Help us choose our boat!

[jkirstein]

My wife and I are selling and sailing (or will be in 16 months). We are looking for a boat in the 38-44 foot range with 2 cabins. Boat must be at least moderately heavy displacement and solidly built-sufficiently so to take us most places cruisers frequent. Our budget is under-$200K, including all initial repairs and upgrades we might make. I am fixated on the following boats:

Hans Christian
Baba
Tayana
Tashing
Hallberg Rassy
Endeavor
Slocum
Hudson

Are there any boats that I should include in my search criteria? Any boats I should exclude?

[SkiprJohn]

Include West Sail. Include Abeking. How about Dufour?

With a budget of $200K pretty much anything goes.

Kind Regards,

JohnL

[Pblais]

Are there any boats that I should include in my search criteria? Any boats I should exclude?

There are probably a lot more you could include. It's about condition and liking the boat more than the brand. Don't worry so much. With enough age they even out quite a bit. With your budget and a cautious eye you should be able to do well.

[Celestialsailor]

Do you have any sailing experience? If not...hold a little $$$ back, join a sailing club and hone those skills. I do like the HR's though.

[jkirstein]

Nope. No experience whatsoever. But I've got a book, gps, and 4 gallons of rum. That's more than Magellan had, right?

[Pblais]

But I've got a book, gps, and 4 gallons of rum. That's more than Magellan had, right?

He did have a King and Queen with deep pockets. When you start with nothing that will overcome a lot. You'll need a lot more rum. You have to take the first step before you can do anything else. First, there is the planning and then the hard work. It's about all there is to it.

[rtbates]

Originally Posted by jkirstein

Nope. No experience whatsoever. But I've got a book, gps, and 4 gallons of rum. That's more than Magellan had, right?

simply and utterly amassing! I hope you're kidding...

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by jkirstein

Nope. No experience whatsoever. But I've got a book, gps, and 4 gallons of rum. That's more than Magellan had, right?

Then you might not have seen a whole variety of other boats that may be more amenable to your purposes. All the boats you have mentioned will be very old at under $200k and will need a good refit and a knowledgable eye to keep going and maintain.
However for 200k you can get near new production boat. No, not 'heavy displacement' but proven cruisers that can get you around the world.

Put it this way, you don't know what heavy displacement means so you have put it in your requirements without looking at the alternatives

Just to compare with your thoughts, look at these.

2006 beneteau Boats For Sale

One 42 footer is less than 2 years old with UNDER 100 hours 2-cabin A/C, Radar Arch, Plotter, Pilot. Remember all that kit is less than 2 years old

Anyway, you will have to find your boat yourself That 'fits' you, your familiy and your desires

All the best

[Abaco]

JKerstein,

Many of the boats on your list have quite a bit of woodwork on the deck. Think long and hard about how much time you want to spend with a varnish brush in your hand. Every hour spent maintaining teak is time you could be spending drinking that rum!

[bstreep]

I agree. That's NO WHERE NEAR enough rum.

I've found I can paint/varnish with one hand, and hold rum with the other...

Clue us in a bit in terms of your planned use - that will help a bunch. Since you've said you want a heavy displacement hull - would/could one assume you wish to go cruising?

[Joli]

Not to be discouraging but.....maybe you should go sailing for a bit to determine if you actually like being aboard a sailboat? Possibly start out with a smaller newer boat to gain experience?

As others have said the boats listed will be older and require system knowledge to keep up and running. You'll need lots of books for all the systems on those boats.

Originally Posted by jkirstein

Nope. No experience whatsoever. But I've got a book, gps, and 4 gallons of rum. That's more than Magellan had, right?

[mickmul]

Welcome to the great dream! If you have Hans Christian on your list you should probably include Lord Nelson. Compare a Valiant against the Tayana and a Malo or Rustler against the HR. In a different style the Ovni/Alubat aluminium boats favoured by Jimmy Cornell may be worth a look, also Passport or Hylas. Happy hunting!!

[High Cotton]

I like your plan...... my first sailboat (and current) is a 40' ENDEAVOUR..............

Don't regret getting her, would do it again.........

If you want HEAVY displacement she's 25,000lbs... doesn't get any bigger for a 40'!
You could buy an ENDEAVOUR in SUPERB shape for $150,000.00 and spend the rest as you please.......
but you'll find dozens of suggestions on this board, which is a "good" thing!
GOOD LUCK!
And yes, my bar is FULL of RUM!

[Nauticatarcher]

Have a look at Nauticat"s

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha JKirstein,
Magellan had quite a bit more going for him. He did know celestial navigation.
I've know folks who just went out and bought a boat with just about as much knowledge about sailing as you have.
It took them a long time to determine that the boat they got wasn't exceptionally good but made a good condo and their sailing skills certainly could be a lot better but they didn't sink and they did do the South Pacific and had a good time.
In my point of view it would be better to do some sailing courses and join a club and talk about boats and their handling characteristics befoe buying anything but sometimes the bug bites really hard.
I think $200K is a lot of money for a boat and I'd look at something 36 feet or less and save some of that money for upgrades in rigging and sails. Just my opinion. I always advise 32-36 feet, aft cockpit, cutter rig, diesel engine.
Good luck,
JohnL