Whatever the size, more important than that if anything within a certain size range is a contender is condition, condition and condition.
On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM, Dr. Mark Bodnar <[email protected]>wrote: > > I'm still looking at boats, reading emails from this list and learning > lots. Right now I'm sitting back, watching the market, looking to new > boats that come up, and trying to figure out where I want to end up. Maybe > some more experienced listers can offer some thoughts (on or off list). > > I know that everyone has there own criteria - but I'm trying to figure out > the right boat for me. My Mirage 24 is quite small - 5ft of headroom (only > my 8 yr old can stand up), not enough space to sleep 5 (me and 4 kids), > lacks an enclosed head, no functional galley, noisy and smelly outboard. > I envision wanting to do some more sailing - little further out of the > harbour, some overnights (effectively boat camping with the kids), maybe a > long weekend away with the girlfriend. > > But we've all heard the cracks "2 best days in a boater life - the day > he/she buys their boat, and the day they sell it", or "A boat is a hole in > the water you pour money into" - not really encouraging. So, why, if they > are so terrible does everyone get 2 foot itis? > > Feel free to espouse on why did you end up with the boat you have? Do you > wish you stayed smaller/cheaper/simpler? > What would you say to yourself if you could go back and offer advice? Was > this the best decision ever? If you could make a change what do you want? > A bigger galley? Bigger cockpit? > > My temptation was to find a 29-30 foot boat that would work, thinking that > would last me for years with the kids and still be a manageable size when > they are off. Keeping costs reasonable, maintenance manageable and enough > boat to venture further afield. > > Right now I could buy a local C&C 33 (with and Atomic4), or a local C&C 30 > (diesel), or there are 29's, 30's and 34's within reach - the prices are > similar. I plan on climbing aboard a few different boats to get a feel for > size and space, but I'm trying to figure out what I'm getting into without > having to learn the painfully hard way! I'm leaning towards a diesel (only > because that seems to be common opinion and gas on my current boat has it's > downsides), wheel steering and something fairly stable (so kids and > girlfriend aren't barfing over the side -- which I gather eliminates the > 29's from the list). Price wise I'd like to stay below $20000. > > I have the cash set aside to buy the boat, but clearly bigger is not > always better, the maintenance and insidious upkeep costs can add up > quickly. I was able to do a quick sand and bottom paint on my M24 in 2.5 > hrs. Assuming the cost and workload multiply with the displacement I'm > guessing a 30ft (being twice the displacement) would be double the effort, > a 34ft 3 times the work. At what point is it more work and you wish for a > smaller/cheaper boat? > > Thanks in advance for the advice, > > Mark > > > > > > > > -- > > --------------------- > Dr. Mark Bodnar > B.Sc., D.C., FCCOPR(C) > Bedford Chiropractic > www.bedfordchiro.ca > --------------------- > > There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. > - George Santayana > > > ______________________________**_________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > [email protected] >
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