Sage advice needed

CruisingRon · 05-31-2015, 10:15 AM

Help please. I've been dreaming of living aboard a trawler for a year and cruising up and down the Intracoastal Waterway with my wife being wherever the weather is good. There are no oceans to be crossed in our situation. I've done a lot of sailing 30 years ago and nothing recently. The boat will probably be sold after this cruise as this is not a mutual dream, but the wife is willing. We're in our late 60's but fit. It needs to be large enough to be comfortable for two for the year and small enough to be easily handled by two, I'm thinking about 40 ft. We ive in a nice home, quality is important.

I dream about serious trawlers like a Kady Krogen, but realized that that represents more expense and capability than I need. We'll be in marinas some nights but certainly not all.

So the request is "What kinds/brand of trawler would be suitable for this use? Assume the max purchase budget is $250k.

Thanks

RT Firefly · 05-31-2015, 10:24 AM

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. So am I to understand you wish to buy a trawler, cruise the ICW and then sell it? Why not lease/rent? You can do it in stages perhaps.

Brooksie · 05-31-2015, 10:27 AM

If you are mainly sticking to the waterways, a semi-displacement type, like a nice downeast, will give you less wake, more speed, and be more in keeping with current trawler thinking thus better resale than a full displacement Krogen. Maybe more space/length too. I own both a full displacement and a downeast 35-36.

DavidM · 05-31-2015, 10:46 AM

If I had $250K to spend on my version of that dream I would buy a Krogan 42, a Grand Banks 42 or if I also want to go fast a Sabre 42. All are quality boats that owners tend to keep up.

So there is nothing wrong with the Krogen 42 for that mission. You would be very comfortable on one.

David

CruisingRon · 05-31-2015, 10:48 AM

Thanks, but I have not seen anyone offering a year lease. One week leases at $1000 per week, yes but not doable. Suggested sites where I should look?

Codger2 · 05-31-2015, 11:21 AM

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.)

1995 Ocean Alexander 1 Sport Sedan Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Here's a newer OA 42
cruising

caltexflanc · 05-31-2015, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruisingRon

Thanks, but I have not seen anyone offering a year lease. One week leases at $1000 per week, yes but not doable. Suggested sites where I should look?

If you can find a lease at $1000 a week, why not doable? At 250k, you will spend half that on broker commission when you sell the boat, and probably all of it including depreciation, repairs, and fix-ups alone.

wyoboater · 05-31-2015, 11:40 AM

As I've stated to previous posters asking the same questions....check out Yachtworld and Denison's Yacht sales. Both have LOTS of boats you can peruse at your leisure. On Yachtworld, you can put in your parameters and every week they'll send you an e-mail of boats meeting your criteria...to me, it's just a good way to start seeing what's out there and getting a general idea of what you might like or not like. Once you've narrowed down your ideas, THEN you can start walking docks etc etc etc..anyway, it worked for me...and I have NO connection to either site....I just like lookin at boats, and they have a bunch!

jwnall · 05-31-2015, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruisingRon

The boat will probably be sold after this cruise as this is not a mutual dream, but the wife is willing.

You may not want to lease for a year (although it really is not a bad suggestion), but the above sentence does raise a few warning flags for me. You will not at all enjoy the cruising life if the wife is not happy (been there and done that -- except that mine was happy until the lightning strike). So you might consider a compromise -- lease for a bit and see how it works for her.

Art · 05-31-2015, 01:44 PM

My suggestion:

tollycraft (Power) Boats For Sale

I am a lover/respector of Tollycraft boats. Great purchase value. Good resale value. YRMV!

Happy Boat-Search Daze! - Art

**Bay Pelican** · 05-31-2015, 01:52 PM

Couple of comments:

If you are new to 40ft boating, going to just cruise the ICW, and are planning on selling in a year, I would consider a twin engine semi-displacement aft cabin type of trawler. Lots of space, maneuverable for docking. Grand Banks in the 36 or 42 ft range would do well. I suggest you research the resale of these boats as I am not in the market. The single engine boats I would prefer, the Krogens (especially the Manatee) and the American and Nordic tugs require a little learning to get comfortable with docking. Thus with a one year window you might avoid that and go with twin engines.

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

a 40 ft Ocean Alexander would also be great, same benefits. Finding 40/42 Island Gypsies and Marine Traders in 1st class condition may take some time, but these have the same benefits. However you again need to research resale. Avoid any custom or small production number boats as I would guess they are difficult to resell.

wyoboater · 05-31-2015, 04:40 PM

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."

Art · 05-31-2015, 04:55 PM

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."

IMO - Sundeck on top of after master stateroom is great for all sorts of enjoyments and elevated viewing conditions... with fly bridge just steps away for even better view elevation as well as nearly immediate boat control having 360° sight capability of boat ends/sides and surrounding water areas.

Cockpits with swing door to transom swim platform are really nice too. Sundeck gets my vote... having owned both models of boat.

**Bay Pelican** · 05-31-2015, 05:33 PM

Aft cabins not so great as anchor. Perhaps I could have worded that a little differently. We live at anchor in an almost constant 81 to 84 degrees F. Our cabin is in the bow with a hatch directly over our berth. The wind coming through the hatch at anchor makes sleeping quite pleasant. An aft cabin while larger and with more windows would not benefit from the wind as much. Of course the midship master cabin found on many Nordhavn 46s is a better deal underway, but then I don't get to sleep in a cabin underway.

wyoboater · 05-31-2015, 05:37 PM

Ah, okie dokie. Was just curious as to your reasoning. A fresh air flow is a great sleep inducer, I agree. But, as in all things boatish, compromise is a necessary thing.

caltexflanc · 05-31-2015, 06:54 PM

Not to mention the invention of fans and portlights.....

Art · 05-31-2015, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltexflanc

Not to mention the invention of fans and portlights.....

When (late 70's / early 80's when I was away from boating) and for what reason (promotion purposes) did port holes become called portlights? Just wondering!

**Bay Pelican** · 05-31-2015, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyoboater

Ah, okie dokie. Was just curious as to your reasoning. A fresh air flow is a great sleep inducer, I agree. But, as in all things boatish, compromise is a necessary thing.

Agreed

caltexflanc · 05-31-2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

When (late 70's / early 80's when I was away from boating) and for what reason (promotion purposes) did port holes become called portlights? Just wondering!

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!

**Baker** · 05-31-2015, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwnall

You may not want to lease for a year (although it really is not a bad suggestion), but the above sentence does raise a few warning flags for me. You will not at all enjoy the cruising life if the wife is not happy (been there and done that -- except that mine was happy until the lightning strike). So you might consider a compromise -- lease for a bit and see how it works for her.

BINGO!!!! I would not be asking what kind of boat. I would be asking for advice from people that have had wives in the same position. And asking how to ease her into it. Her enjoyment of boating is immediately related to yours. So the renting suggestions might be better for test driving HER...and not the type of boat!!!!