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#1
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
Hello,
Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Heard great things of Cal 34's. What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. Thanks, Rob Whitaker "Free Spirit" |
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#3
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
x-no-archive:yes
(Bob Whitaker) wrote: Hello, Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Heard great things of Cal 34's. What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. CSY 33 or 37 There are TWO 33s for sale - TRINITY $ 33K Located in Palmetto, FL - TALIAH $ 45K Located in Orange Beach, AL 37s - RED SKY for US$ 48K Located in St. Thomas, USVI - ONWARD $49K in Urbana VA (not on YachtWorld) - EXPOSURE 59.9K in Clearwater - SCIMITAR (plan A) in Oriental NC $59.9K - SOL e LUNA for $ 64K Located in Ruskin, FL - SANCTUARY for :$ 79K Located in Merritt Island, FL I am not a broker. grandma Rosalie S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD CSY 44 WO #156 http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html |
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#4
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you
sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. Bob Whitaker wrote: Hello, Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals, since the cost & labor to complete are tremendously more than the buyer realizes. Most soak up huge amounts of time & money and never get into the water. But a cruiser must enjoy working on his boat, it's a prime requirement... so you might as well get that pleasure if you can't get the rest of the package. ... Heard great things of Cal 34's. From where? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. I happened to cruise a Cal 34 (somebody elses, it was far more boat than I could afford at the time) up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. Lots of fun, but not on my short list for taking offshore. ... What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. How much are you hung up on name brands? A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, for slightly more $$ you get a Bristol or Tartan; or if you wanted a well built boat with more pep, an Ericson or an Islander. My recomendation would be something more off the beaten track like a Sabre or an Oyster, or one of the Scandanavian boats. A J-32 would be nice but you're not likely to find one in the bargain bin. You never know until you start looking. Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
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#5
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
Doug "Fresh Breezes" King wrote:
My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. My apologies... those of you in the toilet cleaning business may have misinterpreted what I meant. Doug "Fresh Toilet" King is apparently referring to the disinfectant tablets you drop in toilet tanks, which apparently is the first thing that comes to his mind when he hears the term "blue water". When he hears the term "green water" he probably thinks it's the competing brand of disinfectant. I, on the other hand, was using the term to refer to cruising in the open ocean as opposed to coastal cruising... When I hear the term "blue water cruiser" I immediately conjure up images of a sailboat designed for extended offshore passages, rugged construction, heavier displacement than modern racing designs, good reserve buoyancy at the bow, small cockpit, stern that will hold it's own on a following sea, good control while surfing, a strong skeg-mounted rudder or one that's attached to the keel, and a boat that will hold up to getting pooped with "green water" (and no Doug, I'm not talking about _THAT_ kind of "poop"). But, you see Doug, saying all that is quite a mouthful, and it wouldn't have fit on the subject line to boot. So, I opted for the more concise term "blue water cruiser"... Sorry if it caused confusion in your mind. If you read the original post carefully, you will notice that I did not use the term in the main body, where I stressed "safety in open waters"... Perhaps you missed that point? I know that our personal experiences in life tend to make us predisposed to sometimes misinterpreting other people's comments, sometimes with embarrassing results, as was apparently the case when you misinterpreted "blue water" for toilet disinfectants. But don't worry, Doug, we won't hold it against you. Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals Ohhh boy... here we go again?!?!?! My heartfelt advice to you Doug is to please consider taking people's comments at face value. Who knows... Some people may actually mean what they say... By the way, when I wrote: "--I would prefer a project boat." I actually meant it. Also, in case you just glossed over that sentence, when I said: "--I would actually enjoy it." I meant that too. A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, an Ericson or an Islander. OK... now you are talking... Thanks for answering the original question!!! Yipe-dee-doo!!! Now we can finally get back to the main topic. I've also heard very positive comments about Cape Dorys, but I haven't had the chance to sail one yet. I would be interested in any opinions you may have on them. Oh... yes... and please do us all a favor and stay on topic this time? