Reformed-sailor
Member
Greetings all-
— I wrote a long post but buried the main question which is this: is there a boat that’s practical to sail the great loop with (bridge clearance 15’) but that can also sail Seattle to Homer AK in the summers? AND can be moved from Miami to San Diego or Seattle cost effectively? Seems a Panama Canal transit and great loop bridge clearance is a combination with nearly no solutions.
For many years I had a sailboat. Loved that boat. When I sold it, though, I vowed “never again”. Yet here I am, once again considering a serious boat purchase— but not immediate. It took me 3-4 years to buy the right sailboat and when I saw it I knew it was right (and at that point I had near memorized every 30 foot used sailboat on the market nationwide.)
I bought the right boat- a 30 foot S2 9.2C. I was glad to sell her because I ended up doing most of my sailing (racing) on other’s boats. She was a bit to unwieldy for me to single hand and my SO was not enthusiastic (bought the boat before we met.)
Now I’m retired, divorced and have the proper time a mistress, er, boat demands.
Anyway, I have decided I want a boat for two things: 1. I want to do the great loop. Plan to sail around Florida area for 6 months or so to get familiar, then do the great loop.
2. I want to start cruising from Seattle to Alaska every spring/summer after doing the great loop. (All previous boating experience was in PNW)
Maybe in winters I’ll go as far south as Mexico or Central America, depending on the boat.
Now I’ve spent a couple weeks trying to find a good cruising motor boat. Loopers have recommended aft cabins like the Bayliner 4788 — but that era seems to be over and no such animals exist. Mid cabins with IPS drives seem to be closest.
I’m looking for something I can single hand and dock totally by myself. I don’t have dedicated crew. I also want 2 heads and 2 cabins at least and a separate shower in the master.
Kinda liking boats based on the IPS system from Volvo.
Yes I know this is a trawler forum, and I’m not sure I want a trawler. Hope that’s ok.
I do want something that can practically do 20-30 knots for extended crossings in coastal regions- to escape weather or minimize pilot fatigue. This is my main concern about pure displacement.
I have money and can afford to spend it, particularly when it comes to safety and it just means burning 3 gallons per mile.
To that end I’m looking for boats built in the last ten years and since I’ll probably buy in 2022 (or when the next financial crisis hits and people are bailing out of, rather than buying boats.)
Coastal sailing I have a good handle on but haven’t done any serious passagemaking. My longest day ever was an epic 90 miles and I hired a captain to help out. When it comes to motor boats, though it’s a whole different ballgame.
Any suggestions if educational courses for power boaters I should take? I have coastal nav down pretty good, but handling sea and basic power boating.
Here’s some of the boats I’m infatuated with, trawlers first:
Kady Krogan
Benneteau Swift
Prestige 460-560
Nordic Tugs - love the tug look
Cruisers Cantius 45-50’
Benneteau Gran Tourismo
Nordhavn 43
Catamarans! Love them, hate heeling.
Aspen C105-C150 a C120 has done the Panama Canal and a non-refueled circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.
Aquila 44
Maybe Aquila 36- be fun great loop boat then sell and move to PNW. Or maybe small enough to truck to west coast... but Alaska worthy?
Thanks for your thoughts. This is just a brain dump. I’d love to find out that shipping a boat between coasts is cheap and easy. (Eg cheaper and faster and easier than a solo Panama canal transit.)
— I wrote a long post but buried the main question which is this: is there a boat that’s practical to sail the great loop with (bridge clearance 15’) but that can also sail Seattle to Homer AK in the summers? AND can be moved from Miami to San Diego or Seattle cost effectively? Seems a Panama Canal transit and great loop bridge clearance is a combination with nearly no solutions.
For many years I had a sailboat. Loved that boat. When I sold it, though, I vowed “never again”. Yet here I am, once again considering a serious boat purchase— but not immediate. It took me 3-4 years to buy the right sailboat and when I saw it I knew it was right (and at that point I had near memorized every 30 foot used sailboat on the market nationwide.)
I bought the right boat- a 30 foot S2 9.2C. I was glad to sell her because I ended up doing most of my sailing (racing) on other’s boats. She was a bit to unwieldy for me to single hand and my SO was not enthusiastic (bought the boat before we met.)
Now I’m retired, divorced and have the proper time a mistress, er, boat demands.
Anyway, I have decided I want a boat for two things: 1. I want to do the great loop. Plan to sail around Florida area for 6 months or so to get familiar, then do the great loop.
2. I want to start cruising from Seattle to Alaska every spring/summer after doing the great loop. (All previous boating experience was in PNW)
Maybe in winters I’ll go as far south as Mexico or Central America, depending on the boat.
Now I’ve spent a couple weeks trying to find a good cruising motor boat. Loopers have recommended aft cabins like the Bayliner 4788 — but that era seems to be over and no such animals exist. Mid cabins with IPS drives seem to be closest.
I’m looking for something I can single hand and dock totally by myself. I don’t have dedicated crew. I also want 2 heads and 2 cabins at least and a separate shower in the master.
Kinda liking boats based on the IPS system from Volvo.
Yes I know this is a trawler forum, and I’m not sure I want a trawler. Hope that’s ok.
I do want something that can practically do 20-30 knots for extended crossings in coastal regions- to escape weather or minimize pilot fatigue. This is my main concern about pure displacement.
I have money and can afford to spend it, particularly when it comes to safety and it just means burning 3 gallons per mile.
To that end I’m looking for boats built in the last ten years and since I’ll probably buy in 2022 (or when the next financial crisis hits and people are bailing out of, rather than buying boats.)
Coastal sailing I have a good handle on but haven’t done any serious passagemaking. My longest day ever was an epic 90 miles and I hired a captain to help out. When it comes to motor boats, though it’s a whole different ballgame.
Any suggestions if educational courses for power boaters I should take? I have coastal nav down pretty good, but handling sea and basic power boating.
Here’s some of the boats I’m infatuated with, trawlers first:
Kady Krogan
Benneteau Swift
Prestige 460-560
Nordic Tugs - love the tug look
Cruisers Cantius 45-50’
Benneteau Gran Tourismo
Nordhavn 43
Catamarans! Love them, hate heeling.
Aspen C105-C150 a C120 has done the Panama Canal and a non-refueled circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.
Aquila 44
Maybe Aquila 36- be fun great loop boat then sell and move to PNW. Or maybe small enough to truck to west coast... but Alaska worthy?
Thanks for your thoughts. This is just a brain dump. I’d love to find out that shipping a boat between coasts is cheap and easy. (Eg cheaper and faster and easier than a solo Panama canal transit.)