36 owners wishing they bought a 42?

Hi
I'm curious. Are 36 owners happy with their size of boat or do you wished you had bought a 42? Still trying to figure out what would work best for us.
thanks

bcarli said:

Hi
I'm curious. Are 36 owners happy with their size of boat or do you wished you had bought a 42? Still trying to figure out what would work best for us.
thanks

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I'm very happy with my 36, and have no desire for anything larger.

Try chartering one of each to see what fits your needs best.

I just went backwards from a 40'9" Mainship 40SB to a Gulfstar 36 MarkII. Since it's just my wife and myself the 36 will afford us all the comforts that we had in the Mainship less a few feet for storage. Even then the Gulfstar appears to have ample storage. The one thing I'm not going to do with the GS is load it up with extras from every project I do on the vessel. I just took 3 Hummer HIII loads of crap out of the Mainship over the last week. Judging by the way the H3 sat I'd say I removed in excess of 1500lbs of stuff that didn't belong on the boat. As an example 50 feet of Red and 50' of Black #2/0 marine wire.
A 1/2 dozen 600 amp buss bars and fuse holders. I had drawers full of hardware so much that I didn't even know what I had on the Mainship. So no hording will be tolerated on the GS 36 Trawler.
Bill

IMO if you can afford it you never want to buy a boat and then later say that you wish you had bought something else. If you think you want a 42' that that's what you need.
Remember all boats look large when buying them but shrink quickly after three months of ownership.

Our 36' Nova Sundeck fills the bill. The size is ideal for getting a guest slip at all the yacht club marinas on the southern California coast. For two people and Spanky the cat we have more room than we need. The Sicilian is lookin' at a smaller boat but the prices are outrageous.

bcarli, you will find a huge difference between the GB 42 and the 36. Hallways are tighter, cabins are smaller and overall feel is more spacious on the 42. As one would/should expect. That being said, we love our 36. I would seriously consider chartering both, or another choice would be to hop on the ferry and go to Bellingham Northwest Explorations and spend the day aboard both. They are very accommodating and would no doubt give you all the time aboard you need. We did that and they even took us out to get a feel for the boats. We were looking at a 36 & 32 at the time. If you plan to be out and aboard a lot you will want to make the best choice for your personal space requirements and cruising style. Then of course there are all the other expenses associated with both boats. Either way you will appreciate the quality of the GB in any length. Feel free to contact me with any GB 36 questions. You can PM me and I will give you my number.

bcarli said:

Hi
I'm curious. Are 36 owners happy with their size of boat or do you wished you had bought a 42? Still trying to figure out what would work best for us.
thanks

Click to expand...

Depends on how you will use the boat and what type personality you have towards small spaces, limited storage and lack of amenities.

When I was looking...this was my thinking.

I knew I could afford a nice 36....and knew I could live on it alone.

I was hoping to meet a cruising partner so I started looking for a 40 and occasionally at the 43's (I went Albin because I prefer the layout).

I didn't look to hard at the 43's even though the prices weren't all that much more but I really preferred a single engine and I didn't see that in any available 43's. So I found a 40 I could live with.

I also found a cruising partner...but one that needed a bit more space and amenities than I originally hoped for. She also came with a 10 year old golden retriever.

I now wish I had bought a 43 because there's just not enough room for 2 on a 360 day liveaboard cruiser and who have no dirt storage space(and doesn't desire any).

Stretching to the 43 would have made a washer/dryer easier, larger dingy easier, bicycle storage easier, snorkeling/dive gear easier, fishing gear easier...and certainly a bunch of other pretty basic stuff for a liveaboard cruiser.

If you are just a weekender and 2 week summer cruiser...heck a 36 is probably perfect.

S

No, we do not want a 42 foot boat. Our 36 fits our needs very nicely. And we can afford to operate her. We think she's the perfect boat because she will Drink 6, Dine 4, Sleep 2.

