What would you suggest

[Selabi]

Morning All form South Africa

Ok so I am a newbie , I have had some great advice but in order to get a bigger set of inputs from people who have sailed Water boats">blue water boats , I would like to ask the following
Im looking to buy a cruiser / live aboard between Min 30ft to max 40ft
Year not to worried budget around $40k-$55k
Centre cockpit (Im told they the most stable for sailing and I prefer the cabin layouts )
Not to worried about speed rather comfort
Heavy displacement vessel
Ketch set up
what else should I consider when looking ?
Mainly solo sailing
was also looking at replacing diesel motor with electric motor ( I know they expensive , but costs seems to be worth it in the long run .
Seen a couple I like Cape Dory 32
Nosure 34
I think its a sheerer 38 , has a separate cabin aft with a small enclosed deck

Any thoughts would be great

[Orion Jim]

I’m biased so I’d go with the Cape Dory. A ketch rig on a small vessel is impractical. A sloop or cutter are much more efficient and allow the use of a wind vane without mounting issues. A center cockpit takes up the most valuable and comfortable portion of a small vessel so I wouldn’t consider it in anything under 36 feet and it makes more sense in a 40 footer and up.
I know electric propulsion sounds great but you need a huge battery bank, the means of recharging efficiently, and the systems are very expensive. The technology is still in its infancy....maybe some years in the future you will have the storage capacity to keep moving at hull speed for a few days, until then they are a means to get in and out of an anchorage or marina quietly.

[SV_Sweet_Ruca]

If your budget is 40-55k for a 40er, forget about the electric re-power.

You can do it if you search hard for a good boat, are flexible on your requirements, and stick to the fundamentals.

Lots of boats are more capable than you think. You don’t need all the newest tech to get out there. Define your sailing goals to match your budget.

Get a sound vessel and put safety first, past that you will have a great time. If your budget is very limited, and you are singlehanded, don’t be afraid to go smaller.

[goboatingnow]

Forget centre cockpit. Forget ketch , forget electric power

Seriously , crew and go sailing. Form opinions based on experience