Ongoing Search for the Right Boat...Getting Stressed Out!

[cyberkitty]

9 months and counting for our search for the right boat. Money sits in the bank. We are getting stressed... Where is our boat?

I suppose if we had and endless pool of money the quest would be far easier. But we have a budget and I guess you could call our search a search for a good offshore pocket cruiser.

We thought we almost had it with a lovely little Rawson. However, it failed the survey miserably as the current owner neglected it so much... that almost everything on board was in need of repair, except the hull... that just needed the sea-life removed and a fresh coat of bottom paint.

So we continue our search... and one after another each boat we look at doesn't cut it for one reason or another. Mainly because they require too many repairs or just doesn't fit our offshore criteria. We want a full keel, and we want to beable to carry lots of fuel and water. The hull should be solid, the mass sturdy, the engine in good working order, no leaks, no rot, no excesive water in the bildge...

We see another boat, that makes us think.... this could be the one! finally our search is over. A custom 35' pilothouse sloop that has sailed from Alaska to Mexico. Holds 100 gallons of fuel and 55 gallons of water! Dry inside, looks good.... one problem... the hull has been rebuilt Fibreglass over wood planking. And everything we hear about Fibreglass over wood planking sucks...

I don't really have a question. Just wondering where our boat is?

Cyberkitty

[Pete7]

CK, it will be out there somewhere and possibly closer than you think.

There is a lovely saying this side of the pond that your next boat is no futher than 15 miles away and its true, ours was 8 miles away.

How about putting a fax together of your requirements and sending to a dozen brokers and let them do the leg work for a change. They might have something thats unsold for a while and your fax with cash might just open an opportunity for a yacht you previously thought out of your budget. A fax is just a little different from an e mail so might just catch attention.

Pete

[slomotion]

Well, it kind of depends on what you mean by a full keel, offshore, pocket cruiser, but I feel your pain. For the most part no one makes them anymore. There are plenty of old ones because that's what many builders thought a 25-35' sailboat was supposed to be. But, well, .... they're all old, and any part of such a boat that is still old is suspect: decks, engine, tanks, wiring, ports/hatches, steering system, etc. Somewhere there is a well loved classic waiting for you.

[Stillraining]

Our needs were different then yours but it still took us 2 years to find our boat...so be patient or you will end up settling for a boat you are not thrilled with.

The down side with a buyers market like we have right now is many sellers don't have the disposable income they once did to maintain and fix their boats like they normally would or once did...priorities change.

Small repairs and dirt or a broken thing or two, to an other wise sound boat is a chance to offer less then the asking price and have it well received...Don't be afraid to to roll up your sleeves and get dirty bringing and otherwise sound boat back up to your standards...

Pristine boats will always get top dollar no mater what the economy brings if the seller is not in a hurry to sell...so waiting for the perfect boat within your budget what ever that is, could be a long if not fruitless wait as well...usually with quit a few buyers to compete with compared to something needing some attention.

Good luck She is out there...

[Pete7]

CK, have you got a passport ?

Moody Cavalier 36- Sailing Boats for Sale

Pete

[emagin]

Cyberkitty check the stats on your boat - see my signature links

[boatman61]

Dunno what your budget is so went cheap...
1962 Manufactured from plans Bruce Roberts Pilothouse sailboat for sale in Maine

[cyberkitty]

We might have found our boat!!!! Survey on Sunday.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by cyberkitty

We might have found our boat!!!! Survey on Sunday.

YAYYYYY.... hope it goes well folks... fingers crossed for you

[bobola]

How about a Hood 38' Mark II..??

John Drake is selling his. If I was buying that's the first boat I would look at.

[barnakiel]

Do not quite see why you have this challenge. Maybe you are not decided (enough)?.

When we got our boat, we knew exactly what type / make we wanted, then we just waited for exactly this thing on the market at the price we liked, took half a year. We had our eyes open for other options, but the other options never came.

Is the boat you want to buy such a rare bird? Maybe you can find a similar type that has been produced in higher numbers?

b.

[IdoraKeeper]

Doing repairs is an excellent way to gain the necessary understanding of a boat that is new to you. Cruising will put you in out of the way places where only the owner/skipper can address what comes up. Major problems in a boat you are looking at should dissuade you. Wear and tear on rotable items that need r&r should not dissuade you from getting in the game. If you like the design and it offers what you need there you are.

Cheers