best 28 ft sailboat

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What is the best 28 ft for the money

• Thread starter Gordon Shadburne
• Start date Nov 11, 2004
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

Gordon Shadburne

I am looking for the best- family (not racing) sailboat 28 ft (or so) for 10,000-13,000Now live in Portland,Or. will be moving to Pudget Sound- WA.area. Want it safe!,big cabin (wife has some kneee problems) good mataince record. Am missionary to Native Americans ( www.warriorsforchristonline.org ) so limited in funds-Need your input- thanksGordon/WFCps now only have a 14 ft C-lark/ sail it sence 1970-  

mike C16582

i'm biased, but.......... As I said, I'm biased, but if you can find an O"day 28 I think you'll be happy. However, $10,000-$13,000 is cutting it close. AS a matter of fact, there's an O"Day 28 for sale right now in Portland Or. for $12,900 (I'm sure the price is negotiable)here's the link for it..........http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet&checked_boats=1309615&slim=quick&  

Newport 28 Hello,Mike own's and likes O'day, I own and like Newport. Newport's were made in California, so lots should be available on the west cost.Compared to O'day, the Newport has a double berth in the cabin (the port sette slides out). Also, all Newport come with the traveler mounted on top of the companionway. Most Newports come with hot water, fresh water cooled diesel, and some other things as well.As far as I can tell, both the Newport and the O'day are good boats. Good luck,Barry  

John Dawson

Cal 29 or 27 probably fall into this price range, and less if needing work. Large cabins, good performance, good reputation.  

Hunter 27 for two The Hunter 27 built from 75-84 to a design by John Cherubini is just the right size for a couple. It's a seaworthy design, with 6 feet of headroom in the cabin. The bench seats in the cabin make very comfortable bunks (easily reached by stiff knees.) The ride is comfortable in a seaway, and the cockpit is comfortable, with good back support. Ours was easily rigged for single handing, so the Admiral does not need to go on deck.And the price is right - $9,000 to $12,000 will get you going. (Ours '77 cost $9,000 and was ready to sail.) At your size and price parameters, you will end up with a "good old boat" and the associated maintenance work. Do get a survey to be sure you are not buying a project, and enjoy cruising!DavidLady Lillie  

Pearson 26-28 I learned how to sail at the boston harbor sailing club where they have a fleet of pearson 26 and 28's. The members sail these boats in all kinds of new england weather through a busy harbor and scatterred islands. They are built tough sail between 5 and 6 knots, have thick fiberglass hulls and seldom break down.  

Go for a Catalina 27 *! I realize the Catalina 27 isn't a 28 footer, but I think it would be a good match for your needs. They are plentiful, within your price range, have a large cockpit, seaworthy, and have nice sailing characteristics.If you could spend the extra $5K, the O'Day 28 is a better boat - faster (but can pound), and very well finished.Having owned both boats, if price is the biggest constraint, go with the C27.-Mark  

Stu Jackson

Augie byllott.

Comfortable boat for a couple Is there anything compelling about 28'?I recently sold a 1978 Catalina 30 after enjoying it for 15 years. Those additional two feet move the comfort level light years above the Catalina 27 owned by one of my friends. The cabin fever that one may experience on a smaller boat vanishes on the C30. A larger head, vee berth, saloon, dinette, and cockpit make a world of difference where a woman's comfort is concerned.With more than seven thousand having been built, there are always hundreds of C30s on the market. With a little horse trading and jawboning, you might be able to find one in your price range.It's worth a try.If anything, I believe that a C30 is easier to sail than a C27.  

Thanks for your response Thanks for your comments. Condsidering they aren't making them anymore, do you think there are problems getting parts for the Newports?I have read that the O'day stiffens in higher winds and is more forgiving when you get into troubling times. How would compare the Newport as far as safety and structural quailty and durability?  

Newport Info Hello,A great site for Newport Info is here:http://webhost.sailnet.com/newport/index.htmlRegarding parts availability, one thing I have learned is that most parts on a sailboat don't come from the original manufacturer. For example, the engine is from Universal diesel, the steering is Edson, the winches are Lewmar, the headsail roller furler is Profurl, the bilge pump is rule, the .....What did come from from the manufacturer you can now get from the aftermarket. O'day, Pearson, CnC (for a while anyway) all went out of busines. Hunter and Catalina are still in business, but I don't think you can still buy a rudder or something like that for a Catalina 27.Good luck,Barry  

Pearson 28 HI Gordon,Don't rule out the Pearson 28. The models made before 1982 can be found quite reasonably. This boat was built very well, is strong, safe, roomy and very easy and fun to sail. We owned one for 4 years and loved it. You can get one in the price range you mention. Go to yachtworld and check them out.Joanie  

Hunter 28.5 We have an '88 model. VERY well built, no blister problems. Taken her on 3-week trips on Lake Michigan covering some 600 miles total. Have been in all kinds of weather with her and she's always brought us home safely. I often single-hand her as well.  

Hunter 28.5, Pt II I, too, own a Hunter 28.5 (1986 model). While I think Hunter packed a lot of value into this model boat, I don't think you could find one in very good condition for your price range. I do think you could find one for just a bit more (say around $15k), but you'd probably have to put some work into it and perhaps buy some new sails. I personally believe that the 28.5 is a great boat for single-handling, coastal or river/lake cruising with a small family in a semi-protected environment, or similar sailing. But in the price range you mention, most of the listed 28 or so footers are going to be in the 1978-1982 or so age group. Any boat that is 25 or so years old needs to be VERY carefully inspected, by you and a professional surveyor as it could be subject to a number of conditions that could be expensive or prohibitive to repair. In the interim, you may want to take a look at Don Casey's book "Inspecting The Aging Sailboat." It will give you a better sense of how to evaluate some of the candidate boats you may look at. It's a buyer beware world out there....  

Gordon, The best 28 is a Catalina 28 and because of that they are very expensive. The next best and most boat for the money is a Hunter 28... not a Hunter 28.5. The Pearson 28 is the next best followed by the Hunter 28.5.The main reason for the rating is the walk through swim platform offer by both the Catalina 28 and the Hunter 28! Great for the family getting on and off the boat and into the water. The construction of the Catalina is better than the Hunter. The Pearson construction is also better than Hunter. I own a Hunter 28 and love the boat! I took a long time reviewing which boat to buy. Everyone will tell you they love thier boat. I do too but a Catalina is better!  

This thread could go on for ever We all bought our current boat for one reason or another price,walk through transomes,loyalty to the brand and so on and we all could come up with reason's as to why. So asking a question like the best 28 footer for the money and you will get a different answer from each of us. So it is not really a fair question to ask because your best 28 footer for the money may not be mine. Taken in what your needs are all the boats mentioned would work. They are all great boats and have ther good and bad. But it all comes down to YOU and the $$$. Keep in mind that in this price range you will be buying a 30 year + boat. That will need upgrades and might have a gas engine or an out board. Look for the right deal and keep in mind the survey could eat up 5% of your boat money. So it is tough to say which boat is the best for you and your needs. Also keep in mind that your wife will need to climb all over the boat and up and down into the cabin bad knees and all. So a boat with wide side deck's might be a consideration over a boat with narrow side decks. Plus the climbing of the steps of 5 or 6 steps to get down below. It will really comne down to looking at allot of boat's and seeing which boat fit's the needs. Your price range will limit you and might force you into buying a older boat than maybe you had thought and also throw in the location. Boats on the West Coast seem to bring more for the same boat on the East Coast. Cliff  

Finding and buying your boat Having contributed my 2 cents on our own model, here is my recommendation on how to buy a boat:In your price and size range, you are loooking for a "good old boat." Many of us own these great models from the 70's and early 80's. In general, they have great cruising designs, overbuilt hulls (because this was before anyone really understood fiberglass), and may involve some maintenance. (Although we sailed Lady Lillie through her first summer, 500 miles, and 22 nights on board as we bought her.)Look at lots of boats in your price range. This will be the hardest part for your wife's knees, but after a while you will settle on a few designs you like, and you can look without her until you find the one you want. Lay down in all the berths you might use. Sit in the cockpit. Stand in the galley, and go through the motions of preparing food and washing dishes. Sit on the head. Go forward from sitting in the cockpit along the decks to the bow. Don't worry about the model, you will figure out which ones you like. Consider using a local agent who is supportive of your wishes (not trying to seelyou up to a higher price,) and can arrange to get you on a lot of boats.Buy one of the good books on this site that describe how to buy a cruising sailboat. Read the reviews on this website. 28 footers were not commonly built in the '74-'85 range you need for your price, so look at the 27 and 30 footers. The boats for sale on this and other sites can get you started, and help you understand pricing.Find _your_ surveyer. Ask other sailers who is the most competent and trustworthy in your area. This is imporatnt because a good survey allows you to understand 80% to 90% of the maintenance you will be doing in the first years of boat ownership. You contract must include the survey, and your right to walk away or negotiate a price reduction based on the survey results.Take your time. Many boats will come on the market in the next six months, and you can find the one with just the characteristics you want and like.Our search took about 6 weeks during which we climbed into about 10 boats on the hard (and in the ice and snow.) We came down to a choice between a Catalina 30 at $18,000, and a Hunter 27 at $9,000. We checked with the marina near our house, and they said that the 5 1/2 foot draft of the Catalina was too deep for the marina. We bought the '77 Hunter 27, and have loved her.The cabin has headroom to 6 feet. The diesel will drive us all day through calm seas, but is a little small if we are bucking wind and waves (something we try always to plan, or wait around.) There is plenty of room and comfort for the Admiral and me. We sleep in the v-berth, where 5' 11" and 5' 8" means that we play footsie occasionally, but are both very comfortable. The bench berths in the main cabin easily and confortably accommodate my two brothers who go a large 6' 2". The accommodations are ideal for me and my wife. We have spent two weeks on her, and could easily go a month. Although tight and familiar, my Dad, brothers and I have cruised a week on her, and we are quite comfortable. I believe that we would have been just as happy on the Catalina 30, but shoal draft is a real value for some of the ports, and anchorages of Lake Erie when the water is low. I really don't believe there is any clear choice of one model. Any of those mentioned so far (and a number of others) could be your boat.Your boat is out there, near you. Educate yourself, and invest in climbing aboard enough to find the fit for you. If the workmanship is good enough to last 20 to 30 years, and pass your survey, you don't have to worry about your time on her. Do it, you will love the joys of cruising - anyway, we do.DavidLady Lillie  

