Old Boat or Older Boat?

[stoomy]

Hi All,
I'm looking to get the most boat I can for under $200K. I want a comfortable cruiser that is capable of ocean passages.

Some of the boats I've looked at that I really like from the early 80s are:

Hardin 44/45
Formosa 51 and 56

But, I was also thinking for the same price range I could get a 2000 year model Hunter 460. Since we're talking about nearly 20 years age difference I was wondering if anyone had any input.

Thanks much,
~B

[goincruisin]

we opted for a 30 year old boat for two reasons: they were built in the days where one used solid fibreglass construction. Our hull is well over an inch thick, which is very comforting. The other reason was aethetics. We are not in love with the beamy blunt ended modern boats. You can read about our boat on CW:
http://www.cruisingworld.com/boats-a...tch-51791.html
we also have additional articles on our website, which may be of interest to you: coastalboating.net

cheers

[johngfoster]

Personally, I'd stay away from Hunter or Beneteau. Built cheeply for the masses. I've sailed on some fairly new Beneteaus where the bulkheads were cracking/creaking away from the hull (only about 2y old). For local day-sailing or weekends they would be OK, but for any serious open ocean passagemaking, I would look at something built more sturdily.

[hfxns]

Agreed, but understand that they are not built or classified for offshore cruising and are meant for gunkoling, primarily line of site cruising.

A full keeled, heavily displaced offshore cruiser is great for offshore, but is a slow and awkward in the light winds you find gunkoling.

[hfxns]

Just make sure to coach your comments in terms of what you use your boat for. I.e. day sailing, gunkoling, offshore passages, ocean, etc. It would make any points you have to say more valid. Blanket statements don't help anyone, and Hunter and Beneteau bring new sailors into the market, and we don't want to discourage new sailors.