Blue Water Boat for ~$30k USD ?

[jlstanch]

Hello All,
I'm working on that old dream where I sell everything, buy a boat, spend 6months to a year skilling up and outfitting before I head of for a trip around the world. I learned to sail on a little lake here in NM (Lake Heron) and in 2008 got the chance to help crew for 2 months in the south pacific as a test run. I'd got sea sick fishing w/Dad off the coast of S. Cal and knew what that felt like to the s.pac trip was a test. Would the the dream hold up to reality and a long passage or two. Well it did w/flying colors. Now to make it happen.

I'm doing my homework while I finihs renovating my house to sell. I've been poking around on yachtworld and finding some Tartan's, Choy Lee's, and I think once even a Tayana for around this price.

Any thoughts on some boats around $30k?
How about some resrources to get my research going?
(I've read Nigel Calder and Hal Roths Cruising books, and now working on a book reviewing 26 (?) affordable blue water boats.)
Also, what's your thoughts on bumping the initial investment to $50k?

I'm figuring on about $10k on fixes and upgrades and would like full keel or at least skeg hung rudder, keel stepped mast and I 'm more interested a TOUGH boat over pressurized hot water :-)

Thanks all in advance,
-jesse

[Khagan1227]

Not trying to bash your dream, but if you spend $30K on a true bluewater boat, you're going to need that much to make it ready to go to sea unless you have lots of time on your hands.

You can get a Flicka 20, Contessa 26, etc for that price. Albin Vega 27s run about $15K (if you can find onenear you). There are other small boats, bluewater ready, but those are my favorites.

Bluewater Sailing did an article on small boats last month, you might want to check it out.

Welcome and Best Regards,

Keith

[osirissail]

Well, if you keep the size of the boat down, there are plenty of "blue water" boats in your price range. Although it will take some money to "refit" the boat. How much depends upon the boat and the previous owner. I have known some small boat circumnavigators who have "done their thing" and now have moved on to other interests. Their boats are almost ocean ready and raring to go. But finding such boats is more a process of luck. Other good boats are available but will need some work to get them ready to go again.
- - Keep looking long enough and you will find "your boat." But keep it small - 30 feet or under, and your budget will get a decent boat.

[captainKJ]

if you do a forum search you will find this has been covered before

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jesse.

[Anzo]

I'd likely grab one of these. Stout as they come.
1979 Shannon Cutter Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[allanpeda]

I wish I knew more about other production boats, and to be sure my Catalina 30 is the antithesis of blue water. What is interesting is how many decisions in the design and construction of a pleasure craft relate to pleasure and not to reliability.

For example, I'm not one for demanding tinned ABYC everywhere, but when I saw that my antenna coax runs inches above the bilge, I was a bit surprised. Repairing stuff like that is a project and a half. Even more fun to do work like that in hot or cold weather.

Right now I just go out for a few hours and head back. I'll squeeze in fixes as I can. Better to go sailing than stare at a boat in a slip, though I am sure that a large minority of boaters prefer working on the boat over sailing it. My friend calls it "the disease".

[Fortytwo]

Go to "The Library" forum and read all the books they talk about.

[wingNwing]

And here's another bluewater-capable boat <$30K: http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1978.../United-States

[pressuredrop]

Originally Posted by Anzo

I'd likely grab one of these. Stout as they come.
1979 Shannon Cutter Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

awesome boat but transom hung rudder and a wheel in the cockpit, really? :whistling :

[Lowcountry]

Allied makes some really nice little boats that would suit your purposes.

[sneuman]

Alberg 30

[s/v Beth]

Many small Shannons come with a tiller . That's how they were designed.

[s/v Breakaway]

Both the Allied Seawind and the Shannon linked above would be excellent for your purpose. How "lucky" you are to be shopping in a down economy!

[jlstanch]

Awesome and thanks for the tips. No worries on direct honest feedback, it's what I need. That is actually one of the balancing areas I'm concerned with. I've got a pretty good job as an engineer and could go bigger$, but I'm more interested in going now and having savings to sail on for at least a couple years before having to worry about money. Thanks again all for the suggestions, said boats have been added to my list. -jesse