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. What I like about Cals is that they sail great and that they are really tough boats by all accounts! I also like that they were mass-produced because the laws of supply and demand dictate that "project" Cals are inexpensive to acquire. Now, Doug, wouldn't it have been a lot nicer if you had just answered the original question politely rather than trying to be snotty with your post? You are apparently a smart man. My advice to you is to let other people recognize that about you by the quality of your posts, not by your failed attempts at belittling others. Fresh Toilets -- Bob Whitaker P.S. Oh, and I also meant it when I said I'd be interested in hearing your comments about Cape Dorys. DSK wrote in message ... My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. Bob Whitaker wrote: Hello, Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals, since the cost & labor to complete are tremendously more than the buyer realizes. Most soak up huge amounts of time & money and never get into the water. But a cruiser must enjoy working on his boat, it's a prime requirement... so you might as well get that pleasure if you can't get the rest of the package. ... Heard great things of Cal 34's. From where? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. I happened to cruise a Cal 34 (somebody elses, it was far more boat than I could afford at the time) up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. Lots of fun, but not on my short list for taking offshore. ... What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. How much are you hung up on name brands? A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, for slightly more $$ you get a Bristol or Tartan; or if you wanted a well built boat with more pep, an Ericson or an Islander. My recomendation would be something more off the beaten track like a Sabre or an Oyster, or one of the Scandanavian boats. A J-32 would be nice but you're not likely to find one in the bargain bin. You never know until you start looking. Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
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#6
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
way to go, Bob. you figured out dougies one hell of a lot quicker than most
people do. A Cal 34 is actually considered a rather decent boat for its size, and far more than decent for the dollar. Good luck to you. Doug "Fresh Breezes" King wrote: My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. My apologies... those of you in the toilet cleaning business may have misinterpreted what I meant. Doug "Fresh Toilet" King is apparently referring to the disinfectant tablets you drop in toilet tanks, which apparently is the first thing that comes to his mind when he hears the term "blue water". When he hears the term "green water" he probably thinks it's the competing brand of disinfectant. I, on the other hand, was using the term to refer to cruising in the open ocean as opposed to coastal cruising... When I hear the term "blue water cruiser" I immediately conjure up images of a sailboat designed for extended offshore passages, rugged construction, heavier displacement than modern racing designs, good reserve buoyancy at the bow, small cockpit, stern that will hold it's own on a following sea, good control while surfing, a strong skeg-mounted rudder or one that's attached to the keel, and a boat that will hold up to getting pooped with "green water" (and no Doug, I'm not talking about _THAT_ kind of "poop"). But, you see Doug, saying all that is quite a mouthful, and it wouldn't have fit on the subject line to boot. So, I opted for the more concise term "blue water cruiser"... Sorry if it caused confusion in your mind. If you read the original post carefully, you will notice that I did not use the term in the main body, where I stressed "safety in open waters"... Perhaps you missed that point? I know that our personal experiences in life tend to make us predisposed to sometimes misinterpreting other people's comments, sometimes with embarrassing results, as was apparently the case when you misinterpreted "blue water" for toilet disinfectants. But don't worry, Doug, we won't hold it against you. Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals Ohhh boy... here we go again?!?!?! My heartfelt advice to you Doug is to please consider taking people's comments at face value. Who knows... Some people may actually mean what they say... By the way, when I wrote: "--I would prefer a project boat." I actually meant it. Also, in case you just glossed over that sentence, when I said: "--I would actually enjoy it." I meant that too. A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, an Ericson or an Islander. OK... now you are talking... Thanks for answering the original question!!! Yipe-dee-doo!!! Now we can finally get back to the main topic. I've also heard very positive comments about Cape Dorys, but I haven't had the chance to sail one yet. I would be interested in any opinions you may have on them. Oh... yes... and please do us all a favor and stay on topic this time? