Since selling my last boat in 2022, I've been watching the market for Downeast-style cruisers in the 28' to 40' range. My use is local day / evening cruises on the river and ICW, with occasional overnights and weekends at anchor or at marinas. I'm happy at trawler speeds, e.g. 8 knots or so, but want a turn of speed in reserve when necessary. By that I mean the ability to run at 14+ knots. I prefer a single engine for ease of access as well as to have protected running gear, therefore something like 250 hp or more is necessary. The Mainship Pilot series, 30' or 34', are good examples of what I like, since I don't care about a flybridge. I work full time, so project boats are non-starters. I’m looking for a boat whose P.O. has kept up with everything and has records to pass along. My price range is up to $120K or so.
What seems to have become a show-stopper is that a side door at the helm station is important to me. Without that, for a singlehanded or shorthanded skipper to reach the side deck or the bow requires moving aft first, then climbing onto a narrow side deck and going forward again. This is the issue with the Mainship Pilot series, and with the very handsome little Cape Dory 28, or the beautiful Legacy 28 Express. The 25' Rosboroughs do have a door next to the helm, but those boats are a bit small for what I need, especially when built with a true inboard engine.
The Zimmerman 36' has all that I'm looking for, as do some Legacys in the 32’+ range, but those listings hover well beyond the upper-end of my budget. I'm wandering around in no-boat land, and so turning now to the hive-mind of the TF. What should I be looking at?
I should probably fish-around over on the Downeast Forum as well.
What seems to have become a show-stopper is that a side door at the helm station is important to me. Without that, for a singlehanded or shorthanded skipper to reach the side deck or the bow requires moving aft first, then climbing onto a narrow side deck and going forward again. This is the issue with the Mainship Pilot series, and with the very handsome little Cape Dory 28, or the beautiful Legacy 28 Express. The 25' Rosboroughs do have a door next to the helm, but those boats are a bit small for what I need, especially when built with a true inboard engine.
The Zimmerman 36' has all that I'm looking for, as do some Legacys in the 32’+ range, but those listings hover well beyond the upper-end of my budget. I'm wandering around in no-boat land, and so turning now to the hive-mind of the TF. What should I be looking at?
I should probably fish-around over on the Downeast Forum as well.