Which of these boats for ICW/Caribbean?

[mayday51]

Good morning!
I am new here, have been reading the CF obsessively for awhile, and have finally summoned up the courage to post a question of my own...

Which of these two boats do you think is better to go down the ICW and cruise around the Caribbean? This will be a 2-year long cruise, with an option to extend if everyone wants to continue, and finances hold out. "Everyone" in this case, will be me, my husband, and two kids (son, 12 at departure time, daughter, 10 at departure time).

I am not Ms. Tech Savvy 2015 so forgive me if I don't get the links loaded right.
1999 Dufour Classic 50 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
or
1999 Dufour Classic 50 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

We are carefully putting together our plan (although you know what they say, Man Plans and God Laughs) and are going to leave sometime in 2017. I want to go in the spring.

I know I'll have many more questions as this process continues. Thanks for your feedback about these two boats. I'm totally open to other suggestions, we have a budget of around $125,000.
Looking forward to your responses.

[tuffr2]

Nice boat...both links point to the 'Star Gazer'..

I am also thinking of doing the same thing but I would not leave until after the Hurricane season sometime in November.

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[denverd0n]

Almost a 7' draft. That is going to be a little challenging in the ICW and the Bahamas. Once you get south of the Bahamas it won't be a problem, but until then...

Personally, I would be looking for something with no greater than a 6' draft, and preferably closer to 5'.

Good luck.

[2Hulls]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Almost a 7' draft.

...and "bridge clearance 65 feet."

Recommend you get input from others with a mast that tall. You'd have to play the tides in the ICW at the 65 foot bridges.

Dave

[tuffr2]

I meet a person that was really one with her sailboat. Would clean the bottom by letting the tide go out so she could clean 1/2 the bottom one day and the other side the next low tide. The sailboat would be on it's side to allow this easy cleaning.

I have seen video of people that use weight on one side to heel the boat over as they motor under a bridge.

I can only think these people are truely one with their boats.

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[mayday51]

OK, here is the other boat (at last!) Told you I was far from tech-savvy.

2001 Bavaria 47 Owner sailboat for sale in Maryland

I hope that worked!
I totally agree, I have been concerned about both the draft and the mast height of the Dufour. The Bavaria doesn't list a mast height in the specs that I saw, and draws about the same. Didn't know if the difference in keel shape might effect the chances of going aground/how easy it will be to pull back once we go aground. Thanks again.

[mayday51]

And yes, my husband is all for leaving in November to avoid hurricanes. I was thinking we could meander our way down the ICW and hole up somewhere if things look squirrely. Just really eager to go, and want to avoid winter weather here in Virginia if possible.

[Lizzy Belle]

Aside from the good points already mentioned:

Do your kids each need their own private bathroom and a double bed? Instead of 3 heads/showers, I'd personally have them share one bathroom and opt for a little more storage / living space.
These are big boats, but they're mostly floating bedrooms

Can both you and your husbands sail these boats solo (esp under less than perfect conditions)?

How much experience do you have with sailing? Not that you need much, but some basic knowledge does come in handy - especially if you're not big on avoiding hurricanes

[FSMike]

[QUOTE=tuffr2;1987433]I meet a person that was really one with her sailboat. Would clean the bottom by letting the tide go out so she could clean 1/2 the bottom one day and the other side the next low tide. The sailboat would be on it's side to allow this easy cleaning.
-----
I can only think these people are truely one with their boats.
-----QUOTE]

I used to beach my boat to clean (and paint) the bottom.
I felt truly at one with my empty bank account lol.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mayday.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I used to beach my boat to clean (and paint) the bottom.
I felt truly at one with my empty bank account lol.

Haha, very true!
I did the same thing for the same reason

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I used to beach my boat to clean (and paint) the bottom.
I felt truly at one with my empty bank account lol.

Nice one Mike !

Welcome to CF Mayday !

Like everybody says... draft+air draft+.........
+
+
+
+....
You need to make sure it is a FIT for the family...

[Blue Crab]

A slight thread drift alert: The November wisdom is more applicable to heading offshore, I think, where there are no hideyholes. Plus the big Fall ICW wagon train south has more to do with beating the oncoming cold than avoiding hurricanes.

The hurricane thing is a crapshoot. I've been thru several now and what I've learned is that it's a crapshoot. You can do all the math/computer models you want, but it seems crystal clear to me that no one knows where any one hurricane will go. So to sit tight in a fairly safe place from June thru Nov JUST to be safe is a non-starter.

With a big newish deeper-draft boat I'd think you'd be more comfy learning the ropes in the ICW when the weather and water is reliably nice and warm in Spring thru Fall. If, and that's a pretty big if, you absolutely have to deal with big winds, you do what you've gotta do: tough it out with adequate ground tackle or haulout and find a motel. Neither option is good.

H. Sandy went directly over the Handlebar in Beaufort, NC. Literally. The elec went off but we had the beer iced down. My little town was ruffled but unhurt. Other places, not so much. Good luck. Start reading the anchor threads.

[boatman61]

For the ICW the Bavaria is the better choice with just 5.2 draft.. then its just outside jumps for certain bits.. possibly..
Personally however I would opt for the DuFour and head South via Bermuda and Route 64.. one can only eat so many burgers...

[hamburking]

No contest...the Bavaria wins.

Shallower draft, better layout, better equipped, prettier too.