So, this week we ventured off of our mountain perch and down to Newport Beach to attend the Lido Boat Show. It was our first time stepping onto a lot of the boats we've been looking at and we found it incredibly valuable. Among the things we learned (in no particular order)...
1) We like a little bit bigger boat than we'd been eying. We'd been mostly looking at boats in the 40-45' range. Turns out we really prefer something a little bit bigger. Our favorite boats were all in the 48-55 foot range.
2) Grand Banks are gorgeous, but not for us. We walked on two Grand Banks, one in the mid-30 range and one just over 50'. Participating in this forum, the reverence that many people hold for these fine ships is obvious. While we thought they were well built and beautifully appointed, we just didn't love the layout. Not every boat can be for everyone and it turns out that we're not GB people.
3) If we could afford the Hi Star 52' Pilot House we would probably own one right now.
4) A Fleming 65 is the ultimate reward for a lifetime of hard work. Wow. I mean seriously 'wow!'
5) We've spent a lot of time looking at the Carver 450 Voyager. There were none at the show but, to our delight (and perhaps the ultimate chagrin of our pocketbook) there was a 530 Voyager. My 'admiral-in-waiting' absolutely fell in love. Something to be said for that. (we also walked on their upscale line, a 'marquis' that cost literally 10 times as much but that we liked less.
6) A lot of brokers are either idiots or assess... then there were a couple which we would be more than thrilled to work with. I imagine this is true with any relationship as personal as the person working to help fulfill your dreams. There are going to be few, and only a few, that make a perfect match. But right now there are two: an ex-stock broker named Alex and an older woman named Susan that we both felt comfortable with and though they don't know it they are vying for our future 10%.
7) We found that we definitely prefer a pilot house. The helm as part of the salon just wasn't a design that did it for us. Then, randomly, we ran into some friends at the show and they showed us their boat-- their boat was gorgeous, a 50-some foot off-shore cruiser with the helm in the salon. This worked perfectly for them.
8) Same idea on the cockpit configuration. We really love a set up where the swim step leads directly into the cockpit via a transom door with few or no steps. We walked a 49' Gulf Star that just didn't do it for us at all and the ladder leading steeply up was a big part of the reason why. But, again, they wouldn't make them if there weren't demand for them. Our preferences aren't informed in any way, save informed by what we prefer.
Anyway, these are just our stream-of-conscious impressions. I'm certain we will know more soon, but we had a blast making the trip down and about.
Shanty
1) We like a little bit bigger boat than we'd been eying. We'd been mostly looking at boats in the 40-45' range. Turns out we really prefer something a little bit bigger. Our favorite boats were all in the 48-55 foot range.
2) Grand Banks are gorgeous, but not for us. We walked on two Grand Banks, one in the mid-30 range and one just over 50'. Participating in this forum, the reverence that many people hold for these fine ships is obvious. While we thought they were well built and beautifully appointed, we just didn't love the layout. Not every boat can be for everyone and it turns out that we're not GB people.
3) If we could afford the Hi Star 52' Pilot House we would probably own one right now.
4) A Fleming 65 is the ultimate reward for a lifetime of hard work. Wow. I mean seriously 'wow!'
5) We've spent a lot of time looking at the Carver 450 Voyager. There were none at the show but, to our delight (and perhaps the ultimate chagrin of our pocketbook) there was a 530 Voyager. My 'admiral-in-waiting' absolutely fell in love. Something to be said for that. (we also walked on their upscale line, a 'marquis' that cost literally 10 times as much but that we liked less.
6) A lot of brokers are either idiots or assess... then there were a couple which we would be more than thrilled to work with. I imagine this is true with any relationship as personal as the person working to help fulfill your dreams. There are going to be few, and only a few, that make a perfect match. But right now there are two: an ex-stock broker named Alex and an older woman named Susan that we both felt comfortable with and though they don't know it they are vying for our future 10%.
7) We found that we definitely prefer a pilot house. The helm as part of the salon just wasn't a design that did it for us. Then, randomly, we ran into some friends at the show and they showed us their boat-- their boat was gorgeous, a 50-some foot off-shore cruiser with the helm in the salon. This worked perfectly for them.
8) Same idea on the cockpit configuration. We really love a set up where the swim step leads directly into the cockpit via a transom door with few or no steps. We walked a 49' Gulf Star that just didn't do it for us at all and the ladder leading steeply up was a big part of the reason why. But, again, they wouldn't make them if there weren't demand for them. Our preferences aren't informed in any way, save informed by what we prefer.
Anyway, these are just our stream-of-conscious impressions. I'm certain we will know more soon, but we had a blast making the trip down and about.
Shanty