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From: Dwight Yachuk (no email)
Date: Wed Jun 01 2005 - 08:03:12 EDT
Welcome to the Group Tom,
Cape Dory, Dape Dory, where have I heard that name???
Oh yes, that's Mike's (Lavida - Cape Dory 33) boat, currently sitting on the hard getting an engine transplant and waiting to cross the Atlantic via a northern passage (sorry to steal your thunder Mike). I'm sure he'll wax elequently on the merits of the Cape Dory.
Personally I would be hard pressed to choose a boat under 32+ feet for cruising. Yea a smaller boat is easier to handle, cheaper to dock, less costly to maintain, but if you're spending more than a couple of days aboard personal space becomes important and there isn't much of that on a small boat. Also, the seas can get pretty nasty out there and a bigger heavier boat will handle the rough weather much nicer than a small light craft. Not to say that a small boat won't survive, it will but you sure will get tossed around a lot.
My sailing buddy Bill and I have a Jeaneau Lagoon 37 cat (she's in Venezuela right now). I've spent 2+ weeks aboard and Bill's been living on her for about 4 months now. Lots of room, very sea worthy, etc. We plan on sailing her across the atlantic next summer.
Cats are still relatively expensive though. For a crusing monohull personally I'd look for a center cockpit, possibly pilothouse configuration. A center cockpit usually means you have two cabins so two people can have one each. A pilot house offers an extra room where you can observe the sea but be sheltered from the elements (rain, sun). Think of a veranda on your house. Think of a pilot house when you start hearing terms like "wet deck".
I haven't sailed on many vessels but I was fortunate to spend some time on a Nauticat 33 (36 foot) motorsailor which makes a great cruiser in my opinion. They're built to handle the North sea and can be had for under $70K.
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?currency=USD <http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet&checked_boats=1311158&slim=quick> &units=Feet&checked_boats=1311158&slim=quick&
dwight
-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]On Behalf Of Tom Felice
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 7:19 AM
To:
Subject: [world-cruising] Re: Choosing a Cruiser
Hello,
I've just joined the world-cruising group. The
moderator suggested I write an introductory letter
about myself to the group, so here goes. My wife and
I are in our late 50's early sixtys, retired, looking
to travel more. We often go on extended (3 week to 6
month+) trips in our micro-rv. We like to (and find
it necessary to) travel very economically. Enough
about that, we both have the wanderlust!! We live on
the Tennessee River which fuels my dreams of rowing my
dinghy (which is a self built Michalak design) from my
property edge to my (yet to be acquired) cruiser and
set sail for interesting ports in the world. The
early years of the dream include Gulf coast cruising
and the carribean. My wifes sailing exprerience is
zero and she'd like to keep it like that (the learning
to sail part not the goiing somewhere in a sailboat).
In my earlier years I was an avid Laser racer, Dyer
Dhow frostbite racer and crewed some on an Etchells
30. I have no cruising experience. The seeds of my
yearning to cruise seems set back to Long Island when
my then girlfriend and I were checking out mariners
and spied a Folksbot at anchor in the harbor with the
owner reading a book with his feet up. My girlfriend
suggested that it was very possible that sturdy
heavy-keeled Folksbot had crossed the Atlantic. My
mind always goes back to that and it is the germ of my
cruising desires.
I'd like this introductory post to serve double duty
by joining onto the "re: choosing a cruiser" thread.
It was fortunate that my first digest should include
this most appropriate thread. Someone (Lavida)
mentioned
"However, I'd steer you towards a boat that is a well
respected, blue water design capable and within your
budget needs. There are many classic plastics to
choose from. Practical Sailor puts out a book that
reviews many designs as well as the www offers much to
be had. Especially the owners groups."
...but Lavida didn't name this "well respected, blue
water design...". I'd like it if you'd share that.
I have been looking on paper at an older Morgan 28 or
larger, or a Cape Dory 25 or larger. Any comments on
these. By the way, I'm 5'11"+ and would like to know
how important headroom is, should I go for that?
Looking forward to really enjoying this group and in
the near future, cruising.
Tom
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