Best 2-Cabin / -Head Sailboat?

[marniekm]

I'm glad to be part of a forum where everybody's experiences can be shared. I've sailed for past 4 winters crewing for others through on-line crew boards and now planning (with a partner) to get our own boat down south to hang around the Bahamas for a few winters. We are both long time sailors with our own 30' boats in Ontario, (Nonsuch and Hughes-Columbia).
With older bodies to contend with (ours!) we need a comfy cruising boat with 2 cabins, 2 heads and hopefully an island bed.
We are thinking about a 35-42' boat.......used, of course, and are open to suggestions of boats other than the big new boats. Would love your ideas!

[Vasco]

Beneteau 393

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
Hope someone has the answer.
regards,

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by marniekm

With older bodies to contend with (ours!) we need a comfy cruising boat with 2 cabins, 2 heads and hopefully an island bed.

Originally Posted by marniekm

We are thinking about a 35-42' boat.......

We researched it till blazers came.
Many boats by the time they are getting to 40 feet are thinking they can whack in 4 cabins and have a multitude on board! All we wanted was a bigger boat and a SMALLER number of cabins: What if someone decided to make a small boat big with space to spread out?

All of a sudden there is space for the extra 'crap' we require when cruising! And do we need extra stuff!

On oour boat, like Vasco's a Beneteau 393, we have only 2 cabins. We only have 2 people for those 2 cabins however we do live in the same cabin! YES we nookie and we need room for cuddling. Pilot berths don't work. Nor do cabins called the "garage'.

We need a change in scenery. We are doing this cruising lark for ever ie the next 10 to 15 years so we want a change in bedrooms now and again. the aft cabin we use at sea and the for'ard cabin in port. But in a winter port we would prolly snuggle in the aft!

So for one couple we think we need 2 cabins and all the space to store crap.

So you don't just need a 2 cabin boat but a 2 cabins boat with lazarette.

We LOVE Sea Life. She is a 2 cabin + Lazzarette and has plenty of space; but given lots a money we would go with the new Beneteau 46 or the already owned beneteau 473. That 473, 2 cabin version is a piece of boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big, roomy, island queen up front, huge queen down back, huge walk in lazatertte!

Cruising is all about the way you live your life over a long period of time and I can tell you the poofter Beneteau haters in forums quickly disappear in real life. People always first remark on one thing with our boat: Space! And they are from far bigger boats!

To tell a person who has had a Nonsuch to go look at a Beneteau would be like a dentist offering fillings without anesthetic, but I can tell you that you will know that all the beauty is really under the skin... Look at the Beneteau's not for what you may think, but for what they may offer you in a long period afloat.

So many cruisers we meet her -ok its the 'end' of the world - have been cruising for 10 or 15 years... don't screw up on the decision because you must use that space for maybe as long


Mark

[Euro Cruiser]

Mark, I noticed your signature line (Penang heading to Langkawi) and encourage you to look for Peter on SAYONARA, a Cheoy Lee 33 who's departing today from Raffles Marina (we skyped last night...errr, your day before yesterday) and Peter hopes to arrive in Langkawi in perhaps a week or two. Wonderful bloke, rich experiences to share (one of the world's leading authorities on Shakespeare...but also has been all over the Med in Sayonara, a place you two no doubt hope to visit in the future), and a very trustworthy gent. (We met in Bermuda, then in Azores, then in Sicily, etc. etc.).

BTW his notion of how to approach the Red Sea, given all the drama with the pirate threat lately, is worth noodling if that's the route you intend heading.

Best wishes,

Jack
WHOOSH

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Euro Cruiser

Peter on SAYONARA, one of the world's leading authorities on Shakespeare

Oh god another one to tell me I should have done it! LOL
He will be wonderful to see here, or further north. Please tell him to look out for us and I will be on the hunt for him!


Mark