Making a Long List of Boat Designs – Forums’ Advice

/ Ben Starling

 

Part 1 (of 3) of Making a Long List of Boat Designs

What’s the perfect boat design?

One that meets our needs.

The Can Opener and I tried to keep our initial criteria simple: 30 feet, beamy for storage, blue water designed, durable for storms and a design that holds its value. We can always add more requirements later.

In order to draft a long list, Adam Turinas (How to Buy a Used Sailboat Guide – Part 2, Messing About in Sailboats) recommends:


  • extensive web research
  • talking to owners of the design you’re looking at (forums and friends)
  • possibly seeking the advice of a buyer’s agent.

The first two ways are interesting to me. A good deal of the fun and the learning is in the process. And no one will be as highly motivated as we are to find the perfect boat for us. So web research, forums and owner-friends’ advice it is.

For our first rough draft long list, I sought advice on suggested designs for solid blue water 30ft boats at Cruisers Forum and Cruiser Log.

Here are the enthusiastic suggestions I received (in no particular order). I’ll check these out first:
  • H 30
  • Endeavor 32
  • Cal 30
  • Alberg
  • Pearson Trition
  • Cascade 29
  • Alajuela 33
  • Rawson
  • Mariner or Fuji 31
  • Sun 27
  • Aloha 30
  • Wauquiez Gladiator
  • Bristol 31.1
  • Pacific Seacraft 31
  • Cape Dory 33ft
  • Baba 30
  • Albin vega
  • Shanon 28
  • Hinterhoeller hr28
  • Prout 31
  • Pearson 323
  • Bayfield 32
  • Tartan 30
  • Island Packet 31
  • Southern Cross 31
  • Allied Seawind 30
  • Westsail 32
  • Freedom 32
  • Watkins 32/33
  • CSY 33



In your opinion, what is the perfect blue water cruising yacht design?

   


–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Next up: 
Part 2 (of 3) Making a Long List of Boat Designs – Mahina’s Suggestions
Part 3 (of 3) Boat Designs – Shortening the Long List

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