Hi, Net -- There is nothing more important in this endeavor than figuring out your priorities. With the possible exception of the
boats oriented toward maximizing
charter income, each boat's
designer worked these out before ever drawing the first sketches. It's important that you match your priorities as best as possible with those of the designer's. Otherwise, you run a great risk of being unhappy after having spent a great deal of
money.
E.G., you mention wanting to sail. Some cats are great sailing
boats, but they compromise at least some aspects of accommodations/comfort in order to do so. Other boats have great accommodations and comfort, but don't sail worth a darn. (See my recent experience of such, here with a new
Leopard 40:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2241710) I'm afraid this is more common than not with the new crop of production 40-footers.
The compromises get a bit easier with larger cats that can sail very well while still being very comfortable -- never fails, longer waterlines solve lots of problems! To go more in this direction, though, entails greater expense than you want to budget, at least in the
new boat market. However, there are distinct downsides to
buying new, too.
I suggest you look more toward older boats that have depreciated down to the point where you can have less compromise between space and performance.
Lagoon 440's (if you're OK with the flybridge -- some love 'em, some hate 'em) perform nicely, have loads of space, and they are starting to be seen in your
price range. Going a bit older still,
Lagoon 470's (especially the 2001+ boats) are one of my favorites for a nice compromise and they don't have a flybridge. As Jason pointed out, if you don't need quite as much accommodation space, the Mantas are great boats, but keep in mind that they are really a 38 footer with transom extensions to improve performance. Very well made, though, easy to sail, and good performers. There's a lot to like with the
Manta.
A bit more on the performance side, but still very comfortable and dropping in
price are Dolphin 460's. The company is no longer in business, but really, that hardly matters since the only thing a
builder really does is make the
hull and install the systems, which are all made by others.
Even a bit more on the performance side, but still comfortable and well made, are St Francis 44's. Not many of them, but very strong, yet light, with great performance -- so long as you don't over-load them.
Leopard 46's are also well-performing and spacious, as well as coming down in price. Many were in charter, though, so be mindful that while a boat coming out of charter can be a good deal on price, you will also likely be looking at replacing a number of worn-out components. (Some charter base employees are notoriously hard on engines, transmissions and saildrives. Just hang around one for a few hours when a bunch of boats are coming in and watch how they abuse them.) You just have to factor those things into the price.
As always with a boat, new or used, a thorough
survey is a necessity, not an option.
Also, in S.
Florida, especially around the Ft Lauderdale area, often the best moorage deals are on the canals where someone is
renting out space next to their house. Not as much socializing, obviously, and the landlord has to be OK with being a
liveaboard, but usually cheaper than a marina.
Hope this helps.
ID