Boats to Consider for
Offshore Cruising
Updated April 2002
Through our Weekend Offshore Cruising Seminars and
personal consultation I have helped thousands of sailors locate
the best ocean cruising boats for their planned voyages and budget.
If you need knowledgeable, experienced (196,000+ ocean miles) and
unbiased advise from someone who has no financial interest in the
boat you select perhaps I can help. Details on www.mahina.com/consult.html
or by contacting John Neal at Mahina Expeditions, sailing@mahina.com, tel 360.378.6131.
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* Able
32, 42, 48
|
USA
|
Superb
quality, expensive. Chuck Paine designs.
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* Alajuela 33
|
USA
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Good
value, well built.
|
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* Alberg 30, 35, 37
|
USA
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Early f
/g boats. Well proven, not expensive. Narrow, short waterlines, graceful
overhangs.
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Alden 38,
43, 44, 46, 48, 54, 58
|
USA
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Classy,
well built, beautiful & expensive.
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* Allied
30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 39, 42
|
USA
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Good value.
Functional, practical.
|
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Amel 36‑53
www.amel.fr
|
FRA
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Strong, well designed. Excellent passagemaker,
great value. Low maintenance.
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* Amazon
29, 37, 44
|
CAN
|
Steel
boats, attractive modern designs.
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* Amphitrite 43
|
FRA
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Waquiez built, strong & roomy with good storage. Odd deck
design, but great boat and good value.
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|
* Annie
28
|
USA
|
Every
boat built by Morris is a work of art!
|
|
*
Bayfield 29, 30‑32, 40
|
CAN
|
Good
value. A bit “plasticy” interiors but ok.
|
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* Bluewater 60
|
USA
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Modern,
top quality Chuck Paine design.
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* Bowman
36‑58
|
ENG
|
Strong
boats. Excellent passagemakers.
|
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* Brewer
42
|
CAN
|
Improved
version of Whitby 42.
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* Bristol 27‑45
|
USA
|
Good
boats. Later models were better quality.
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|
Bristol
Channel
Cutter 28
|
USA
|
Well
built, not my personal choice. Good company.
|
|
* Cabot
36
|
CAN
|
Ted
Brewer design.
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* Cal 2‑30, 34, 36, 39, 40, 2‑46,
3‑46, 48
|
USA
|
Bill Lapworth designs. Many 2-46's have circumnavigated.
Comfortable, reasonably priced but look very carefully at bulkhead
attachment.
|
|
Caliber
28, 33, 35, 38, 40.
www.caliberyacht.com
|
USA
|
Fairly
well‑built. Michael McCreary designs.
The 47 are
not an attractive boat.
|
|
* Cambria 40, 44, 46
|
USA
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Fast,
well‑built, gorgeous and expensive.
|
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* Camper
Nicholson 31, 32, 35, 38, 39, 40, 43, 47, 56, 58, 70
|
ENG
|
Out of business
except for shipbuilding. Watch for serious blister problems on all models.
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Cabo Rico 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 45, 47, www.caborico.com
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CRI
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Crelock and Paine designs. Expensive, semi custom.
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* Cape Dory ‑ all models
|
USA
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All models
are well designed & built.
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Cape George Cutters 31, 36, 38
|
USA
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Some
owner completed. Strong & fast.
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Cascade
36, 42
|
USA
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1965‑67
design still being built. Fairly narrow.
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*Centurion
41, 42
|
FRA
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Modern attractive
boat with limited tankage and storage
|
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* Cherubini 44, 48, 62
|
USA
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Semi‑custom
boats. Beautiful, great sailing
&
expensive
|
|
* Contessa 26 & 32
|
CAN, ENG
|
Tania Aebi & B.J. Caldwell both circumnavigated in 26's.
|
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Contest 31,
35, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 48, 55, 60
www.contestyacts.com
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HOL
|
More
common in Europe. Well built, new boats are very
attractive.
|
|
|
USA
|
Ancient
John Alden design. Will need to be repowered &
rewired.
|
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* Corbin 39
|
CAN
|
Roomy and
strong, but watch for hull blisters.
|
|
Crealock 31, PH 32, 34, 37, 40, 44 by Pacific Seacraft
|
USA
|
One of
the best US companies building cruising
boats. Good value. Graceful overhangs, short waterlines.
|
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* CSY 37,
44
|
USA
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Sturdy,
roomy & reasonably priced.
|
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Dana 24
by Pacific Seacraft
|
|
USA
|
An
expensive (for the size) pocket cruiser capable of ocean passages.
|
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Deerfoot Yachts
|
*
|
VAR
|
Fast
& innovative, aluminum & fiberglass hulls.
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* Dickerson
36, 37, 40, 41, 50
|
*
|
USA
|
Nicely
proportioned & well‑built boats. Earlier 36's are very reasonably
priced.
|
|
* Durbeck 46
|
*
|
USA
|
Big and
roomy, long overhangs, short waterline.
