roblpm
Well-known member
Dufours have offset forward berths on some models. Actually a 3 cabin has a lot going for it for a liveaboard. You can convert one aft cabin to storage workshop. Once you get over 36' most forecabins even with V berths make good double in port berths and aft cabin good seaberths. If you are budget constrained then a good bet is a 2 cabin early 2000s Bav 37. If I had the choice when I bought mine that would have been it, but had to earn money chartering and berth numbers count! Has a decent size loo and two armchairs in the saloon opposite a C shaped dinette, good size galley and loads of storage. Between £40-50k.
Not sure why you think publishing stability curves is desirable - you will never get anywhere near the point where these have any meaning. Equally with weight - you are going to stuff 2 tons minimum into the boat to go cruising. Any of the mainstream boats from the 2000s will do your job as has been shown by all the folks who have done it. You will spend up to 90% of your time in port or at anchor, out of the moving time 40-50% will be under motor and 95% will be in winds under 20 knots. Success in such a venture is more down to the crew, choosing the right type of gear and planning rather than the boat.
Having run a charter boat in the Med have a pretty good idea of what is what with buying one for cruising. 15 years ago it was good to do what you planned, but in my view not now. In those days fleets were renewed after 5-6 years because the market was expanding and builders were churning out new boats at low prices. The year I bought mine (2001) just the one fleet added 63 boats almost all on fixed 6 year operating contracts with a 4 year refit. I took my boat over after 7 years (last one was on a different arrangement) and I spent less than £3k to get it ready to sail back to UK. Things went downhill after 2009 and turnover is much slower and costs much higher. As you can see the Elans for sale in Croatia are 15 years old and now asking prices higher than a privately owned similar boat in the UK.
You are right that a UK boat will need quite a lot of prep, but if you buy right you will be starting with a much better basic boat which you can get sorted at your own speed. Having watched your posts on this subject over the years I suspect you are falling into the trap of overthinking the issues. Too much thinking and not enough doing is why so many such projects stall - just a few more things to do and... next year we will be gone! You will find most likely that when you are actually in a position to buy, have the money, that your outlook will change. Buy the best condition boat you can afford - don't be fussy about getting the ideal - it does not exist - and go for it.
Thanks for the post. I love the stuff about over thinking! ? But you are totally right about getting on with it.
Anyway I am getting to the point that I am gonna do this in just over two years time. Divorce put a bit of a dent in the plans in the financial sense but not in the practical sense. So I think the best idea is to buy a UK boat in two years. Whatever is available. 3 years sailing in UK. Sell the business. And then have a go.......