Bluewater 38-42' choices on a budget

[gulfislandfred]

Good call on the teak decks. If a previous owner has done a really good job to remove and reglass, then OK.
I would prefer a fin keel, skeg hung rudder under body. Not slow, still tracks well.
I'm on Gabriola Island. I track facebook marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji, and Used Victoria/Vancouver.


Look for a boat that someone already did the hard, expensive work, then got discouraged, died, had heath issues, etc. They are out there. You need to know the difference between needs clean up, and needs major work. You sound pretty experienced. Look out for soft decks, soft core on cored boats.



Don't be afraid of blisters if they're not deep. You can pay for a hull grind and epoxy coat (use coal tar epoxy) if you get the boat cheap enough. Blackline marine in Canoe Cove can put the boat in a shed and do the job, if you get it cheap enough. Or Newcastle in Nanaimo. Good people and less expensive.


There are a lot more boats in Washington State. It's not a big deal to import if you bring the boat back yourself. Check Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Everett, facebook and craigslist, daily. Boats seem to cost less in Tacoma and Olympia. There are big yards in Everett.

The more boats you look at, the more you'll know when you see the right one.

Don't be afraid to make low offers!! I mean half the asking price, or less. The owner may say hell no, then call back two weeks later with a close counter offer


PM me if you like. I spend way too much time looking at boats for sale. Happy to pass on possibles

[MJH]

Originally Posted by sgwright

Hi, I didn't notice until after my reply that you have a V42ac and are quite close to me. Do you have any photos online? If you're ever up in BC, I'd love to see her.

I've posted some 15 videos on YouTube over the years on a couple of boats. Once on YouTube type in mike hirko and my selections come up as well as some other stuff that isn't mine. Boat's name is Destiny. Previous boat was NOLHI, a San Juan 28.

British Columbia is rather large. Exactly where are you? We are planning a trip into BC this summer since it has been a couple years due to Covid.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by sgwright

Hi, I didn't notice until after my reply that you have a V42ac and are quite close to me. Do you have any photos online? If you're ever up in BC, I'd love to see her.

I've posted some 15 videos on YouTube over the years and a couple of boats. Once on YouTube type in mike hirko and my selections come up as well as some other stuff that are not mine. Boat's name is Destiny. Previous boat was NOLHI, a San Juan 28.

British Columbia is rather large. Exactly where are you?

[Lee Jerry]

Originally Posted by sgwright

Thanks, I have been checking out this design along with other Baltics. The first one has teak decks that will need attention and is pretty spartan. Will have another look.

The second one is dreaming...

Re: the second one, you did notice that the price was in funny money (i.e. Canadian), so in real dollars while still above the budget in the original post, is in line with some other boats considered/discussed that also stretch that budget. And you may not have to outfit it any, "just" some maintenance...


In general, remember that asking price and getting price are often different things. Not saying to lowball anyone, but sometimes sellers can be ... optimistic.


The 38DP is also a very nice boat and would probably fit the budget better, but I didn't see any listed on the West coast. (Of course, other Baltic designs in the range are nice too, I've just always liked the Peterson designs.) And to state the obvious, smaller boats will generally be harder to meet your requirements (except budget), as they generally have smaller tankage, fewer berths, smaller head compartments, etc.

[gulfislandfred]

I'll say go ahead and lowball, if you're serious about the boat, and ready to buy if they say yes. The owner can say no. Sometimes they're tired of all the hassle, and just ready to move on. Why not ask?

I've had brokers say "they'll never go that low", Asked them to call anyway, and ended up buying the boat.

Some owners may be insulted by a low offer. OK. Let them be insulted, and move on. If you have a low budget, you need to be creative, and brave.

[saillr]

I think you should rethink the need for a high performance keel. There are some long keel boats out there that are not "Full" keel boats. The Island Packet series are long keel but have a very hard turn of the bilge and really good performance. Several have won races in the Great Lakes. Several have sailed around the world. One thing that a long keel does provide is good storage space. My IP40 has 340L fuel and 660L water. Along with a few jerry jugs of fuel a long trip can be had safely and without concern of running out. As far as speed is concerned my IP40 averaged over 7 knots for three days in moderate winds. That was sailing solo from Hawaii to Alaska in June.
If you spend too much time looking for the ideal boat it will never happen. Spend more time looking for comfortable living and easy handling. Sailing downwind in howling conditions on a short keeled boat can most definitely keep you awake during your off watch. A long keel boat will track better and will be safer in the long run. It really doesn' hurt either when you find yourself in skinny water and that is the best place to anchor. Also consider at sea picking up remnants of nets etc snagging in the skeg/rudder. The IP40 has a special shoe mounted between the end of the keel and the bottom of the rudder to stop getting fouled. I too was looking for a performance boat when I started but construction quality and comfort were more important. One thing for sure. I was getting older and didn't really need to get there quickly. Also I would stay away from any teak decked boats no matter the price. Working in the industry for many years I have seen what happens. When those thounds of screws begin to leak the core will ever so slowly saturate and fixing that rot problem is a true and costly nightmare.
We are in Seattle and getting older now. Have thought about selling. Call if you would like to see how a good keel boat goes to weather.