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|
Endurance 35, 38, 40
|
|
VAR
|
Peter Ibold design, some owner completed. Built by various
yards in ENG, SCT, USA & CAN.
|
|
* Esprit
37 by Nordic
|
*
|
USA
|
Perry
design. Comfortable, well proven, good value.
|
|
* F &
C 44
|
*
|
ARG
|
Modem Frers designed cruising ketch.
|
|
Farr Pilot House 50, 56, 60, 63
www.farr-pilothouseyachts.com
|
|
SWE
|
Sexy,
powerful, fast and glamorous. Excellent quality.
First
boats were built by Najad.
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|
Fast Passage 39
|
|
USA
|
Some
built in Canada, some by Tollycraft.
Now being built in Anacortes, WA. Excellent boat.
|
|
Fisher 30‑46
|
|
ENG
|
Sturdy motorsailers. Great for high latitude cruising.
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Flicka 20
|
|
USA
|
Solidly
built Mini‑ocean cruiser, but slow, slow, slow.
|
|
* Francis
26
|
*
|
USA
|
Beautiful
design from Morris, an excellent yard.
|
|
Fantasi 44 pilothouse
www.fantasi-yachts.se
|
|
SWE
|
Modern
attractive pilothouse.
|
|
* Fraser
41, 46, 50
|
*
|
CAN
|
Good
modem cruisers.
|
|
* Freya 39
|
|
USA
|
Good value.
Many owner-completed, so quality varies. FAST, full-keel design capable of
200 mpd!
|
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Garcia 46-50+
|
|
|
Gorgeous,
semi custom aluminum.
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* Gladiateur 33
|
|
FRA
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Very
sturdy, short on tankage, Waquiez
built.
|
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* Goderich 35, 37,41
|
|
CAN
|
Attractive
Brewer steel boats.
|
|
Gozzard 31, 36, 44
|
|
CAN
|
Good
design & construction.
|
|
Hallberg-Rassy, 31, 312, 33, 35, 352, 36, 38, 382,
39, 41,42, 42F, 43, 45, 46, 49, 53, 62
www.hallberg-rassy.com
|
|
SWE
|
Well built,
comfortable, with good tankage & storage. Newer
Frers designs have better sailing performance than
earlier Enderlien boats. Excellent resale value.
Excellent systems integration and detail.
|
|
Halmatic 30
|
ENG
|
Similar
to Nicholson 31.
|
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Hinkley 30‑64
|
USA
|
Attractive,
well built, and expensive. Hold their
value well. Modest tankage &
storage.
|
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* Hood 38
|
FRA
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Waquiez built, Hood design. Strong,
fast, & attractive. Short on tankage.
Centerboard rattles downwind.
|
|
Hylas 46,49, 54, 54 raised Saloon
|
TAI
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Frers & S & S designs. Good sailing qualities, tankage & storage. Quality better on later models.
|
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Island
Packet 32, 35, 350, 37,38, 40, 420, 44, 45 www.ipy.com
|
USA
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Roomy
& comfortable with good tankage & storage
but some odd features. Improving every year. Good value.
|
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J/32,
J/42; J/44, J/46, J/160
www.jboats.com
|
USA
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Fast,
light. Excellent sailing performance. Minimal tankage
and storage.
|
|
Jason 35
from Miller Marine
|
USA
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Some
owner‑completed. Several have cruised extensively.
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|
Jongert 50, 55, 60, 67, 73
|
HOL
|
Heavy,
expensive, extremely well‑built steel and aluminum yachts. Not going to
win any races, though!
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Justine
36
|
USA
|
Gorgeous
Paine design, Morris built cruiser.
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Kaiulani 34, 38
|
USA
|
Lovely
steel Brewer & Yohe designs.
|
|
Kanter 42, 45, 60, 65
www.kanteryachts.com
|
CAN
|
Steel
& aluminum boats, semi‑custom. Highest Quality. Chuck Paine &
Ted Brewer designs.
|
|
LM 27,
28, 290, 30, 315, 32, 380
|
DEN
|
Some have
inside steering. Well‑built.
|
|
Linda 28
|
USA
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Gorgeous
design, Morris quality.
|
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Leigh 30
|
USA
|
Very well
built, attractive Morris.
|
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Little
Harbor 42 ‑ 90
|
TAI &
USA
|
Ted Hood designed, heavy displacement. Semi‑custom.
Production returned to U.S. from Taiwan.
Expensive
and solid as a rock.
|
|
* Luders 33, DOVE
|
USA
|
Older,
well built by Allied.
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|
Malo 36, 38, 39, 45
www.maloyachts.se
|
SWE
|
Quality
offshore boats. Attractive, reasonably priced.
