Want To Buy: Vancouver Island Couple sold everything and looking for a boat to go sailing!

[Phil Mavis]

Hi all.

My wife and I owned a hopping busy cafe in Chemainus, BC and recently sold everything to go sailing. Our hunt for our new floating home has been a challenge as we were hoping to find something sooner than later. We have been looking at a ton of options and are slowly narrowing down some favourites.

Our plan when we find the boat is to move off of our Catalina 30 and right onto the new boat. Sell the Catalina 30. Cruise locally around Vancouver Island and possibly up to the Charlottes getting used to our new boat and getting to know all her systems. Then it's the Baha haha down to the Sea of Cortez and finally turn left or right for the Caribbean or the South Pacific.

*DISCLAIMER* We know the boats we are going to mention are apples and oranges so no need to educate us on that. A huge factor of our decision is budget and what simply suits our tastes.

Having said the above disclaimer I'll let you know what we might be considering.

First the wish list of nice options...
38-46 feet
Sloop or Cutter rigged
Prefer Fiberglass and very little or easily maintained wood. Interior wood finish great!
Safe and seaworthy
Not a project boat! Well cared for and not chartered. The fussier you are, the more the boat appeals to us
Blue water capable
Dual head preferred (not stinky)
Dual helm (if it’s a beamy boat)
Fold down transom or walk through or step down (sugar scoop) for ease of boarding
Prefer traditional mainsail. Will consider in-boom furling. NOT in mast furling.
Min 2 cabins
Separate shower in head or totally separate if available
Spacious owners cabin
Water maker
Generator
Good electronics
Good solar array
Good ground tackle & windless
Dodger and Bimini
Prefer not too old of a boat. Unless it's been maintained regularly and doesn't require big ticket replacement items (i.e.: New motor etc.)

All items not necessary...just a wish list.

BOAT BUDGET: 300k all in. If the boat is cheaper, we can afford to purchase the extra wish list items, or things we need to get her Bluewater ready.

Boats we like so far...

What we would call production boats...(all you nay sayers, there's a TON of these boats doing just what we want to do out there right now - they very much choose their weather windows wisely).
Beneteaus up to about 46 feet max. We really like the 423s. Not so fond of the newer Beneteaus as the industry has driven them to look like Ikea furnished the insides.

Jeanneaus - models to be determined

Bavarias - models to be determined. Harder to find on the west coast. Perhaps import duties?

What we consider to be robust boats...We have fallen in love with a couple and see the value of buying the robust boat. If it's old, dated, tired or SLOW we just can't fall in love with it.
Hallberg-Rassy 39 - considering making an offer on one we just saw in Seattle. Damn import duty is making this financially challenging.

Spencers - a really nice Spencer 46 is located in locally but we won't insult the owner what our offer might be. We love the boat and would take care of her really well, BUT the owner has sunk so much money into her, we would never be able to justify the price he wants.

These are the Bluewater boats we have seriously considered so far.

It's so hard to find a boat only to find the taxes and duty you have to pay really eat into your cruising budget.

SO ... we are really interested in looking for a boat seller in or around Vancouver Island or the lower mainland or the west coast of BC that might have something they think we might be interested in.

Please reply if you have something we might be interested in or if I've missed some information that you might need to help us.

Many thanks!

Phil and Michelle Mavis

[Flyingriki]

I'm doing the same with a smaller budget. Good luck to you both!

[Phil Mavis]

Same to you!

[Knotical]

Phil, did you look at this?

[Phil Mavis]

Yes I have been in touch with the owner. Unfortunately the boat is in FIJI and we are looking for something close to the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

We are putting that boat in the hands of the universe as we have an opportunity to sail on my brother's boat down the ICW to Florida and the Bahamas this season should we decide to go for it.

When we return, if she is still available, we might start our cruising life down there. Would prefer to get used to our next boat in our local waters first though.

Thanks for forwarding on the link.

