markpierce
Master and Commander
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2010
- Messages
- 12,557
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Carquinez Coot
- Vessel Make
- penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Having trouble finding Bayliners in the Northeast. May go check out that Chris Craft this weekend. Thx for advice on Volvos. Any other "brand" boats I should look at? So far the Bayliner looks to be a good choice, if I can't find a trawler...
Considering a 27' Albin as minimum. Will have to board one to see if I like it. The 30' version or the 28' Cape Dory would probably be good, but my budget is so tiny at $30K.....
Someone suggested a Bayliner - they have an interesting 32' twin diesel with a unique queen berth which is more center than aft. Even a noob like me knows it won't handle rough seas like a trawler,
----snip---
Bottom line is my puny budget and limited skills are going to mean patience and compromise. THANK you for your thoughtful and very helpful responses. I am all over the place and hope I don't drive you guys nuts! Lol...
Not all trawlers are created equal and the vast majority of the under 42 crowd out there aren't passagemaker's either. While many can comfortable cruise around the entire Western Hemisphere...it should only be done with gaining MUCH experience.
And some of those smaller bayliner models if memory serves me correct (a few good friends had them)...they probably suffer neglect WAY better than the 80"s Taiwanese crowd of trawlers.
Agreed-didn't mean to imply anything with a "trawler label" could weather "A Perfect Storm", (which took place not far from my mooring-lol). Just wanted members of this forum to know I wasn't putting Bayliners in the same class.
An experienced mariner at my dock told me that Bayliners can SWAY back and forth like a cork in 4'+ seas compared to most trawlers. But when I look at the primary use of my next purchase, in MY budget, it's important for me to minimize initial repair/upgrade costs. I do plan to take some 100 mile "coast hugging" excursions so it would be great if I could find one ready to go. But it will primarily be used as my home, so...
Am I understanding you correctly - in general, a Bayliner would probably show less "damage" from neglect than a trawler in my budget? Still assuming caveat emptor when bringing out my checkbook!
Correct and people who speak poorly of Bayliners usually do from ignorance. They have their place and yes a poorly maintained Bayliner is probably a cheaper, maybe even better start than a poorly maintained older taiwan boat.
And I'd be careful about speaking of seakeeping ability, the 55 Viking motoryacht I ru for a guy every now and then is so bad without her stabilizers, that the pro captain from Charleston wouldn't bring her home last year in just a few foot following seas.
Yes it does look like a lot of boat for the money. They have a poor reputation for perhaps little reason. Probably because they are so common. That makes for good value buying.
I have heard that the issue with the BL 3288 isn't so much the lack of seaworthiness, but with the soft chines there can be a fair amount of rocking at rest. There is an Bayliner owners forum that would be worth researching. BAYLINER® OWNERS' CLUB
It has a livaboard forum section as well.
............... Or maybe I just don't have enough $ to be thinking about a toy, ER-I mean trawler, that would be my 24/7/365 home? It's possible that a $30K budget isn't enough to purchase one in a condition I could "live" with and fix up?
A 27' Catalina circumnavigated successfully too! And some "rowboats" have crossed the Atlantic. Experience and luck play a part.
But it IS encouraging to hear "seaworthiness" stories about a boat I may end up with. Thanks for the encouragement. I just joined the Bayliner forum, so that should help me!
PSneeld
Agree with you! And, I remember that quote too. I appreciate all the help from the kind and knowledgeable people on this forum, especially in light of the fact that I will probably not end up with a trawler.
If anyone can think of other options for me, given mt budget... I am encouraged by some Bayliners - but that is only from Internet viewing AND, they seem to be rare around here as opposed to out west and the PNW. The Albin would prob be too small, but I KNOW there is a boat out there with my name on it!
I would think most people here could really care less aout the word trawler and feel cruiser is way more appropriate...not trying to insult anyone's boat but I would hope it's about being underway rather than tied to the club float for all to see...not to say that some appreciate looks...it's just that is wide open for interpretation anyhow.
Next is how does the boat meet your needs to travel? Many have found their sailboats just fine except for the lack of a protected helm...in many geographic areas that can be fixed with a large, hard dodger.
Not for me...stil can't get use to living in a sailboat hull ...but that's me. However, a sailboat without a mast meets many peoples requirements of a trawler, just not the living spaces...you decide...what can you and what can't you live with? Could you keep your sailboat, add a hard dodger and lose the mast or change the rig? may be cheaper in the long run and the result is a way more seaworthy boat than many of the older trawlers you'll find. But that "real seaworthiness" isn't that important if you are just coastal crusin'.
The other extreme is a houseboat...I just ungrounded a 50 foot Gibson houseboat that had more trips up and down the ICW between NJ and Florida than many "cruisers" ever will. And I don't know the exact purchase price, but a quick seach produced 10 that were asking less than $60K and I'll bet most go in the 40's. That meand there's many more out there that are rougher and didn't make the yachtworld cut that would be in the 30's. I came very close to buying one but my marina at the time didn't allow houseboats....