Help me spend $350 K on a boat

[duefocena]

Good budget to start with and equally good reply posts, ( minus the catamoron comment from someone who sailed one for an hour ).
I think the best advice is trim your budget down $10k and go charter 5 boats that are in contention, including at least one catamaran. Buying a "bargain " priced boat and replacing everything can be a difficult task, often with runaway costs especially if you haven't a lot of experience. There are plenty of really good boats for well under your budget. I agree that a cutter is a simple rig for a couple in their fifties to handle. An extra mast, rigging, sails is a personal choice that I simply don't see the advantage of. But then again I don't like sailing on my side either.

[YachtBroker]

I may be getting a 2004 leopard 42 that we sold previously in a few months. Never chartered. Already cruise equipped and out cruising.
Contract me at my info below for more info

[Juho]

I think you should put more weight on the condition of the boat, and less on the age of the boat. Well built old boats can be about as good as new ones if they are well maintained (maybe somewhat less shiny though). A good surveyor can tell you if some old boat is in good shape or not.

As many have already said, it depends very much on your personal preferences what kind of a boat you should buy. I'm most likely partial, but *IF* you want to put emphasis on strength, quality, comfort, pilothouse and cruising orientation, take a look at Nauticat 42.

[hamburking]

You don't choose the boat....the boat chooses you!

[Scout 30]

Personally I would avoid anything with a bolt on keel. Cruising out of Tampa you might want to include draft as a parameter. My favorite for gunkholing in a big boat is the Seaward 46.

46RK | Seaward Yachts

[kealiiaukai]

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/boa/5414829954.html. will probably get you where you want to be. Not very expensive, lots of space (6'-4"). Two Yanmars - low hours. Vessel is already at the West entrance of the Panama Canal. Owner ready to sell. I was on this vessel for 3 months and enjoyed myself. Owner lives in Panama City, and can be reached at svfraidknot@yahoo.com. Or Skype at Wolfmanmike. Hope this helps

[rosatte]

350k u got to be kidding ...stay on the hard in ur irion.d white pants and pressed collard shirt and sip marti ans

[robgrant1]

Here are some talking points. Mahina Expedition - Offshore Cruising Instruction and Boat Consultation

[Sailing55]

At the risk of sounding like some of the old fart plank owners around here, had you ever considered getting some actual sailing experience, hanging out around boat people and making a decision based on your own needs and experience?
No offense intended, but that is a big decision to make based on the advice of others.

[sailorboy1]

such a friendly helpful bunch

[Sailing55]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

such a friendly helpful bunch

Oh come on...it is a question that cannot be answered on a forum. The poor OP will be so confused by all the "opinions' that he will take up golf instead of cruising.

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by hamburking

We all need to pull together and help those who only have a half million dollars to purchase and outfit their boats.

So you're saying you feel their pain also?

BTW it is strange (not saying that OP may be just trolling us from SA) that someone with a $350K budget would not spend a few hundred bucks on a good boat buying seminar at one of the multitude boat shows. Just sayin...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by morven55

Oh come on...it is a question that cannot be answered on a forum.

True, but doesn't justify some of the posts which do nothing but showcase how much a hole some people are.

[Sailing55]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

True, but doesn't justify some of the posts which do nothing but showcase how much a hole some people are.

I think it is more along the lines of some folks having a little fun. I doubt anyone is trying to be nasty.

[Scout 30]

There's nothing wrong with the OP's question. There are a lot of people with a lot of experience on this forum. It is possible that someone might offer some valuable advice. That's kind of the point here. If you don't have something constructive or helpful to offer just move on. Personally, I prefer this to the typical I'm sick of my life & I have no money but I want to buy a big boat & sail around the world threads.