Sage advice needed - Page 2

CPseudonym · 05-31-2015, 09:04 PM

I shopped almost 2 years for "our" boat. The wife shopped for almost 10 minutes and it's the perfect boat,,,, for us.

My advice is go rent a Mainship 40 or something for a week or two on the Chessie. You'll know everything you need to know after that.

hmason · 05-31-2015, 09:21 PM

The most important thing you can do is NOT take the wife out on any boat you are not totally competent with. If you can't dock it easily, maneuver it comfortably, and seem perfectly at ease with all aspects of handling the boat, leave her ashore until you are. Then, pick a beautiful calm day to take your first outing.

Many guys have urged their partners out on the water and due to their own lack of experience, scared the crapola out of the other half. Do that your first time out and you have ended your boating career and lifestyle. There ain't no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Do it right the first time, and you can enjoy it forever. Good luck, Howard

Art · 05-31-2015, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltexflanc

About the same time automobiles became cars.

Here's a discussion of the very topic:

Terminology: Portlight vs Porthole - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

After reading the above you will know about as much as you did beforehand!

Wow! That is as sideways as any discussion can get! Was brought up calling em portholes - so - for me... portholes they remain!

**Peter B** · 05-31-2015, 10:56 PM

[QUOTE=Codger2;337253]Most of the TF members will post boats that they are familiar with. That doesn't mean that they are the best boats for your mission. I fall into that category too!

I have had 9 boats over 30' in length since 1995 and have recently gone back to a model that I had 20 years ago. (Same make and model but not the same boat.

) Both my wife and I agreed that, all things considered (ie: speed, comfort, resale, looks, entertaining, cruising, maintenance, single handling, etc., it's really hard to beat an Ocean Alexander 42 Sedan. (IMHO)

We've had boats as small as 29 feet and as large as 54 feet. The Ocean Alexander wins, hands down, in our experience.

We wish you the very best of luck in your search. (I'm 74 & my wife is younger.)

Hard to argue, with that experience backing it up.

Jeeze that's a lovely looking boat Walt. I bet you let out a long sigh…rather like when you slide into a nice warm bath on a wintery night...when you got back into a boat like that, and even maybe had to admit…as nice and all as that Gourmet Cruiser was….oooooogh….aarrrgh...

markpierce · 05-31-2015, 11:17 PM

Portholes can open/close while portlights cannot.

RT Firefly · 06-01-2015, 05:54 AM

Greetings,
What I've heard is port lights/port holes can be opened and dead lights cannot. Both can appear the same when closed. I think we're talking semantics here. Windows-ports, doors-hatches, floors-decks, rope-rode/hawser/line...Potato-potahto...Let's call the whole thing off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOILZ_D3aRg

BUT one thing for sure is it IS saloon! How's THAT for sage advice?

Art · 06-01-2015, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RT Firefly

BUT one thing for sure is it IS saloon! How's THAT for sage advice?

Salon - Not Sage... Just Fact!

READY2GO · 06-01-2015, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyoboater

I'm curious Bay Pelican, and not meaning to start anything, or hijack a thread, but why?

"Also the aft cabins are great if you are going from marina to marina, but not so great at anchor."

Another problem with this style of boat at anchor is climbing a 6' tall ladder to get on deck from the dingy. We have a double cabin and that is bad enough. Neither is a problem when you are young and spry, but the older you get the more of a problem it becomes. If the wife is not too keen right now she really won't be when she is standing on the swim platform and has to climb a ladder that is taller than her.

The best advise I can give the op is to take the wife looking for a trawler to charter and let her pick the charter boat and go for a month and see how it goes with both on you.

stornoway7 · 06-01-2015, 07:40 AM

Don't forget the Defever 43 and 44's
Very popular boat for good reasons,and had a very long production run.
I had a 43 and for two it suited us fine,a lot of room for 43 feet.
Walk in engine room with headroom was great for a boat that size.

bayview · 06-01-2015, 08:30 AM

At 40+ feet most any boat will do the job. The interior accommodations, dock and anchor handling access will make all the difference in the admirals experience. A washer dryer adds greatly to convenience.

As above I strongly recommend an aft cabin because of the multiple spaces to afford some privacy at times. I would avoid narrow trunk cabins in favor of a large salon. Not every moment will be spent outside.

look at a lot of boats and make sure that the admiral never gets on a boat and says I wish we had seen this one when we bought ours. She wont care much about the trawler vs MY discussion and in reality it doesn't mean much for your use. Her investment in the decision will greatly affect the outcome.

Whatever she likes to do at home will be the same on the boat so make sure the boat fits that.

Nomad Willy · 06-01-2015, 09:34 AM

This is funny.
Almost everyone is recomending the boats that they own.
And they assume the OP knows best when he mentions 40'.
Some are even telling him how many engines he should have.
Despite the above and other subjective opinions handed out there is some good thoughts the OP should listen to. Probably the OP will have trouble picking them out though.

To be a member of the club I suppose I should recomend he buy a Willard?

Donsan · 06-01-2015, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manyboats

This is funny.
Almost everyone is recomending the boats that they own.
And they assume the OP knows best when he mentions 40'.
Some are even telling him how many engines he should have.
Despite the above and other subjective opinions handed out there is some good thoughts the OP should listen to. Probably the OP will have trouble picking them out though.

To be a member of the club I suppose I should recomend he buy a Willard?

I recommend Taiwanese Tubs, Leaky Teakies, and other Blackiron Monsters.

