The continuing saga of our search for the perfect (or merely acceptable) cruising sailboat goes on. After burning up the internet exchanging emails with boat brokers, we left home last Wednesday, headed for Florida.
Our first scheduled meeting with a broker was in Hernando Beach, Thursday morning. We stayed at the Hernando Beach Motel and Condominiums, for which the check-in office also doubles as a beauty salon. The people were interesting and friendly, and our economy room, while pretty Spartan, was clean and adequate for our one-night stay.
The boat we were there to see was a Morgan 36, and was something of a disappointment. It appeared that the owner, who was not present, having decided to sell the boat, had also decided that normal maintenance was unnecessary. There was enough wrong with this boat that it was an immediate scratch-off. I think the broker was disappointed in it as well.
That afternoon, we had arranged to see a boat in Tarpon Springs, with another broker, but the broker told us Wednesday evening that there was already an offer on the table for that boat, and that the owner didn't want to show it to us. Instead, he showed us two other boats in St. Petersburg. No big deal, it was in the direction we were headed anyway.
One of those boats was a Catalina 38 in very nice condition. It's main downside was the sleeping accommodations. The other was an Endeavor 37, which turned out to have a lot more issues.
We stayed in Bradenton, Thursday evening, at a HoJo Express. I didn't even know Howard Johnson had any hotels that didn't have restaurants! And I didn't realize, when I made the reservations, that the hotel was so far away from I-75 that you needed a plane ticket to find it again...
Anyway, next on the list, for Friday morning was a Watkins 36, in Sarasota. This boat appeared to be somewhat better loved than either the Morgan or the Endeavor we had seen, but there were several deck integrity issues, and some significant interior water damage. These problems aside, there were serious livability issues with the layout. Normal American adults would have trouble negotiating the hatches and companionways.
Friday afternoon, we had an appointment with yet another broker, to see a Morgan Out Island 41. This boat appears to be well-maintained and very livable. Think lots of space everywhere, and plenty of room to maneuver inside the onboard facilities. I believe my Honey fell in love for a little bit. My only problem with the boat is that it is so danged big! It's intimidating. We also met the owner, who was very affable and informative.
Friday night we spent in the Scottish Inn in Okeechobee, and the accommodations were completely adequate for our one-night stay. No restaurant, though, and it was an older strip-motel.
Our last appointment was in Indiantown, and we met the broker at the Indiantown Marina. This time we were to see a Coronado 35, the standard (layout-wise) against which we had been judging all other boats. Why, you ask? Well...
A Coronado 35 is not a pretty boat. It is, however a very livable boat, because of its layout. There is a large aft stateroom, with what passes for a "queen-size" bed in the marine community - it's actually closer to the size of a standard double bed, which makes it huge in comparison to most sailboat sleeping accommodations. The aft stateroom is accessible by walking through either the galley or the head (which has doors into both the stateroom and the salon). There is also a sizable V-berth in the bow area. A large U-shaped settee on the starboard side provides seating around the dining table (also large, for a boat), while the settee on the port side normally converts to stacked quarterberths. This particular boat has been modified, so that the "bunk beds" are no longer present.
Anyway, the Coronado we visited has a couple of small deck integrity issues, which could likely be easily repaired. While we were there, however, the broker had a surprise for us.
He showed us a Morgan 33 which had been laid up for awhile. The little bit of exterior inspection I was qualified to do showed no hull issues, and I walked all over the deck and found no flexing at all. I weigh 292 lbs at the moment, so when I walk on something weak, it gives!
While the Morgan's layout didn't meet our ideal, it was very spacious for a 33-foot boat, and I found the V-berth to be of adequate size for my frame. Hatches and companionway were plenty adequate for me to pass easily, as well.
So, have we made a decision yet? No, but we've added four new possibilities to our list of potential candidates for the name Event Horizon.
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