I lived on a Birchwood 33 for 28 years as a single guy due to a very heavy workload (by choice) with playmates as and when available and managed just fine.
Then when I retired and sailed off into the sunset I met a French lady down on the Canal du Midi en route to Spain.
We've been together now for 6i/2 years and yep, you guessed it ! we need a bit more space for ladies accoutrements, I don't mind as we've just bought a 42 with semi flybridge (to get under bridges) more upper deck lounging space for entertaining.
I still love the Birchwood as a solid go anywhere boat but sadly it's now for sale.
The moral is to buy what suits your needs for a safe comfortable cruising life.

Bilgewater said:

No, we do not want a 42 foot boat. Our 36 fits our needs very nicely. And we can afford to operate her. We think she's the perfect boat because she will Drink 6, Dine 4, Sleep 2.

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Very well put! My sentiments exactly.

We bought a 30 and are wishing for a 32. But not shopping. Mostly due to the cost of moorage.

Looks to me that the best buy in trawlers now is the GB32 in wood. There are some 36' boats that would do for us if they had no exterior wood and didn't need covered moorage. But most all the GBs are powered by the Lehman and require covered moorage. Think we'll just keep our Willard w new engine. It still seems new to us but in fact is almost 10 years old.

Re the posters question most people w boats have 2'itus. That says go for the 42. But wise old salts frequently are scaling down to smaller boats.

Perhaps a better question would be to ask "would I be happier w a 42 wishing I had a 36 or having a 36 wishing I had a 42?

I think you'll find a big difference in size even among boats of similar length. Take the 36 Gulfstar and the 34 Californian LRC.

Although the pdf's linked suggest a 2 ft difference, the LOA's are actually within inches. My 34 tapes out at about 36 ft 8. The layout of the GS allows an aft cabin plus a fwd cabin. The MKII has a full width aft cabin without the full length side decks and 2 heads.

The sedan style of the Cal allows for a large cockpit but no aft cabin and the full length walkarounds cut into the saloon width. It has 2 smaller staterooms fwd and one head. One can fish and dive off the Cal easily...not so on the GS.

So consider how many will use it, where you'll go and what you'd like to do. Layout is as important as length...width contributes greatly, too. Then picture yourself doing what you love for weeks on end. Still need more space?

We came very close to buying a 40, but after we toured a 47 we knew after a year of owning the 40 we'd want a 47. So saved ourselves time and got a 47. And there's roomers of a possibly bigger one. Just make sure if you go bigger you can afford the expenses that come with the bigger boat, insurance, moorage, etc.

Buying a boat is probably the largest purchase after a house and each family have their own aspirations and dreams.
You only get one crack at life so follow your dream if you can, by all means get as much help and advice with your pre-planning so that you make a wise choice.
No two of us are the same and whether it's a 9 ft dinghy or a gentleman's mega yacht go for what you can afford and will be happy with and enjoy every moment.

Hi,
If you are referring to the GB36 vs the GB42, we are 10 year owners of a GB36, having made 4 one year cruises up and down the East Coast to the Bahamas and back, and a Great Loop excursion. The 42 is appreciably roomier than the 36, but for two people the 36 is fantastic. Slip space is more readily available, horsing it around in locks and docks is much easier, it has about 50 linear feet less of varnished rails and painting the bottom is less like painting the roof of an upside down barn. We have found that the GB classic has too much sleeping space and not enough lounging space for long term cruising, so this year we are sleeping in the vee berth and converting the after cabin into a study. Also, upon reflection, the Europa version might make better sense as it has a larger main salon, however, we are not wild about having to traverse a ladder to get to the bridge. The advice about chartering is spot on, so you can determine for yourself what is best.
Good luck on your adventure.
Roger and Anne

The Krogen 36 was the only sub-40 ft. mono-hull we were considering at the end. Still, it had the interior cube that was as good as anything we were looking at up to 42, and is more than we need. If there is a regret about going with a shorter vessel, it is that my dream of a stand-up engine room will have to remain a dream for right now. In the sub 40 spectrum, only the Great Harbor N-37 and Krogen 39 offer stand-up, separate engine rooms and as one can see by the prices of those vessels, you've got to pay for it.

