
Let’s say we are planning to buy a cruising boat with the following typical specification:
- 18,000 to 24,000 lbs (8160 to 10800 kgs) design displacement, which will typically result in a boat around 38 to 44 feet long.
- Good sailing performance.
- Almost certainly fibreglass (see last chapter).
- Not a project boat. We are happy to do the usual tweaks that any new-to-us boat requires, but no refits and certainly no rebuilds. (That said, read on.)
- Trans-ocean capable (in reasonable comfort and safety).
- Price under US$250,000, when ready to go.
Gonna Be Hard
Contrary to common opinion, this is a difficult spec to fill because of two of the above requirements:
- Trans-ocean capable (in reasonable comfort and safety).
- Not a project boat.
Drop either, and literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of boats jump into the frame.
And often, maybe mostly, when we find a boat that seems to be less expensive, a closer look reveals a lurking problem that explains the price—teak decks that need replacing, often with water in the deck core under them, are a classic example.
So, if we had more than our example US$250,000 to spend, that would obviously help, but we don’t, so what to do?