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. What I like about Cals is that they sail great and that they are really tough boats by all accounts! I also like that they were mass-produced because the laws of supply and demand dictate that "project" Cals are inexpensive to acquire. Now, Doug, wouldn't it have been a lot nicer if you had just answered the original question politely rather than trying to be snotty with your post? You are apparently a smart man. My advice to you is to let other people recognize that about you by the quality of your posts, not by your failed attempts at belittling others. Fresh Toilets -- Bob Whitaker P.S. Oh, and I also meant it when I said I'd be interested in hearing your comments about Cape Dorys. DSK wrote in message t... My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. Bob Whitaker wrote: Hello, Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals, since the cost & labor to complete are tremendously more than the buyer realizes. Most soak up huge amounts of time & money and never get into the water. But a cruiser must enjoy working on his boat, it's a prime requirement... so you might as well get that pleasure if you can't get the rest of the package. ... Heard great things of Cal 34's. From where? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. I happened to cruise a Cal 34 (somebody elses, it was far more boat than I could afford at the time) up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. Lots of fun, but not on my short list for taking offshore. ... What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. How much are you hung up on name brands? A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, for slightly more $$ you get a Bristol or Tartan; or if you wanted a well built boat with more pep, an Ericson or an Islander. My recomendation would be something more off the beaten track like a Sabre or an Oyster, or one of the Scandanavian boats. A J-32 would be nice but you're not likely to find one in the bargain bin. You never know until you start looking. Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
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#7
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
way to go, Bob. you figured out dougies one hell of a lot quicker than most
people do. A Cal 34 is actually considered a rather decent boat for its size, and far more than decent for the dollar. Good luck to you. Doug "Fresh Breezes" King wrote: My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. My apologies... those of you in the toilet cleaning business may have misinterpreted what I meant. Doug "Fresh Toilet" King is apparently referring to the disinfectant tablets you drop in toilet tanks, which apparently is the first thing that comes to his mind when he hears the term "blue water". When he hears the term "green water" he probably thinks it's the competing brand of disinfectant. I, on the other hand, was using the term to refer to cruising in the open ocean as opposed to coastal cruising... When I hear the term "blue water cruiser" I immediately conjure up images of a sailboat designed for extended offshore passages, rugged construction, heavier displacement than modern racing designs, good reserve buoyancy at the bow, small cockpit, stern that will hold it's own on a following sea, good control while surfing, a strong skeg-mounted rudder or one that's attached to the keel, and a boat that will hold up to getting pooped with "green water" (and no Doug, I'm not talking about _THAT_ kind of "poop"). But, you see Doug, saying all that is quite a mouthful, and it wouldn't have fit on the subject line to boot. So, I opted for the more concise term "blue water cruiser"... Sorry if it caused confusion in your mind. If you read the original post carefully, you will notice that I did not use the term in the main body, where I stressed "safety in open waters"... Perhaps you missed that point? I know that our personal experiences in life tend to make us predisposed to sometimes misinterpreting other people's comments, sometimes with embarrassing results, as was apparently the case when you misinterpreted "blue water" for toilet disinfectants. But don't worry, Doug, we won't hold it against you. Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals Ohhh boy... here we go again?!?!?! My heartfelt advice to you Doug is to please consider taking people's comments at face value. Who knows... Some people may actually mean what they say... By the way, when I wrote: "--I would prefer a project boat." I actually meant it. Also, in case you just glossed over that sentence, when I said: "--I would actually enjoy it." I meant that too. A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, an Ericson or an Islander. OK... now you are talking... Thanks for answering the original question!!! Yipe-dee-doo!!! Now we can finally get back to the main topic. I've also heard very positive comments about Cape Dorys, but I haven't had the chance to sail one yet. I would be interested in any opinions you may have on them. Oh... yes... and please do us all a favor and stay on topic this time? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. What I like about Cals is that they sail great and that they are really tough boats by all accounts! I also like that they were mass-produced because the laws of supply and demand dictate that "project" Cals are inexpensive to acquire. Now, Doug, wouldn't it have been a lot nicer if you had just answered the original question politely rather than trying to be snotty with your post? You are apparently a smart man. My advice to you is to let other people recognize that about you by the quality of your posts, not by your failed attempts at belittling others. Fresh Toilets -- Bob Whitaker P.S. Oh, and I also meant it when I said I'd be interested in hearing your comments about Cape Dorys. DSK wrote in message t... My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. Bob Whitaker wrote: Hello, Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals, since the cost & labor to complete are tremendously more than the buyer realizes. Most soak up huge amounts of time & money and never get into the water. But a cruiser must enjoy working on his boat, it's a prime requirement... so you might as well get that pleasure if you can't get the rest of the package. ... Heard great things of Cal 34's. From where? