Down to 4 Boats...Please Help Me Decide...

[Wild_At_Heart]

Originally Posted by Coquina

This is a Baba 35:


These are pretty, but all that wood is a lot to keep up and if the teak decks have started to go bad, that is likely in the $25,000 and up range to fix. Be VERY careful of any boat with teak decks.

Great advice! I've heard they're quite uncomfortable on bare feet in the hot sun as well.

[Jim Cate]

I think you have made a step in the right direction with this change. A quibble, though: NONE of those boats that you have listed would meet my definition of a "racer/cruiser". They are all on the stodgy cruiser end of the spectrum. Does not make them bad or bad for you, just that their performance may not be what you are thinking it is!

And I agree whole heartedly with the "no teak decks" advice... pretty but IMO not worth the weight, maintenance or replacement cost.

Good luck with the search!

Jim

[JPA Cate]

Plus, in the tropics, teak is very hot on bare feet. It invites more heat into the boat, too.

Wild At Heart, I would second Coquina's suggestion to buy a small boat to sail the heck out of. You will be best off with the smallest boat that will satisfy you. Everything IS less expensive, for one. Also, the smaller boats will bring you along as a sailor better. They will assist in developing your sensitivity to the signs that presage weather changes. If you can get your sea legs in a smaller boat, you'll not have trouble if you decide to buy a bigger one and continue on. Not everyone is suited either for cruising nor for singlehanding.

Ann
somewhere over 175,000 sea miles

[Wild_At_Heart]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

I think you have made a step in the right direction with this change. A quibble, though: NONE of those boats that you have listed would meet my definition of a "racer/cruiser". They are all on the stodgy cruiser end of the spectrum. Does not make them bad or bad for you, just that their performance may not be what you are thinking it is!

And I agree whole heartedly with the "no teak decks" advice... pretty but IMO not worth the weight, maintenance or replacement cost.

Good luck with the search!

Jim

Hahaha. Thanks. Yeah, mostly true overall. This is about as close as you're gonna get at 33-35ft in length.

[Wild_At_Heart]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Plus, in the tropics, teak is very hot on bare feet. It invites more heat into the boat, too.

Wild At Heart, I would second Coquina's suggestion to buy a small boat to sail the heck out of. You will be best off with the smallest boat that will satisfy you. Everything IS less expensive, for one. Also, the smaller boats will bring you along as a sailor better. They will assist in developing your sensitivity to the signs that presage weather changes. If you can get your sea legs in a smaller boat, you'll not have trouble if you decide to buy a bigger one and continue on. Not everyone is suited either for cruising nor for singlehanding.

Ann
somewhere over 175,000 sea miles

Sage advice for most. Thanks.

[Coquina]

Originally Posted by Wild_At_Heart

Hahaha. Thanks. Yeah, mostly true overall. This is about as close as you're gonna get at 33-35ft in length.

My 35 foot boat is faster to a lot faster than the boats you listed, but speed is not necessarily what you want. Forgiving and easy to steer will be more important for your use.
*we managed 345 miles in 48 hours in a storm, but that was a LOT of work, it would not likely have been doable with a small crew or alone.


Here you go - easy to handle boat and not a bad price:
https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee...721450852.html

[Wild_At_Heart]

Originally Posted by Coquina

My 35 foot boat is faster to a lot faster than the boats you listed, but speed is not necessarily what you want. Forgiving and easy to steer will be more important for your use.
*we managed 345 miles in 48 hours in a storm, but that was a LOT of work, it would not likely have been doable with a small crew or alone.


Here you go - easy to handle boat and not a bad price:
https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee...721450852.html

Looking for a good balance between speed (PHRF under 165) and stability (Comfort Ratio over 30). I love the Cape Dory, but they're too slow.


I've settled on the four below...

Nicholson 35-1
Heritage/Intrepid 35
Bristol 35-5
Creekmore 34


If anyone knows someone that has one at a decent price, I'm ready to buy.

[Cloroxbottle]

"bluewater ketch gunkholer"

Can you elaborate on that use case a bit?


The Nicholson 35 is a fine bluewater cruiser, maybe one of the best 35' ones ever made. But in no way would I classify it as a "gunkholer". On the other hand a Bristol 35.5C with it's sub 4 foot draft board up is a fine gunkholer but is a worse choice for ocean crossing than the Nichoslon.

[flpaoli]

Originally Posted by Wild_At_Heart

Only sailing experience is through classes, but I'm confident I can handle skippering. I'm a natural at it thus far. I've found my talent.

Progressive has already quoted me $3300 a year for full coverage ($70,000 in insured value). $300 a year for liability only.

Not wanting to throw a bucket of cold water on your 40 ft boat desire, but have you read the thread below already? That quote might just be a mirage, the actual result might be a "no" given the lack of previous boat ownership.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...nd-283257.html

I see you've already found out that insurance in Florida for a 42 is impossible for you.

This might support what you've been hearing from the experienced folk here: get a much smaller boat and sail the heck out of it first. Might help you get insurance on a bigger boat later as well.

[Donahue]

Progressive recently upped their old boat coverage limit to 75k. If you don't need hull coverage beyond that or navigation limits beyond the east coast and Bahamas, Progressive is the way to go. They are cheaper, don't require a survey and likely don't care about your prior ownership history. Policies issued by non-maritime carriers such as Progressive are also likely more favorable to the insured in the event you need to make a claim. Maritime insurers typically have a clause stating that the policy will be interpreted under federal admiralty law, which is vicious and allows insurers to deny claims because of maintenance issues unrelated to the claim. Progressive, Boat US, etc. are going to be bound by the state the policy was issued in--typically much better for the boat owner.

Until last year, I had a 1969 41' insured with Progressive for their policy limit. I think it was $2200 annually. I tried to insure my "new" boat with Progressive (a 1968) for the limit of 75k while I secured a maritime policy. They wrote the policy but later sent me a cancelation notice stating that my boat was underinsured at 75k. After a survey and a lot of forms, I managed to get coverage with Markel through Haggerty but it was a pain and more expensive.

[Wild_At_Heart]

I've done it. I've finally bought a boat. Ended up getting a decent deal on a slight fixer Gemini 3400 catamaran. It will suit my needs well.

Thank you to all that provided insight and advice. It was valuable in the evaluation and decision process. Hopefully, it will also help others in the same conundrum in the future.

[boatman61]

Congratulations on the new old boat..
Enjoy..

[pianopraze]

Congrats!

I bought a Prout 35, put 10-20k refitting then sold it a couple years later for same price I bought it… had to short sell to goto Philippines as Covid caused immigration to take too long processing wife’s green card.

Anyways, I was going to suggest Gemini or Prout to you, as the Prouts are blue water circumnavigating gunk hole boats

Maybe a more knowledgeable poster can tell you if Geminis are???

Docking at first was scary as hell, but like others said, you get used to it and it becomes routine.

Hardest part is the hull is so big the wind will push you around a lot docking.

[Cloroxbottle]

Gemini catamarans are coastal cruisers. They are not designed or built to stand up to extended open ocean crossings.

[pianopraze]

Originally Posted by Cloroxbottle

Gemini catamarans are coastal cruisers. They are not designed or built to stand up to extended open ocean crossings.

I’ve only owned and sailed my Prout (which felt like driving a tank).

Many owners seem to think Geminis do just fine in this thread: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3256086

… while others disagree.

So what is the difference in build between the two? Inside they are so similar.