Best 34-50' Single Person Sailboat For Blue Water & Island Hopping!

[Rumrace]

The keel is a flying wings. Or a guide through the water with a chunk of lead buried in chopped glass. One stops boats from rolling over and comes from square sail boats of yore. Evolution developed the keel into a true partner rig. It one of the factors which allows me a 55 foot mast height and 1,000 square. It’s just evolution. If loving something from the past playing top gun music at 5 nm makes you smile it’s a wonderful thing.
I think its patching up old boat emotional attachment thing. All of a sudden the brand takes on a new reality like its still in competition or still in business in many cases.
The little Beneteau 36 First clocked 14n on her first run. Catching up to the Figaro III with creature comforts. First finally have their own hulls. 36, 53. They had to evolve past Oceanis cruisers hull to beat up the other Race/Cruisers.
My favourite toy is a primitive 1969 Harley Sportster. Talk about backwards and out dated. Left handle swings the magneto to retard the spark or advance it. Cast iron barrels and heads. I snuck a Japanese carb on it. Hide it behind the cover. 6V generator rebuilt truly a piece of junk. There are not to many modern bikes half the CC not faster but I just love the Harley’s handling.
I also have a 1953 Triumph drag bike the police never want me to drive on the street again. Old stuff is fun.

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

I just read an article on tested bluewater boat deals. The top 10 included a 2000 Wally for $795,000.00 and a Jeanneau 90’s vintage around $200,000.00. Just about every brand made the list for one character or another. Finding something of that character can’t be easy in the 50k limitation.

It can be challenging, especially if you look in the usual places and if you're looking at the latest models.

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Interesting thread.
As I've never faced a force 10 storm perhaps my opinions are of no renown.
I do believe that one of the biggest challenges for single handing is exhaustion/fatigue, it saps the mind of making quick rational decisions.
As such, if I was wanting to circumnavigate by myself, I would want a boat that would have no trouble in taking care of itself under extreme conditions with little input from the crew.
That pretty much rules out much of today's shallow deadrise boats that mostly float "on top" of the water with little underneath besides a blob of ballast and a shortened helicopter blade for a rudder.
The motion and quick acceleration are not conducive to any peace of mind.
As size goes down the D/L ratio needs to go up in order to carry the weight of stores and assorted junk without severely compromising sailing ability.
Stuffing 10lbs in a 5lb bag usually doesn't work out so well.
My choice would probably receive flak and derision from many, and that's ok.
When I reached the point where I could no longer help the boat and the boat had to help me it would be an Alajuela 38.

It is getting interesting. Newer for major money, or older for structural and reliability, with what keel, sail, rudder, hull shape, and the list goes on. That's why listening to those with experience is crucial to the process.

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by Retirement home

Classic debate
Love ya work sailor boy.

Here we go.

Coastal racer.
Foresheet to helm. Come off point a touch.
Helm to Foresheet.* Don't heave so much, let a touch out and heave in some close haul, mains luff is reason of high point, Genoa is spear.
Music: INXS.. Don't Change

Cruiser. Eg. Maybe braces like swept back stays, stay sails, stays to help stay.
Foresheet to helm. Come up point
Heml to Foresheet,* piss off, we're cruising, just flow Lee or something.
Music: Billy Idol.. Rebel Yell

Old girl. A graceful beauty that isn't lost, simply slow; maybe; on slow days, stable when needed. Lost is thoughts when broaching yet 8000+ tonnes of keel via stow on a vessel must have been a thorough plane ride on days of dragging a yardstick around.* Really stable like a goat mountain path, go at and running up when wet and flooding.* Agility.
Music: Billy Idol.. White Wedding

Long keel short deep keel drag.
Come on. Look at f14 Tomcat. Lower drag at low knots out. Lower drag at high knots in.

Racers tend to go with advantages to call skippers up and have to obey starboard and all that competitive stuff.

Cruising? Either good. Look at keelson for weather and if knowledge on keeping knots longer keels play advantage. Called upto windward or starboard. Stiff ship. We just cruising too. Less advantage is around expensive stuff such as when berthing
Maybe.. with horsepower is knots.
Some find small horsepower all they are comfortable with thus a tiny deep keel is faster with they.
Some are okay with increased disturbance from drag at low knots and don't mind the lack of performance incase they get horsepower when tired and thirsty.
Surface area approximately same because long keel is shallow.

Just preferences bro.. loving argument.
Father wind plays with racing bouys whilst mother nature helps old lady Gale blow seamen

Definitely some of what it takes to narrow the list down.

[boatman61]

Reality is, it's not so much about the boat.. more the person sailing it..

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Reality is, it's not so much about the boat.. more the person sailing it..