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. I happened to cruise a Cal 34 (somebody elses, it was far more boat than I could afford at the time) up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. Lots of fun, but not on my short list for taking offshore. ... What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. How much are you hung up on name brands? A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, for slightly more $$ you get a Bristol or Tartan; or if you wanted a well built boat with more pep, an Ericson or an Islander. My recomendation would be something more off the beaten track like a Sabre or an Oyster, or one of the Scandanavian boats. A J-32 would be nice but you're not likely to find one in the bargain bin. You never know until you start looking. Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
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#8
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
Bob Whitaker wrote:
Now, Doug, wouldn't it have been a lot nicer if you had just answered the original question politely rather than trying to be snotty with your post? Well, Bob, I wasn't really trying to be snotty. Sorry if I made you cry. Just go right on believing that Cals are magnificently constructed boats, and that anybody saying otherwise is just being snotty. Pardon me for treading on your illusions. Bye Doug King |
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#9
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
Doug "Fresh Toilet" King wrote:
Well, Bob, I wasn't really trying to be snotty. Sorry if I made you cry. OK Doug, I'll take your word for it. I accept your apology. Also, thanks for your genuine concern for my emotional well-being. But let me allay your fears by confiding in you that I am actually quite amused by your posts. Defeating you at your own game provides for great sport even if it's not very challenging. Just go right on believing that Cals are magnificently constructed boats, and that anybody saying otherwise is just being snotty. Sorry Doug but you are once again mistaken. I already explained this to you in great detail in my previous post, but let me explain it again, and this time I'll try to use small words. Since you are obviously confused, let me point out again that the snotty part of your post was when you tried to poke fun at my usage of the term "blue water" by saying that it made me sound like "Tidy Bowl" man. You have already acknowledged above that you were not trying to be snotty, and I'll take your word for it. If you were not _trying_ to be snotty, then perhaps being snotty comes naturally to you without even trying? Can you please elucidate? (Oh... sorry... I promised to use small words... that means "clarify"). If you were not being snotty, then the only other possible explanation is that you were being genuine when you confused the term "blue water" with toilet disinfectants. As stated previously, perhaps your life experiences have made you predisposed to making this embarrassing association? If you were truly not being snotty, then far be it from me to poke fun of you for making this genuine mistake. Pardon me for treading on your illusions. Sigh! ... Wrong, _AGAIN_ Doug. You are not treading on my illusions. You are actually reinforcing the impression I already had from your previous post. You are also reinforcing the old cliche about one rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel. And that's a shame because it seems like you have many things of value to say. It seems that (if you wanted) you could be a contributor whose opinion people respected and someone whose posts are always read eagerly by other members. It's a shame you choose not to be. It seems like you have long-standing feuds with many group members, and that's OK... By all means you should stand your ground and fight "the-good-fight". But don't burn your bridges, Doug. My advice is that you turn the "snot-meter" _WAY_ down when replying to other members with whom you are still in good standing, or when replying to unknown entities. Fresh Toilets- Bob Whitaker P.S. I already extended you an olive branch last time. Even though I was disappointed you didn't take it, I will do so again by offering once more to change the topic. All you have to say is: "--Touche!" and bow gracefully and I'll consider it water under the bridge... In that spirit, have you had a chance to sail on a Cape Dory? What did you like and what didn't you like about the boat? Someone in my club has one but I haven't had a chance to sail on it yet. DSK wrote in message . .. Bob Whitaker wrote: Now, Doug, wouldn't it have been a lot nicer if you had just answered the original question politely rather than trying to be snotty with your post? Well, Bob, I wasn't really trying to be snotty. Sorry if I made you cry. Just go right on believing that Cals are magnificently constructed boats, and that anybody saying otherwise is just being snotty. Pardon me for treading on your illusions. Bye Doug King |
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#10
