Boat choices for trans Atlantic in Europe, 50k

[robo555]

Hi, newbie sailor here, I have the opportunity to live aboard for at least a year, and I'm seriously considering using that time to live on a boat.

I'm in Europe, and my rough goal is:

- Gain enough skills to sail to the Carnaries
- If that works, then gain enough skills to sail across the Atlantic
- If that works, then who knows, maybe I sail to New Zealand

My boat budget is about 50,000EUR (with some extra spares for maintenance, etc), a lot of recommendations I find have been US centric, so I'm looking for advice on boats that are more easy to find in Europe.

So far, I found options such as:

- Oyster 37 Heritage
- Hallberg-Rassy 352

So, these are roughly the types I'm looking for. Ideally something sturdy but still be able to sail in relatively light wind. I read the HR 352 is more of a motorsailer, does that mean it's not so suitable for pure sailing?

For vanity sake, I still like to have something with a helm instead of tiller, and also sails well in light wind to minimise engine usage to save cost and reduce noise.

I did thought about getting a smaller boat first, get good at it, then upgrade, but honestly I feel it's a bit frustrating on the idea of putting money into a boat, then having to sell and find a new boat later on. So, I'm thinking of getting a decent ocean worthy boat at the beginning (and yes, risk maybe some more costlier maintenance/mistakes).

So yeah, let me know if I'm making a mistake here, whether I've been daydreaming on too many YouTube videos, or else, give me suggestions on specific boats that I could be looking for to fulfil my dream.

Thanks!

[Stingo]

Where in the EU are you based?

Can't fault any of your reasoning so far. Go for it, because in twenty years, I doubt you'll regret it

[robo555]

Originally Posted by Stingo

Where in the EU are you based?

Can't fault any of your reasoning so far. Go for it, because in twenty years, I doubt you'll regret it

I'm currently based in Germany, which kind of restricts me to the Baltic Sea. I love the Meds so that's where I would like to spend most of my time if I were to pursuit this.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by robo555

So far, I found options such as:

- Oyster 37 Heritage
- Hallberg-Rassy 352

So, these are roughly the types I'm looking for. Ideally something sturdy but still be able to sail in relatively light wind. I read the HR 352 is more of a motorsailer, does that mean it's not so suitable for pure sailing?

For vanity sake, I still like to have something with a helm instead of tiller, and also sails well in light wind to minimise engine usage to save cost and reduce noise.

Not sure I would agree with you that HRs are motor sailors, in fact the very opposite is true. Lovely built yachts that will take you were you want to go. What I would say is E50k for any HR sounds too cheap. Do you have a link?

That said, I would certainly look at the Oyster. You are in the right size range for solo sailing. Sailing Yacht Florence have an Oyster 37 and just spent 6 years sailing around the world without too many problems.


Pete

[Nautes]

The Oyster and HR are among the finest cruisers made. Get good surveys, but for that money, you will be getting an old boat.

[Statistical]

HR aren't motor sailers. They aren't the fastest of boats in light winds but they are solid cruisers and right in line for what you are looking for.

[TrentePieds]

Guten Tag, Robo :-)

Germany is a biggish place even for us who are on the other side of "the Pond" :-) But you mention the Baltic, so I take it you are fairly close to the Pomeranian cost, say Greifswald, Rostock or even Lübeck. I can think of few better places to "get your feet wet" than the Danish "South Seas", or up along the Swedish Coast as far as the archipelago around Stockholm and over across the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia to the Finnish Gulf.

Oops - this thing popped off while I was out shopping for an Umlaut :-) And just now I need to go to a meeting. I'll get back to you later.

TrentePieds (FDP)