I want to thank everyone for their responses. It's been a very
informative. I thought it would be a good idea to start a new thread
and in this one maybe get a list of some boats that might work for us.
We're heading down to Seattle again in a couple weeks and would love
to have another group of boats lined up to look at.

My wife and I use to have a Fuji 36 Ketch and are somewhat familiar
with heavy displacements boats. She was great for accomdations, ride,
and looks, but didn't sail all that great except in the trades.

It appears to me that some of the newer medium to light displacment
boats are just as strong and maybe stronger than many of the older
heavy displacement boats. I guess that's a big plus to the newer
technology and methods of construction being used in the last few
years.

I have to admit, I believe it would be a lot more fun having a Medium
displacement boat then a heavy one - as long as

1) It is built well and would be safe to take across the Pacific.
I realize safe is a relative term and each person has their own idea
of what they consider safe. I don't believe I want to running around
in a Catalina though.

2) The boat should have a fairly good ride and motion to it

3) Needs to be capable of hauling enough stores for long passages

4) should have nice long term living accomodations for 2 people and
occasional visitors

5) I would think the draft should be 6' or less to take advantage
of some of the places in the Carib and the ICW once on the East Coast.
I need recommondations on this.

6) I don't think I want to go over 40'. At this point I believe my
preference is between 36 - 40', but am open to suggestions here

7) I'd like to keep the cost between $80K - $100K. My wife and I
may be living aboard for 2 years or so till we retire and can be
adding a few items during this time.

8) I'd like something in built in the mid to late 80s or early 90s
if possible

9) A real plus would be to find one that hasn't been run too hard
and was pretty much cruise equipped. This relies on luck more than
anything else


Now - Based on the above, what boats fall in this category? Can we
start developing a list of boats that meet this critera?