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**Adelie** · 07-07-2021, 09:17

What’s the buy and outfit budget?
If we don’t know that you are going to get a lot of suggestions out of your budget range.

Cpt Mark · 07-07-2021, 09:55

Island Packet. Packet Cat 35. Built tough, plenty of headroom, inboards diesels that have enough room to make servicing them not a backbreking big deal.

waterman46 · 07-07-2021, 14:46

I have not read his book in about 40 years, but wasn't it Chris White who wrote in his book "The Cruising Multihull" that for ocean sailing, a multihull should be no smaller than 40 ft?

sailingchiro · 07-07-2021, 15:38

I have sailed and enjoyed the Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35'.

I liked the build quality and user functions of it. It feels much more solid than the Gemini and cost is not much more. It has much more beam than the Gemini and most of the other catamarans mentioned and has Twin engines. I have a couple of single screw catamarans near me in the marina and it is always alot of drama during docking.

smj · 07-07-2021, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingchiro

I have sailed and enjoyed the Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35'.

I liked the build quality and user functions of it. It feels much more solid than the Gemini and cost is not much more. It has much more beam than the Gemini and most of the other catamarans mentioned and has Twin engines. I have a couple of single screw catamarans near me in the marina and it is always alot of drama during docking.

When you say single screw are you talking a single diesel in one hull or a single outboard or outdrive that’s centered?

Redreuben · 09-07-2021, 02:17

Unless you give us some sort of price range the answers are goi g to be all over the place. To me budget = Wharram, to others budget might mean a 40’ ex charter cat.
Throw us a bone.

valhalla360 · 09-07-2021, 05:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redreuben

Unless you give us some sort of price range the answers are goi g to be all over the place. To me budget = Wharram, to others budget might mean a 40’ ex charter cat.
Throw us a bone.

When the OP mentions under 30ft as desirable but rules out about the only under 30ft cruising cat that might be suitable...that gives you the 30-35ft range...40ft is pretty clearly outside the expectations.

There are a limited number of options but many of them have been around for years, so finding one in the right price range is a matter of adjusting the age to get the price in budget...though giving a budget will help, it's not critical.

sailingchiro · 09-07-2021, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by smj

When you say single screw are you talking a single diesel in one hull or a single outboard or outdrive that’s centered?

Single that is centered.

Steve4NJ · 11-07-2021, 09:55

I don't like revealing my finances for various reasons BUT I will say that I would rather keep it under $50k if at all possible.
It's just me and a small dog with a big attitude. My comfort levels are very basic. As far as the engine goes I would rather have a small inboard diesel that I can access rather easily if I have to work on it or pull it out for a rebuild.

I do not mind buying something that is basically a sound hull and rebuilding it from that, I have access to everything I would need to get that done. I would rather NOT but it is not a disqualifying factor.
A boat to me is like a basic car: as long as it runs good and gets me where I am going in safety than the added features do not play any importance.

**boatman61** · 11-07-2021, 09:58

Good attitude.. function over form..

Sam G · 11-07-2021, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve4NJ

I don't like revealing my finances for various reasons BUT I will say that I would rather keep it under $50k if at all possible.
It's just me and a small dog with a big attitude. My comfort levels are very basic. As far as the engine goes I would rather have a small inboard diesel that I can access rather easily if I have to work on it or pull it out for a rebuild.

I do not mind buying something that is basically a sound hull and rebuilding it from that, I have access to everything I would need to get that done. I would rather NOT but it is not a disqualifying factor.
A boat to me is like a basic car: as long as it runs good and gets me where I am going in safety than the added features do not play any importance.

At this budget, size, and fact that you want a blue-water capable vessel, why not rather consider a mono? As you go smaller, in particular the beam, you risking sea-worthiness and $50K for a cat of any size sounds like a ton of investment and pain. Personally, I would not do any blue-water ocean-crossing sailing in the less-than-30’ cat target (and I have crossed the Atlantic on a cat.)

You would be better off finding a 34-38’ older mono and doing the work to get her fixed up. Less investment, headache, and risk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve4NJ

A boat to me is like a basic car: as long as it runs good and gets me where I am going in safety than the added features do not play any importance.

Well, key difference is that if the car breaks down or crashes you have people around you and you not alone in the middle of the Atlantic. While the roads are dangerous these days for sure, they not bashing you for days on end when the weather is foul. ;-)