morgan sailboat review

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Morgan 382 review

• Thread starter lpisko
• Start date Feb 7, 2002

Larry Pisko "Sail-La-Vie"

• Feb 7, 2002

The March 1996 issue of "Sailing" magazine contained an article entitled "Used Boat Notebook -- The Morgan 382". I called the publisher looking for back issues, but they're out of print and no longer available. Does anyone on this board know where I might be able to get a copy of that issue? or a copy of the article? Thanks, Larry "Sail-La-Vie" Morgan 382 #27  

Victor Copelan

• Feb 8, 2002

Larry, One of most through and best reviews is in Good Old Boat about a year or two ago (any body know the exact date?). It was actually 3 articles. One by Ted Brewer and a couple on Dick Kilroy's 382 and the Bermuda race he took a 3rd (?) in. Fairwinds & Rum Drinks, Vic C.  

John Schamante

I have a copy of the issue. May/June 2000. If anyone interested I could copy. Al, if I scan can I post it somewhere? John_/)_/)_/)  

Alan C. Tigner

• Feb 9, 2002

John, if you mail me a copy of the printed text I can transfer it to data form and post it to the site. If you Xerox it make sure it is as clean as possible. My mailing address is as follows: Alan C. Tigner 18 N. Chestnut Court Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047  

• Mar 4, 2002

Alan, I sent you a disk with the articles snail mail on Friday March 1st. Let me know when you receive it and if all is well. If not I will make copies and send. Sorry the e-mail didn't work. John_/)_/)_/)_/)  

• Mar 6, 2002

Will do.  

• Mar 9, 2002

Don't know if you've all seen this, but here is where I found it. http://www.spinsheet.com/whitegui/Section.asp?sectionID=3&articleID=59 Morgan 38 By: Jack Horner For those readers who have been around as long as I have, your first vision at the mention of Morgan 38 is likely the classically styled, late '60s, Charley Morgan-designed sloops and yawls that were Morgan's follow-up the successful Morgan 34. For more recent devotees, Morgan 38 brings to mind a more contemporary series of 38 footers introduced by Morgan Yachts in 1977. In 1993 still another Morgan 38 was introduced. All models are commonly referred to as Morgan 38's but that's where the commonalty ends. Only about 80 of the early Morgan-designed 38s were built, while nearly 500 of the 1977 Ted Brewer-designed series were built. The 93 model was a rather bulbous center cockpit model that has nothing in common with other models except its name. Space is limited and there are generally many more of the Brewer-designed models on the market, I am going to concentrate my look this month on this series. Very few models of boats have been built for protracted periods without some changes to their form or layout and the Morgan 38 is no exception. Introduced in 1977 as the Morgan 382, minor rig changes resulted in a model name change to Morgan 383 in 1980. In 1983 there were several more changes and again the model name changed to the Morgan 384. Although Morgan Yacht was purchased by Catalina in 1985, the Morgan 384 continued in production until 1986. In all its incarnations nearly 500 boats were built in this series. Though model numbers changed the principal dimensions; LOA 38'-4", Beam 12' and Draft 5' were not changed. Some deep keel versions were offered drawing 6' rather than the standard 5' draft. When the 383 model was introduced the only change, to the best of my knowledge, was a slightly taller rig. This change resulted in a higher aspect mainsail and an increase in sail area of about 12 square feet. When the 384 model was introduced there were several subtle changes. The rudder was slightly enlarged, there were slight modifications to the interior, mid-boom sheeting was introduced and the traveler was moved out of the cockpit to the cabin top and ventilation was improved with the addition of four Dorades with cowl vents. The sail area increases on the 383 series results in the 383 and 384 models to rate, on average, three seconds per mile faster under the PHRF rule. Construction of this series is generally sound with one known exception affecting some early 382 models. The bulkhead between the head and the main cabin was not tabbed securely to the hull. This resulted in mast loads causing hull distortions. The problem resulted in a manufacturers recall when it was discovered. I'd be surprised to find boats that have not been repaired by this late date. Reportedly, some 382 model boats were constructed of solid fiberglass and resin laminates. However, most boat were built with a sandwich method of construction using fiberglass and resin laminates over a core material. A variety of core materials were experimented with over the years. Airex foam was most often used although it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine, with certainty, the core material used without destructive testing. Some 382 and 383 models were reported to have been built using the same fire-retardent resins blamed for causing much of the osmotic blistering problems that plagued Valiant 40's and Uniflite power boats. Few 15-to 20-year-old fiberglass boat are seen without some osmotic blisters unless there has been extensive and expensive repairs. It is not uncommon to find some degree of blistering on Morgan 38s but I have not seen nor heard of a problem as extensive as the reports of the Valiant and Uniflite. The performance of this Morgan 38 is typical of her class with generally good speed and pointing characteristics and good maneuverability. The Morgan 38 does not balance easily or track particularly well when sailing off the wind. These deficiencies were somewhat improved on the 384 model with the increase in rudder size. For auxiliary power most of the 38s were equipped with the 50 hp Perkins 4-108 diesel which provides plenty of power and smooth dependable operation when properly maintained. Some of the first-generation 382 models were powered by the Yanmar 3QM30 engines. This engine provides adequate power but is very noisy and vibrates considerably compared to the Perkins power. All Morgan 38s in this series are handsome, contemporary styled, comfortable yachts built sufficiently strong for most uses. Boats that are well maintained and cared for hold their value as well as or better than most boats of this class. Jack Hornor is an Annapolis-based marine surveyor and naval architect. He can be reached at 410-451-8133  