Plan for incidental costs If your budget is tight, look out for the costs that you may have in getting your boat to its new home and making it yours. In addition to the survey and cost of a sea trial (we paid for a marina worker to sail the boat at the sea trial), we paid to have the mast taken down, truck to our lake, put the mast up. Altogether, it was about $1,800 with survey and sea trial included.We bought a 27' Starwind (1984) and then put another $1,400 into re-upholstering everything, including new foam for all cushions. Then I needed to replace a halyard and a main sheet, buy new dock lines and hardware for the slip, another $400 at West Marine for stuff, new sails maybe next year ... you get the picture.We looked at about 8 boats over a couple weeks and we were anxious to find one before the summer ran away from us this year. We noticed a big difference in the comfort factor between the Cal 2-27 and our boat compared to the others which were all 26' or less. So you are certainly looking for the right size.You can put a lot of emphasis on all the practical elements of a boat, but for me, it mainly comes down to how does she make you feel to look at her for the first time (and every other time thereafter). Everytime I look at her, I'm happy with what we bought. I don't think you can be happy with a boat if you don't feel that emotion. Then, you just better be prepared emotionally to walk away if the survey reveals problems that you're not prepared financially to overcome.My wife and I had that feeling for 2 boats ... first for the Cal, which slipped away because we didn't make an offer quick enough. We looked longingly at ads for a few Catalinas that were just out of reach for what we wanted to spend on our first boat.Luckily, I think we are very happy with the Starwind because it has many features and layout differences that make it a better boat for us.Take a good look around, use as much time as you need ... when you find her, you'll know it!  

Seafarer I have 2 Seafarer 30 footers. They were designed by McCurdy and Rhodes in 1978. Its a VERY safe, heavy duty and large for its length boat. There is a very good and active forum for these (one reason I bought one).I want to sell one (I bought the 2nd one for the trailer it was on and the 9 sails that came with it as well as having a back up in case I needed anything).The boat was one of the few to survive Ivan intact, and with no damage to it (except rubrail scuffing). The owners group had a mould made for the rubrail, so a new one is available inexpensively.It has a 23 hp Volvo 2 cylinder diesel that has 360+ or- hours, and looks almost new(the engine and tranny).The baot needs a good cleanup (from being stored and unused) recover upholstery, varnish brightwork, etc and the installation of the engine (i would do for additional cash).I want $4500.00 for it, as is.Look at yachtworld for Seafarer Swiftsure 30. Also compare hullspeed, quality of construction, and owners comments. This is a GREAT deal and very safe if you don't mind cleaning a little and upholstering it to your wifes tastes.let me know if interested.Tommy[email protected]  

What about the Columbia 8.3? Any reason the Columbia 8.3 wasn't mentioned? This appears to be a well built cruiser/club racer that should be in the price range.  

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9 Small Sailboats Under 30 Ft We Love

Our editorial staff selected 9 small sailboats under 30′ from all over the world. Today small sailboats have electronics for navigation and entertainment, an engine for light wind and accomodations to sleep onboard. Which is your preferred one between these 9 small sailboats?

Albin Vega 27

The Albin Vega 27 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Albin Motor Boat Company in the 1970s. It is a small, versatile vessel that is popular with sailors due to its good performance and comfortable interior. The Albin Vega 27 has a length of 27 feet (8.2 meters) and a beam (width) of 8.1 feet (2.46 meters). It is designed to be sailed single-handed, but can accommodate up to six people.

• Hull Type:  Long fin keel
• Hull Material:   GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:  27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:  23′ 0″ / 7.01m
• Beam:  8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:  3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type:  Masthead sloop
• Displacement:  5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:  Per Brohall
• Builder:  Albin Marine AB (Sweden)
• Year First Built:  1965
• Year Last Built:  1979
• Number Built:  3,450

Alpin Ballad 

• Hull Type:  Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Length Overall:  29′ 11″ / 9.12m
• Waterline Length:  22′ 7″ / 6.88m
• Beam:  9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:  5′ 1″ / 1.55m
• Rig Type:  Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:  7,276lb / 3,300kg
• Designer:  Rolf Magnusson
• Builder:  Albin Marine (Sweden)
• Year First Built:  1971
• Year Last Built:  1982
• Number Built:  1500

The Bristol 24 has a length of 24.6 feet (7.5 meters) and a beam (width) of 8 feet (2.4 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew, but can accommodate up to four people. The boat has a displacement of 4,920 lb (2,685 kilograms) and is equipped with a standard keel.

• Hull Type:  Long Keel
• Hull Material:  GRP (Fibreglass)
• Length Overall:  24′ 6″ / 7.5m
• Waterline Length:  18′ 1″ / 5.5m
• Beam:  8′ 0″ / 2.4m
• Draft:  3′ 5″ / 1.0m
• Displacement:  5,920lb / 2,685kg
• Designer:  Paul Coble
• Builder:  Bristol Yachts inc (US)
• Year First Built:  1969
• Year Last Built:  1972
• Number Built:  800

Contessa 28

The Contessa 24 is a fiberglass sailboat that was designed by David Sadler and produced by the Contessa Yachts company in the 1970s. The Contessa 24 has a length of 27.8 feet (8.43 meters) and a beam (width) of 9.5 feet (2.87 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew, but can accommodate up to four people. The boat has a displacement of 3,162 kilograms and is equipped with a fin keel, which provides stability and improves its performance in a range of wind and sea conditions.

• Hull Type:  fin keel with spade rudder
• Hull Material:  GRP (Fiberglass)
• Length Overall:  27′ 8″ / 8.43m
• Waterline Length:  22′ 0″ / 6.71m
• Beam:  9′ 5″ / 2.87m
• Draft:  4′ 10″ / 1.47m
• Rig Type:  Masthead sloop
• Displacement:  6,970lb / 3,162kg
• Designer:  Doug Peterson
• Builder:  Jeremy Rogers
• Year First Built:  1977

The Dufour 29 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Dufour Yachts company in the 1970s. The Dufour 29 has a length of 29.4 feet (8.94 meters) and a beam (width) of 9.8 feet (2.95 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew but can accommodate up to six people. The boat has a displacement of 7,250 pounds (3,289 kilograms) and is equipped with a fin keel.

• Length Overall:  29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:  25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Draft:  5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Displacement:  7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:  Michael Dufour
• Builder:   Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:  1975
• Year Last Built:  1984

Great Dane 28

The Great Dane 28 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Great Dane Yachts company in the 1970s. The Great Dane 28 has a length of 28 feet (8.5 meters) and a beam (width) of 10.4 feet (3.2 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew, but can accommodate up to six people. The boat has a displacement of 8,500 pounds (3,856 kilograms) and is equipped with a fin keel.

• Hull Type:  Long keel with transom-hung rudder
• Length Overall:  28′ 0″ / 8.5m
• Waterline Length:  21′ 4″ / 6.5m
• Beam:  10′ 4″ / 3.2m
• Draft:  4′ 6″ / 1.4m
• Displacement:  8,500lb / 3,856kg
• Designer:  Aage Utzon in conjunction with Klaus Baess
• Builder:  Klauss Baess, Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Year Last Built:  1989
• Number Built:  300

The Sabre 27 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Sabre Yachts company in the 1970s. The Sabre 27 has a length of 27 feet (8.2 meters) and a beam (width) of 9 feet (2.6 meters). The boat has a displacement of 6,800 pounds (3,084 kilograms) and is equipped with a fin keel.

• Hull Type:  Fin and skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material:  GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:  27′ 0″ / 8.2m
• Waterline Length:  22′ 2″ / 6.8m
• Beam:  9′ 0″ / 2.7m
• Displacement:  6,800lb / 3,084kg
• Designer:  Alan Hill
• Builder:  Marine Construction Ltd (UK)
• Number Built:  400

• Hull Type:  Long keel with transom-hung rudder
• Length Overall:  28′ 3″ / 8.6m
• Waterline Length:  21′ 6″ / 6.6m
• Beam:  8′ 1″ / 2.5m
• Draft:  5′ 0″ / 1.5m
• Rig Type:  masthead sloop
• Displacement:  9,968lb / 4,521kg
• Designer:  Kim Holman
• Builder:  Uphams (UK) and Tyler (UK)
• Year First Built:  1964
• Year Last Built:  1983
• Number Built:  200

Westerly 22

The Westerly 22 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Westerly Yachts company in the 1970s. The Westerly 22 has a length of 22 feet (6.8 meters) and a beam (width) of 7.6 feet (2.3 meters).

