Cruising boat for a 62 and 63 year old?.

[chuckr]

We left at age 62 on a 40' Jeanneau DS40 - we sold up and sailed out - that was 10 years ago and who knows how many miles ago - that included an Atlantic crossing and a circum nav of the Black Sea - and we got more to go now that we are in our 70s.


Our boat can be fast if she had some good sailors on board and comfortable for long passages - We would no way go below a 40' and we have talked about it a bit and 44 would be the biggest - not that we could not handle it but we just don't need the extra room - it is surprising what a couple of feet on a boat will give you -


good luck

[olaf hart]

Originally Posted by straydog4612

Thanks Sue, enjoyed your comments, cant go past an Adams in my opinion.

This statement may get me into a world of trouble lol.

But completely understandable.

We have an adams 36 traditional, it’s just on the sweet spot for us, but doesn’t have the berth you are after.

We looked at Adams 40’s, 12’s and 13’s.

The 40’s are steel, not interested in the maintenance.

The 12’s are cored, it’s not balsa but the ones we saw all had core water issues. The center cockpit is too wide, it was designed for racing, so the passage to the aft cabin is more of a crawl space than a walk,space.

The 13’s are fun, but a bit tight and also have the soggy core issues. The centreboard versions are pretty tender upwind, but rockets off the wind.

The Traditional 36 is a solid glass hull and synthetic cored deck, ours was built with vinyl ester so no osmosis issues. Sails like a train, stiff with a 50%+ ballast ratio, comes with a hard dodger standard. Just look out for headroom in the main hatch for some versions, ours is fine as it has a sliding hatch in the dodger.

There was a nice Southcoast 36 at Marine Auctions last week, it’s a Roberts but so is the Martzcraft. Not sure if it sold, but the price was good.

Swanson 43 is really a motorboat with sails.

[Mossy Man]

For me and a cruising boat the Swanson is the perfect option. Not a snail and really seaworthy and easy to sail short handed. I recall that a dealer in Newport reprised the Swanson 40 a few years ago. Small cockpit but really roomy. The Aussie version of the Hans Christiansen. In my opinion the Martzcraft does not hold a candle to the Swanson but does have an aft berth. Does not really matter when you are out in the hard stuff.

[daletournier]

This maybe unpopular. I'm Australian and I believe Australian boats like the Martz craft are overrated and over priced, mostly no one else in the world has heard of them. I haven't looked at the Australian market in that size for sometime but I remember the likes of the Arrends(?) 33 asking prices up around 100k,just couldn't see the value. Also as someone else mentioned previously they are getting very old which often means lots of work. I just don't get it.

My last boat was a Freedom 32, I sailed with a martzcraft 35 years ago, it wasn't fitted out as nice, it wasn't as big and didn't sail as fast yet on the Australian market back then it cost 30k more!

I would look for a modern boat, it will sail better, have more room, manoeuvre better and be less work, something like a Barvaria 36,not sure what they sell for in Oz but they are definitely cheap overseas. Just more bang for your buck.

Just my opinion.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

Considering your age, I recommend Princess Cruises, or Holland America.
Great food, great ports, great entertainment, comfortable cabins, very safe.
And minuscule work.

Only a young AH would make such a remark. I am 71. Can't wait to get off this cruise ship I am on right now and get back to my own boat, so I can feel alive again. Lots of folks like us out there. Your ignorant and insulting attitude will change with time.

[john61ct]

Possible he was just projecting his own preferences, no insults intended?

[robert sailor]

When people make judgmental remarks it doesn't make much sense to take them personally, all they are doing is showing you their own insecurities, so don't bother reacting.

[olaf hart]

If someone argues with a fool that makes two fools....

[Simi 60]

We come from a sailing background, have had them all our life until recently, but see so many people cruising on sail boats but motoring up and down the coast that we wonder why people buy them if they don't actually sail.
Cruisers without time constraints seem to wait for calm weather not conducive to making miles under sail.

Perhaps a relatively economical trawler would be a better choice?

[earlgray]

Originally Posted by straydog4612

Cruising boat for a 62 and 63 year old?.

Noting to do with age, it depend how physically fit are you?
The choice of vessel depends on the capability of the crew to handle it in all conditions.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by earlgray

The choice of vessel depends on the capability of the crew to handle it in all conditions.

And comfort level and autonomy required.

[earlgray]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

And comfort level and autonomy required.

"comfort level".....I am 62 and still can bed down on the deck wherever I might find a bare plank or coil of rope.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by earlgray

"comfort level".....I am 62 and still can bed down on the deck wherever I might find a bare plank or coil of rope.

So can I and I could probably live in a cave as well, but I'd rather not.

My wife and financier insisted on a household king size bed if we were living aboard full time and I thank her for that.
We are in our 50s. Life's to short to be uncomfortable.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by earlgray

"comfort level".....I am 62 and still can bed down on the deck wherever I might find a bare plank or coil of rope.

Well, I'm 79 and I can too... but getting up again is a different matter.

Voluntarily undertaking discomfort when cruising is kinda offputting for most of us, and a good bunk is an important factor for long term usage IMO.

Jim

[earlgray]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

So can I and I could probably live in a cave as well, but I'd rather not.

My wife and financier insisted on a household king size bed if we were living aboard full time and I thank her for that.
We are in our 50s. Life's to short to be uncomfortable.

I do not need comfort. I am like cat, will sleep literally anywhere.

If I need comfort I would stay at my stone house with orange and lemon grove, couple of fig trees around.