Should I Do it ?

[sww914]

I've wasted years and I can't get them back.
The best boat IMO that I found in that price range for the Caribbean was a Wauquiez Hood 38. The MK1's have a less desirable hatch location but they're about 20% cheaper. on yachtworld.com there are 5 on the east coast, 1 below, 1 at, and 3 above your budget.
They have a nice aft cabin, a centerboard so you can get in to shallow areas, a nav station, everything on my list. And they're pretty and well built with a good cruising history.

[Mardav]

GO. Go now.

[bilgedawg]

Phiser,

Congrats on getting into a position to do what you want at such an early age. That is awesome.

I just purchased a Morgan 382 recently. You will find lots of boats in your price range. I created a detailed spreadsheet with features and equipment down the left side and put each boat I was considering in columns. This allowed me to compare features and equipment and derive at a "real" purchase price. For example, if you are cruising, you will need a dingy, probably want a SSB, possibly a life raft, nice compliment of sails, etc. Some boats are nicely equipped and some are not as they were outfitted as coastal cruisers. When you have to add wind generators, solar panels, SSB, etc. what once looked like a bargain may not be so. The spreadsheet allowed me to make a side by side comparison and I ended up with a boat I'm happy with.

Keep us posted with your progress and best of luck. Exciting times!

bilgedawg

[Phisher]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I put the Harley and F-250 on craigslist this morning. I will continue to get rid of all the stuff I have acquired over the years.

I am actually quite disgusted with myself for all the S@#! I have and will be moving forward with my plan.

I would welcome more opinions on boats. I am really liking CSYs and Whitbys.

Thanks again! You are great bunch of peeps on this forum.