• Hull Type:~  Bilge keel and skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material:~  GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:~  22′ 3″ / 6.8m
• Waterline Length:~  18′ 4″ / 5.6m
• Beam:~  7′ 6″ / 2.3m
• Draft:~  2′ 3″ / 0.7m
• Rig Type:~  Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:~  4,150lb / 1,429kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: ~ 16.95
• Displacement/Length Ratio: ~ 228
• Designer:~  Denis Rayner
• Builder:~  Westerly Marine Ltd (UK)
• Year First Built:~  1963
• Year Last Built:~  1967
• Number Built:~  332

YYachts Launches First Hull of New Y8 Model

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WTH?!? why there is no boat which started it all? Pearson Triton 1959 first GRP production boat? many circumnavigated I with mine singlehandedly crossed Atlantic few times.

And no Westsail 28? :O who made this list must do better homework! ! your list is garbage!

Dehler 29   Agile and adaptable

The Dehler 29 has become the favorite boat for newcomers and small families. At the same time, it helps sailing professionals gain international acclaim. The Dehler 29 is a Dehler through and through.

It looks streamlined, sails fast, is easy for just one person to operate. A typical Dehler.

Powerful dynamics, the highest safety and reliable materials guarantee you will fully enjoy sailing.

Dehler yachts stand out with their unique personality, which amazes with clear lines. Simply unmistakable.

• Length over all 8.75 m
• Hull Length 8.75 m
• Beam 2.99 m
• Draught standard 1.58 m
• Displacement standard 3.70 t

Exterior   Design

Exterior gallery.

Confidence: Maneuvering with tiller

It is ideal for one-handed sailing and gives you a feeling for how the boat moves: the tiller steering.

Craftsmanship: Made in Germany

Only the very best of everything. The sail system with large sail, rolling foresail, rigging, and winches leave nothing more to be desired.

Three skylights: More daylight

Sporty optics on the outside, daylight on the inside. Thanks to three skylights, the sun radiates into the interior of your Dehler.

Interior   Design

Interior gallery.

Fully-featured: Family cruiser

Each centimeter is efficiently used below deck. The result is four bunks and lots of storage space across just 29 feet (8.84 m).

Open: End-to-end room concept

An open bulkhead creates a spacious room from the companionway up to the bow bunks.

Ambience: For the soul and senses

Elegantly rounded corners, perfectly harmonized colors and soft lighting pamper you below deck.

Interior   Layout

Interior layouts.

The Dehler 29 offers a double cabin in the bow and a stern cabin on the port side. At the back of the starboard side is where a large storage space is situated.

Saloon table: Pure flexibility

While the one table-top is in use, the other can be folded down to offer free passageway through the saloon — or vice versa.

Clear space: For all your items

Whatever you decide to take on board, you will have plenty of space in the generous drawers, overhead cabinets, wardrobes, and storage boxes.

The engine: Always accessible

The engine is situated below the companionway and is noise-isolated. It can be maintained from both the companionway and from the aft cabins.

Awards   Reviews

Cruising world boat of the year, sailing world boat of the year, european yacht of the year, dehler 29: test review - practical boat owner 529 december 2010, dehler 29: boat of the year - cruising world boat, dehler 29: test review - sail, dehler 29: test review - tradeaboat, dehler review: karl dehler yacht 3/2016, dehler range: schwern yachten gmbh & co kg - bericht yacht 20/20, dehler 29: test report - barcos a vela, dehler range review voiles & voiliers 12/2013, dehler 29: test review, dehler 29: test review - voiles magazine, dehler: history - kazi magazine 06/2013, download   documents, dehler 29 standard specification, dehler 29 brochure, dehler quantum sails manual 2020-21, dehler 29 standard sail plan, dehler 29 polar diagram, dehler material and colour card, dehler 29 interior layout, dehler 29 deck layout.

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• Sailboat Reviews

Newport 28/28 II

While initially there were questions about quality, the 28 is a good entry-level cruiser-racer for those on a budget..

The Newport 28 was one of the longer-lived small production cruising boats, having been in production from 1974 through 1987. Almost 1,000 of the C&C-designed boats were built by Capital Yachts of Harbor City, California.

There is a strong family resemblance between the Newport 28 and other C&C designs of the same period. In addition to the Newport 28, Capital built the Newport 41, another mid-1970s C&C design. The styling of both boats is characterized by the sweeping attractive sheerlines for which C&C is justifiably known.

As with any boat whose production run spanned more than a decade, many changes were made in the Newport 28, both outside and inside, over the years. The original scimitar-shaped keel and rudder gave way to more modern high aspect ratio appendages with 1983 models, increasing draft from 4′ 6″ to 5′ 2″. A shoal draft version drawing 4′ was optional, but

less popular than the deep-keel boat. Versions with the modern keel are designated Newport 28-II.

Sailing Performance

The Newport 28 has a tall, high aspect ratio masthead rig. The newer deep keel models are about six seconds per mile faster than the original version of the boat, which typically sails with a PHRF rating of 192. This is comparable to other cruiser-racers of the same size.

Despite a fairly high ballast/displacement ratio, owners report that the boat is tender. This is due in part to the fairly round midship section, and in part to the fact that few 28′ boats are really very stiff.

Racing in Newport 28s is quite keen in some areas, particularly on the West Coast, where there are large fleets that race both as one-designs and under PHRF. The boat is a competitive PHRF racer, and enough boats have been rated so that its handicap appears fair. This means you are likely to get a rating based on the boat’s performance, not on your own sailing ability.

Most owners report that the boat is very well balanced. This is typical of C&C designs, which usually have fairly small mainsails. With a large foretriangle and a small mainsail, it may be necessary to rake the mast aft slightly to give the boat a little weather helm. It’s far easier to add weather helm than to reduce it.

Construction

Make no mistake about it, the Newport 28 is a boat built to a price. A common complaint by owners is mediocre fitting of woodwork, leaking hull-to-deck joint, cockpit drains that are too small, plastic valves on through hull fittings, inadequate backing plates for hardware—in short, the entire litany of problems associated with boats built to be low in price.

One owner who races his boat hard noticed a large crack in the hull molding aft of the primary sheet winches, and discovered that he could see daylight through it. Apparently, the hull had been cracked in removing it from the mold, and the cracked patched over with auto body filler. This was on a new boat. The factory made good on that one.

Why would so many people buy a boat that apparently has a history of minor construction flaws and mediocre quality control?

The answer, according to owners, is that the basic styling, accommodations, and performance are better than other boats of the same size and type, making up for other shortcomings. When you buy a Chevrolet you know in advance that it isn’t going to be built like a Mercedes.

The interior is one factor that many owners report is a major influence in their decision to buy a Newport 28. With a waterline length of 23′ 6″, there’s a lot of interior for a 28′ boat.

Despite the fairly low freeboard and pronounced concave sheer, there is just over 6′ of headroom on centerline over the main cabin. The pronounced camber of the main cabintop keeps the deckhouse profile low, but at the expense of headroom, which diminishes very quickly away from the centerline. Fortunately, on a boat this small you’re almost always walking near the centerline.

There have been three basic interior arrangements over the years: galley along the starboard side of the main cabin, galley aft on the port side, and galley aft on the starboard side. On later models, only the two aft galley configurations were available. The galley aft on starboard side is the only layout that offers a stove with oven, due to the setup of the main cabin settees.

Unfortunately, this galley arangement required cutting away the starboard main bulkhead beneath the chainplates to make the starboard settee long enough for sleeping, which in our opinion is a structural compromise.

Since there are four other berths in the boat—two forward, the port settee, and a quarterberth—using the starboard settee as a berth isn’t necessary with anything less than a full crew. For family cruising, it is likely that at least one member of the crew would be short enough to use the starboard settee even without the foot extension.

Originally, the boat was equipped with the Atomic Four gasoline inboard, a standard engine in most auxiliaries until the proliferation of diesel power in the early 1980s. Diesel power was optional until the introduction of the 28-II model.

Some boats have Yanmar diesels, others Universal. It took the builder a while to decide which diesel engine to use, as owners report engines ranging in horsepower from 11 to 18. To most owners, there appears to be little difference in performance between diesel engines of various sizes. All of the Universal diesels should be adequate for the boat, and the Atomic Four is far more power than she needs.

Obviously, the diesel engine is a big plus when shopping for a used boat. Retrofitting a diesel on a gas-powered boat of this size is usually more expense than can be justified unless you’re planning to keep the boat for a long time.

Access to the engine for service varies from awful to good, depending on the model year. Fortunately, newer models have better access from the interior as well as a flush hatch in the cockpit sole directly over the engine.

Buying A Used Boat

Because so many owner complaints center on fairly mediocre construction detailing, a used boat should be carefully surveyed before purchase. Particular attention should be paid to structural details of the hull-to-deck joint, attachment of bulkheads, and mounting of deck hardware.