But seriously, the OP should consider the 37' Nordic Tug another TF poster is selling in Fort Pierce...if the price is right.

kolive · 06-01-2015, 10:06 AM

I would enter you price and length parameters in the Yachtworld Advanced Search mode for you region to get an overview of what is out ther. Then I would go out and go aboard as many of the boats that you can to get a better picture of what you might be looking for. Build a bit of a data base to keep track of what you like and what you and your wife do not like to help refine your search. What I like in a boat is not necessarily relevant to what you might like or need. We are in the same age group but our interests etc might be oceans apart. Take the time to do your ground work and check in with the forum as you narrow down your search to get more specific feedback on brands and models. I think it will mean a lot more to you after you have gone aboard.

Enjoy your search and make each visit a fun event with time to talk and fill in the pro/con list of each vessel. Keep records and photos as they will all begin to blend together very very soon.

**Baker** · 06-01-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by READY2GO

Another problem with this style of boat at anchor is climbing a 6' tall ladder to get on deck from the dingy. We have a double cabin and that is bad enough. Neither is a problem when you are young and spry, but the older you get the more of a problem it becomes. If the wife is not too keen right now she really won't be when she is standing on the swim platform and has to climb a ladder that is taller than her.

The best advise I can give the op is to take the wife looking for a trawler to charter and let her pick the charter boat and go for a month and see how it goes with both on you.

That is assuming we are talking Taiwan built boats. While my boat in my signature is not a trawler, it is an ACMY. And it does provide molded in stairs to the swim platform with a nice handrail eliminating the problem you bring up. It is a very valid point though. And while I am not saying buy my style of boat, I would recommend looking outside the realm of "trawlers" just in case there are boats that might fit the OP's criteria in that subset. Boats like mine are marketed directly at the admiral. So she might like something like that.

Scary · 06-01-2015, 10:48 AM

Your talking about tying up 250k that won't be easy to get back, When you do get it back it will have shrunk considerably. Chartering is a really good idea as a way of exploring what the life style would look like, building confidence in your boat handling for your wife, and building enthusiasm towards the adventure. You don't have to do this trip in a high end boat. You could buy a Bayliner 3288/ 3877 for around 60k that would easily do the trip, be easy to unload when your done. You wouldn't have the queen of the ball, but you would have solid boat that has a good following that will sell easily when your done. The trip can be done in almost any small boat. I have a friend who did the trip , the full lope, in a 16' outboard. I've found through experience that often times the smallest boat that will do the job is often the best choice.

Codger2 · 06-01-2015, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter B

Jeeze that's a lovely looking boat Walt. I bet you let out a long sigh…rather like when you slide into a nice warm bath on a wintery night...when you got back into a boat like that, and even maybe had to admit…as nice and all as that Gourmet Cruiser was….oooooogh….aarrrgh...

That's exactly right, Peter! I'm sure that everyone on this forum is in love with their boat....that's what makes this hobby so great!

We had friends in town last night & we stopped by the boat for some wine & hors d'oeuvres (spell?) before going to dinner. None of us wanted to leave the boat but our stomachs thought otherwise. We just love her!

Nomad Willy · 06-01-2015, 12:55 PM

You pick'em Walt. I remember how much you liked your last boat. I really really liked my last boat (Albin) but can't say I loved it .... that would put me in Art's catergory.

ranger58sb · 06-01-2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baker

And it does provide molded in stairs to the swim platform with a nice handrail eliminating the problem you bring up. It is a very valid point though. And while I am not saying buy my style of boat, I would recommend looking outside the realm of "trawlers" just in case there are boats that might fit the OP's criteria in that subset. Boats like mine are marketed directly at the admiral. So she might like something like that.

Useful point to emphasize. When we shopped last, the final two boats on the short list of three (?) were a 43' and 40' trawler and the 42' Convertible we bought.

Wifey voted for the one we bought. (Hint, hint.)

She felt we have more space in this one. In reality, both of the trawlers had more space -- the 43 may have been twice as much -- but I think it felt like "skinny" space whereas what we have makes use of the full beam. (The trawlers had great side decks, though.)

Anyway, we often run like a trawler, so it's all good.

-Chris

caltexflanc · 06-01-2015, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markpierce

Portholes can open/close while portlights cannot.

Not according to Lewmar and Newfound Metals, just to name two..

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?i...e=58&channel=1

Product Catalog

wyoboater · 06-01-2015, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kolive

I would enter you price and length parameters in the Yachtworld Advanced Search mode for you region to get an overview of what is out ther. Then I would go out and go aboard as many of the boats that you can to get a better picture of what you might be looking for. Build a bit of a data base to keep track of what you like and what you and your wife do not like to help refine your search. What I like in a boat is not necessarily relevant to what you might like or need. We are in the same age group but our interests etc might be oceans apart. Take the time to do your ground work and check in with the forum as you narrow down your search to get more specific feedback on brands and models. I think it will mean a lot more to you after you have gone aboard.

Enjoy your search and make each visit a fun event with time to talk and fill in the pro/con list of each vessel. Keep records and photos as they will all begin to blend together very very soon.

Exactly what I said a few posts ago....I would only add that Denison's Yacht sales offers the same service of weekly e-mail of boats matching your criteria....find a style that the Wife says ooooh and aaaah over, and go look at some of those....remember, wide angle lenses on the camera make spaces look bigger...sooooooooooo once you find a few you like in your locale, go get on 'em. Trust me, you criteria will change a few times until you narrow it down to a short list. The search both on the computer AND on the docks is fun! HONEST