aroostifer wrote:

I'm interested in a Choate 41 (2 ton IOR) for sale in the Bay Area. My
interest is NOT in racing but rather in long-distance cruising.

Interested in the seaworthiness of these designs. It seems some say
they can be squirrely to steer downwind, but others say that applies
mostly to racing situations where the boats being driving hard. Have
heard all the Fastnet stories, but this boat is post-Fastnet vintage
(very early eighties I believe, but may be very late seventies.)

Former owner did the Baja HAHA and Bash. My immediate crusing plans
would be SF Bay, Mexico, Hawaii, and eventually the wild blue yonder.
Would love to circumnavigate the Pacific.

Thoughts, opinions, slander, or wild conjecture about the suitability
of such a boat for bluewater cruising?

Thanks,

- Ari

I did some long distance racing on one 20 years ago, and delivered it
back, better than 1,000 miles each time. We saw some really bad stuff
many times. Maybe 5,000 miles total on that boat.

Well built, fairly comfortable. Lots of usable room inside. Good sea
bunks. Not the ultimate design for cruising, but not bad.

The worst I remember was 70 knots off Southern Baja. The boat did very
well.

Very economical delivering it up the Baja bash. Something like a quart
an hour at 6 knots. My memory isn't perfect.

You could make a far worse choice.

A better choice might be a pilot house, like a Cal 35.