• Mar 14, 2002

Alan, I put a copy of the article in the mail today. Hope they are good enough to use. John_/)_/)_/)  

[email protected]

Gene hinton.

• Aug 3, 2004

what can anyone tell me about morgan majestic thank you. [email protected]  

Paul O'Connor

• Jul 20, 2006

Does anyone own or have info on the Morgan 38 center cockpit version?  

Are you speaking of the Out Island series, or the newer Catalina-Morgan 38 center cockpit? If the latter, give us a holler, as we have a 1994 Catalina-Morgan CC. --Wally and Linda S/V Tropical Dream [email protected]  

• Jul 21, 2006

What you are speaking of is the Morgan 39 - same hull as the M382 but center cockpit. We had one member a while back. If you look on the photo page you can find some picture and the name of the boat. Then look at the archives and you may be able to find the owner and his e-mail address. Fairwinds and Rum Drink, Vic  

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Charles Morgan was already well known as a designer of one particularly successful racer, ‘Paper Tiger’, when he started building another of his designs, the TIGER CUB, on his own. But it wasn’t until 1965 when he joined forces with long time friend, Bruce Bidwell, and began to build the successful MORGAN 34. This was followed, most notably, by the MORGAN 24, 30, 41, and 45. The OUT ISLAND 41, introduced in 1970, became legendary as a no-frills, center-cockpit standard, especially in the charter trade. Charles Morgan’s involvement in the company ended in 1972. Since that time, the company was passed from one corporate entity to another, until it came into the hands of Catalina Yachts in 1984. Catalina continued with a few models, including the OUT ISLAND 41, before the Morgan name was retired.

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Catalina Morgan 440

• By Alvah Simon
• Updated: September 23, 2005

For aging sailors, the desire to be out on the big blue seldom wanes, but their capacity to handle physically challenging tasks and their confidence may diminish over time. When the main becomes malevolently large and the ground tackle ponderously heavy, should we tie off our beloved craft and no longer go to sea? The answer, of course, is no, and the market is responding with boats that address the needs of this demographic. With baby boomers possessing more free time and money than in any other period of their lives, there’s no reason why they should be denied their cruising dreams.

“In designing the Catalina Morgan 440,” Catalina’s Gerry Douglas said, “we specifically targeted past owners who are ready for retirement cruising. We envisioned a manageable rig and an aft cockpit with a raised deck saloon that was large. All equipment and ergonomics were specifically selected and designed for comfort and ease of handling.”

