How To Select The Right Sailboat For You: A Buyer's Guide

[@neilmartin2916]

No other channel does this level of analysis. you will never find this in the mags as they are on comission great show again!

[@boatfools]

Thanks Neil! No one else probably does because they don't want to bore everyone to death, so I REALLY appreciate your positive feedback because I love this stuff!

[@Rottingboards]

I love how you just get to the point.

[@boatfools]

No time to waste!

[@kenolena9933]

Morgan, all day long. Great channell

[@pg6349]

I have sometimes found myself forgetting to give a thumbs up on various info videos that truly deserve it. Your info video is so good that it is impossible to forget to give it a thumbs up.

[@boatfools]

Many thanks!!!

[@QuickChip-v2w]

Thank you very much for your analysis! I've been dreaming of buying & sailing large sailboats during my entire life, but have only owned small craft as I was forced to live inland, and the logistics of maintaining a sailboat from a distance was just too much to manage. I've been seriously sailboat shopping for 3 years and am getting closer to putting in offers.

[@gerryconnolly5426]

Saber 34... has an excellent build reputation, is good looking and we know it's a good sailor.

[@boatfools]

My stepfather has owned his Sabre 36 since 1985 - and I am pretty certain she's the second love of his life - maybe the first! She's an amazing boat and as solid as a rock. We've sailed her from Maine to Block Island, raced in countless regattas along the coast of Maine, encountered countless storms (have seen 65kts across the deck while racing with our blade 3 and double reefed main with masts snapping on boats near us), and rode out Hurricane Bob on her in Pulpit Harbor, North Haven - and she never blinked, not even once. Hell of a boat.

[@valerieb.4912]

My father had the 1st. Morgan, Hobie Cats, and another brand. We had a Morgan 24, then the 27, and then the 38 (our last boat was a Bristol 41.1). I am going with the Morgan.

[@jackchamberlain5993]

Great episode and a nice scheme for judging sailboats. I also have found reading reviews especially those in Practical Sailor very useful. It is not surprising that you favored the Morgan 382, that is truly a great boat. Matter of fact, watching the video of your 382 under sail on your business trip was awesome. I am definitely interested in the Morgan 382, matter of fact, if you were to make some fanboy videos of your 382 when you are running thin on listings, I would definitely be watching and liking.

[@boatfools]

Hello Jack! Thanks for the nice comments. I did take some recent interior footage but if you’re jonesing for more 382, if you watch some of our earlier episodes we did some work on her and there’s some decent interior footage, though not all put together. I LOVE this boat and love sailing her solo. Obviously more fun with friends or with my wife and children, but she’s wonderful to sail alone. Very forgiving and comfortable. More footage will be forthcoming! There are several for sale around the country including one here in Maine for $23,500 and she looks very nice! Thanks for watching!

[@boatfools]

Oh, agreed on Practical Sailor. Great info!

[@robertscholz4486]

Great episode!! For me I would have to go with the Morgan. The extra length with the extra beam will be noticeable, I would prefer an encapsulated ballast, the greater displacement obviously helps with the comfort ratio (where it wins again), the cost of brand new sails can be covered by the price differential between the two boats (the Saber needs a stove --add to the purchase cost for that as well). Now take into account "intended Use" as you said ... which better suits the uses that were mentioned? Light racing on occasion -- the Morgan is the faster of the two, day trips and maybe some coastal cruising -- the Morgan will have more living space, taking the family along -- the Morgan is the more sea kindly of the two. Personally I did not like the looks of the Westerbeke Diesel, the engine beds, or the cabin sole in the Saber. As for the Morgan, I like the skeg hung rudder set up, and you can't go wrong two settees, quarter berth, Pilot berth, and V-berth (looks like a party to me!!!). On a side note ... I would really be interested if you would expound upon moorings (where to look for available ones, who to speak to for information, etc) as a follow up to this episode. I live about 50 miles from NYC, and am considering buying next year and will likely have to keep the boat up on the Hudson River -- the pricing that I have seen for a slip at the marinas are down right frightening the closer to the city that I look.