Strong company,
good service.
|
|
* Mariah
31
|
USA
|
At least
one circumnavigation. Pacific Seacraft built.
|
|
Mason 33,
43, 44, 53, 54, 63
|
TAI
|
Some of
the very best Taiwan built boats.
|
|
Mercator 30
|
USA
|
Inexpensive,
obscure. One has circumnavigated
|
|
www.moody.co.uk
|
ENG
|
Good
designs but some quality-control issues.
|
|
Morris
26, 28, 30, 32, 34,36, 42, 44, 45, 454, 46, 48.6, 52
www.morrisyachts.com
|
USA
|
Chuck Paine
design. Superb quality, highest quality US yard building cruising boats.
Expensive. Semi-custom.
|
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* Mystic
57, 60
|
ENG
|
Dubois
design, Bowman built, beautiful.
|
|
Najad 330, 361, 370, 390, 420, 490, 520 www.najad.com
|
SWE
|
Quality, attractive
boats. Excellent sailing performance. Good tankage,
storage and high level of craftsmanship.
|
|
Nauti‑Cat Motorsailers
35,40,43, 53, www.nauticat.com
|
FIN
|
Later S
& S designed models are much better performers than earlier tubby models.
|
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* Niagara 31, 35, 42
|
CAN
|
Well‑built
& roomy. Superb value.
|
|
* Nordic
34,40,44,45
|
USA
|
Attractive
boats, some solvable problems with mast step deflection on the 40 & 45.
|
|
*
Norseman 400,447
|
TAI
|
Strong, fast,
and attractive. Have held their value well.
|
|
North
Wind 43,50, 58
jawod@northwind.es
|
SPA
|
S&S
designs, quality construction, good company.
|
|
Ocean 60,
71
|
ENG
|
Powerful
boats, many have had blister problems
|
|
* Ocean
Cruising 42
|
USA
|
Only a
few built by Hank Hinkley. Classy.
|
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* Orion
27
|
USA
|
Offshore
capable. Pacific Seacraft built.
|
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Oyster
42, 45, 485,49,53, 55, 56 61, 62, 63, 66, 70, 82, 100
www.oystermarine.com
|
ENG
NZL
|
Some have
inside steering. Attractive, expensive and first class! Strong resale value.
|
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Pacific Seacraft 34, 37, 40, 44
|
USA
|
Well
built boats, good resale. Graceful overhangs.
|
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* Pearson
35, 365, 424, 520
|
USA
|
Fairly well
built, not flashy but reasonably priced.
|
|
Passport
41, 415, 435, 44, 456, 470, 50 www.wagnerstevens
|
TAI
|
Modem
Perry cruising design. Good storage/tankage.
|
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Pretorien 35
|
FRA
|
Strong,
fast & attractive. Built by Waquiez. Best value
for a boat under $85,000. Modest tankage.
|
|
* Rhodes Bounty II
|
USA
|
Ancient
Pearson fiberglass design, classic but very old, so will need tons of
upgrading. Is it worth it?
|
|
Regina of Vindo,
38, 43, 49
www.reginayachts.se
|
SWE
|
Attractive,
well-built, quality deck saloon.
|
|
* Rival
36‑41
|
ENG
|
Strong,
good-looking and sailing boats.
|
|
Sabre 34, 362,38, 402, 42, 402, 425, 452, www.sabreyachts.com
|
USA
|
Built in Maine, great quality, but limited tankage.
|
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* Sadler
34
|
ENG
|
Unsinkable,
fast, great performance. Good choice.
|
|
www.sagayachts.com
|
CAN
|
Modern
Perry design. Fast innovate and narrow.
|
|
Santa Cruz 52
|
USA
|
Strong,
fast and fun!
|
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* Saturna 33
|
CAN
|
Attractive,
Bill Garden designed pilothouse cutter.
|
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* Scanmar 35
|
SWE
|
Limited
production but good design.
|
|
Sceptre 41, 43
|
CAN
|
Modem
pilothouse with good performance.
|
|
* Seawind 30, Seawind II 32'
|
USA
|
Excellent
boats. Good value. First f /g boat to circumnavigate the world. Built by
Allied Yachts.
|
|
Seguin 44, 51
|
USA
|
S & S
design. Excellent boats. Semi‑Custom.
|
|
Shannon
32, 36, 39, 43,43 II, 47, 53. www.shannonyachts.com
|
USA
|
Good
reliable boats. Hold their value well.
|
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Skye 51
|
TAI
|
Similar
in appearance to Swans. Deck problems.
|
|
Southern
Cross 28, 31, 35, 39
|
USA
|
Good
boats. Attractive designs. Fairly well built.
|
|
Spencer
35, 42, 44, 54
|
CAN
|
Older, solid
boats, built in Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
Stellar
52
|
TAI
|
Total
quality S&S design, well built, great detail work.
|
|
Sundeer 56, 64
|
USA
|
Excellent
& expensive. Innovative design & incredible performance. Good systems
layout. Built by TPI.
|
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Swan
|
FIN
|
Newest
designs aren't well suited for ocean cruising.
|
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Shearwater
39, 45
|
RSA
|
Strong,
traditional and attractive.
|
|
Sweden Yachts,
www.swedenyachts.se
|
SWE
|
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