[sgwright]

Originally Posted by saillr

I think you should rethink the need for a high performance keel. There are some long keel boats out there that are not "Full" keel boats. The Island Packet series are long keel but have a very hard turn of the bilge and really good performance. Several have won races in the Great Lakes. Several have sailed around the world. One thing that a long keel does provide is good storage space. My IP40 has 340L fuel and 660L water. Along with a few jerry jugs of fuel a long trip can be had safely and without concern of running out. As far as speed is concerned my IP40 averaged over 7 knots for three days in moderate winds. That was sailing solo from Hawaii to Alaska in June.
If you spend too much time looking for the ideal boat it will never happen. Spend more time looking for comfortable living and easy handling. Sailing downwind in howling conditions on a short keeled boat can most definitely keep you awake during your off watch. A long keel boat will track better and will be safer in the long run. It really doesn' hurt either when you find yourself in skinny water and that is the best place to anchor. Also consider at sea picking up remnants of nets etc snagging in the skeg/rudder. The IP40 has a special shoe mounted between the end of the keel and the bottom of the rudder to stop getting fouled. I too was looking for a performance boat when I started but construction quality and comfort were more important. One thing for sure. I was getting older and didn't really need to get there quickly. Also I would stay away from any teak decked boats no matter the price. Working in the industry for many years I have seen what happens. When those thounds of screws begin to leak the core will ever so slowly saturate and fixing that rot problem is a true and costly nightmare.
We are in Seattle and getting older now. Have thought about selling. Call if you would like to see how a good keel boat goes to weather.

Thanks, some good points there. The IP40 is a beautiful boat, but not what we're looking for, and besides, they're out of the budget range.

[sgwright]

Originally Posted by MJH

I've posted some 15 videos on YouTube over the years and a couple of boats. Once on YouTube type in mike hirko and my selections come up as well as some other stuff that are not mine. Boat's name is Destiny. Previous boat was NOLHI, a San Juan 28.

British Columbia is rather large. Exactly where are you?

Thanks, will check out your YT. We're near Victoria, but generally spend May-Oct sailing somewhere further up Vancouver Island, either inside or outside. We're thinking of going toward Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands in early May for 6 weeks or so. After that, maybe Barkley Sound again.
Our boat name is Callisto, red with white dodger, easy to spot, and we're on AIS.

[sgwright]

Originally Posted by gulfislandfred

Good call on the teak decks. If a previous owner has done a really good job to remove and reglass, then OK.
I would prefer a fin keel, skeg hung rudder under body. Not slow, still tracks well.
I'm on Gabriola Island. I track facebook marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji, and Used Victoria/Vancouver.


Look for a boat that someone already did the hard, expensive work, then got discouraged, died, had heath issues, etc. They are out there. You need to know the difference between needs clean up, and needs major work. You sound pretty experienced. Look out for soft decks, soft core on cored boats.



Don't be afraid of blisters if they're not deep. You can pay for a hull grind and epoxy coat (use coal tar epoxy) if you get the boat cheap enough. Blackline marine in Canoe Cove can put the boat in a shed and do the job, if you get it cheap enough. Or Newcastle in Nanaimo. Good people and less expensive.


There are a lot more boats in Washington State. It's not a big deal to import if you bring the boat back yourself. Check Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Everett, facebook and craigslist, daily. Boats seem to cost less in Tacoma and Olympia. There are big yards in Everett.

The more boats you look at, the more you'll know when you see the right one.

Don't be afraid to make low offers!! I mean half the asking price, or less. The owner may say hell no, then call back two weeks later with a close counter offer


PM me if you like. I spend way too much time looking at boats for sale. Happy to pass on possibles

Thanks, I'll send you a PM.

[frantzjoe]

Our Spindrift 46 is for sale.
Same as KP 46 but perhaps better build.
You can read up on Hillier Spindrift 46.
Also go to KP 44/46 website. Website also caters to the Formosa boats but I would stick to the Spindrift 46 or KP 46.
Note that some folks believe that the KP 46 is a “stretched “ version of the KP 44 but that’s not really true.
You won’t be unhappy with a KP 46 or our Spindrift 46.@

[gulfislandfred]

Here's an interesting one for sale in Port Angeles. Don't forget to make a lowish offer, if you're interested.


https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...486423439359/?

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by off-piste

Not likely

Likely...
https://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/98669

[gulfislandfred]

Got a blank PM
Is email OK?
waterrat@island.net

[gulfislandfred]

I like this one a lot
https://nanaimo.craigslist.org/boa/d...597032901.html

[JimJohnston]

Our last boat was a Caliber 40, built in Florida. Cutaway keel with skeg rudder, fuel capacity 212 US GALLONS! and water was in two tanks 80 & 120 gallons, I think. Cutter rigged with roller furling on both cutter and genoa and I think three reef points on the main. Inboard: forward pullman double bunk with adjacent head/shower and aft a largish quarter berth with adjacent head/shower.

We sailed comfortably in the Caribbean for the better part of 3 years with her. Although I confess to hardly ever using the staysail or ever had the need to reef the main (Maybe I should have but didn't)

You might also check out the Freedom 38 or 40's.

Good luck with the hunt.