Witch boat?

[Johnny chop]

Ok so long story short it looks like me and my wife are going to take a year off from life and cruise around the keys and bahamas. Neither of us have ever lived on a boat, Neither of us have any sailing experience, I grew up on the water fishing offshore so I'm not new to boats but would be new to the size of some of these boats. But I can't seem to make up my mind on what boat to get, we really like the size of the cabins on catamarans but having zero sailing experience makes me a little nervous. Trawlers are another option but then what happens after we have to move back to land, I feel like it would sit without being used except for a couple trips a year. A sport fishing boat is another option I have been thinking about since it would still get used after we moved back on to land but it doesn't seem like many people even consider a sport fishing boat to live on. Also the budget on the boat is 100k or less and the last thing I want to do it end up spending 100k on a boat and then find out I have to spend another 50k to make is safe and comfortable.

[sailorboy1]

well $100k is enough, especially if it was a witch boat as sailors are superstitious

[Johnny chop]

Which lol

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Johnny chop

Which lol

I figured

But really $100k is enough. I have been thinking of moving to the dark side and would probably sell my boat for the $80s and buyer could cruise as it is (we do/are) or could replace the rigging and upgrade the electronics and still be under $100k

[Johnny chop]

What is it?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Johnny chop

What is it?

Its in his info beneath his Avatar.. a Hunter 410..
Something you should fill in as well, it helps to know where in the world you are.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Its in his info beneath his Avatar.. a Hunter 410..

sounds like a death trap

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Johnny chop

we really like the size of the cabins on catamarans but having zero sailing experience makes me a little nervous. Trawlers are another option but then what happens after we have to move back to land, I feel like it would sit without being used except for a couple trips a year. A sport fishing boat is another option I have been thinking about since it would still get used after we moved back on to land but it doesn't seem like many people even consider a sport fishing boat to live on. Also the budget on the boat is 100k or less and the last thing I want to do it end up spending 100k on a boat and then find out I have to spend another 50k to make is safe and comfortable.

You might also ask on trawlerforum.com (sister site).

Generally, it helps to pin down the kind and amount of space you think you might need, and the potential layouts that might work for you... then look for/at boats that might fit those ideas. If you go power, the Powerboat Guide might help.

Sportfishers -- and sport bridge, sedan bridge, etc. boats -- often have larger engine to run on plane... and the potential fuel consumption puts many shoppers off. OTOH, they can often be run slow in "trawler" mode at much lower fuel consumption -- though planing hulls aren't comfortable in all sea states. (That said, non-stabilized full- and semi-displacement hulls might not be great in all sea states, either.)

$100K might be doable, but... I'd suspect that might mean a $50K boat and $50K worth of immediate fixes. Have to be judicious about examining and evaluating candidates in advance...

-Chris

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

sounds like a death trap

Of course it is.. everyone knows Bendi Toys Rool..