Letting form follow function is a risk in an industry driven by image. To his credit, Douglas focused on the practical needs of his maturing customers and let the lines fall where they may. The resulting vessel won’t appeal to everyone, since it makes few concessions to racy aesthetics or high performance. But for those willing to trade that for extended time afloat, the 440 deserves close inspection.

True to the Mission

The four judges of the Cruising World 2005 Boat of the Year contest come from diverse boating backgrounds and approach design with different priorities in mind. But during our dockside inspection of the boat, we all noticed thematic details that were apparent from stern to stem. The aft scoop is wide and low for ease of access from dock or dinghy. Although the pushpit makes a good handhold, an additional rail fixed inboard of the top-side/transom line would improve safety. The life raft can be launched from a designated locker on the scoop, thus avoiding the Herculean task of fishing a 100-pound raft from the depths of the lazarette and heaving it over high coamings and lifelines. Two wide yet shallow steps lead up into the cockpit through an offset transom aisle. This opening is secured with a slide-in splashboard and two stainless-steel wire gates that retract cleverly into the railing when not in use. A 10-inch bridgedeck prevents downflooding, and enormous drainage capacity aft lets this cockpit quickly shed boarding seas.

The steering pedestal on the test boat featured the customary instrumentation plus a GPS chart plotter. The 44-inch wheel is large enough for easy steering but small enough to walk around. The primary winches are within arm’s reach from behind the wheel. All mast control lines are led through rope clutches to a two-speed electric power winch on the cabin top.

A large folding table with stout handholds protrudes forward from the pedestal. The high coamings create a deep and secure cockpit. The captive washboard companionway hatch can be locked from above and below without having to fit or stow heavy pieces, and lifting the locker lids is assisted by gas springs.

At 31 inches, the lifelines are exceptionally high and have gates to port and starboard. While the cabin sides have a boxlike look and substantial windage, they also have handholds that complement the lifelines at the same height. Three-inch bulwarks and an aggressive nonskid surface fit well into this secure layout.

Stanchion bases wrap around the bulwark and are fastened from two angles, making a stiff attachment. Deck hardware attaches by means of threaded aluminum plates laminated into the underdeck. This system results in a hundred fewer holes in the deck and in simple maintenance access. The stem has a long overhang for ample anchor clearance. The rollers, lockers, cleats, and the Maxwell vertical windlass accommodate two sets of ground tackle. The windlass can also be used to haul the dinghy, but its switches should be capped for safety. A set of deep chocks for stowing the dinghy right side up on the foredeck would eliminate the struggle of inverting it.

Solid Impressions

A teak rubrail capped with rubber protects the topsides. The moderate canoe hull is solid hand-laid glass below the waterline and balsa core above, and vinylester resin is used to counter osmosis. The deck is through-bolted to an internal hull flange with 1-inch 316-stainless-steel bolts on 4-inch centers and bonded with 3M 5200. The encapsulated-foam rudder with a 2-inch solid stainless-steel stock hangs on a partial skeg.

The Charleston tapered mast is 62 feet 4 inches high, leaving room for wind instruments and a VHF antenna while still sliding under bridges along the Intracoastal Waterway. The 4-foot-11-inch wing keel is appropriate for the skinny waters of the Bahamas or Belize. U.S. West Coast customers may prefer the 5-foot-4-inch fin keel.

About 80 percent of the 440’s new customers ordered the boat with the standard in-boom Leisure Furl. While I have a natural suspicion of any complicated equipment, I’ll concede that hauling, reefing, and handling a large, stiff mainsail is perhaps the most physically demanding task on board. The advantages of in-boom as opposed to in-mast furling are that the sail can have roach, battens, and a boltrope, and if all goes awry, it still can be dropped manually like a conventional sail.

The meticulous attention to ergonomic detail is most apparent at the companionway entry. Three wide, scalloped steps covered in nonskid extend down to the cabin sole at a gentle angle. A banister borders the steps, and handholds run forward in the saloon at well-planned intervals.

More Than a Cabin

The clear benefits of a raised deck saloon are the brightness, the visibility, and the enormous space created below the sole for machinery, tankage, and stowage. Changes in the cabin sole’s level in the 440’s saloon are made in small and equal increments, minimizing the tripping hazard.

