Our boat sat for six years with the mast up and a shrink wrap job that
didn't keep water off the deck so the chainplates did leak and a three
of interior panels rotted. One replaced, one to go. They come out
easily and replacement is very easy. I re-bedded the chainplates and
they have been tight.

There was some arrested just in time discoloration of the cabin trunk
liner around the ports. This would be a real bear to replace so I'm
glad the former owner got it fixed.

I'm still trying to trace a small leak over the quarter berth but I'm
pretty sure it's coming in around the companionway frame.

No rot or problems that would be hard to deal with. The interior is
also installed in way such that most deck edge leaks will go to the
bilge instead of down the woodwork. I don't see any evidence of them
on this hull though.

More room is always nicer inside but smaller is always easier when you're
horsing a boat around a tight dock alone, singlehanding, or paying the
bills. If you are looking for lowest cost and easiest handling, 32
feet is kind of a magic size. It's the smallest that you can get full
headroom without having a bulky looking boat with a lot of windage or
a deep and very heavy hull. It's the smallest that six overnight bunks
will fit and still have a decent head and galley. It's the smallest
that is tolerable for four over a period of days. It's the smallest in
which most couples would want to live aboard and cruise extensively.

If our budget had been larger, I would have looked at 35 footers but
we were already stretching up from the 27 - 28 foot range. Prices take
a jump out of proportion to other things above 32 feet.

If I suddenly had $40,000 to spend on a boat at this point, I would
put it into this one instead of trying to trade up to something
larger. We would then have a boat in which everything was right
instead of just a larger and roomier collection of problems and
projects.


--

Roger Long