Obviously, a later model boat with a diesel engine is more desirable than an older boat with a gas engine. We would also consider the 28-II version with updated keel and rudder to be more desirable than the earlier design.

Because of the large number of Newport 28s built, at any given time there are a number of boats on the market. This means you should be able to find the combination of ingredients you’re looking for for in age, power plant, keel, and interior layouts—especially if you’re shopping on the West Coast.

It would be a good idea to look at all three interior arrangements before making a decision, although if you opt for a newer boat your choice will be between the two aft galley interiors.

Some of the boats have been seriously upgraded by owners, including such things as larger cockpit drains and higher quality hull hardware.

We would be wary about any boat that showed a lot of inexpert do-it-yourself characterisitics, such as caulking along the hull-to-deck joint, around the ports, or around the chainplates.

Although a tiller is standard, a fair number of boats have been equipped with wheel steering, either as an original option or as a retrofit.

The steering pedestal takes up far less room than the tiller, but it does require that the helmsman sit all the way in the back of the boat. While this arrangement keeps the cockpit less crowded for racing, it also puts all the helmsman’s weight at the aft end of the boat—not a good place for it.

In addition, the helmsman on a wheel-steered boat cannot reach either the mainsheet or the jib sheets, a serious shortcoming. He furthermore has trouble hiding from rain and spray under a companionway dodger.

Life for the helmsman on a wheel-steered Newport 28 will be a lonely one. Wheel steering, being hardly necessary on a boat this size, is hardly desirable on the Newport 28.

The Newport 28 is a good entry-level cruiser-racer for someone wanting a reasonable combination of accommodations and performance, as long as you’re not too persnickety about details. It would be a reasonable compromise for someone who likes more traditional appearance in a modern boat, but doesn’t have the money to spend for a higher-quality boat of the same size and type, such as a Sabre 28.

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Comparing Cruisers

• By Jeff Hemmel
• Updated: October 20, 2017

Day boating may be fun, but cruising overflows with potential. If you love it, pretty soon you’ll get what boaters call “two-foot-itis ”; it’s the need for just a little bigger boat. In fact, boat sellers love this little bug and often count on it for their next sale. Here is what three to five more feet get you, so just maybe you can buy the boat of your dreams the first time.

28 Feet: Bayliner 285 SB Cruising really begins with boats in the 28-foot range. They’re still small enough to be towed or stored on your property, yet big enough to overnight aboard. Bayliner’s 285 pairs a slimmed-down forward berth with a convertible Corian-tabled dinette and makes the midcabin berth an actual stateroom, meaning a real bulkhead and door, not just a curtain. That brings sleeping capacity to six, although in this size range, a couple (and maybe the kids) would truly be most comfortable for a weekend. The same holds true for living amenities, such as freshwater capacity. Cruisers in the 28-foot range offer adequate capacity for short trips, but generally not extended stays. The Bayliner 285 SB will tote 28 gallons of water.

Contact: Bayliner Knoxville, Tennessee; 360- 435-8957; bayliner.com

Class Advantage: Many stay within a beam of 8 feet 6 inches, and a 28-foot cruiser is still small enough to tow with a full-size vehicle.

Specs LOA: 28’7″ Beam: 9’11” Displacement (lb.): 8,056 Fuel Capacity: 89 gal. Max Horsepower: 380 Range at Cruising Speed: 142 nm Berths: 6

Price: $96,305 (with MerCruiser 350 Mag)

Gotta Have: Swim platform extension adds welcomed socializing space.

Another Option…Larson Cabrio 274 Larson opts for a more traditional V-berth, and the cozier midcabin berth is best left to the kids. The adults will likely enjoy a more comfortable night’s sleep forward. larsonboats.com

32 Feet: Cobalt 323 Boats in the 32-foot range, like the Cobalt 323, step up to twin engines, but they’re still mostly the familiar gasoline stern-drives, which allow you to navigate shallower waters. Twin engines make for easier docking, which is good, since a 32-footer is beyond reasonable towing size. Additional footage provides real space. Some manufacturers use it to allow a small family to weekend. Cobalt chose to make the ultimate day boat. Its expansive, single-level cockpit — featuring plush wraparound seating and a six-speaker stereo system — is complemented by a couple-friendly double berth, head and minimal galley below. Step aft and you’ve got a large swim platform, perfect for hot summer days. The 32-foot cruiser class offers excellent levels of versatility.

Contact: Cobalt Boats Neodesha, Kansas; 800-468-5764; cobaltboats.com

Class Advantage: While actual sleeping capacity isn’t much more than on a 28-footer, a larger cockpit and cabin provide more daytime fun for a larger crew.

Specs LOA: 32’10” (w/o swim platform) Beam: 10’7″ Displacement (lb.): 12,300 Fuel Capacity: 174 gal. Max Horsepower: 860 Range at Cruising Speed: 217 nm Berths: 2

Price: $266,577 (with twin MerCruiser 496 Mag MPI)

Gotta Have: Bimini enclosure provides comfort and protection, rain or shine.

Another Option…Rinker 310 Express Cruiser Offers some nice touches, including an aft cockpit lounge that converts to a sun pad, an optional cockpit grill and a skylight that opens up the cabin. rinkerboats.com

37 Feet: Four Winns V375 Cast off in a 37-foot boat, like the Four Winns V375, and you’ll be less subject to rough seas, thanks to 15,000-plus pounds of displacement and a deep-V hull, which smooths the ride. You can still get the familiar stern-drives in this size range, although it is on the cusp of the size for which pod-drives and joystick controls become common. Roominess continues to increase in the 37-foot class. Check out the expansive helm area and the adjacent cockpit in the V375. It is equipped with a refreshment center that includes a sink and a choice of either a refrigerator or ice maker and is housed under a cabana hardtop with full enclosure. The V375’s standard deck plan offers curtained enclosures. Step up to optional bulkheaded staterooms for added privacy.

Contact: Four Winns Cadillac, Michigan; 231- 775-1351; fourwinns.com

Class Advantage: Say goodbye to cramped berths. In this size range, the midcabin berth becomes a true second cabin.

Specs: LOA: 37’0″ Beam: 12’0″ Displacement (lb.): 16,500 Fuel Capacity: 230 gal. Max Horsepower: 640 Range at Cruising Speed: 210 nm Berths: 6

Price: $336,476 (with twin Volvo Penta 5.7 GXi)

Gotta Have: MerCruiser Axius or Volvo Penta sterndrive joystick for docking ease.

Another Option…Monterey 360SY From its racy, low-slung profile to its almost sportscarlike helm station with chrome-on-black wheel, the 360 oozes performance — and backs it up with as much as 860 hp. montereyboats.com

42 Feet: Regal 42 Sport Coupe This 42-foot Regal and similar cruisers in its class are your entries into the world of “big boats.” Fully enclosed helm decks become the norm, and many are diesel pod-powered boats. Generators and air-conditioners are mandatory, if not standard. Regal’s 42 also offers goodies like an electric sunroof and a walk-through from helm to foredeck. Belowdecks, Regal focuses on generously sized sleeping areas, twin heads, a separate shower stall and plenty of room in the galley. In Boating tests when equipped with twin 300 hp Volvo Penta IPS pods, it achieved a cruising speed of 28.7 mph with excellent 1.36 mpg fuel economy. The trade-off? Long gone are the days of nosing onto a beach. Of course, there’s room to carry a dinghy for that purpose.

Contact: Regal Marine Industries Orlando, Florida; 407-851-4360; regalboats.com

Class Advantage: True privacy belowdecks, thanks to twin, bulkhead-and-door staterooms and possibly even separate heads.

Specs LOA: 42’4″ Beam: 13’0″ Displacement (lb.): 19,500 Fuel Capacity: 280 gal. Max Horsepower: 700 Range at Cruising Speed: 298 nm Berths: 6

Price: $665,000 (with twin 300 hp Volvo Penta D4 turbodiesels)

Gotta Have: Electric grill in the wet bar makes your boat party central.

Another Option…Tiara 3900 Sovran Tiara realizes cruising is often for one couple only and responds with the single-stateroom Sovran. The added space allows for a generous galley and home-theater-style lounge. tiarayachts.com

45 Feet: Sea Ray 450 Sundancer Set up primarily for entertaining, the 450 Sundancer offers a master stateroom forward in an otherwise open plan that features a media room aft, which can sleep two. No doubt, cruisers in this size category begin incorporating some seriously luxurious characteristics. Take, for instance, the Japanese Shoji doors and solid-wood cabinetry throughout the 450 Sundancer. Occasional guests can draw the curtain and sleep on the convertible queen lounge. And when the party’s over, a couple heading off for the weekend will enjoy the boat’s climate-controlled, three-sided hardtop and its 70-gallon freshwater capacity. Most of all, they’ll find that an open layout like the Sundancer’s makes the boat more livable than one that has been cut up into separate cabins.

Contact: Sea Ray Knoxville, Tennessee; 800-772-6287; searay.com

Class Advantage: Many boats that are big enough to go even with the wind blowing do double duty as entertaining platforms. Open floor plans allow a party of 20 at the dock, and a cruising couple can stretch out.

Specs LOA: 45’4″ Beam: 13’2″ Displacement (lb.): 27,205 Fuel Capacity: 285 gal. Max Horsepower: 850 Range at Cruising Speed: 213 nm Berths: 6

Price: $836,029 (with twin 364 hp Cummins-MerCruiser QSB 380 Zeus)

Gotta Have: Cockpit heat/air makes helm deck a climate-controlled second salon.

