Can I add my two pennies worth?

Nobody has mentioned money, or at least I have not seen mention of it.

Money and quality generally, but not always go hand in hand. so...

A lot of talk about Bavaris, Hunters, Catalinas etc. All cheap and bottom of the market in terms of build quality, but perfectly good "lake boats" as somebody put it. Personallly I would not want to get caught in a gale in one. And in my expereience they don't handle that well either. But for bobing around the "islands mon" great.

If you want a modern crusing ocean boat, Najad, Hallber Rassey, Malo etc. are up the top in terms of build quality, have bigger displacements so more volume and more comfortable in a swell.

Its horses for courses. If you just want to sit in marinas and do short hops when the weather is "guarnateed" to be fair, get a Bavaria, Jenneau etc. Will be more than adequate for the job. If you are interestd in longer hops cross oceans go you want somethig you don't have to worry about!

Or is you have deep pockets and want to sit in style in marina still get a Najad etc.

And before anybody askes I don't own any of the above. Never have, wouldn't mind though.

Like everything in boats its all a compromise.

But there is some excellant advise on the site, "try before you buy." You can charter anything these days from a 21 foot benetau to a 100 foot Swan. Worth spending a little money up front to make sure you are makeing a decision eyes wide open.

A
(Does that count as two pennies worth?)