To starboard is a spacious yet secure U-shaped galley. A front- and top-loading fridge/ freezer runs on AC or DC power. Large, 10-inch-deep double sinks, a three-burner stove, and plenty of counter space make this a viable work center. A garbage can is neatly molded under a flip-up companionway step.

The saloon lounge comes with an overstuffed sofa to port. The central seat folds down into a cocktail/game table, and with the flip of a lever, the outer two seats slide out to become full recliners with headrests. The dining table seats six for meals but swivels and folds down to a smaller size for cocktails. It also drops, with the help of an electric motor, to be converted into a double berth. For social occasions, a small nav station with a sliding and swiveling chair adds to the seating capacity.

The island double berth forward in the owner’s cabin offers easy access from both sides, and the spring mattress will soothe aching bones. Under the berth, an enormous stowage drawer runs on ball bearings for easy opening when heavily loaded. Both a small vanity with mirror and chair and a cedar-lined hanging locker sit to port, and a private head/shower lies to starboard. The head is large and well laid out, with a polished stainless-steel sink, a medicine chest, and Corian counter tops. However, all four judges had safety concerns regarding the sharp corners of the folding glass shower doors.

The aft cabin has a split double mattress that allows lee cloths to be fitted when real sea berths are required. An escape hatch opens into the cockpit and provides good ventilation.

Access to the aft head/shower on the port side is gained either from the main saloon or the aft cabin. To starboard aft lies a work/laundry room that can be converted into a quarter berth, should the grandchildren invade.

The height of the raised deck saloon precludes the use of dorade vents, but five Lewmar Ocean Series hatches with shades and screens should provide sufficient ventilation for coastal cruising. Passagemakers may wish to fit low-profile solar ventilators.

Value and Vision

I discovered some inconsistencies in the quality of the joinery work, but overall, I found the interior to be big, bright, and well designed. A massive floorboard on gas springs lifts for unequalled access to an orderly bilge with a proper collection sump. The tankage is generous, with 176 gallons of water, 117 gallons of fuel, and 55 gallons for waste. Equally generous was the electric-power supply on the tested boat, which had a bank of two 8D deep-cycle house batteries, a separate starting battery, 115-volt/50-amp shore power and adapter, an 8-kilowatt Fischer Panda genset, and a Heart 2500 inverter.

The easily accessible 75-horsepower Yanmar auxiliary diesel drove the boat with power to spare. It handled well in tight turns and backed nimbly. Despite the light winds during our test, all judges agreed that the boat was manageable and responsive; it generally outperformed our expectations.

Ultimately, value is determined through a combination of original cost, reliability, and customer service. Catalina, like other companies in the boatbuilding industry, employs new materials and construction techniques that improve durability and reduce maintenance costs. Also, Catalina has long been considered a leader in customer service and support.

In summary, the Catalina Morgan was voted the Best Production Cruiser from 40 to 45 Feet because it’s an interesting and appropriate choice for sailors looking for a roomy, comfortable, and affordable cruising boat. And especially for the more mature crowd, whose members are increasingly challenged by the physical demands of sailing, the 440 offers a host of features specifically designed to keep them sailing longer. And that’s a very good thing.

BOTY judge and seasoned cruising veteran Alvah Simon is plotting his next bluewater adventure.

CATALINA MORGAN 440

LOA 44′ 4″ (13.51 m.) LWL 39′ 9″ (12.12 m.) Beam 14′ 0″ (4.27 m.) Draft (wing/fin keel) 4′ 11″/5′ 4″ (1.50/1.62 m.) Sail Area (100%) 931 sq. ft. (86.5 sq. m.) Ballast (wing/fin) 8,600/8,072 lb. (3,909/3,670 kg.) Displacement 25,500 lb. (11,591 kg.) Ballast/D (wing/fin) .37/.35 D/L 180 SA/D 18.39 Water 176 gal. (667 l.) Fuel 117 gal. (443 l.) Mast Height 62′ 4″ (19.00 m.) Engine 75-hp. Yanmar diesel Designer Gerry Douglas/Catalina Yachts Design Team Price $280,000