Another Option…Formula 45 Yacht Two boats are better than one. Formula’s optional remote-controlled, hydraulic swim platform can carry a PWC for quick trips to shore — or when your crew is longing for a little playtime. formulaboats.com

48 Feet: Cruisers Yachts 48 Cantius At nearly 50 feet, the Cruisers 48 Cantius, and boats like it, can comfortably cruise a family for a week or a snowbirding couple for an entire season. With large staterooms (the master featuring a queen-size bed), a flatscreen-equipped salon that’s big enough to dance in, a galley that includes an upright refrigerator/ freezer and even an optional washer/dryer, the Cantius is equipped for life aboard. Heck, even this boat’s swim platform is large enough for entertaining. The engine compartment is similarly spacious, as it is in most cruisers in this size class, and it offers easy access to vital systems, with plenty of storage capacity to boot. Finally, the Cantius is a performer, attaining a top speed above 37 mph.

Contact: Cruisers Yachts Oconto, Wisconsin; 920-834-2211; cruisersyachts.com

Class Advantage: This class offers the size, interior space and amenities to hit the spot for two couples on extended cruises.

Specs LOA: 46’6″ Beam: 14’6″ Displacement (lb.): 32,000 Fuel Capacity: 400 gal. Max Horsepower: 870 Range at Cruising Speed: 315 nm Berths: 6

Price: $916,820 (with twin 435 hp Volvo Penta IPS 500)

Gotta Have: Optional hydraulic swim platform makes launching your RIB or PWC easy.

Another Option…Sunseeker Portofino 48 Sunseeker mixes it up, offering a double bed in the forward “VIP suite” that swings apart to form two separate, single berths. The Portofino is also offered in either open or hardtop versions. sunseeker.com

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Home » Blog » Bluewater sailboats » The best bluewater sailboats (we analyzed 2,000 boats to find out)

The best bluewater sailboats (we analyzed 2,000 boats to find out)

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: May 16, 2023

We analyzed two-thousand bluewater sailboats to bring you a list of proven offshore designs

What are the best bluewater sailboats?

This was a question we asked a lot of experienced cruisers when we decided to sail across the Pacific. We needed a boat after all, and we wanted to buy the best bluewater sailboat we could afford.

We heard a lot of strong opinions.

Some sailors thought it was reckless to go offshore in any boat that didn’t have a full keel.

Others prioritized performance, and wouldn’t dream of going anywhere in a slow boat like the Westsail 32 (a.k.a. a “Wet Snail 32”).

Opinions like these left us feeling confused like we had to choose between safety and performance.  

If we learned anything from these conversations, it’s that what makes a bluewater boat is a hotly debated topic!

However, there’s a way to cut through all the opinions and get to the bottom of it. The solution is….

We analyzed just under 2,000 boats embarking on ocean crossings (over a 12 year time period) and came up with a list of the ten best bluewater sailboats.

Where did we get our data?

The data for our best bluewater sailboats list comes from 12 years of entries in the Pacific Puddle Jump (PPJ), an annual cross-Pacific rally. We took part in 2017 and had a ball!

You can read about the methodology we used to analyze this data at the bottom of the post.

What do we mean by “best”?

We know, that word is overused on the internet!

Simply, based on our data set, these were the most common makes and models entered in the PPJ cross-Pacific rally. There were at least 10 PPJ rally entries for every make of boat on our top 10 list.

So, these boats are 100% good to go?

No! A bluewater boat isn’t necessarily a seaworthy boat. Almost every cruiser we know made substantial repairs and additions to get their offshore boat ready, adding watermakers , life rafts, solar panels, and more.

Also, you should always have a boat inspected by a professional and accredited marine surveyor before buying it or taking it offshore.

But my bluewater baby boat isn’t on this list!?

There are hundreds of excellent bluewater yachts that are not on this list. For instance, we sailed across the Pacific in a Dufour 35, which didn’t even come close to making our top 10 list.

Choosing the right boat is very much an individual journey.

Where can I find these bluewater boats for sale?

We recognize that a top 10 list won’t get you very far if you’re shopping for a bluewater boat (especially if you’re looking in the used market).

So, to help you find your perfect boat, we’re going to create a big list of bluewater boats that you can use to refine your search on Yachtworld, Craigslist, or any other places to buy a used boat .

Sign up for our newsletter to get our big list of bluewater boats list as soon as it comes out.

We’re also working on a series of posts by size class. For example, if you’re looking for a smaller boat, you can narrow it down to the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Takeaways from our analysis

There were no big surprises on an individual boat level. All of these makes are considered good cruisers, some of them are even best-selling designs! However, there were a few things that caught our eye.

“Go simple, go small, go now” still holds water

We were thrilled to see the smallest boat in our roundup at the very top of the list! Westsail 32 owners can take pride in their small but mighty yachts (and ignore all those snail-sayers).

While undoubtedly there’s been a trend towards bigger bluewater cruisers in recent years, small cruising sailboats seem to be holding their own. 60% of the monohulls on this list were under 40 feet (if you count the Valiant 40 which sneaks just under at 39.92 feet).

Cat got our tongue

So, we knew catamarans were a thing, but we didn’t fully appreciate HOW popular they’d become!

50% of our top 10 bluewater boat list consists of catamarans—a good fact to toss out the next time you’re trying to garner a happy hour invite on the party boat next door (which will undoubtedly be a catamaran).

Still got it!

We’ve got good news for all you good old boat lovers! 60% of the boats on our list were first built before 2000.

While these older models are less performance-oriented than modern designs, cruisers value these boats for their ability to stand up to rough seas and heavy weather. It just goes to show that solid bones and classic looks never go out of style.

Alright, without further ado, let’s dive into our list of the 10 best bluewater boats!

The 10 best bluewater boats

1. Westsail 32

The Westsail 32 is one of the most iconic bluewater cruisers and 19 have set out to cross the Pacific in the PPJ rally since 2009.

In 1973, this small cruising sailboat garnered a 4-page spread in Time magazine. The article inspired many Americans to set sail and the Westsail 32, with its double-ender design, set the standard for what a real bluewater cruiser should look like.

There were approximately 830 built between 1971 and 1980.

This small boat has taken sailors on ocean crossings and circumnavigations. Though considered “slow” by some, the heavily-built Westsail 32 has developed a loyal following for her other excellent offshore cruising characteristics.

If you’re interested in small bluewater sailboats, check out our post on the best small sailboats for sailing around the world .

2. Lagoon 380

The Lagoon 380 is a reliable, solidly built catamaran and considered roomy for its size. We counted 18 of them in our data set. With over 800 boats built , it may be one of the best-selling catamarans in the world. Like the other boats on this list, the Lagoon 380 has proven itself on long passages and ocean crossings, winning it many loyal fans.

3. Lagoon 440

18 Lagoon 440s have set out to cross the Pacific in the PPJ rally since 2009.

Why leave the comforts of home, when you can take them with you? The Lagoon 440 is a luxurious long-range cruiser, offering beautiful wood joinery, spacious accommodations, and a deluxe galley. Oh, and you have the option of an electric boat motor !

SAIL and Sailing Magazine have both done in-depth reviews of the Lagoon 440 if you want to learn more.

4. Amel Super Maramu (incl. SM 2000)

If you follow the adventures of SV Delos on YouTube, you probably know that the star of the show (SV Delos— in case the title didn’t give it away ) is an Amel Super Maramu. These classic bluewater sailboats can be found all over the world, proof they can go the distance.

We counted 16 Amel Super Maramus and Super Maramu 2000s in our list of PPJ entries.

Ready to join the cult of Amel? Read more about the iconic brand in Yachting World.

5. Valiant 40

When I interviewed legendary yacht designer, Bob Perry, for Good Old Boat in 2019, he told me that the Valiant 40 was one of the boats that most defined him and marked the real start of his career.

At the time, heavy displacement cruisers were considered sluggish and slow, especially in light winds.

Perry’s innovation with the Valiant 40 was to combine a classic double ender above the waterline, with an IOR racing hull shape below the waterline. The result was the first “performance cruiser”, a blockbuster hit, with over 200 boats built in the 1970s.

It’s no surprise we counted 16 Valiant 40s in our data set.

Cruising World magazine dubbed it “a fast, comfortable, and safe cruising yacht,” and there’s no doubt it’s covered some serious nautical miles.

It’s worth noting that there were blistering problems with hull numbers 120-249 (boats built between 1976 and 1981). Later models did not have this problem. Despite the blistering issues, the Valiant 40 remains one of the most highly thought of bluewater designs.

6. TAYANA 37

The Tayana 37 is another hugely popular Perry design. The first boat rolled off the production line in 1976 and since then, nearly 600 boats have been built. Beautiful classic lines and a proven track record have won the Tayana 37 a devoted following of offshore enthusiasts.

12 Tayana 37s have set out to cross the Pacific in the PPJ rally since 2009. Read more about the Tayana 37 in this Practical Sailor review .

7. Lagoon 450

If this list is starting to sound like a paid advertisement, I swear we’re not on Lagoon’s payroll! This is the third Lagoon on our list, but the data doesn’t lie. Lagoon is making some of the best cruising sailboats.

