On 2007-12-21 15:10:44 -0500, kupono said:

I'm looking to compile a list of favorite cruising boats based upon
your completely subjective opinions. Eddy and Duff's criteria might be
a useful guide, but don't feel constrained by it.

1. She must be easy to handle.
2. She must be comfortable.
3. She must be seaworthy.
4. She must be fast.
5. She must be beautiful.

Please qualify your choices with fully founded, and no doubt, highly
subjective arguments based on well thought out personal opinion (and
hopefully experience).

Let the opionions fly.

#5, "beautiful" is purely subjective, but our admittedly ugly-duckling
Xan (see below) fulfills every other criteria, except that her physical
size is a bit below your specified lower limit.

I don't know a better boat for two for the Chesapeake and Bahamas. More
properly, we haven't found a boat less than 41' that was a material
upgrade from her, and we have been actively looking for the past 15
seasons.

One Hunter 34 struck our fancy, but it required substantial fixes only
a decade into its life. The Cabo Rico 37 looks great, but we can (and
have) sail rings around that crab crusher. Hell, we regularly pass
catamarans under chute. (Xan doesn't cede to any boat under 40', and
will give a good fight to those who are longer.)

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/