Catalina Yachts (818) 884-7700 www.catalinayachts.com

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45' Morgan by Catalina

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Folks, I've been looking for general info on the 45 center cockpit Morgan that was built by Catalina in the late 80's and early 90's. Can't seem to find much info on this particular model on the web. I noticed one for sale in Southern Cal on Yachtworld that looks interesting. I'm a newbie here so can't post the link, but it's in San Diego and is a 1992. My wife and I are looking for a center cockpit coastal cruiser that we could comfortably live aboard for extended periods and the pricing of this boat looks attractive. Anyone out there have opinions on this particular model? Known issues? Appreciate any feedback you might have. Links to info or history of model would be helpful as well.  

CC Morgan/Catalina 45 Hello,The one in San Diego needs help.I Looked at it...The 45 is a great comfortable live-aboard.I looked at several East and West Coast..Bought one last year,Like new condition,Two owners,1,000 hrs, genny,watermaker all the bells and whistles,I became interested in the 45 for myself after trying to catch one going down the Mexican coast in a Bavaria 42,Never did catch up till Cabo..I am going to sell mine...If interested let me know or anything else...DrDeYates.Brought mine up coast 25 ft. seas 40 knot breeze.,She handled just fine...And I deliver and work off shore....Lots of info on Internet.Catalina still has the mold and will build a new one for $550,000.i will sell you mine for 1/4 that....  

drdeyates said: Hello,The one in San Diego needs help.I Looked at it...The 45 is a great comfortable live-aboard.I looked at several East and West Coast..Bought one last year,Like new condition,Two owners,1,000 hrs, genny,watermaker all the bells and whistles,I became interested in the 45 for myself after trying to catch one going down the Mexican coast in a Bavaria 42,Never did catch up till Cabo..I am going to sell mine...If interested let me know or anything else...DrDeYates.Brought mine up coast 25 ft. seas 40 knot breeze.,She handled just fine...And I deliver and work off shore....Lots of info on Internet.Catalina still has the mold and will build a new one for $550,000.i will sell you mine for 1/4 that.... Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Out of curiousity, where is your boat located? If you know of the web site pointers for any info, I'd appreciate them. I've actually been able to find very little info on the web about this particular model other than the brochure and a few other bits.  

Catalina/Morgan I googled everthing i.e. morgan 45 catalina 45 etc..My Yacht is in the San Francisco Bay Area...DrDeYates...I Just Made the Decision to Sell her Today...  

Drdeyates Is your morgan 45 still available for sale? Thank you Crownvic55  

1991 Morgan 45 Yes,have not tried to sell but if you are interested let me know..Drdeyates..  

drdeyates Yes I am interested and would like any informtion you can provide. Crownvic55  

My email is: [email protected]  

Good evening Drdeyates, I too looked at a Morgan 45. I found it a most enjoyable boat to sit in and walk around. How does she sail? I am looking for a boat that I will mainly use in Puget Sound and the Inside Passage. However, I am considering a sabbatical year that would allow me to do a Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and Northwest trip. Like so many people I want to be able to do it all. If I wanted to go further south or open ocean I do not want to be limited. Is this boat up to this. What upgrades have you added? What do you not like about your boat? I would like to purchase a boat by this time next summer. The Morgan 45 is on my working list but information is hard to come by. Thanks for your time and info. Greg  

Morgan 45 I've also looked at the "Lady Di" in San Diego. I agree she needs work. She has a new engine, but was not excited when I saw her up close. There is also a Morgan 45 in Tacoma which is in great condition and has a bow thruster. It is a bit pricy for my wallet. You might want to consider it. Kent  

Was there anything specifically wrong with Lady Di, or just in tired shape? The pictures probably don't show what a well trained eye can see. Looks like a good deal on the web, but I think I found it under three different boat brokers, which told me something.  

