On Aug 14, 9:56 am, Jeff wrote:
Capt. Rob wrote:

Okay....went out on a PDQ 36 and we really liked the speed and room,
especially now that Thomas is nearly 5. I think we'll probably keep
the 35s5 Beneteau for a couple of years more, but the idea of the PDQ
36 or a boat like it looks like a lot of fun.
The PDQ didn't go upwind like our 35s5, but it still made 6 knots
fairly close and did nearly 11 on a reach.

So....some questions.....I'm studying the PDQ 36 and Seawind 1000. I'd
like a FAST cat, but with accommodations in the same league as the
PDQ. Maybe the PDQ is best? The Seawind?

I'm looking at a budget of under 200K. Of course that may improve as
we'll have lots of time to arrange things, but 200K seems appropriate.

I'm still looking at pilothouse boats (my favorite looking craft), but
few do what I need. The Corbin 39 remains interesting. So for
now...just fishing for ideas on the PDQ 36 and boats like her!

Sorry for the delay - we've been cruising and have had limited broadband
connections. Actually, the cell phones and my new Kindle give us most
of the connectivity we need, so I don't bother to hook up the wifi
antenna often.

I've haven't sailed the Seawinds, and only went on the 1000 once at
Annapolis. My recollection is that it didn't make me regret getting the
PDQ at all, but I don't remember the specifics. The layout is similar,
but the PDQ "felt better" to me. By the numbers, the Seawind is 14
inches wider, which can be a problem: our haulout marina hoist is maxed
out by our 18'3". The Seawind carries more sail, but weighs 30-40%
more. I might guess the Seawind is faster than my loaded LRC (with
diesels) but slower than a stripped out PDQ Classic. Also, the twin
outboards won't push it very fast, especially against the elements. And
the fuel tank is small, so it isn't made for something like an ICW trip.

You probably won't have a problem getting a PDQ for under $200K,
assuming you can find one the suits your needs. Older boats have been
as low as $130K, and the newest have not been much over $200K. In a few
years you might be able to get ours if we decide to downsize. (A house
on the Vineyard with a catboat in the harbor is looking nice now!)

One small point - the "queen size" bunks on the PDQ are actually a few
inches smaller. As I recall, you put a premium on long bunks, so this
could be an issue!

Jeff, aboard Loki, Vineyard Haven



Jeff, thanks for the comments. I like the PDQ. My main issue at this
point is the very different sailing experience delivered by the PDQ.
To be frank, it's quite numb and uninvolving compared to the boats I
typically sail. On the other
hand the PDQ is immensely practical and Thomas had a blast with the
space. I very much appreciated the speed of the PDQ and it was fun in
it's own right. Also, handling the sails was so easy compared to my
35s5's
giant mainsail.
We're having a lot of fun with the Beneteau and there's no rush. But I
would like to try something different with the design of the next
boat, so a cat would prove interesting for a few years. I expect I'd
return to a monohull at some point.



RB
35s5
NY