My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore. We'd really like to keep the price around $80K but if
spending a few more $$ gets a much better boat, then we're willing to
investigate.

We've looked at the Tartan 37 & the Morgan 38 - not sure if either is
good for going offshore.

Looked at the Pacific Seacraft 34-37 - just a bit out of my price
range.

The Gulfstar 44 - not the motorsailor but the center cockpit sloop -
not sure if its very good for offshore. Has a great aft cabin though.

Valiant 40 - older models have serious blister problems and I'm not
sure if the repair work done to the hulls is permanent.

I've also look at a few others.

I'd really like to hear from folks on this list as to what boat you'd
recommend and why.

The Morgan OI 41 has been cruised all over the world for 20+ years.

"Norm" wrote in message
...
My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore. We'd really like to keep the price around $80K but if
spending a few more $$ gets a much better boat, then we're willing to
investigate.

We've looked at the Tartan 37 & the Morgan 38 - not sure if either is
good for going offshore.

Looked at the Pacific Seacraft 34-37 - just a bit out of my price
range.

The Gulfstar 44 - not the motorsailor but the center cockpit sloop -
not sure if its very good for offshore. Has a great aft cabin though.

Valiant 40 - older models have serious blister problems and I'm not
sure if the repair work done to the hulls is permanent.

I've also look at a few others.

I'd really like to hear from folks on this list as to what boat you'd
recommend and why.

(Norm) wrote in message
My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore. We'd really like to keep the price around $80K but if
spending a few more $$ gets a much better boat, then we're willing to
investigate.

I'd really like to hear from folks on this list as to what boat you'd
recommend and why.

http://www.alberg37.org/Photos/Wilke...E/iolanthe.htm

I don't know about the Tartan but the Morgan would be a good boat.

Pac. Sea Craft are high quality and good designs but their resale price is
usually high, as you have already observed.

I have no comment on the latter two. Never seen them offshore. But I haven't
been to all the remote cruising spots.

One thing to remember about center cockpits. The cockpit sole is usually
several feet higher, above the center of motion, than an aft cockpit.. This
means your going to be tossed about a bit more while on watch. I have always
felt that the lower and farther aft you are, the more comfortable the
motion.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Consider a Tayana. We bought ours for well under your budget limit.
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/uk/li...80000&cint=100

Here's a link to ours: http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/OurBoats.html

Norm wrote:

My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore. We'd really like to keep the price around $80K but if
spending a few more $$ gets a much better boat, then we're willing to
investigate.

We've looked at the Tartan 37 & the Morgan 38 - not sure if either is
good for going offshore.

Looked at the Pacific Seacraft 34-37 - just a bit out of my price
range.

The Gulfstar 44 - not the motorsailor but the center cockpit sloop -
not sure if its very good for offshore. Has a great aft cabin though.

Valiant 40 - older models have serious blister problems and I'm not
sure if the repair work done to the hulls is permanent.

I've also look at a few others.

I'd really like to hear from folks on this list as to what boat you'd
recommend and why.

On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 18:07:11 GMT, (Norm) wrote:

My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore.

One that doesn't come up often but is well suited is the Coronado 35.

There seems to be two opinions on the C-35 - It's a coastal cruiser
and it's a live-aboard ocean cruiser. Maybe both are correct. Maybe
the 3'8" shoal draft is the coastal and the 5'6" deep draft is the
ocean?

Anyway, until a few months ago, I lived aboard and cruised a deep
draft ketch for 2-1/2 years. About 4,000 NM cruising. We've made three
Gulf of Mexico crossings in everything from 2-ft seas to 20-ft + seas
and 60-kt + winds. Sure was glad when that died down! Oh yes, on each
we never touched the wheel - the autopilot took care of things from
close-hauled to following. On one, we outperformed and were less
uncomfortable than friends aboard an Endeavour 43! Plus they had to
hand steer. I read that Bill Tripp designed her for offshore
conditions and that she wants to porpoise a bit in a chop. I've found
this to be the case and a trade-off I'll gladly accept.

It's one tough vessel. The cast iron keel and the way it's attached
have gone though running hard aground on limestone with the only
damage to the limestone. Don't know if it's true or not, but I read
that the factory dropped one from 5' onto concrete as a test and there
was no damage.

More living space than the average 45-footer due to the flush deck
design; there is no trunk cabin at all. Minimum 6' 1" headroom. Lots
of deck space.

Not as much living room though as the Gulfstar 44. But then that's not
a sailboat, even the motorsailer version. A friend has one that I
"captain" a lot. It's a great "trawler" and a kinda', sorta' part time
sailboat. Doesn't point well at all due to the very shallow keel and
probably the "motorboat" hull shape. Very wet in even a little chop
and prone to roll. I'm not bad-mouthing it. In fact I'd love to have
one for live-aboard coastal and canal/river cruising. Mostly under
power, but sailing when practical. After all, it _IS_ a motorsailer.