It appears to be listed under at leat 8 brokers, if not more by now. There were signs of leaks above the water line with no clear source. The owner seems motivated to sell her, but I was not willing to take on the unknowns even at $112K  

Lady Di Thanks. Interesting. Leaks above the water line with no indication of origin. My initial though would be standing rigging, but that (I suppose) could also include a bad deck core? It's hard to find a lot of info about the Catalina Morgan 45s, or many that are available, on line. Guess they're a scarce commodity. Thanks again.  

Some of the leaks might be from the hull to deck joint, hatches and some rigging. I would sure appreciate more info from the Morgan community on the early 90's vintage 45. I think this is the boat I want... but cannot find any comments good or bad.  

Morgan 45 I thought about leaks from portholes after I replied yesterday...didn't think about deck joints. Portholes or rigging could be fixed without much trouble (I say that like mine has gone so smoothly) as long as there isn't any sustained damage, but deck joints are something I know nothing about. I can't even find a diagram of what type of keel the 45s have. I'm an east coaster, and there's a Cat-Morgan for sale at a boat yard in Annapolis. I'll be up there next month for the sailboat show, and I'll try and check it out. I don't think it's a 45 as the header on the listing says...it says 44 once you get on it's website, and there seems to be a lot more than a foot of difference int he 45s and 44s.  

If I were considering a Morgan 45, I would also seriously consider a Gulfstar, a Tayana 42, or a Catalina 42. The Tayana is a super boat and I believe they are very undervalued. The C42 has a very passionate following and you will find them everywhere including a very large owners group. Gulfstars are flat out built like tanks, though depending on whether it was made on a Monday or Friday may make a big difference in the boat. On teh cheaper side, you could consider an old Irwin too... but tehy are really hit-miss, with some of tehm junk and some of them really undervalued. Be very cautious about blisters on the Irwins. I am not negative on the Morgan 45's. I have been on a couple. It just happened the ones I was on were rode hard and put up wet and it turned me off of them a bit. I am sure there are super examples too... I just have never seen one - and boats like the Tayana and C42's are better values. These are my opinions only and not those as a Tech editor. Brian  

Thanks, Brian. I've been trying to narrow the searches to mid 1990s or so, and around 45 feet. I've checked out some of the Tayanas on line, as well as Gulfstars. Look like good boats (I've read more about the Tayanas over the last few years, but not a whole lot), but many are 80s vintage and/or in the 42 range. But it's OK...I'm still a few years from moving on board and heading south for a couple of years exploring the Caribe and Central America with the wife. Her three requirements: A separate shower area with at least a bench so she can shave her legs easier, 47 feet long (45 will be OK...she won't notice), and not a fixer upper. Agree on the Irwins. Ted seemed to do things on the cheaper side, although they have a strong following among the owners of 38s and Mark IIs that I've met. I have a Citation which is a good basic boat for the Chesapeake bay, but it is everything the reviews say about it is true. When you get a good blow of 12 or 15 knots, you wish it felt more solid. It's a light boat, so days with 6 to 8 knots aren't wasted days like the heavier ones. It's just a day sailor for us. Thanks, again. Any advice on boats you have is greatly appreciated. Sounds like you have a lot of experience.  

2Sheets2TheWind said: Thanks, Brian. I've been trying to narrow the searches to mid 1990s or so, and around 45 feet. I've checked out some of the Tayanas on line, as well as Gulfstars. Look like good boats (I've read more about the Tayanas over the last few years, but not a whole lot), but many are 80s vintage and/or in the 42 range. But it's OK...I'm still a few years from moving on board and heading south for a couple of years exploring the Caribe and Central America with the wife. Her three requirements: A separate shower area with at least a bench so she can shave her legs easier, 47 feet long (45 will be OK...she won't notice), and not a fixer upper. Agree on the Irwins. Ted seemed to do things on the cheaper side, although they have a strong following among the owners of 38s and Mark IIs that I've met. I have a Citation which is a good basic boat for the Chesapeake bay, but it is everything the reviews say about it is true. When you get a good blow of 12 or 15 knots, you wish it felt more solid. It's a light boat, so days with 6 to 8 knots aren't wasted days like the heavier ones. It's just a day sailor for us. Thanks, again. Any advice on boats you have is greatly appreciated. Sounds like you have a lot of experience. Click to expand...

