Is it too early to upgrade?

[David Johnson]

As a very general rule for consideration, the complexity, costs, forces, difficulties and potential problems when comparing boats varies as the cube of the overall length in feet plus the total weight in pounds. The jump you are considering is roughly double what you have now in each of those respects. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it; it means you need to know what you are considering

[spudsmirage27]

In the same mode of thought.Our current boat is big enough for Lake cruising and mostly just the two of us. So being 41yrs old means the design was not to separate all cabins and still allow coastal racing cruising.After a few years and leaning to the cruise thing you consider what the next one for retirement will be like.Sleeping- centerline queen, roomy cockpit, lazy Jack's for leave main as is and fold at dock.Furler,no spinnaker needed anymore.Galley laid out well.Under 45ft.
This is the wish list.Nothing wrong with our fast crusier now.Better to sell before you buy the new one logistically.
How will your health be in 5 yrs?Not having a boat for a season can give you more time.We had ours shipped from NYC to Toronto was worth it even with exchange and all costs.Economy doesn't look so great so prices should simmer for next year in used market.There is a boat for everyone out there.Happy hunting.For now we sit see what next fall brings?

[Mountainbiker]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and time to reply. Much appreciated all the input. I have decided to move forwards w/ the purchase. I am fortunate to live in a bay, and even though it does get gusty, it should be protected enough to make slightly easier.

The analogy that comes to mind from some of the feedback is that while I am still learning to drive a car, buying a truck is perhaps not the best idea. HOWEVER, opportunity is really there for me, especially since I just secured after being on the wait list for a long time, a yearly town mooring which will save like a gazillion dollars.

[thinwater]

I would wait at least 2 more years. Like getting married too young, you don't know the questions to ask or what you actually want, and don't know enough about sailing and cruising to accept this truth. I sure didn't know what I liked after what amounts to a week of sailing.



Wait two years and I bet you'll get a boat that you like better and will be a better fit for your needs and wants. Or buy now and live with the compromise for 20 years.

[goboatingnow]

Me I’m thinking of upgrading to two boats in radically seperate countries

[barnakiel]

For Nordic countries I would opt for something less paper weight than a Bene. There is a lot of rock there.


And I would do nothing 5 years in advance. Charter, if you are too itchy.


Get the boat just before the big adventure starts. 1 year max.


b.

[goboatingnow]

The key is not to hit the rocks no matter what boat you have !!!

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Mountainbiker

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and time to reply. Much appreciated all the input. I have decided to move forwards w/ the purchase. I am fortunate to live in a bay, and even though it does get gusty, it should be protected enough to make slightly easier.

The analogy that comes to mind from some of the feedback is that while I am still learning to drive a car, buying a truck is perhaps not the best idea. HOWEVER, opportunity is really there for me, especially since I just secured after being on the wait list for a long time, a yearly town mooring which will save like a gazillion dollars.

Like Captain Ron said, if anything is going to happen, it's going to happen out there!

Let us know how it works out.

[Mountainbiker]

Just for a matter of statistics: 11 mostly "yes" upgrades vs 13 "no" probably you should not upgrade.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Mountainbiker

Was considering a Bene 423 and started to look around few weeks ago.



Background: We (my wife and I) are somewhat new to sailing. We took our ASA101 and 103 last winter, and then bought a Catalina 30 last spring and have about 80 hrs of sailing on it this season. The initial plan was to hold onto the C30 for a few years and then “move up". I do like the C30 and we bought it as a learning boat and to make sure my wife and I wanted to commit to sailing. We are certainly sold on wanting a boat and spending significant time on it.



Goal: In (+-) 5 yrs, take a leave from Work for a few months (hopefully more) and leave New England for a sail to Guadeloupe (having been French when I was young). Dream: When we retire or hit the jackpot, Atlantic crossing to sail Northern Euro (Ireland, Scotland, Faroe, Norway, Sweden) countries and then the Pays Basque and Portugal.



I am now "thinking" about a much earlier upgrade than initially planned. Boats obviously take a lot work. I don't mind it (and still have sooo much to learn), but would rather spend that time on a boat and systems that I am going to keep. Boats take a lot of money (duh!): I didn't quite realize how much... Again, would rather spend that on a boat I am going to keep. A C30 will only be worth so much regardless of what you replace/add to it (ie: will have to eventually replace the head, the hoses, the steering quadrant, the lines, the furler, adding a bimini, new bow roller for new anchor, more chain, new prop, etc) so don't want to to turn the C30 into a hole of no return.



Initial dream boat was a center cockpit boat but are now realizing ease of getting around is pretty important to both us (winch location, getting around the help, sugarscoop, companion way, etc...), as is having a berth w/ a hatch right over us (she gets hot and I am terrible sleeper so watching the starts rock back and forth is awesome). Though if I could find a Taswell 43 or a Contest 44 or even 43, on the East US coast, I would buy that instantly.



The 473 from the seat of the interweb looked like a great boat but having looked at a 461, it’s just way too big and will end being way too much boat (even w/ lots more experience) and out of our budget (especially with marina cost going up). We recently had the chance of going on a 2004 423 (double berth) at the dock and really like it. Would have preferred a double helm but cockpit space seemed otherwise good and quality for a Bene looked great (more storage for clothing would be nice!). Looked at Sun Odyssey 42DS this weekend and though the cockpit was great, we really didn’t like the rest of the boat.



Anyways, (sorry to drone on) I now find myself of two minds and totally torn: On one side, I worry that moving to a 42 ft boat is too big of a leap this early, especially the part where we are on a mooring ball and have only docked the C30 a few times, and it will be also too big of a boat to manage: you can’t control all the variables and s**t is going to happen that you are not ready for, even when you have tried hard to account or prepare for it ahead of time!. Also, now is not the time to buy a big boat as the market is inflated.



On the other hand, other than docking (though it has a bow thruster), the bene would actually be much more of a predicable boat even though it will be/feel bigger. The C30 felt huge on our first few sails but we got used to it. As mentioned I would much rather spend this winter time and money on a boat I am going to keep “forever”. Now to make matters worse, a 423 is now listed for sale 15 mins from our home and looks to priced very right, in good condition, w/ most of the extras we were looking for on boat.



So, is God testing me with temptation I should resist, or am I being offered a gift?

Its a compromise between counting beans and adventure..