Check out the C-35 at http://www.morelr.com/coronado/

Rick


S/V Final Step
http://www.morelr.com/coronado/

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Someone asked "What winds my clock?". Thats a very good question.

Our previous boat was a 36' Fuji. It had great liveaboard
accomodations but didn't sail very well, had a poorly designed
cockpit, and had a bit too much exterior wood. While our 2 daughters
were growing up, it was a great boat and we have may great memories
while cruising SE Alaska in that boat.

Now, our daughters are leaving the house and we're nearing retirement
age. The plan or should I say "what winds our clock": My wife and I
are planning to sell the house this year, move a few keepsakes to
storage, rent a small appartment & start searching for a new boat.
Its been a difficult question as to the size of boat to get. We will
be spending 3 more years here in Alaska and then heading for warmer
waters - Mixico, Central America and maybe even beyond! We really
like the Pacific NW and will most likely return to this area. We
would like to have a boat that is comfortable for 2 to live on, sails
fairly well, is not plagued with blisters or high maintenance (wood
work), is fairly easy to handle for 2 people - one in a pinch, and one
that is capable of safely going offshore if we ever decide to make the
big loop!

I have to admit we're kind of leaning toward the Morgan 38 but I'm not
sure its a good choice for offshore. We did look at a Tayana 37, but
we didn't like the long bowsprit. They were once referred to as
"widow makers". Maybe I'm being too picky and a long bowsprit is
perfectly safe - I'm not really too sure about this. Comments from
folks who have them?

Size. We're looking at boats that range between 36 and 44 feet. We
know that's a real swing, but we're unsure of how much more work and
money it will take to operate and maintain a Tayana 42 vs a Morgan 38.


At this point my wife and I are just gathering as much information as
we can. We plan on heading south this fall to look through as many
boats as we can, but we want to work on a small database of acceptable
boats and the pros and cons of each before we head south. Some may
think we're analyzing things to death, but thats just the way we do
things.

We've checked out a lot of the recommendations folks have made by
looking the boats up on YachtWorld. Great site to look at the
interior as well as exterior of many different models of boats. We
sure appreciate all the input everyone has contributed. Please keep
sending it in!


On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 18:07:11 GMT, (Norm) wrote:

My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore. We'd really like to keep the price around $80K but if
spending a few more $$ gets a much better boat, then we're willing to
investigate.

We've looked at the Tartan 37 & the Morgan 38 - not sure if either is
good for going offshore.

Looked at the Pacific Seacraft 34-37 - just a bit out of my price
range.

The Gulfstar 44 - not the motorsailor but the center cockpit sloop -
not sure if its very good for offshore. Has a great aft cabin though.

Valiant 40 - older models have serious blister problems and I'm not
sure if the repair work done to the hulls is permanent.

I've also look at a few others.

I'd really like to hear from folks on this list as to what boat you'd
recommend and why.

One of the better boat web sites is all about the Morgan 38.
Go to http://morgan38.org/
and ask away. Lots of good info.

Matt

"Norm" wrote in message
...
Thanks everyone for your responses.


I have to admit we're kind of leaning toward the Morgan 38 but I'm not
sure its a good choice for offshore. We did look at a Tayana 37, but
we didn't like the long bowsprit. They were once referred to as
"widow makers". Maybe I'm being too picky and a long bowsprit is
perfectly safe - I'm not really too sure about this. Comments from
folks who have them?

Hello All:

Ever hear of a Freya 39? The one I have is a superb fit with my needs.
They were built in CA by Gannon Yachat in the late 70s and early 80s.
The only problem is that many were sold as owner finished. Mine was
builder finished with simple yet incredibly stout work.

Also I'm interested in hearing from any other Freya owners.

Chris







(Norm) wrote in message ...
My wife and I are starting to look for another boat. We'd like to
find something between 36 and 40 feet that is capable of being safely
taken offshore. We'd really like to keep the price around $80K but if
spending a few more $$ gets a much better boat, then we're willing to
investigate.

We've looked at the Tartan 37 & the Morgan 38 - not sure if either is
good for going offshore.

Looked at the Pacific Seacraft 34-37 - just a bit out of my price
range.

The Gulfstar 44 - not the motorsailor but the center cockpit sloop -
not sure if its very good for offshore. Has a great aft cabin though.

Valiant 40 - older models have serious blister problems and I'm not
sure if the repair work done to the hulls is permanent.

I've also look at a few others.

I'd really like to hear from folks on this list as to what boat you'd
recommend and why.