The 450 has been a hot seller for Lagoon, with over 800 built since its launch in 2014. While not a performance cat, the Lagoon 450 travels at a reasonable speed and is brimming with luxury amenities.

At least 12 owners in the PPJ rally chose the Lagoon 450 to take them across the Pacific. It’s no wonder SAIL had so many good things to say about it.

8. Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46

There were 11 Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46s in our data set.

Fountaine Pajot released the Bahia 46 in 1997, a sleek design for traveling long distances. Its generously-sized water and fuel tanks along with ample storage for cruising gear are a real plus for the self-sufficient sailor.

According to Cruising World , “Cruising-cat aficionados should put the Bahia 46 on their “must-see” list.”

9. Catalina 42 (MKI, MKII)

10 Catalina 42s (MKI and MKII) have set out to cross the Pacific in the PPJ rally since 2009.

The Catalina 42 was designed under the guidance of the legendary yacht designer and Catalina’s chief engineer, Gerry Douglas.

One of Catalina’s philosophies is to offer “as much boat for the money as possible,” and the Catalina 42 is no exception. According to Practical Sailor , Catalina aims to price its boats 15% to 20% below major production boats like Hunter and Beneteau.

Practical Sailor has a great in-depth review of the Catalina 42 .

10. Leopard 46

Since 2009, 10 Leopard 46s have embarked on Pacific crossings in the PPJ rally.

Leopards have won legions of fans for their high build quality, robust engineering, and excellent performance.

The Leopard 46 also boasts something of a racing pedigree. It was built in South Africa by Robertson and Caine and designed by Gino Morelli and Pete Melvin, who came up with the record-breaking catamaran Playstation / Cheyenne 125 .

Read more about the Leopard 46 in this Cruising World review .

Methodology

What the data is and isn’t.

The PPJ data was a real boon because it reflects a wide range of cruising boats: small, big, old, new, expensive, and affordable. We think this may be because the PPJ is a very financially accessible rally—the standard entry cost is $125 or $100 if you’re under 35 (age or boat length!).

We did look at data from other (pricier) rallies but found that the results skewed towards more expensive boats.

Needless to say, the data we used is just a sample of the bluewater boats that crossed the Pacific over the last 10+ years. Many cruisers cross oceans without participating in a rally!

Entries vs. completions

The data we used is a list of the PPJ entries, not necessarily the boats that completed the rally. In instances where we saw the same boat entered multiple years in a row, we assumed they’d postponed their crossing and deleted all but the latest entry to avoid double counting.

Boat make variations

The world of boat building and naming can get pretty complicated. Sometimes a manufacturer changes a boat’s name a year or two into production, other times the name remains the same but the boat undergoes a dramatic update.

For the most part, we’ve used SailboatData.com’s classification system (if they list the boats separately, then we have also), except where there are two separately listed models that have the same LOA, beam, and displacement.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

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13 Best Liveaboard Sailboats (under 30 & 50 ft)

Choosing a boat to live on is a big deal — something you definitely want to get right. There are plenty of options to pick from, which can make the choosing process a bit daunting. So to help you navigate those deep waters (no pun intended), here is an article summarizing the 13 best liveaboard sailboats under 30 and 50 feet.

So what are the 13 best liveaboard sailboats?

Catalina 30, pacific seacraft flicka 20, nonsuch ultra 30, aventura 34, island packet 35, peterson 44, prout snowgoose 37, gulfstar 44, beneteau oceanis 50.

Beautiful lineup, isn't it? Let me explain what makes these so special.

Picking the Right One Matters

Picking a liveaboard sailboat belongs among those kinds of decisions that require months, if not years of research and testing.

It is not like choosing a car - those are more or less the same, and although they vary widely in terms of comfort, feeling, and performance, rarely you would encounter one that wouldn't get you from point A to B reasonably.

The same goes for a house or an apartment. Regardless of if you get a 200 square foot condo or a 30,000 square feet mansion, it will most of the time provide a warm shelter with a shower and a kitchen and a bed, fulfilling its basic functions.

But this is only the case because there is extensive infrastructure in place helping cars and houses. A car can only get you from A to B thanks to roads. A house can only have a shower and a kitchen if it is connected to a grid.

But on a boat, you are on your own.

The sea doesn't adjust its waves for your comfort. If something breaks, there is usually not a repair shop nearby. You aren't always connected to water or electricity. And if you don't like what you see around yourself, it's not like you can just leave.

So a liveaboard boat needs to provide what a house does, what a vehicle does, and more, plus it needs to provide this regardless of if you are docked in a marina or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That is a lot to ask, especially if we are talking about boats around 30 or 50 feet.

Fortunately, every single boat on this list is an all-star that ticks all the right boxes. Let's see why.

I know, I hear you, it isn't exciting enough as it doesn't perform that well. Sure. But we are talking about a boat that is supposed to be a house too. So why is it on the list?

This boat has been in production since 1975, which means that it has been extraordinarily well-refined according to the suggestions of thousands of owners. And this manufacturer is known for listening to the sailors' feedback. It is a very popular model, so finding spare parts for it will always be easy. Its famous well thought through the salon, and cabin layout is generous and spacious, so Catalinas are comfortable boats to live on. Plus, the boat has quite a wide beam, great ballast/displacement ratio as well as low sail area/displacement ratio, making it a stiff boat under sail, which adds to stability and comfort.

Good condition MkIII Catalinas can be found for about $35,000, but given the volume of these on the market, you can find a usable one even for around $15,000.

This one is a hero. I'd be hesitant to call such a small boat a comfortable liveaboard if it wasn't for this model. For its size, the interior is very spacious. It is also made for comfort since it seems to be inspired by the aforementioned Catalina 30. In fact, after reading some reviews, I am confident in saying that you will not find a significantly more comfortable 27 footer out there.

It also has a talent very uncommon for liveaboard boats - you can put it on a trailer, which can make your life easier when it comes to certain trips. But most importantly, it is a beauty. Just look at it.

Pricing this boat is a tricky task. You can buy nearly new ones (2015) for around $140,000, but even for $50,000, you can stumble upon models from both the 80s and the 2000s. This means the condition is a big factor, and you gotta inspect your choice well. The good news is that whatever your price in that range, you will find a boat for that money. The bad news is that the cheaper you go, the more effort will the potential repairs take.

I thought the Nor'Sea 27 is gonna be it, but let's push the size limit even more with the 20 foot Flicka, this tiny, towable, but seaworthy beast that accomplished several circumnavigations. Upon entering, you will be amazed at how spacious and equipped with amenities the interior is. Its designer lived on this boat with his partner (who too was a naval architect) for years and cruised all around the world - and what a proof of confidence in his own design that is.

Truth be told, there is a lack of deck space, but underneath it has the comfort and size of a boat a few meters larger, a space you can comfortably live in. Due to its size, it is easy to operate, tow, and sails better than what you would expect from a boat this length.

This boat is incredibly charming, and so its owners rarely sell it. In fact, it has amassed quite a following since it was designed into existence. So expect to spend quite some time searching for one for sale. Once you do find one, it will cost you around $30,000 - $40,000.

This one's a weird one. But because of it, a very spacious one. It is structured as a catboat, that is, with the mast being all the way on the front of the boat, which makes for impressive space below the deck. It has all the necessary amenities, including a shower, so for the liveaboard lifestyle, this boat definitely deserves to make this list.

The single sail catboat design also means it is easy to handle single-handed, which makes for great solitary passages.

Expect to pay around $40,000 to $60,000 for this one.

Though I am trying to keep this list in lower price ranges, I have to put this one in. If you don't mind the price tag of around $170,000, this boat is marketed as the currently cheapest liveaboard catamaran. As previously mentioned, cats offer the most in terms of space, and this model is a brand new one. Thus when it comes to service troubles and costs, you wouldn't pay much. The look is modern, relatively minimalistic and sleek, so for those of you who would like to give the liveaboard lifestyle a go but get cold feet upon seeing boats from the 80s, this is a way to make sure things remain stylish.

The modernity, space, and attention to practicality when it comes to using this as your home, make this a great entry-level liveaboard choice.

Again, this is no performance vehicle. Rather it focuses on the usual cruiser aspects - space, stability, sturdiness, and convenience, which makes it an ideal candidate for your choice when looking for a new floating home. Aside from the spacious interior, this boat also has an unusually large cockpit, great for those lunches on the deck.

As if the designers knew this might be used by the liveaboard people, this boat is easy to handle, which means even under sail, you won't have issues focusing on what you came for in the first place - sea living.

This boat can be found on the market for around $75,000 - $100,000.

The great thing about the Hunter 33 is that it was designed as more of a house than a sailboat. The attention to accommodation details is great here; there is plenty of space for sleeping the owners as well as the occasional visitors, it has a fantastic headroom throughout the boat and one of the most spacious and comfortable dining spaces seen on boats this size.

Food preparation and consumption was probably high on the priority list of the makers; the kitchen has an L shape, which adds to the convenience.

The price spread on these is quite large, with the bottom around $55,000 for the 2004 models and the top around $95,000 for the 2013 models.

This one is for those who don't mind sacrificing luxury for space. If in the middle of the ocean, it makes sense that one would want as much of usable space as possible, so if you are okay with the simplicity that will inevitably come with a system like this, you have found your match.

