What is your favorite " Cruiser " ?..and why ? ?

[CaribbeanCraig]

I'm in the market for one and finally pre-approved ...yay me .
and Why do older boats have more character ? I love a Perry , Alden etc...many more..

[barnakiel]

Bougainvillea, Cherubini, Bestevaer. Dadadah.

b.

[CaribbeanCraig]

Cherubini is a dreamboat of mine..However ..not quite that pre-approved. 8)

[Stumble]

Heading to the Virgin Islands or the Arctic?

My all time favorite world cruiser is the Sundeer 60 or 64. But this boat would be massive overkill to sail the windwards and leewards, not that it wouldn't be great to have one for these purposes, but it would be a bit like bringing a howitzer to a knife fight.

[CaribbeanCraig]

I've been eyeing a Shannon 38 ketch and a Pearson Countess...They are within the price range but have only read up on the 38 ...and any 411 is good ..Thanks !

I keep it Caribbean..

[barnakiel]

If I were to get a smaller and less expensive dream, I would probably hunt down say a clean Swan 43 or an Ohlson 38, or an alike, and bring her to bristol. At times you can see them at around 50k and then comes the hard part.

Both are quite deep designs, so you might be limited at places (Bahamas?)

And if I were somewhere in between, I would shop for a Rustler 42, Bowman 40 or say a fine Morris.

Bowman 40 is only 1.5 deep ...

Yes, I know, it looks I am rooting for Paine. Can't help.

Cheers,
b.

[robert sailor]

Older S&S Swan 44

[zeehag]

what i got or the 51 ft version.
i am a sucker for anything with a full keel, clipper bow and 2 masts. oh yes, sweet lines are a must.

[CaribbeanCraig]

Originally Posted by zeehag

what i got or the 51 ft version.
i am a sucker for anything with a full keel, clipper bow and 2 masts. oh yes, sweet lines are a must.

Full Keels with protected prop shaft seems like a good idea for cruising .
I have looked at some of those and they look roomy and classic , Perfect for Caribbean Cruising. How is the A/C ?

[Adelie]

Cal 48 or 43.

[Adelie]

Oh yeah, why. I like the interior layout for sailing and they are all around pretty good and very moderate boats albeit with a lot sail area.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanCraig

Full Keels with protected prop shaft seems like a good idea for cruising .
I have looked at some of those and they look roomy and classic , Perfect for Caribbean Cruising. How is the A/C ?

we get lots of thru breeze at anchor, but in a marina i use a window unit in my formosa windows--fits perfect and makes the summer of repairing work a lot easier.
and it (ac) runs much better without bubbas annual shedding contained..lol. season is slightly different in this locale, more tropical, so he already began the winter shed before we leave marina.

[CaribbeanCraig]

Originally Posted by zeehag

we get lots of thru breeze at anchor, but in a marina i use a window unit in my formosa windows--fits perfect and makes the summer of repairing work a lot easier.
and it (ac) runs much better without bubbas annual shedding contained..lol. season is slightly different in this locale, more tropical, so he already began the winter shed before we leave marina.

Thanks Z

Have there been any problems with the chainplates or rigging ? Or did you purchase the boat after replacements had been installed ?

[Stu Jackson]

scoobert - but WAIT, he's not a cruiser yet, but he knows it all.

Oh...you meant a boat.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanCraig

Thanks Z

Have there been any problems with the chainplates or rigging ? Or did you purchase the boat after replacements had been installed ?

some chain plates had been replaced..seems this boat was laid over on her side on santa barbara breakwall before 2002, or during 2002. i found 2 cracked chain plates, aft, port, and replaced them with 304 ss. thicker than original 316. i have spares, as i anticipate some kind of chain plate fail, as forward ones, port, are original, and glassed in.
i plan to revise the chainplate nonesense to external plates with internal backing plates.
previous owner rerigged her in 2004, so i am good to go for a while, as i only stressed it for 4 yrs now. looks decent and i will try to get 20 yrs out of her current rigging.
i love this boat..easily repaired, easily sailed, runs like a she devil and comfortable in winds above 40 kts...lol perfect!!!! bring on the chubascos, prefrontals and whatever we can find, without names.. we flyin!!!! jib and mizzen. perfect. autopilot..perfect....and i can cook food on stove in these winds...rodlmao.