I am not sure if this thread is going to be interesting to others except who are making a call to buy their first boat. I am writing it up here just so I record our process while things are fresh in my head.
We are an older couple, in 60’s - me hitting 70 next month. More details on us can be found on a thread i started in welcome forum. This would be our first boat purchase, transitioning from sailors to being boaters. There is also another type of transitioning. As sailors, we owned a 40’ freedom for over 12 years and cruised maine to annapolis - mostly maine - every year for roughly 4 weeks a year. Lived on boat for that period. But, now the big transition being planned is to become full time live aboard when the new boat is commissioned.
This process of buying a boat began abruptly. Just before COVID forced us all to be indoors and work remotely, we had sold our sail boat and had started renting sailboats in exotic locations around the world. COVID restrictions put a stop to it. So, for past 18-20 months, we regretted giving up our sailboat and were continually looking for sailboats we would want to buy. Veered from buying a new one to looking at boats on the market. But, for some reason did not pull trigger.
Then, one day after being vaccinated and able to travel again (under travel constraints of course), we did two trips alomost back-to-back. First was to BVI on a bareboat sail rental (my wife is as good a sailor as me and we have always travelled without a crew or captain). 10 days on water was heaven. Next we set off to do our first motorboat rental in Anacortes, WA and do 9 days in San Juan Island on Grand Banks 46. We did take lessons on handling a boat with a captain for first three days but then cruised on our own.
That trip was a crucial first step in our current journey that has just begun. Wife did love sailing but did not ever want to live for long periods on a sailboat. Me on the other hand has a gypsy soul and would have given up homes and lived on a boat if not married.
After the experience of GB46, wife suddenly started talking of buying a boat. Her rationale was - as we get older we would be more comfortable with motorboat rather than sailboat. Besides, she argued that anyway we dont sail as often as we motor sailboat due to adverse weather or wind patterns. Both of those arguments i agreed with so we started to seriously think about owning a boat.
That trip on GB 46 was in July 2021, just few months back. And, now on Dec 1, we have made a selection and about pull a trigger on purchasing a new 60’ boat.
In next few emails, i will recount how we conducted our search, why we made a call just in few months, etc.
Hope readers will enjoy watching this unfold gently and at 7 knot speed that we are accustomed to!
HRK
We are an older couple, in 60’s - me hitting 70 next month. More details on us can be found on a thread i started in welcome forum. This would be our first boat purchase, transitioning from sailors to being boaters. There is also another type of transitioning. As sailors, we owned a 40’ freedom for over 12 years and cruised maine to annapolis - mostly maine - every year for roughly 4 weeks a year. Lived on boat for that period. But, now the big transition being planned is to become full time live aboard when the new boat is commissioned.
This process of buying a boat began abruptly. Just before COVID forced us all to be indoors and work remotely, we had sold our sail boat and had started renting sailboats in exotic locations around the world. COVID restrictions put a stop to it. So, for past 18-20 months, we regretted giving up our sailboat and were continually looking for sailboats we would want to buy. Veered from buying a new one to looking at boats on the market. But, for some reason did not pull trigger.
Then, one day after being vaccinated and able to travel again (under travel constraints of course), we did two trips alomost back-to-back. First was to BVI on a bareboat sail rental (my wife is as good a sailor as me and we have always travelled without a crew or captain). 10 days on water was heaven. Next we set off to do our first motorboat rental in Anacortes, WA and do 9 days in San Juan Island on Grand Banks 46. We did take lessons on handling a boat with a captain for first three days but then cruised on our own.
That trip was a crucial first step in our current journey that has just begun. Wife did love sailing but did not ever want to live for long periods on a sailboat. Me on the other hand has a gypsy soul and would have given up homes and lived on a boat if not married.
After the experience of GB46, wife suddenly started talking of buying a boat. Her rationale was - as we get older we would be more comfortable with motorboat rather than sailboat. Besides, she argued that anyway we dont sail as often as we motor sailboat due to adverse weather or wind patterns. Both of those arguments i agreed with so we started to seriously think about owning a boat.
That trip on GB 46 was in July 2021, just few months back. And, now on Dec 1, we have made a selection and about pull a trigger on purchasing a new 60’ boat.
In next few emails, i will recount how we conducted our search, why we made a call just in few months, etc.
Hope readers will enjoy watching this unfold gently and at 7 knot speed that we are accustomed to!
HRK
? I'd just add a third suggestion, that no doubt many others would disagree with - you know, the ones who say they nearly live up in their flybridge... 
I'd suggest that instead of a flybridge, a pilot-house design with a sedan or Europa type layout aft of that, in order to minimise steps, and maximise the indoor/outdoor living it makes easier, etc. 