FlyWright said:

I think you'll find a big difference in size even among boats of similar length. Take the 36 Gulfstar and the 34 Californian LRC.

Although the pdf's linked suggest a 2 ft difference, the LOA's are actually within inches. My 34 tapes out at about 36 ft 8. The layout of the GS allows an aft cabin plus a fwd cabin. The MKII has a full width aft cabin without the full length side decks and 2 heads.

The sedan style of the Cal allows for a large cockpit but no aft cabin and the full length walkarounds cut into the saloon width. It has 2 smaller staterooms fwd and one head. One can fish and dive off the Cal easily...not so on the GS.

So consider how many will use it, where you'll go and what you'd like to do. Layout is as important as length...width contributes greatly, too. Then picture yourself doing what you love for weeks on end. Still need more space?

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Al great comparison of the Gulfstar 36 and the Californian (Sedan preferred). I always wanted a Californian but I could never catch one in decent enough shape here on the East coast. The good ones always seemed to be in the Pacific NW or California. There was a real nice looking one in Ohio. So far I'm pretty happy with the deal I got on my Gulfstar 36 MarkII. Once I get done modernizing the boat and using it with my wife I'll let you know if my opinion's changed. Right now I'm psyched about starting the upgrades this Tuesday. I'm shooting to bring her home to the New Jersey coast before the 4th but that might not be possible.
Bill

36 works great for us because we still have land ties. Not too big, not too small. Our plan is to use it 2 years and then make some serious decisions on which way we are going.

Our IG36 is fine for us. One sleeping cabin, convertible dinette, the "selfish couple`s fitout" I call it, with good space to entertain visitors. Of course it depends on your needs and how you plan to use it. I think most couples would be ok at 36, add some kids 42 could well be better.

If the OP hasn't said what his plans are...liveaboard, long distance/term cruising, mentioned any "has to haves" or really much of anything....how can anyone really recommend a size?????

I was all set to buy a GB42 until I went aboard an OA Mk1 50, which I ended up buying. No regrets, but then I'm content at trawler speeds.

To me 'speed options' is the crux of the 36 vs 42 choice. Sure you can plane a 42 with enough power, but it will burn a lot of fuel. On the other hand, setting up a 36 to plane isn't a huge deal, and fuel use not unreasonable. It was Marin who used to highlight this flexibility of the 36 design. For people still working it gives them more time at destinations and a greater range of destinations from home port. You can probably get a 'trawler' style boat up to about 39 ft to plane at reasonable cost. Beyond that, there are too many cupboards to 'store stuff which you might need one day', your displacement takes a big jump up and going fast will be expensive.

As others have said, its how you will use the boat that determines the right size for you. In GB's that you don't want to go fast in, I think the sweet spot is the 46. For displacement speeds, waterline length is everything providing displacement is still reasonable. But I think the GB49 is just too heavy, and is into a different class of boat.

psneeld said:

If the OP hasn't said what his plans are...liveaboard, long distance/term cruising, mentioned any "has to haves" or really much of anything....how can anyone really recommend a size?????

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I was thinking the exact same thing. This is a very personal decision and is greatly affected by wants, needs, available cash (or credit) and what the OP wants to do with the boat. Only he can answer that question. Look at lots, carter if need be then buy what's right for YOU. Oh, and never become a two boat owner like I did last time.

We have our current 36 Mainship Aft Cabin model about 2 years now.

I wanted something more like a 42 - 44 footer. The Admiral fell in love with a 36 because she was not intimidated by its size and since she will be doing a lot of driving and handling, that is what we bought.

Now after living on it for 2 years and our first extensive trip of over 1200 miles she is still happy with the 36. At times, I think that a bigger boat might have been better, however, being senior citizens, there are times when the 36 really was the better choice - lighter ground tackle, less boat to wrestle with, more anchorages and slips available and a willing partner that enjoys driving the boat.