Truckee Sailor We are looking at a Morgan 45 cc to purchase, early 90's, and would love feedback on performance and how she sails off shore. We also looked at Tayanas and love those boats as well, but not sure how they sail to wind with their weight and a cutaway keel. Some of the seasoned sailors we talk to say make sure we can sail off a lee shore and head to wind. Any comments from anyone familiar with these boats would be greatly appreciated. We are looking for a live aboard to take to Mexico and beyond.  

DrDeYates DrDeYates, we also keep a boat on San Francisco Bay. I was reading your previous posts about your Morgan 45. We would love to talk to you about your experience with your Morgan 45 on the Bay. Please e-mail us at [email protected] . Do you still have your boat? Thank you.  

Regarding Lady Di I own "Lady Di" and wanted to address the comments made. RE: Undetectable leaks above the water line - There are NONE. I had this boat in for bottom paint a year ago and everything was checked. There were no reports of any leaks by the trained eyes of San Diego Shipyard. You are welcome to visit and I will give you a hose to put water where you like to try to disprove what I am saying. Regarding the use of multiple brokers: Exposure, plain and simple. In these times of fewer buyers, yacht brokers are natrualy going to sell what they have listed first if they can. I don't fault them, they are trying to make a living and 10% is better than 5% commission. I had the boat listed exclusively at first and the boat was not show that often. Open listings provide more potential buyers and have nothing to do with if there is anything wrong with the boat.  

oceannester Drdeyates... Pretty quiet since May of 2010. Did you sell your Morgan 45? In the market.  

oceannester It's an interesting market out there these days. Far less inventory when the market is down and the "miracle" deals are few and far between. In the $100-$125,000.00 range in a 42'-46' class sailing vessel, we've looked at about eveything available on the West Coast and you can really count the options as far as good value, performance and price on 2 fingers. -Art  

Interesting market... Oceannester you are partially correct. The inventory for boats in the 45-51 foot category for the low 100's has gone done over the last few years, but the "features" of the boats on the market have gone up. Boats in the 42 foot class have seriously dropped in price though, like regularly less than $90k.. I suspect the opportunity to purchase a C42 at heavily discounted prices is cutting into the potential buyers of Lady Di.  

Has anyone seen or heard of a Morgan sailing boat with a racing frame called the Sterling?  

Looking for 95/96 wing keel w/ bow thruster.  

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The Best Sailboats for the High Seas?

At the St. Petersburg Boat Show month last month, I had the pleasure of seeing delivery skipper and author John Kretschmers presentation on what he called sailboats for a serious ocean. I have reservations about any ideal boat list, but Kretschmer, who reviews boats for Sail Magazine and whose most recent book Sailing a Serious Ocean is available in our online bookstore , has the ideal background for this sort of work, and a list like this is undeniably helpful for wannabe cruisers who need a place to start their search.

I certainly wouldnt limit my search to boats on such a list, but by paying careful attention to the pros and cons of each, you can find something that suits your own aspirations.

Here are the boats Kretschmer suggests: Contessa 32, Pacific Seacraft 34, Pretorien 35, Cape Dory/Robinhood 36, Valiant/Esprit 37, Prout Snowgoose 37, Alajuela 38, Privelege 39, Freya 39, Passport 40, Caliber 40, Baba 40, Hallberg Rassy 42, Taswell 43, Hylas 44, Norseman 447, Beneteau 456, Outbound 44, Hylas 46, Kaufman 47, Tayana 48, Hylas 49, Amel Maramu 53, and the Sundeer 60/64. For a brief capsule summary of each, be sure to check out his website.

The list is hardly definitive. There are plenty of good boats that arent featured, and some of these would be ill-matched for the wrong sailor-Kretschmer clearly pointed this out during his talk. I like how the list presents a good cross-section of the various shapes and sizes for a boat in this category. For example, Kretschmer includes the Prout Snowgoose and Steve Dashews Sundeer 60, boats that, notwithstanding their successful record at sea, fill an outlying niche.

