Hi,
I wonder if you all could
humor me with some opinions and their reasons? Would a Skookum 53'
ketch make a good long-distance cruising
boat for a couple in their late 50s? This would include US
west coast,
Caribbean, Europe/Med. and the Atlantic crossings that go along with those.
These are
full keel, heavy
displacement boats. Will we likely be happy with how they sail in lighter winds? (Not really light, I know that's a non-starter.)
I know of the Skookum reputation for toughness, but what about any cons? Every
boat has them, but I think it might be nice to know them before owning one so the best compromise can be found.
Also, can anyone recommend any other boat which will meet our peculiar desire: to have a comfortable outdoor living area when in port. Too many cruising
boats are designed for maximum
interior space and the resulting cockpits remind me of empty hot tubs. We just can't see spending two to three years of our lives living in an empty hot tub.