advice needed on cruiser/motorsailer purchase
 

I live on the south coast of British Columbia and I'm looking for a boat to
cruise the upper coast, 'Charlottes and Alaska.

I would like a pilothouse ketch or cutter rig with enough power to motor
into a decent sea. I'd like accommodation for 2 for extended cruising with
room for 3 guests. Ability to single-hand would be a big asset. Comfort and
safety is valued over speed and looks. Quality is appreciated and I realize
it comes with a price tag.

The Fisher 30 and 34 seem to fit the bill, but I would welcome advice and
recommendations on other boats.

Any useful websites?

Thanks in advance

Bruce

advice needed on cruiser/motorsailer purchase
 

Just for giggles and grins I did a search at www.yachtworld.com for
motorsailers. It appears that there are several dozen to choose from
in the PNW area. Obviously they range in material, cost, condition
and size, but it appears that there is something there that will fit
the bill for you. So there is no excuse - if you are serious. ;-)

As for ideas, widen the search area and several hundred show up.

Regards,

Leo


"Bruce Woodburn" wrote in message ...
I live on the south coast of British Columbia and I'm looking for a boat to
cruise the upper coast, 'Charlottes and Alaska.

I would like a pilothouse ketch or cutter rig with enough power to motor
into a decent sea. I'd like accommodation for 2 for extended cruising with
room for 3 guests. Ability to single-hand would be a big asset. Comfort and
safety is valued over speed and looks. Quality is appreciated and I realize
it comes with a price tag.

The Fisher 30 and 34 seem to fit the bill, but I would welcome advice and
recommendations on other boats.

Any useful websites?

Thanks in advance

Bruce

advice needed on cruiser/motorsailer purchase
 

Fisher has a good rep, but five people in 34' is a lot. Extended
cruising with five really means three cabins -- you don't want to have
someone sleeping in the main saloon on an extended cruise,
particularly if the weather isn't perfect.

The best thing you can do for comfort is go bigger -- some people will
argue that a bigger boat is harder to handle, but within limits (maybe
seventy feet or so) I would say that bigger is easier. You have a
more stable platform under you and things happen more slowly. Single
handing is no problem except for docking and that can be dealt with by
practice, calling ahead on the VHF, and being patient.

Look for around 1-2 horsepower per thousand pounds of weight. You'll
find that on many boats that aren't labelled motorsailors. It's hard
to use much more in a displacement hull. Put on a three bladed
MaxProp. They're not cheap, but it's the single most important thing
you can do to make the boat perform well under power and sail.

If you're serious about that size, you might look at Westsail. They
earn their nickname (Wetsnail), but they're well built, tough boats.

Jim Woodward
www.mvfintry.com

"Bruce Woodburn" wrote in message ...
I live on the south coast of British Columbia and I'm looking for a boat to
cruise the upper coast, 'Charlottes and Alaska.

I would like a pilothouse ketch or cutter rig with enough power to motor
into a decent sea. I'd like accommodation for 2 for extended cruising with
room for 3 guests. Ability to single-hand would be a big asset. Comfort and
safety is valued over speed and looks. Quality is appreciated and I realize
it comes with a price tag.

The Fisher 30 and 34 seem to fit the bill, but I would welcome advice and
recommendations on other boats.

Any useful websites?

Thanks in advance

Bruce

advice needed on cruiser/motorsailer purchase
 

Thanks for the advice.

I was planning to cruise with 2, and occasionally have a few guests aboard.

The horsepower rule is a good rule of thumb.

I'll check out the WetSnail.

Bruce


"Jim Woodward" wrote in message
om...
Fisher has a good rep, but five people in 34' is a lot. Extended
cruising with five really means three cabins -- you don't want to have
someone sleeping in the main saloon on an extended cruise,
particularly if the weather isn't perfect.

The best thing you can do for comfort is go bigger -- some people will
argue that a bigger boat is harder to handle, but within limits (maybe
seventy feet or so) I would say that bigger is easier. You have a
more stable platform under you and things happen more slowly. Single
handing is no problem except for docking and that can be dealt with by
practice, calling ahead on the VHF, and being patient.

Look for around 1-2 horsepower per thousand pounds of weight. You'll
find that on many boats that aren't labelled motorsailors. It's hard
to use much more in a displacement hull. Put on a three bladed
MaxProp. They're not cheap, but it's the single most important thing
you can do to make the boat perform well under power and sail.

If you're serious about that size, you might look at Westsail. They
earn their nickname (Wetsnail), but they're well built, tough boats.

Jim Woodward
www.mvfintry.com

"Bruce Woodburn" wrote in message
...
I live on the south coast of British Columbia and I'm looking for a boat
to
cruise the upper coast, 'Charlottes and Alaska.

I would like a pilothouse ketch or cutter rig with enough power to motor
into a decent sea. I'd like accommodation for 2 for extended cruising
with
room for 3 guests. Ability to single-hand would be a big asset. Comfort
and
safety is valued over speed and looks. Quality is appreciated and I
realize
it comes with a price tag.

The Fisher 30 and 34 seem to fit the bill, but I would welcome advice
and
recommendations on other boats.

Any useful websites?

Thanks in advance

Bruce

advice needed on cruiser/motorsailer purchase
 

"Bruce Woodburn" wrote in message
...
I live on the south coast of British Columbia and I'm looking for a boat
to
cruise the upper coast, 'Charlottes and Alaska.

I would like a pilothouse ketch or cutter rig with enough power to motor
into a decent sea. I'd like accommodation for 2 for extended cruising with
room for 3 guests. Ability to single-hand would be a big asset. Comfort
and
safety is valued over speed and looks. Quality is appreciated and I
realize
it comes with a price tag.

The Fisher 30 and 34 seem to fit the bill, but I would welcome advice and
recommendations on other boats.

Locally built boats - Truant 33 (pilothouse version), Gulf 29 (kinda small),
Sceptre 41 (brilliant repuation but expensive)

--
Evan Gatehouse

you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me
ceilydh AT 3web dot net
(fools the spammers)