If I were going to expand the list, one of the heavier-displacement microcruisers like those I blogged about would be a nice addition. Although I would be wary of promoting even the most formidable of this breed as well-suited for a serious ocean, John Neale of Mahina Tiare Expeditions includes one of them, the Dana 24, on his own list of recommend cruising boats . Neales much broader list of boats is accompanied by a very helpful discussion of design elements to consider.

What got me thinking about formidable cruising boats was our series of reports o n sailboat construction , focusing specifically on structural details. Although there are plenty of excellent coastal cruisers on the market, once you start talking about offshore duty, scan’tlings (the dimensions for structural components) take on far more importance.

A few years ago we touched on this subject in our Mailport section, encouraging readers to suggest their own nominees for a list of what we called at the time, tough boats, vessels that were built to take a beating, requiring minimal care and upkeep.

Here are some of the boats that were suggested from our readers: Mariner 36, Cal 34, Morgan 43, Swan 43, Bermuda 40, Island Packet 26, Mariner 47, LeComte Northeast 38, Westsail 32, Dana 24, J/35, and the CSY 44.

Id be interested in hearing of other nominees for this list, or other good resources for sailors looking for a short list of good offshore boats.

For those who are frustrated to find that their own ideal boat isn’t on anybodys list, I wouldnt be too miffed. The best line Ive heard in a while on this topic came from Steve Callahan, the author of the survival classic Adrift , who gave a presentation at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show . When I asked Steve, who has sailed extensively on both multihulls and monohulls, what type of boat he preferred, he said, quite seriously. Well, at the end of the day, the best cruising boat is the one that you are on.

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Interesting list. I am fond of Hylas of which you chose three models. However, I am suspect of their yard and construction techniques and do not have confidence that they are as strong as they are beautiful. Only one Hallberg-Rassy was selected, which is a far more robust and dry sailing boat than the Hylas. Passports make a good boat as does Cape Dory and several others on your list. Didn’t four sailors die on a Beneteau in 2018? Over all it is a decent list.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/04/25/last-pictures-doomed-yacht-cheeki-rafiki-sank-killing-four-british-sailors-7497805/

I believe this is the accident you’re talking about in which a Beneteau and it’s bolted on keel parted company.

Almost all of the sailing clubs in San Diego rent Beneteaus out. They are a decent coastal sailboat. I have a couple friends who have even made the crossing to Maui in them..not me, not ever. I consider them a living room boat. Having said that, I am certainly no expert so its just my opinion. If I am crossing an ocean I want a capable kindly strong boat with redundancy built into critical systems.

Curious to think what people think about the early 70s Swan 43 as a cruising boat for a couple with occasional guests for a round the world trip? I have an S&S 30 which is too small but I do have some bias towards their designs. Add a watermaker and some power generation and off you go… Any thoughts?

Are Motor Sailors like the Nauticats or Fishers ocean worthy ( if their pilot house windows and sliding doors are lifeboatified ? )

Walt Schulz’s Shannon 43 is a beautiful, sea kindly, comfortable and sturdy bluewater boat. Walt had not only the ICW and Bahamas in mind when he designed and built 52 of them. He designed for ocean cruising. He believes his boats should outlive him and still sailing for generations. We sailed the Chesapeake, Bahamas, Caribbean and Pacific to Australia on a Shannon 43 ketch. She took great care of us and is still turning heads.

Great article! John Kretchmer is one of my fave modern day sailors. While there is only one Crealock design on John’s list, and the Dana is added on John Neale’s list, I was surprised not to see a Crealock/ Pacific Seacraft 37 mentioned. But there are so many great serious off shore boats, it’s hard to narrow it down to 10. Here’s a few to think about. Cape George Cutter 36. Biscay 36, tradewind 35, Rustler 36, Nicholson 31 (never talked about) and 32. Seldom seen on top 10 lists, but great boats. Thanks for the article.

Great comment and interesting to note that the first four of your additions are those currently entered in the 2022 Golden Globe Race – kind of the definition of a blue water boat.

Hey! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established blog like yours take a massive amount work? I am completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal everyday. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of recommendations or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!|

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