d parker wrote:

My only concern would be resale value. As with most designs and
concepts that are out of the "norm" you may experience difficulty in
getting a price with a reduced buyer market.

This certainly hasn't been a problem with the Hinterhoeller! These are some of
the highest qualtiy, most beautiful yachts in this size range, and the market
has treated them as such. If you've never been aboard one, it's worth a look.
I've never sailed one, but I've been aboard several at boat shows. If nothing
else, they're roomier for their size than anything I've ever seen.

I don't think I'd want to go far offshore in one, but for pottering around
inland waters in the Northwest, or coastal cruising where bad weather can be
avoided, these boats are ideal. With such long waterlines, they're faster under
power (and sail). Of course, shorthanded sailing is their forte. All you have
to do to tack is steer. They might not point as well as a racing boat, but I'm
sure they're at least as good as many cruising sloops, especially the tubby ones
in that size range.

We had one anchored "next door" in Princess Louisa Inlet last summer. I think
it was the biggest model -- a 36? I chatted with the owner quite a bit. He'd
had the boat a couple of years, and couldn't be happier. His only caveat was
that the mainsail is really big -- as big as the one on our 50 footer -- so it's
a lot of work to pull all the way in. But being so full and in clear air all
the time, it's not so sensitive to trim or helm. So once you're basically
trimmed, all you do is steer. I think he had an electric winch for
singlehanding.

In this size and/or price range, I would seriously consider one of these boats.

BTW, the newer Freedoms seem like nice boats too. I was very impressed with the
36 I saw at a boat show. Very roomy, with a real head and shower w/ real wet
locker near the companionway, and some other neat features too, besides being a
handsome boat.

I would love to sail any of these boats, because so far I like them a lot.

Matt O.