This is a, "What vehicle should I buy?" sort of question -- so open
ended as to be very difficult.
A few thoughts --
Your second post suggests you're thinking of sail -- remember that a
powerboat will have several times the interior volume of a sailboat of
the same length.
My wife and I sailed around the world on our Swan 57, Swee****er, and
could handle a well equipped 70' sailboat, but out retirement home,
Fintry, is an ex-Royal Navy 79' Fleet Tender that has about three
times the space of a similar sized sailboat. (
www.mvfintry.com) A
purpose built yacht of that size (looking much like a wedding cake)
might have half again more space than Fintry.
The flavor of your posts suggest you haven't spent much time aboard a
boat. Even on a comfortable boat at a good dock, it's very different
from living ashore. Space is cramped -- think one bedroom trailer in
sizes you can afford.
You're very much in touch with the elements.
Boats big enough to live aboard are not, generally, good for puttering
around. I'd consider a powerboat large enough to live aboard, and
then a much smaller sail or motorboat (or both) for puttering around.
As for getting it there -- first I'd look down there. If you're stuck
on a sailboat, try Panama in the Spring -- there are often failed or
failing circumnavigators there who have just run out of steam.... Try
all the harbors on the East Coast of Central America, keeping an eye
on local political situations.
On the power side, if you're willing to do some conversion, take a
look around Morgan City, LA -- there are hundreds of workboats in the
Delta that are too small for workboat service, but might fit your
bill. Order a copy of Boats and Harbors
(
http://www.boats-and-harbors.com/).
Yachtworld.com has a lot of listings on both sides of the sail-power
divide and is certainly the easiest search engine to get specific
results out of.
If you have USD50,000 total to spend, budget $40K for the boat and the
balance for survey, getting her there, fees, fixing up, etc.
Spend the bucks for an experienced delivery captain, and an engineer,
if you're not a skilled fixer....
etc. etc. etc.
Jim Woodward
www.mvfintry.com
"MAJOR BURKES" wrote in message rthlink.net...
Thanks for the reply.
I am looking for something fat, not racy at all; something that will allow
me comfort while at dock, and something to putter around in the bay in, or
to cross to the mainland on.
I wouldn't be afraid to take her down myself, sort of keeping near the
"edge", as you so eloquently put it. Land on the right, I'm headed the
right way, - land on the left, something is amiss sort of thinking. With
proper charts and a good dingy it should be doable, shouldn't it?
Any thoughts on how to find brokers in that part of the world?
Thanks
"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
Unluckily, none of us can tell you what is realistic for YOU.
A conservative and experienced captain can take a marginal boat far
further safely than a "hot dog" could. If you can be sure that you'll
move only "short" distances, and only when the weather for twice (or so)
your crossing time is predicted to be amenable, I'd say "go for it" with
the best boat for your ultimate purposes.
If you can't stay away from "the edge", I'd say to get the most
seaworthy boat you can afford even if it weren't ideal for your ultimate
purpose.
I suspect you're somewhere in the middle.
You might also find that you can pick up a boat in the nearby area, say
Panama, more cheaply than the US-based sources that you seem to be
considering. The resulting trip could tip the balance towards a boat
closer to your ultimate machine.
--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/