"Matt/Meribeth Pedersen" wrote:
....lotta good commentary snipped for space...

Of the boats Matt mentions, I'd enthusiastically support the Ranger or
the C&C. I owned a Ranger 29 for a coupla years and a C&C 34 for a
coupla years. Either one would make my list of "boats I'd be willling
to own." Guess I should add "again" to that statement.

Matt also alludes to the bad designs which were spawned under the IOR
rules of the 70s and which culminated in rule changes after the
Fastnet disaster. Remember, however, that it wasn't just fin-keeled
IOR freak designs which were eaten by that storm. Lotta "blue water
cruisers" fared poorly, too. Conversely, there were two J-30s in that
storm and they survived easily; one was a single-hander. I doubt
anyone would consider the J-30 as a "blue water cruiser;" but
considering its performance in those circumstances, compared to a lot
of other designs, ya gotta give it snaps. Pretty low on the "creature
comforts" scale, however.

Of the others, I have no experience with some he mentions; but most
are not boats which I personally favor. Alberg, Allied, and Nicholson
are all boats which would completely fail to make my personal list;
too heavy for my taste. And I'd debate the windward ability of the
Nicholson. Oh, and while the sailing ability of the Newport is good
because the basic design is by C&C, their build quality is, IMO, the
worst in the business. That'd drop Newport off my list.

But at this point I'm quibbling from my prejudices. Matt has
contributed some great info here and I appreciate reading his comments
and opinions. Threads on Usenet almost always go squirrelly; but the
good ones retain a core of useful information and reasoned debate.

Frank