It is all about the person in relation to what they want in their style of sailing. That's why I'm taking in the information and then making my own decision on what I really want in a hull, mast, sails, equipment, etc.

Getting the data is just part of the process.

[boatman61]

Getting a boat is, then learning its specific limitations and staying within them.
Many types of boats have done incredible voyages, the question is.. can you take the punishment most boats can.
Most get into trouble because of the person sailing them.
What is your style of sailing.???

[Rumrace]

Budgets are what they are. I wouldn’t buy a 20 year old boat except a scrap Donzi 18.
I just want the hull.
I have a 2017 Jeanneau just replaced the model. I like where my winches are the goofy little twin rudders are alright.
I can’t see any advantage to used right now.
Cause I like all the new tech. Used you get some stuff other people used broke never fixed. Used prices on 35-50 current boats is not much less than new. We changed the mattresses batteries faucets all damaged by winter storage. 35-50’ Cruiser price range is 250,000 - 1.3 M. A 50,000$ boat is an assembled parts list

[Don C L]

Check out post 3829 in this thread:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...47098-256.html
That 42 foot Pearson, if it is in decent shape, could be a good deal.

[boatman61]

True.. Budget's are what they are..
I look at 40yr old boats coz that's all I can afford.. and there's some beauties out there..
Mind, I'm in the 29ft-33ft league minus bells n whistles.

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

Budgets are what they are. I wouldn’t buy a 20 year old boat except a scrap Donzi 18.
I just want the hull.
I have a 2017 Jeanneau just replaced the model. I like where my winches are the goofy little twin rudders are alright.
I can’t see any advantage to used right now.
Cause I like all the new tech. Used you get some stuff other people used broke never fixed. Used prices on 35-50 current boats is not much less than new. We changed the mattresses batteries faucets all damaged by winter storage. 35-50’ Cruiser price range is 250,000 - 1.3 M. A 50,000$ boat is an assembled parts list

I couldn't disagree with your thought on used over new pricing more! The difference is hundreds of thousands of dollars difference, at the least. And if you go into the 40' and above range out is even more! Even if I bought on one of the traditional websites for them, rather than how I buy, it is still a massive savings!

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by boatman61

True.. Budget's are what they are..
I look at 40yr old boats coz that's all I can afford.. and there's some beauties out there..
Mind, I'm in the 29ft-33ft league minus bells n whistles.

Take a look at auctions and at the end of season when people don't want to pay for their slips. HUGE savings.

[PushingThePen]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Getting a boat is, then learning its specific limitations and staying within them.
Many types of boats have done incredible voyages, the question is.. can you take the punishment most boats can.
Most get into trouble because of the person sailing them.
What is your style of sailing.???

Is ’not in a rush to go anywhere fast’ a style? Just want to stay ahead of the major storms and ride out the rest on comfort and security.

I like the older boats because they can take a serious beating without giving up. Some TLC can turn most older boats into a great sailer.

[double u]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The Unicorn 39.. it meets all the qualities you've listed..
No specific year.

[Rumrace]

It’s been my experience those great boats stories are about restoring not sailing.
As to new and recent. I think a part of the market upset is the boat brand and sudden trade flip. I was looking at a 2019 Jeanneau 440 and it was more money than one new loaded from France. Like $40,000.00 more
Basically the US dealer had an office in Canada. Likely why the dealer didn’t post the price hoping for an uneducated client.
Canada Japan and Europe formed a free trade union. Up until then some European companies had given US exclusive rights.
It backfired for many lighting companies I know. BLux from Spain wanted us to buy through a dealer in New York. We said piss off went with Studio Italia.
I can find a deal on a 430 there is one not far from me but I’m really keen on the new hull. After the 430 is restored it will cost more than 440.
A pal bought a 15,000 sailboat. I warned him checked the hull and deck for him. Was a well loved C&C. Pretty darn boat. Needs 40,000.00 in work and will still be worth $15,000.00. I have a BMW in the barn with 40,000 in mods. The cars actual blue book value $1,500.00.
So if my budget were 50k I’d buy the boat I have and go in debt for 150K and afford less boating.
The photo about of the old doll with her teak toe rail and bumper looking so lovely.
We all love that. Takes tremendous passion and commitment to make a boat that pretty.
I’m willing to do that with an old Donzi hull cause I have all the driveline and parts for one and know the hull really well. Otherwise while I appreciate classic boats cars bikes I’m done working on them.
The toe rail on my Jeanneau is faux teak. Hard pill to swallow at first. This boat will never be a classic. Still I have fun when my neighbours break out teak cleaner varnish and oil start taping I get out an empty tin and dry brush.