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Best 34 foot blue water cruiser
Doug "Fresh Breezes" King wrote:
My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. My apologies... those of you in the toilet cleaning business may have misinterpreted what I meant. Doug "Fresh Toilet" King is apparently referring to the disinfectant tablets you drop in toilet tanks, which apparently is the first thing that comes to his mind when he hears the term "blue water". When he hears the term "green water" he probably thinks it's the competing brand of disinfectant. I, on the other hand, was using the term to refer to cruising in the open ocean as opposed to coastal cruising... When I hear the term "blue water cruiser" I immediately conjure up images of a sailboat designed for extended offshore passages, rugged construction, heavier displacement than modern racing designs, good reserve buoyancy at the bow, small cockpit, stern that will hold it's own on a following sea, good control while surfing, a strong skeg-mounted rudder or one that's attached to the keel, and a boat that will hold up to getting pooped with "green water" (and no Doug, I'm not talking about _THAT_ kind of "poop"). But, you see Doug, saying all that is quite a mouthful, and it wouldn't have fit on the subject line to boot. So, I opted for the more concise term "blue water cruiser"... Sorry if it caused confusion in your mind. If you read the original post carefully, you will notice that I did not use the term in the main body, where I stressed "safety in open waters"... Perhaps you missed that point? I know that our personal experiences in life tend to make us predisposed to sometimes misinterpreting other people's comments, sometimes with embarrassing results, as was apparently the case when you misinterpreted "blue water" for toilet disinfectants. But don't worry, Doug, we won't hold it against you. Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals Ohhh boy... here we go again?!?!?! My heartfelt advice to you Doug is to please consider taking people's comments at face value. Who knows... Some people may actually mean what they say... By the way, when I wrote: "--I would prefer a project boat." I actually meant it. Also, in case you just glossed over that sentence, when I said: "--I would actually enjoy it." I meant that too. A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, an Ericson or an Islander. OK... now you are talking... Thanks for answering the original question!!! Yipe-dee-doo!!! Now we can finally get back to the main topic. I've also heard very positive comments about Cape Dorys, but I haven't had the chance to sail one yet. I would be interested in any opinions you may have on them. Oh... yes... and please do us all a favor and stay on topic this time? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. What I like about Cals is that they sail great and that they are really tough boats by all accounts! I also like that they were mass-produced because the laws of supply and demand dictate that "project" Cals are inexpensive to acquire. Now, Doug, wouldn't it have been a lot nicer if you had just answered the original question politely rather than trying to be snotty with your post? You are apparently a smart man. My advice to you is to let other people recognize that about you by the quality of your posts, not by your failed attempts at belittling others. Fresh Toilets -- Bob Whitaker P.S. Oh, and I also meant it when I said I'd be interested in hearing your comments about Cape Dorys. DSK wrote in message ... My first advice is to drop the phrase "blue water cruiser." It makes you sound like you want to be the Tidy Bowl man. Bob Whitaker wrote: Hello, Been thinking of moving up to the 30-34 foot range, ideally a sailboat that would provide safety in open waters, extended cruising situations. Would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, but "The Admiral" won't let me, and the bank won't either... I would prefer a project boat (I would actually enjoy it). Not a good idea IMHO, but diff'rent strokes etc etc. Most boats sold as 'project boats' are bad deals, since the cost & labor to complete are tremendously more than the buyer realizes. Most soak up huge amounts of time & money and never get into the water. But a cruiser must enjoy working on his boat, it's a prime requirement... so you might as well get that pleasure if you can't get the rest of the package. ... Heard great things of Cal 34's. From where? Cals are nice enough but are run-of-the-mill mass-produced boats. I happened to cruise a Cal 34 (somebody elses, it was far more boat than I could afford at the time) up and down the East Coast in the late 1970s. Lots of fun, but not on my short list for taking offshore. ... What other boats do folks recommend. Goal is extended coastal cruising, crossing Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi, TX to FL), keys, Bahamas, maybe extended Caribbean cruising. How much are you hung up on name brands? A Pearson of older vintage might be a good deal, or a Cape Dory, for slightly more $$ you get a Bristol or Tartan; or if you wanted a well built boat with more pep, an Ericson or an Islander. My recomendation would be something more off the beaten track like a Sabre or an Oyster, or one of the Scandanavian boats. A J-32 would be nice but you're not likely to find one in the bargain bin. You never know until you start looking. Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
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