I wanted a GB42 with a single. Most of them are twins. If you are an older person, or less flexible, you will never see the outside of your engines in a 36 (if twins). On a 42 with the same pair of engines, if the tanks are not placed badly, you will actually be able to move around in your engine room, which I have found to be an advantage. Or get a 36 single. I saw a 42 with a single Gardner once, but it was not for sale. Except for teak decks, which I can't stand, I can't look at a deck without checking the seams and the bungs and counting the screw heads... a GB42 with a single is my dream boat.

Some GBs with twins were John Deeres, which are nice engines but for the fact that one runs backwards, which causes issues for starters and water pumps, amongst other things.

When looking at GB42's over two years ago I found a couple of singles. One in Seattle had a Cat 3208 in it. For reasons that were not clear to me the engine was mounted very high. Yes, good access is nice. But i just need to get to both sides, not be able to lie underneath it as well.

The second one I considered had a Gardner 6LXB in it. It was in Tasmania, and I was close to buying a plane ticket to check it out. I was nervous about the draft - a problem when going from a single to a twin. This boat seemed to have partly addressed the problem by going to a 5 bladed prop of smaller diameter than one would normally use. The owner felt it was fine, and it may well have been OK.

The showstopper was the boat price - the hull number was a giveaway that the boat was older than claimed. I think the owner got caught out when he bought it. I found a few GB42 in Australia with the same issue. Brokers just accept owners word and have no liability that I am aware of, and some owners lie because they know later build year boats are worth more. Thank goodness for hull numbers and a bit of due diligence. The Tasmanian owner went through the old maintenance records and realised the boat was older than he was lead to believe and was upfront with me on that. He wasn't fussed as he had extensively upgraded the boat ready to do a lot of cruising, and I agree that quality and age of systems does have a lot of bearing on boat value. But then health issues (stroke) limited his mobility and he decided he just had to sell. He wanted back the money he had spent. This was understandable but it was just way, way above market value so I backed away. The gap was just too large. I still feel sorry for the guy, getting everything ready for living his dream and then not being able to do it. I hope he did get an OK price, but it was going to take him some time to realise he had to reduce expectations. It made me determined to get onto the water sooner rather than later, advice I always give to folks. You never know what's coming, live life while you have your health. Downsize boats on your shortlist if necessary, but do it now.

We have found that the GB classic has too much sleeping space and not enough lounging space for long term cruising, so this year we are sleeping in the vee berth and converting the after cabin into a study

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Anyone considering a trunk cabil boat should consider the above experience carefully. Makers have for years been pushing sleeping space, great for weekenders but not for long time cruisers.

Interior volume is very important when you spend a lot of time on the boat. A small salon with a dinette, helm station and perhaps a chair really limits your lounging and entertaining space. Think about where you would sit to read or (gasp) watch TV? Would another couple or two be able to sit comfortably for cocktails??

If you need a lot of space for weekending with large family then perhaps an express boat fits your current needs better.

Sure the aft deck is great for lounging except when the weather is too hot, too cold or too buggy. Then everyone wants to be inside.

Personally I hate dinettes. People often ask how many does it sleep my answer is that it depends on how friendly they are. In my experience sleeping space is not as critical as lounging space.

My first trawler was a CT35. Great boat! Loved it and loved taking it out around the bay and delta. But it was too small to take to Mexico, in my opinion. Eleven years with a sailboat and it was time to move to a trawler again. This time we got a 42' boat so we can cruise to Mexico and Alaska. We didn't need more than 36' other than being comfortable coastal cruising. That's us. Lot's of other people cruise up and down the coast in much smaller boats.

My trunk cabin Albin Has more usable and lounging space than many of the "Europa" style boats that may have a longer cabin but it's all chopped up.

Plus climbing a ladder to go to the upper deck was a definite no-go. Fortunately later models have incorporated steps rather than a ladder.

Every manufacturer and every model can be a little different. Be careful not to rule one out because others like it have an undesirable trait.

Plus bedroom space means storage and can be comfortable lounging space for a cruising couple...

psn: Be careful, isn't it close to blasphemy to suggest that your nice Albin may be better designed for its intended use than a GB?