An undeniable advantage of such a design approach is that the storage space is maximized. Long passages with the need for plenty of room for equipment and provisions won't be a problem here. The simplicity of this boat is not just in terms of design, but even the electrics and plumbing. Thus if something breaks, you will have an easier time fixing it.

This being an older model, you can get your hands on one for around $30,000.

Since we are mostly looking at cheaper boats here, most of them aren't new - in fact, they likely have quite a few years behind them. The build quality is thus important. You want to go for builds that will last. Peterson is known for this, so it's gotta be on the list. As far as this list goes, it is quite a large boat. Moreover, it is one that has been built with spaciousness in mind, both when it comes to living spaces and storage.

A neat thing about this boat is its attention to performance. It isn't a racer; rather, it fits in the performance cruiser category, but they haven't made too many speed-related compromises here.

Peterson 44 can usually be found for $80,000 - $100,000.

There needs to be a catamaran on this list - they are, by definition, more spacious than monohulls, providing a large living area, which is, of course, an attractive characteristic for a liveaboard boat. Especially if they have a solid bridge deck, creating yet more square feet of usable space, which Snowgoose has. Unfortunately, they tend to be costly. While it is easy to recommend a bunch of half a million dollar cats, to make this list more within reach of the average sailor, I've found this beauty that you can get for around $100,000.

Aside from the extra space, this model is a true bluewater cruiser, meaning you won't be limited by its abilities when planning your journeys.

Those of you who had the pleasure of sailing this boat know why it needs to be here. It was built for a liveaboard lifestyle. Its wide body makes for one spacious interior which is well ventilated, (a very important aspect) with a beautiful galley and it has a large aft cabin with a huge bed. It was made with comfort, practicality, and convenience in mind.

Not to sound like a salesman, but believe me when I say this boat is a genuine pleasure to be on. If you want the homey feeling, you don't get much closer than this in this size range.

Expect to pay around $80,000 - $100,000 for this one, though some digging around and 'fixing her up' can knock this number down significantly.

This is another easy choice, space being the reason. Not only does it have an extra-large main cabin and salon with a kitchen, many small Parisian apartments could envy, but it is also very generous in terms of storage space. Stocking up for longer crossings will be a pleasure on this one.

Also, it was built as a racer-cruiser, so you won't be making many compromises in terms of performance, as is often the case with comfortable boats.

All of this comes for a price, though. You might be able to find one for around $100,000 if you put some time into your search and won't mind a bit of travel to see it, but otherwise, the average price is around $130,000.

Let's end this list by stretching the ceiling too with this fifty-footer. It was designed as a holiday cruiser, and it is a popular choice among charter companies. The designers know that there are places in Europe where it is very easy to get a sailing license, so many inexperienced people who don't want to give up the comforts of their home end up on these boats. Oceanis 50 is thus comfortable, spacious, easy to sail, and the attention to accommodation details, amenities, and practicality, is very high.

As such, it is designed to house whole families, so if you live there as a couple, you will have a floating house for yourself, and if kids come, no need to buy a new boat. Even on the deck, this boat is designed for pleasure cruises, so as far as that goes, you will be taken care of. As far as their seaworthiness goes, some consider Beneteau an entry-level holiday brand, and some models are indeed more designed for coastal hopping than large crossings. But that can be fixed with some proper fitting.

If you fancy a new one, you will find yourself paying above the $500,000 mark, but older models start a bit above $100,000. Which is something a person who just sold all their possessions to escape to the sea is more likely to have. Just be a bit careful with boats sold by charter companies. Their previous owners serviced them regularly, but you can be sure the hundreds of sailors that touched the helm weren't necessarily skilled or kind to them.

So there you have it. $15,000 - $50,0000 range, 20 - 50-foot sizes, from cozy towable boats to large sailing houses. A range anybody can choose from to pursue the liveaboard dream. Nothing is stopping you now, so hit the yachtworld.com website and start browsing.

Know though that if you really want to take advantage of the boat market, you might have to travel quite a bit. If you are an American, the strong dollar will make it enticing to look for a boat in European countries without the EUR currency. Or you might find plenty of cheap models in Turkey, for instance. It requires more effort, but in return, it might save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Fair winds!

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40 Best Sailboats

• By Cruising World Editors
• Updated: April 18, 2019

Sailors are certainly passionate about their boats, and if you doubt that bold statement, try posting an article dubbed “ 40 Best Sailboats ” and see what happens.

Barely had the list gone live, when one reader responded, “Where do I begin? So many glaring omissions!” Like scores of others, he listed a number of sailboats and brands that we were too stupid to think of, but unlike some, he did sign off on a somewhat upbeat note: “If it weren’t for the presence of the Bermuda 40 in Cruising World’s list, I wouldn’t even have bothered to vote.”

By vote, he means that he, like hundreds of other readers, took the time to click through to an accompanying page where we asked you to help us reshuffle our alphabetical listing of noteworthy production sailboats so that we could rank them instead by popularity. So we ask you to keep in mind that this list of the best sailboats was created by our readers.

The quest to building this list all began with such a simple question, one that’s probably been posed at one time or another in any bar where sailors meet to raise a glass or two: If you had to pick, what’re the best sailboats ever built?

In no time, a dozen or more from a variety of sailboat manufacturers were on the table and the debate was on. And so, having fun with it, we decided to put the same question to a handful of CW ‘s friends: writers and sailors and designers and builders whose opinions we value. Their favorites poured in and soon an inkling of a list began to take shape. To corral things a bit and avoid going all the way back to Joshua Slocum and his venerable Spray —Hell, to Noah and his infamous Ark —we decided to focus our concentration on production monohull sailboats, which literally opened up the sport to anyone who wanted to get out on the water. And since CW is on the verge or turning 40, we decided that would be a nice round number at which to draw the line and usher in our coming ruby anniversary.

If you enjoy scrolling through this list, which includes all types of sailboats, then perhaps you would also be interested in browsing our list of the Best Cruising Sailboats . Check it out and, of course, feel free to add your favorite boat, too. Here at Cruising World , we like nothing better than talking about boats, and it turns out, so do you.

40. Moore 24

39. pearson vanguard, 38. dufour arpege 30, 37. alerion express 28, 36. mason 43/44, 35. jeanneau sun odyssey 43ds, 34. nor’sea 27, 33. freedom 40, 32. beneteau sense 50, 31. nonsuch 30, 30. swan 44, 29. c&c landfall 38, 28. gulfstar 50, 27. sabre 36, 26. pearson triton, 25. islander 36, 24. gozzard 36, 23. bristol 40, 22. tartan 34, 21. morgan out island 41, 20. hylas 49, 19. contessa 26, 18. whitby 42, 17. columbia 50, 16. morris 36, 15. hunter 356, 13. beneteau 423, 12. westsail 32, 10. alberg 30, 9. island packet 38, 8. passport 40, 7. tayana 37, 6. peterson 44, 5. pacific seacraft 37, 4. hallberg-rassy 42, 3. catalina 30, 2. hinckley bermuda 40, 1. valiant 40.

• More: monohull , Sailboats
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5 Best Liveaboard Bluewater Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Liveaboard bluewater sailboats are both comfortable to live on and capable of making long, offshore ocean voyages.

The best liveaboard bluewater sailboats must strike a balance between comfort and seakeeping abilities. These boats are generally heavy and stable and roomy enough to spend time in. They must also include the necessary hardware to make cooking, sleeping, and bathing possible in choppy conditions.

Table of contents

Bluewater Liveaboard Sailboat Design

What makes a good bluewater liveaboard sailboat , and how is it different from a coastal cruiser? There are a few aspects of purpose-built bluewater sailboats that make them different from most production vessels. The first and (possibly) most important is the hull design.

The classic bluewater sailboat hull shape features a long, deep, full keel. The keel acts as a hydroplane and keeps the boat stable on course in all sea conditions. Deep keel sailboats aren't the only kind of bluewater-capable vessels, but they're a tried and tested design.

Other vessels gain stability from having a wide beam. Beamy sailboats are far more comfortable in rolling seas, as they tend to buffett and pitch much less than leaner, narrow boats. Most ideal liveaboard bluewater sailboats balance length and beam carefully to make the most of the space and hull shape.

Space is another important quality to consider when choosing the best bluewater liveaboard sailboat. Interior space comes first, as living quarters are a key element of comfort.

Cockpit space should also be considered, especially if more than one person comes aboard. Most liveaboard bluewater sailboats sacrifice cockpit space for cabin space.

A comfortable liveaboard sailboat should include several amenities, including a head (toilet), a shower, two sinks, a galley with a stove, an icebox, a place to eat, and a place to sleep. Ideally, the dining area is separate from the primary sleeping area.

A separate chart table is ideal as well because it keeps food and clutter away from important navigational equipment. A chart table is less important on liveaboard sailboats that spend the majority of their time docked. That said, the chart table functions well as a spot for a microwave, toaster oven, or TV when you're not underway.

A separate forward V-berth, known as a master cabin, is a big plus on liveaboard boats. Separating the sleeping area from the rest of the cabin can increase comfort and coziness.

However, on a bluewater sailboat, a side berth near the hatch is essential as well. This is because you may need to quickly take control of the vessel after waking up, and it's best to sleep close to the helm.

