So that wraps up our options so far, with many decisions still to consider. I would like to hear from others in regards to some of their option decisions and from those folks who have thoughts on possible options not discussed previously...
Well, I can make this quick. Once again I can just begin with "what he said."
Our thinking matches with tiny exceptions.
White hull. Navy bootstripe. Just my preference. The bimini will be in navy.
Getting the blinds.
Keeping the dingy topside, so getting a Jackson davit. Dingy choice still up in the air but narrowed down.
Thought about the extra cleats. For fender use really. Frankly it had just dropped off my radar screen by the time I ordered. Not a priority but perhaps I'll revisit.
Same topside layout. 2 helm seats, L shaped settee. Arch. Arch lights. I spent a lot of time on this issue. It was really up to my wife. She wanted the table seating of the U shape for a dinner option, but also wanted the extra helm seat. Can't work. I played with other ideas not done before too. She just came back to this.
What we do plan to do is just get a folding teak table or two, to use topside or in the cockpit. I just figure we'll see what we really want later. And a couple of folding deck chairs. Storage in the lazarette. Not everything must be built in. So liking B&B's electric grill idea, we can just pop that onto a table up top if we like. A cooler when we have a lot of guests can work and its easy.
We have not yet picked cushion and countertop colors yet. We have time. But we are definitely going in the same direction as you, for the same reasons.
We are getting the centerline cabinet stack counter in the faux granite material, and also the top of the cabinet next to the day head. Just a practicality judgement call.
Electric galley. Induction cooktop, convection microwave. AC is a must-have in our area, which makes a generator a must-have, so going electric was an easy call. Especially since it reduces appliances from 3 to 2 and frees up the centerline cabinet. Northern Lights generator. I thought about trying to find space for an additional freezer, for both more ice trays and food, but just didn't pursue it.
I expected my wife to want the washer-dryer more than she did. She really didn't see much need. When you know you need to be in a marina no LESS than once every 7-10 days to empty the black water tank, she just shrugged and said laundry at the marina will be fine, or the occasional hand wash. That simplifies life, and is one less thing to maintain.
We are getting the salon TV cabinet too. And also the drop down one in the cabin above the bed. We really cannot truly decide what we are likely to do when it comes to just lounging around watching some old movie. Not 100% sure just how comfortable the salon seating will be for that use after a 2 hour movie. Might just prop up in bed. So I'm preserving options, even at the cost of doing so.
Yes with the spring assists to under the berth
Single conversion for the pilothouse berth.
I did ask for something I thought might be original and have to get it spec'ed out. But it's been done before. At the end of the island, a drop leaf to add counter space. That moves the cabinet door around to face the fridge.
Also, my wife wanted handholds. First, when standing at the chart table facing forward. That will be along the chart table edge, in teak. Second, on the deck above the cabin top above the berth. She wanted something to hold onto if climbing out the hatch in an emergency. For me, coming out of sailing, the idea of handholds on the cabin top when on the foredeck in snotty weather was a natural expectation. So we are having a pair of stainless hand holds installed along the two sides of the hatch, carried forward about an additional 6 inches or so. Fingers crossed they are enough without being too much.
You are going Furuno, I'm thinking Simrad. Its hard to find differences between the brands. All are pretty good from what I see. But Simrad seems to do the best with auto-routing in the autopilot. Not a big deal, but it is a point of differentiation. Also, I am kinda persuading myself on the value of forward looking sonar. That puts you with either Garmin or Simrad, and the Simrad version seems to be cleaner to read. I have yet to find the right dealer in the Kent Island / Annapolis area to work with and may just go with Scott's guy. When the time comes make final choices I really want to pick the brains of the right professional, and I just can't find that yet. My mind can change on this. Heck, I spent a lot of years sailing with paper charts and a compass, and this stuff didn't exist. The worst of it is pretty luxurious.
What I am NOT planning to do is install a fancy sound system. Small portable bluetooth systems have become so good, fed by iphone / ipad playlists, to me that makes so much more sense than drilling holes and running wires for some expensive built in system that's harder to fix and is obsolete next year anyway.
You didn't mention swim platform staples. With your dingy back there you may not be getting them. I am. Dingy up top.
I am getting side access doors in the cockpit, but also amidships opposite the pilothouse doors. I want this boat to be user-friendly to singlehand so I want access options.
To that same point, I am getting not just stern thrusters, but a remote to use bow and stern thrusters. The remote is a cheap addition. My reasoning is simple enough. Scott convinced me I don't NEED stern thrusters, and I agree. But what I do want is the ability to nudge the boat and KEEP it where I put it when scurrying around with docklines especially single handed. This might prove to be overkill, but its peace of mind I'll pay for. Stern thrusters have become expected in resale, I gather, so there's that too. But the last is just rationalization.
380 hp Cummins. So no need for trim tabs. 7-ish knots is my expected normal cruise speed.
Towel bar handrails in the day head are not standard. I ordered it.
I thought about Reverso. Seemed like overkill, so didn't.
Can't think of more. If I do, I'll post.