"Hunter" wrote in message
...
Dear Group:

I have owned several boats (Taswell 43 and Farr 40). I am looking to
buy a cruising boat and have identified two boats in particular that I
am interested in. One is a Baltic 48 all fitted out for cruising and
the other is an Oyster 485, newer and shinny but lacking self steering
gear, sat phone and few other necessities for cruising. I would like
any constructive comments regarrding these two boats! The Oyster has
a skeg rudder and the Baltic does not, is this important? The Baltic
is a cored hull laminate and the Oyster is solid, again any thoughts.
They both appear to be quality boats, however, I am concerned that the
Oyster is built in the UK and I know they cannot build cars or
airplanes : (

Thanks in advance

Hunter

I do not know much about you. I take it you maybe in your late fifty. Why
age is a concert is because you do not want to spent valuable time to equip
or refurbish a boat for cruising. My first choice would the Baltic
providing that I do not have to spent extra money to upgrade the
navigational system, steering system and rudder, electrical, plumbing and
rigging not to mention the sails and furling. On my Beneteau Oceanis I have
a 6 foot 2 inches keel and a skeg. At first I was apprehensive about it.
Now that I have used it I like it and its important to me. In my case it
provides better directional stability. The world's best build boat are made
with a solid core. However, with the quality of labour today you may find
some internal de-lamination that can become as bad as water infiltration in
a cored laminate hull. Racers tend to believe that cored laminate hulls are
faster?? Shooting at point blank without having seen the Oyster 485 they
seem to have a good reputation for cruising. I would do a present value
evaluation between the two boats versus the cost of buying a new boat.