Phil

[DRS]

check out the boats for sale list on the blue water cruising association web site. Might find something you like there.
Maybe this one
https://bluewatercruising.site-ym.co...?topic=1311918

[YachtBroker]

Most people don't think to shop as far away as Texas, but we have a lot of boats like that here and it's cost-effective given the prices here to ship to the West Coast. Meaning the boats are worth more money out there than here. You might look at a a Beneteau 423 we've got on our site. It's a deep draft standard main version that was originally sold in Hong Kong and the owner moved to Texas and it's reasonably priced.

[captmikem]

Phil,

Have a look at my boat, she is an offshore cruising boat. On a trip around the world I met several folks on Kelly Petersons, and they were all very happy with their boat.

Michael

For Sale: 1982 Kelly Peterson 46 - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[waterdog]

We were in the same position with the same criteria a year or so ago. Ended up with a beautiful Manta 40 locally and in budget. Did a shakedown in Haida Gwai and Alaska this summer. Good luck with your search. A good blue water oriented broker can be really helpful in this process and save you a lot of time and find great options you might not have considered.

[peeken]

Hi Phil,
We live in Vancouver and have been cruising winters in the Caribbean for six years.We have a well maintained Saga 43 in Puerto Rico and we are considering putting it up for sail and buying a boat locally.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by Phil Mavis

Hi all.

Spencers - a really nice Spencer 46 is located in locally but we won't insult the owner what our offer might be. We love the boat and would take care of her really well, BUT the owner has sunk so much money into her, we would never be able to justify the price he wants.

Phil and Michelle Mavis

If that's the boat you want don't be afraid to make a realistic offer base on what similar quality & condition boats are selling for. The seller can't expect to recoup the cost of upgrades. Making an offer starts a conversation that very well may end up with you owning the boat.

[PHR]

Hey, my wife and I just looked at the Hallberg-Rassy 39 in Seattle yesterday too. You must have been the Canadian couple that came in as we were leaving. We were more focused on the Hylas 46, but I think we are going to pass on those and the nearby Nauticat and Island Packet at another broker. The Nauticat even had a sauna! Just a little too pricey for what's there.

The HR did not have a generator and only had one head. The Hylas transom appeared to have some issue with its transom being too low in the water (funk on it where there should not be any). Tough choices. We're on the same sort of hunt for a boat. good luck.

[Greg Mason]

We just bought in Chemainus after slowing down but have done what you are looking at 20 years ago. We did it with a 1988 Pedrick Cheoy Lee 41 offshore. 16 tons. Would do it again. In one year, broke a stopper on a traveler car. Barra de Navidad- Marquesas, 19 days. We bought in Seattle, but looked everywhere, although not too much in the sun drenched areas. Annapolis, Baltimore all along the east coast there are boats you haven't even considered, because we don't see them here. Don't restrict yourself to an area where the US dollar has shopped out the deals and value. Brokers will talk to you all day long, send you pictures and video, try a few, a phone bill is all you are risking. At some point you may also sell, consider that. We sold for the exact amount we paid, after 14 years, but had added some substantial gear.

[Kevin W]

Hi,

I have a Hudson Force 50 for sale in Richmond BC, with legal live aboard status. It is bigger than what you are looking for, but you would really enjoy the space and gourmet galley. However it is well within your price range at $122,500 CDN. This proven world class cruiser has been to the Caribbean for 8 years, central and south America, through the panama canal and to Alaska twice.

There is a listing on this site under boats for sale.

It has been impeccably maintained and is ready to go with a current out of water survey. Handles solo with ease. It is a dream to operate cruising at 7 knots (1 US g/h) or under sail at 8-9 knots.

Some details: ketch rigged with a 150 genoa, low hour engine, 5 kw generator, complete with spare parts, tools and anything else required to go. The thru hull is in place for a water maker, although sailing the PNW for the past 7 years the 300 gallons it carries have never proved to be a problem. Three suites, 2 heads and a real shower....

Take a look and if you want more info or to see her drop me a line...

Thanks
Kevin W

[Pete7]

You seem to be focusing on European manufacturers which makes a change on an American dominated forum.

Can I add two more manufacturers you may come across, Moody and Najad.

Given your location they are likely to be few and far between but both quality yachts. Of course the other option is to travel to the yacht overseas and begin the adventure there