I want to thank those who replied to my question. I have looked at some
of the boats mentioned above; the Nonsuch(seems to me to be a good,
more affordable option to the Bristol Channel Cutter and, since it has
a Freedom-like set-up, is easier to single-hand). I have also been
keeping track of the CS36 (I consider Canada my second home - one for
sale in Annapolis), the Catalina 30 (tons of these on the market below
35k), the old Cherubini Hunter Cutter ( a diamond in the rough), and
the older C&C35. I have also read about the Dickerson (Ferenc Mate). I
have read, perhaps on this forum, that the Camper & Nicholsons had
serious blistering problems (any confirmation?).Note that my
familiarity with most of these boats is via the internet. I may go to
Annapolis this weekend to meet them.I am just trying to narrow my
options down. I will probably go with the boat that I ( after confirmed
by a surveyor) think is a good deal, given the criteria I outlined in a
previous post: can single-hand, but not too small of a boat; I do not
have to run for cover when the weather turns moderately nasty; has a
solid hull, but is not slow; has traditional looks inside - I confess
to liking mohogany or 'teak caves'- and out (love the BCC)
Let me ask a more specific question(s).What displacement, keel,
rudder parameters make it very difficult to dock single-handed, even in
the relatively calm airs of the northern Chesapeake? I am assuming that
a real heavy (given LWL plus or minus 26-28') boat with a full-length
keel like the Westsail has would be very hard to dock by myself, or at
least be a pain in the butt if I daysail frequently - assume that I
will be docking under engine power.I am leaning toward a traditional
more heavily displacing boat whose LWL is greater than 26' so as to
give me decent internal room when I am in the company of three other
adults, but I do not want a boat with so heavy an initial stability
that I could out-swim it in lighter airs.
Thanks, Brian, sail out of Havre de Grace, MD - home, Lititz, PA
PS: anybody know of a broker in the Annapolis area who may be my 'cup
of tea'. The website of 'rouguewaves' out of Annapolis intrigues me.