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What boat for me?
"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message ... Well I'm going to attempt to get a thread going that actually has a little bit to do with sailing. And maybe provide some initial direction for my search. In the last couple of days we have had chicken pluckin stories, gay theme movies, Ebay woes, a little current lib/conserv debate and an informal post in survey about concern for Doug's truthfulness regarding his address (who cares, BTW). Must be January. Now Frank--think of it this way: if you were a sailor from a climate somewhat north of warm, and your boat was on the hard under a blanket of snow, what would you be doing? If you were lucky enough to be gathered with friends and sailing associates, wouldn't you be sitting at a bar somewhere, kibbutzing about such things as chicken plucking, gay movies, Ebay, politics, and Doug's legitimate address? Okay, perhaps not those things exactly, but you might--and the emphasis is on *might*--talk about boats. Considering that you've just spent the last summer doing just that, other topics might creep into the conversation, doncha think? That's okay--you're still relatively new here. So I need a boat. I'll give minimum specs and you suggest some classic or not so classic plastic. 1. I would like something in the 35 plus or minus foot range, sloop rigged, aft cockpit. Is there any other boat than the Beneteau 35s5 in this size range? From the preponderance of posts over the past two months, one would certainly believe that to be the case. 2. I'm a woodworker by hobby, experienced with glass work and custom painting, good with plumbing, electrical, mechanical and enjoy bringing things back from the brink, so a fixer upper is fine, in fact desired. This indicates that age is not a factor. Uh oh--there goes the 35s5. Damn. 3. I sail in the world of many sand bars, with desitinations, anchorages, and islands that require no deep stick under a boat. Like to keep draft to less than five feet, preferably much less. Boats don't have sticks underneath, Frank. They are generally on top, not down below. The stick is . . . . oh, never mind. Okay, we've established that you need a Scheel keel, a shallow draft fin with bulb or wing, or a keel/centerboard boat. 4. I'm not going to live aboard, however trips of several weeks to a month at a time are probable, so living amentities or the potential to install the same are somewhat important. ( this does not mean room for a home theatre) Oh, what a shame--Bubbles will be so disappointed at the lack of a theatre with a megawatt subwoofer and satellite speakers. But you apparently do need some interior volume and a few liveaboard amenities, if not the full Monty. 5.I sail in hot, wet land. I don't care about AC but want good cross and top hatch ventilation (screenable, those mosquitos like hot, wet land also) Screens, then. And ports and hatches--lots of those. 6. WHile I like performance, I would give up a half knot or so for stout. Keep in mind, I had a Columbia 8.7 for a long time and failed to ever bury her lee rail. I liked that. You never sail in wind over 10 kts. Okay, but you might reconsider doing so, considering that Ma Nature doesn't really cater to your personal whims. 7. Give slight preference to at least partially skeg protected rudder. How about a full keel? Nothing will touch the rudder on one of those? 8. I think the change to more beam that took place in the late seventies to early eighties was a good thing. This indicates that age might be a factor. Whose age? Yours or the boat's? :-) 9. PHRF not important. I don't want a dog but when I race, I prefer to crew on someone else's boat. And for some reason, I can't tell the difference whether I'm going 6 knots or 5.5 knots in the big scheme of things. It is the perception of speed and power that matter. Definitely not a 35s5, which is the fastest thing on the water these days, according to someone. 10. I prefer classic lines. The spaceship look of the later Hunters, and anyone who is following in those footsteps, turns me off. Must be my age. Probably just that you have taste and a sense of aesthetics. Those latest boats with those pseudo-Euro arytenoid transoms are futt buckin' ugly. 11. prefer wheel steering but would retrofit. Most 35's would have it anyway. Would retrofit to rack and pinion. That is one of the things I can agree with Boob, Swab, matrix inhabitant, etc. It is absolutely slick and very responsive with great feedback. But I would like a close to nuetral (weather) helm on a full speed beam reach. Oh sure--everyone would. It's just unlikely with a sailboat, however, unless you don't mind some lee helm to weather. 12. for now, no price range limitations. May we assume you're willing to pay upwards of several hundred thousand for this boat, or is there really a limitation but you're unwilling to state it? IF the former, I've got a whole shopping list of boats for you. IF the latter, we're going to be a bit more constricted. For the sake of this discussion, I'll assume the latter, at least until you indicate otherwise. I may never get there, but who knows, so give me your suggestion and I'll check it out maybe add it to the search list. And I won't blast your submission, just quietly add it to the list or reject it. Of course, more than likely you will blast each others. On my list so far: Endeavour 35 - meets most requirements. Downside - draft pushes 5' and there are not a lot of them out there available. May be some other things, I have not done a complete analysis. My suggestions: 1) Ericson 35--draws 5', reasonably fast, good looking, ample accommodations for a couple plus an occasional guest or two. 2) Ericson 38--draws 5'6", fast, good looking, ample accommodations for four. 3) Tartan 37--keel/centerboard, enabling some serious gunkholing in a fairly large boat, fast, good looking, and ample accommodations for a couple plus guests. 4) Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37--draws 5'6", moderately fast, attractive, ample accommodations for a couple, even if a bit beam-challenged, built to go anywhere. 5) Pearson 365 sloop (some were ketches)--draws 4'6", moderately fast, attractive, ample accommodations for a couple plus guests, solid coastal cruiser. 6) Irwin 37-38 (may be hard to find a sloop, but some were made)--draws 5', ain't fast, ain't attractive, accommodations for four ample folks plus an occasional guest or two, and you'll need your abilities with fiberglass on this one. Irwins were not terribly well-constructed in this size range. Despite that, you can see them everywhere, including crossing oceans. (shudder!) There are more, but this is a start. I'm sure others have good suggestions as well. But it's just a damned shame that the 35s5--best boat ever created--doesn't meet your needs. Think of it: fast as an offshore powerboat, better looking than Brittney Spears, PHRF of -4000, accommodations for dozens, including a toddler, fine French joinerwork, and did I mention better looking than Brittney Spears? OH, and it has a by-God swim platform. Please reconsider . . . Max |
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