Quote:
Originally Posted by Sbauhan
So, I'm looking for a good quality sailboat with some specific features and am hoping the "crowd" could help me filter the seemingly endless options:
-Length- 45 -49 with a preference toward the smaller.
-Height- ICW friendly (under 65)
-Cutter
-6 berths not including the Solon (2 bunks would be great)
-Rack and pinion steering
-skeg hung rudder
-keel stepped preferred
-bow thruster
-sugar scoop transom or something similar to scuba off of
-seaworthy- crossing gulf stream and Caribbean cruising based out of Florida or Carolinas.
-used boat
As an example, the Oyster 45 seems to fit the bill (save the rack and pinion requirement)...but I'm curious what other comparables are out there. Truly appreciate the guidance in advance as I feel like I'm chasing a unicorn! There's got to be a number of similar designs out there!
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Your
budget should allow plenty of choice, so you might want to provide more priorities/preferences.
You mention complex system, cruiser oriented
Monohull (Oyster) have you tried / considered multihulls?
Primary use? (presumably cruising not racing)
Typical trip duration?
Any
depth constraints (lifting keel/centerboard offers some extra options in Florida and Bahamas)?
Fast vs comfortable?
Athletic vs. machine assisted (power winches etc.)
Single/shorthand vs full compliment?
Lux vs simple easy to maintain?
Marina or
docking constraints (beam/draft)?
Aesthetics –
classic vs expedition vs cutting edge?
My “generic” thought would be to fully spec out your usage requirements and then look for a boat that has just finished that mission or better yet prepped for that mission but changing life circumstances pre-empted departure (illness, divorce, financial reversal, death, **** happens – especially to demographic who have accumulated the time and
money to get ready to leave).