what you want".

How can I, or anyone else tell you what you want?

No I'm asking what worked for you, I have my own Ideas.

1. Wheel steering - Must - I have designed large ship steering systems and find this a better system FOR ME
2. RADAR - You Betcha
3. Aft Cockpit - Center Cockpit - I like Center, but NOT make or break
4. Center Board - Fixed Keel - Fixed Keel, More stability and better handleing
5. Swim Platform rear deck - Nice featureR. NOT M/B
6. Sails Dacron - Mylar - Dacron
7. Back stay - single - dual - none - Single or Dual (Dual for swim platform)
8. Roller Furl Jib - Y/N - Yes
9. Roller Furl main - Y/N -Undecided

Just now I am looking at this:

Jenneau 34, built in 1999, $75,000(Asking)


OK, Lets hear how terrible Jenneaus are.

This is the shot that got me:

[Hud3]

In the Grenadines, we met a Frenchman who soloed a Jenneau 36 over from France. He later sailed it back via the Azores, where he experienced a storm (60 Kt winds). Although his mainsail was ripped, the boat did just fine. His next plan was to sail down the African coast and over to Brazil.

I'd say it's a boat worth looking at.

[capt_douglas]

Originally Posted by Don1500

1. Tiller - Wheel
2. Radar - Y/N
3. Aft Cockpit - Center Cockpit
4. Center Board - Fixed Keel
5. Swim Platform rear deck
6. Sails Dacron - Mylar
7. Back stay - single - dual - none
8. Roller Furl Jib - Y/N
9. Roller Furl main - Y/N
This is just basic stuff, big add ons, not the little stuff like a Swim ladder,
Anything else that is either/or? Things that would make or break a sale for you.

1. Tiller is simpler, has fewer parts and therefore is less subject to failure. Tillers give you a much better feedback regarding rudder pressure. Tillers work backwards compared to wheels. Tillers are good up to 40' (the Cal 40 comes to mind). Tillers take up more cockpit space than a wheel. The wheel usually comes with a binnacle and it's convenient for hanging instruments and a cockpit table to. >Personal Preference<

2. Not required but can be nice in fog, areas where heavy traffic abound, of finding that low lying atoll. >I'd rather have AIS.<

3. I prefer an aft cockpit. Most of the CC vessels I've seen have a walkover or walkthrough access to the aft cabin, which can be small. Center cockpits are supposed to be drier and a bit less motion prone. >Aft cockpit<

4. I like the KISS system so I'm for the modified keel concept unless draft exceeds 6' then I'm looking for a fin or bulb keel. Centerboards are another thing to go wrong. >keel as long as depth doesn't exceed 6'<

5. Full stern, no swim platform. I'd rather have a ladder than waste the space a swim platform provides. I also think a swim platform can lead to problems in a high following sea. >full stern<

6. Dacron

7. Single back stay.

8. Roller furling jib because it's safer, has a very good reputation for durability, and gives me a bit more control.

9. I prefer a fully battened main as it provides better sail performance, and helps reduce wear. If I were to consider a roller furling main, I'd want one in the boom, not the mast. With a properly designed and operated triple reefed main, I don't see the need for roller furling. >no roller furling main<

[CaptainBW]

1. Tiller - Wheel: Wheel - hands down
2. Radar - Y/N: Yes
3. Aft Cockpit - Center Cockpit: Personal preference. CC is good for large following seas, but I think aft is more comfortable for crew
4. Center Board - Fixed Keel: Fixed - too many bad stories about centerboard issues
5. Swim Platform rear deck: Swim platform if molded in and no walk through transom (ie. sugar scoop style)
6. Sails Dacron - Mylar: Dacron
7. Back stay - single - dual - none: Either single or double, double if long offshore passages
8. Roller Furl Jib - Y/N: Absolutely
9. Roller Furl main - Y/N: Not sure yet

Also a comment on Jenneau...I chartered several in the BVI 36'-39' and sailed them in up to 10-12' seas. Nice accomodations but they were tossed around in heavy seas. I would choose something more stable if sailing open waters for any length of time.

[Don1500]

Thanks, I really hope it really is "Still Available". I MUST wait for at least two more months before even calling, but right now this is the first boat I would pay for a survey on. It was used as a barefoot charter so I am expecting some damage, some place. (Be sure to check the keel for running aground!!!)