One of those hey there, hi there, ho there posts

[Noreasta]

Hey everyone!

I've been lurking on here for exactly a week now, absorbing as much information as possible. I definitely gotta say, you cats seem like a real awesome bunch!

So I'm just another one of those "dreamers". I told myself back in 5th grade that someday I would live in a sailboat and cruise the oceans. Well I am finally in a situation where I can afford a boat and outfit her, at the very least for the Caribbean.

Instead of rushing things like I usually do, I am giving myself 2 years until I get in a boat and sail away. I live in Boston, MA and theres a wonderful community of sailors and classes to take so I am pretty excited. I'm also going to try and work at the local marina so I can get as much exposure as I can to the sailing and boat world. As it stands now I have no experience at all sailing. However I am a ver fast learner and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and most definitely have the drive and willpower to get done what needs to be done.

So on to what you folk might be able to help me with.

I should have about 40-50k for a boat and refit by the summer of 2015.
Now that's 15-30k for the boat and the rest for refit. I'm hoping to find a boat in the range of 30-36' that I can live in for a couple years or more depending on how I do down south after my first year. I am also more than likely going to be single handing this boat the majority of the time so I would like to know what equipment makes that easier. I definitely need all the lines running to the cockpit and roller furler systems.

For those that have done liveaboards in 30-36' boats, what kind of interior refits did you find were needed most? i.e. more storage, different floors, etc.

I have already been looking at various boats and found a few that I am going to use as guidelines for when I go to actually purchase one in the next year to two years. Let me know what you think

1979 O'Day 30' Florida
1979 O'Day 30 sailboat for sale in Florida

1973 Pearson 35' Rhode Island
1973 Pearson P35 sailboat for sale in Rhode Island

1983 Catalina 30' Tall Rig, Maryland
1983 Catalina 30 sailboat for sale in Maryland

1987 O'Day 32' (this is basically exactly what I want, should be good to go with little to no refitting), Florida
1987 O'day 322 sailboat for sale in Florida

1982 Catalina 30' (another what would seem to be turnkey for a good price), Florida
1982 Catalina 30 sailboat for sale in Florida

1974 Dufour 34' (this one ist all that pretty on the outside but seems sound and another good deal to just sail away with, I cant tell if the mast is spruce or painted aluminum, and if its spruce its a deal breaker)
1974 Dufour sailboat for sale in Florida

1977 C&C 30' Mass
1977 C&C sailboat for sale in Massachusetts

1982 Catalina 38' Maryland
1982 Catalina 38 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

1979 C&C 36' Rhode Island
1979 C&C 36 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com



My dream project boat
1978 Cheoy Lee Luders 36 sailboat for sale in Maine


noreasta

[Noreasta]

This actually might be better off in the live aboard section of the site. Move it if you feel like it should be there. sorry :/

[boatman61]

One of those Hey there... Hi there... Ho there Welcomes...

[o_q]

That 34' Dufour, if we are to believe it's from 1974, looks like it traveled back in time from the future.

[boatman61]

The Dufour is the best boat there... great boats well ahead of their time... damn but the French build great boats...
Oh... and the mast is gold adonised... very popular with quite a few builders in Europe back then..

[o_q]

I don't understand why the Dufour is only $24,500. It seems suspicious.

[contrail]

You might find the original Hunters, designed by Cherubini, to be quite good. I would check the 33 ( I have owned one for 31 years....but stored on the hard these days) or the cutter rigged 37, which is generally a lot of boat for the money. A bit bigger and pricier, but usually a great value, is the Cal 40.
Cheers,
Tim

[boatman61]

Probably more than it cost new 40 years ago... the Dufour 34 I mean..

[Noreasta]

I would jump on the Dufour if i had the money right now and the survey came back fine. however the fact the ports are so low scares me. When the sailboat starts to heel, id be scared of them leaking at some point.

[Synesthesia]

Hello fellow New Englander! That Dufour is beautiful, obviously much loved by her owner.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The Dufour is the best boat there... great boats well ahead of their time.

Hey hey now!!!...That's enough of that!

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by o_q

I don't understand why the Dufour is only $24,500. It seems suspicious.

Probably because it doesn't come with a French girl...

[o_q]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Probably because it doesn't come with a French girl...

I knew they were up to something!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here. I don't know C&Cs that well but from the others I'd be looking at the Dufour. Depending on the previous maintenance and what's been replaced on the the Cheoy Lee I might look at that one too except I don't need more projects. I've had a boat load of them.