New guy

[Pearl Blue]

Hi All,

I'm beginning my search for my dream boat, a Carver. I did some sailing long ago on a Baba 30 and I'm looking to get back out on the Puget Sound after raising my kids while enjoying our Bayliner runabout.

I'm looking for help in selecting the right yacht, the right broker, a great surveyor and making friends for future excursions.

Looking forward to chatting about boats etc.

I have really missed the people we met sailing. Everyone seemed to help each other and what can beat yachting in the Pacific Northwest?!

[waybomb]

Welcome aboard.

Tell us what your needs are, budget, well it be a condo on the water, a day tripper, overnighter, or longer journeys?
Diesel or gas?
Cockpit?
Are you handy, can you maintain a boat?
Have you explored the cost of dockage and winter storage?

Trek us and we will see if we can help

[Viper]

Welcome aboard and best of luck in finding your dream boat.

Like Fred said, the more info you can provide about the type of boating you're planning on such as, the number of folks typically on board, anchored out or port to port, water conditions, etc. the better.

[Pearl Blue]

We will be using the boat for cruising the San Juans and the Puget Sound. Mostly from port to port but occasional anchoring is on the list too. I will be docked year round and here in Western Washington there are locks that take you from fresh water to the sound. So it will be moored in the lake contingent on us finding a nice spot for her.

We plan to host 4 to 6 people on occasion but it will be generally the two of us.

I'm a handy guy and have lots of experience maintaining my boat, though on a smaller size. I also went to school to be a diesel mechanic so I know my way around diesel engines etc.

I'm looking to go with a 30 to 36 foot. What are your thoughts on a boat of that size for a new owner/operator?

I'm hoping to keep the purchase price under $40,000

[bud37]

Heh there, welcome to the forum.......my advice after reading is to walk the docks in your area and take note of the common boats and talk to owners to see what they have to say.....also get as much length as you can afford, you won't regret it ( actually larger boats are somewhat easier to handle).

You might have a bit of a problem with the 40k where you are unless you want to do a lot of fixing, if you get to 20,000 lbs displacement go diesel if you can and don't forget the surveys........

[Lyndon670]

also get as much length as you can afford, you won't regret it

And its much cheaper over time...."footitis" is very expensive and affetcs everyone....

[waybomb]

40k and with a cockpit because you fish.
Probably looking at 1985 to 1995 or so.

[RGrew176]

2footitis is a bad disease. There currently is no known cure.

[tomschauer]

There is a treatment for 2footitis, buy a bigger boat. Unfortunately it only lasts a year two. It in not a cure.
Side effects can include, empty wallet, angry wife, empty beer cans, repeated stories of other boats and your dream boat. If any of these symptoms last for more than 4 hours contact your doctor!!!

[Pearl Blue]

I've had the "footitis" for some time now having owned a runabout. It's quite chronic at this time and I'm afraid that i may never recover. With a larger boat and many hours of cruising i hope to overcome this affliction.
Thanks for your concern..