Power and Water

Power and water shouldn't be overlooked when choosing a bluewater liveaboard. Many liveaboards spend most of their time docked and hooked up to shore power, water, and sewage. But bluewater liveaboards are designed for cruising, which means everything must be self-contained.

The best bluewater sailboats have sufficient freshwater storage tanks for several weeks on the water. Some have desalination (water maker) machines, which require electricity to run.

Solar panels are an excellent option for power generation, and they can be installed on almost any sailboat.

But all bluewater sailboats should have battery banks and a gasoline or diesel generator built into the system. On many vessels, the inboard engine also functions as a generator.

Safety is an essential factor to consider when choosing a cruising sailboat , especially if it doubles as your primary residence. Basic safety equipment such as bilge pumps and radios should be maintained and tested regularly. Backups and spare parts should also be kept aboard.

Other safety features, such as watertight hatches, can keep your cabin safe and dry during inclement weather. Self-draining cockpits are helpful when sailing offshore, as spray and waves drain from the exposed cockpit without the use of electric or mechanical pumps. If the drain ports are kept clean, no bailing is ever necessary.

Radar is another useful safety feature that, while not mandatory, can keep you in-the-know and alert you to the presence of nearby ships. Radar is especially useful at night, as the automatic alarms can wake you whenever a potential obstacle appears nearby.

Bluewater Sailboats for Living Aboard and Cruising

Living aboard a sailboat is one of the most interesting and rewarding lifestyles available today. It's even more alluring when you can sail your vessel across oceans, which is what bluewater sailboats are designed to do.

A liveaboard cruising sailboat combines comfort, seakeeping ability, and ease of handling in a compact and thoughtfully-designed package. Here are the best liveaboard sailboats for bluewater cruising.

1. Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

{{boat-info="/boats/pacific-seacraft-flicka-20"}}

The Flicka 20 is the smallest and most interesting sailboat on our list. At only 20 feet overall in length, the interior accommodations of this vessel are spartan at best and suitable for minimalist living.

What makes the Flicka 20 stand out is its exceptional bluewater performance. This sailboat is truly an ultracompact pocket cruiser. With a full ballast keel, self-draining cockpit, and wide beam, the Flicka 20 is more capable offshore than some boats almost twice its size.

This sailboat has the profile of a traditional keel cruiser. From a distance, it would be easy to mistake for a much larger vessel. Its hull shape, manageable Bermuda rig, and small size make it a perfect starter sailboat for single handed offshore cruising.

Inside, you have (almost) everything you need to live comfortably, albeit in a minimalist way. The cabin features standing headroom throughout, which is highly unusual for a 20-foot sailboat. On the port side, you're greeted with a small but functional galley. On the starboard side, there's a small head with a toilet and a shower.

The Flicka 20 displaces a hardy 5,500 lbs. Due to its large keel, there's no centerboard trunk to obstruct interior space. A V-berth upfront makes up the sleeping accommodations, and some models feature settees on both sides with a pop-up dining and chart table in between.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 has achieved somewhat of a cult status amongst bluewater sailboat enthusiasts. Only about 400 were built, so purchasing a Flicka 20 is somewhat of a rare and expensive proposition. That said, the benefits of owning a 20-foot bluewater liveaboard sailboat are hard to beat.

Cheap slip fees, low maintenance costs, and simplicity are the major selling points of this vessel. It's trailerable behind most heavy-duty pickup trucks and technically small enough to store on the street or in a driveway.

2. Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24

{{boat-info="/boats/pacific-seacraft-allegra-24"}}

If the Flicka 20 is too small for your taste, try the Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24. It follows the same design principles of the Flicka 20, but with four feet of additional space for cabin amenities and seaworthiness.

Four feet may not sound like a lot, but it makes a world of difference on a sailboat. The additional space on the Allegra 24 adds room to the head, extends the port and starboard settees, and increases the size of the galley.

If you like the idea of a small, semi-trailerable offshore sailboat with liveaboard amenities, you'll love the Allegra 24. This stout sailboat has almost miraculous handling and seakeeping qualities while retaining the benefits of small overall size.

With the Allegra 24, you'll be able to make virtually any offshore passage and save on slip fees, maintenance costs, and overall labor. This vessel is easy to sail single handed and large enough for a minimalistic couple to live, eat, and sleep comfortably.

The Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24 is not ideal for people who need space for pets, children, or guests, as the interior is quite small when compared to other sailboats. That said, there's enough room for an occasional passenger, and the cockpit is comfortable enough for four adults to sit and interact.

3. O'Day 28

{{boat-info="/boats/oday-28"}}

The O'Day 28 is a popular sailboat that makes a great liveaboard cruising platform. This affordable vessel was produced between 1978 and 1986, and over 500 examples were produced over the years.

All in all, the O'Day 28 is a stout cruising sailboat that's suitable for offshore and coastal sailing. It features a raked stern and hidden rudder, and a helm that's similar to what you'd find on much larger boats.

The O'Day has a large fuel tank for its inboard engine and an even larger 25-gallon freshwater capacity, which is excellent for offshore cruising. Additional tanks can be added in storage spaces, making the O'Day 28 suitable for long voyages.

The cabin of the O'Day 28 is spacious and includes everything you'd need to live aboard comfortably, along with plenty of storage space throughout. The wide beam of the O'Day 28 gives it lots of space, so the cabin doesn't feel cramped for its size.

Two models of the O'Day 28 were built; one featured a swing keel, and the other had a fixed swing keel. The swing keel model is ideal for coastal cruising and shallow-water sailing, while the fixed keel O'Day 28 is more suited for bluewater cruising.

That said, both keel variants make fine offshore sailboats. The cabin of the O'Day 28 features a large galley with a stove and icebox, two large settee berths, a large center table ahead, and a V-berth forward. The head serves as a separator to the forward cabin, giving the V-berth an extra layer of privacy.

4. William Atkin "Eric" 32

{{boat-info="/boats/atkin-co-eric-32"}}

"Eric," designed in the 1920s by famous marine architect William Atkin, is a radical departure from typical modern liveaboard sailboats. However, as a bluewater liveaboard sailboat, this vessel likely outshines all the others on this list in almost every conceivable way.

Eric is a 32-foot traditional wooden ketch. This planked full- keel sailboat displaces over 19,000 lbs and has a draft of about five feet. The basic design of the hull is based on early Norweigian fishing boats, which were known for their resilience in rough North Sea storms.

Eric is a traditional gaff-rigged vessel with two short masts and a long bowsprit. Though complex to rig, it sails beautifully in all weather conditions. One of the earliest examples built survived a hurricane offshore in the 1930s, and subsequent models have completed numerous long-range ocean voyages.

Eric is a purpose-built long-range ocean cruiser. Interior accommodations are spacious and designed for comfort and utility. Unlike most sailboats of the time, Eric features a full head with shower, a 'master cabin' style V-berth forward, a full galley with an icebox, and standing headroom throughout.

William Atkin's Eric is, by all definitions, an ocean-crossing sailboat designed to take between one and four adults just about as far as they want to go. It has all the qualities of an oceangoing sailboat in a compact package, along with excellent seakeeping characteristics.

The primary drawback of this 32-foot Atkin sailboat is maintenance. Most of these hulls were constructed using traditional oak planking, which lasts forever if taken care of but requires skilled maintenance. The planks are caulked using cotton wadding, and they'll need recaulking if the boat stays out of the water for too long and "dries up."

If you're looking for a beautiful and historic liveaboard sailboat with serious offshore cruising capabilities, consider an Atkin Eric 32. Although somewhat rare, examples of this design occasionally pop up for sale on the used market.

5. Pearson 35

{{boat-info="/boats/oday-28"}}, {{boat-info="/boats/pearson-35"}}

The Pearson 35 crosses the rubicon into the 'big boat' category, as it has everything you'd expect of a large oceangoing sailboat. The vessel also has a unique displacement keel with an additional swing keel at the base.

The Pearson 35 is a roomy sailboat with excellent seakeeping abilities and a large sail plan. It's a typical Bermuda-rigged sloop with a tall mast and the usual sheet and halyard arrangement. As a result, it's fun to sail and easy to handle. It's also a fast boat, making it ideal for longer voyages.

The swing keel certainly doesn't make the Pearson 35 a shoal-draft sailboat. It has a modified full keel which (with the swing keel retracted) draws 3 feet 9 inches. With the additional swing keel down, the draft of the Pearson 35 increases to over 7 feet.

The Pearson 35 is a heavy boat with good sea keeping abilities. It was introduced in 1968, and over 500 units were produced. That makes it one of the more popular sailboats in its class, and plenty of Pearson 35s are still sailing around the United States.

Down below in the cabin, the Pearson 35 is roomy and comfortable. It features a full galley, an enclosed head with a shower and sink, and several berthing areas, including a forward V-berth. Plenty of storage is available throughout the cabin, making the Pearson 35 an excellent choice for living aboard.

There's something empowering about piloting a 35-foot sailboat through rough weather. The size of the boat provides both safety and a sense of security, which can help you keep a clear head during stressful situations at sea. The vessel is beamy as well, making it less likely to heel aggressively and increasing roll comfort in dicey seas.

Overall, the Pearson 35 is an excellent choice for a liveaboard bluewater sailboat. It's a large boat in comparison to the others on this list, and it's known for easy handling and excellent windward performance. The Pearson 35 is a common sailboat that's widely available on the used market.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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