[@boatfools]

I like your reasoning! As for moorings, you'll really need to start calling up local harbor masters and marinas to see what's available. Up in Maine, in Camden anyway, it can be up to a 7 year wait for a mooring depending on the size of the vessel. It can be a process. And, depending on your local laws - you can't rent a mooring from a private party. Up here, for example, if I wasn't using my mooring, it's illegal for me to rent it for profit. So, if you come across any situations like that, be sure to check your local laws on the matter. It's all about insurance, liability, boat size, and appropriate ground tackle. Good luck!

[@Al-Storm]

Great video, you earned another sub. I'm down in Boston and in this phase of looking.

[@boatfools]

Hey! Thanks! Let us know if you need any advice. Always happy to talk boats!

[@patrickfalter4487]

Great episode, loved your rant. When I read Cruising magazine, all the editors own classic plastic, then they boat review very high priced, what do you call them? Ikea boats ? Theirs a real disconnect going on. Anyway I'm new to sailing. I've learned quite a bit in a small dinghy. Just bought a Seafarer 26 on a trailer. Nice little pocket cruiser, great numbers other than a little light on comfort ratio, all for $3300. The owner started a t 5000 but couldn't sell. My plan is to cruise the great lakes, and then move up to say a Sabre, not sure. I love the fact that there's affordable, and with a little elbow grease, great boats out there. Thanks for the channel, no disconnect here :)

[@boatfools]

Hi Patrick! Thanks for the comments! Yes, the disconnect is growing by leaps and bounds, IMO. If you don’t read GOOD OLD BOAT yet, you should. It will make you feel better. Also - we profile a Seafarer 26 in our next episode! Cool boat. Found a nice one in Vermont, I believe listed at $6,500 - so you did well! I love Sabres. Beautiful, solid boats! Thanks for tuning in and stick around for Saturday’s edition to see the Seafarer. It’s a new series we’re launching under BoatFools called Secondhand Sailors: Six boats, One Winner. It will be fun!

[@patrickfalter4487]

Awesome, will check it out. Thanks again for the good content@@boatfools

[@Dryer_Safe]

Nice analysis. If space is of no or little concern, I would not be too quick to dismiss the Cape Dory. Though maybe one in better shape? Otherwise it's clearly the Morgan.

[@boatfools]

The Cape Dory’s are super. My friend owns one and my one issue is headroom down below. I’m 6’1” and it’s a little tight. Otherwise, they are aces. Thanks for watching!

[@nodogrunner]

Love the comments. What I am hearing is, do your home work, find what fits your budget and make some memories. No boat is perfect but there is one that is right for me and hopefully I will get my wife on board. God willing.

[@boatfools]

Amen. Go find that boat and involve your wife in the process - then she’ll love it almost as much as you!

[@nodogrunner]

Love the content😊

[@boatfools]

I appreciate that! Thank you!

[@matatooie]

Also, you should try to insure each vessel before you make an offer. They are older boats and insurance is getting harder to find for the older boats

[@nodogrunner]

Yep, it's a real problem. I think, anything older than 2000 is a problem.

[@boatfools]

It is difficult but not impossible. Having prior boat ownership experience helps but, if not that, get some sailing certifications. Additionally, you'll likely need a survey to get the ball rolling. We used Berkley One, for anyone who's interested in trying them. Our boat was 42 when we insured her.

[@Lars-ly5dt]

Loyd's of London Will insure

[@boatfools]

@@Lars-ly5dt do you know of any specific requirements they insist upon? Like previous boat ownership? Thanks for the intel!

[@beorbeorian150]

I would consider resell value as part of the equation also.

[@boatfools]

Absolutely. Good point!

[@cmorgan4515]

got to go with the Morgan

[@pfeif1312]

Brilliant commentary on sailing Magazine. Editors seem to think speed and ultimate luxury is what the majority of sailors want- clearly they are wrong. We have 41 year old Bristol, regularly sail at 6-7.2 knots in awesome comfort at 15-20 KNt

[@boatfools]

Thank you! Yep…how fast do we really need to go? I love Bristols - I stare at a 41.1 from my office window but I don’t let on to my Morgan that I have a crush…Thanks for watching!

[@pfeif1312]

1982 38.8 #6. SV Dreamer. Sailing Narragansett bay, Sakonnet river, buzzards bay & islands

[@boatfools]

Ah! Beautiful! Super boats. I used to windsurf in Buzzards Bay years ago. Had a family place in Wareham. Miss it!

[@johnrobson9606]

Could you give details on calculating the Comfort Ratio

[@boatfools]

Here it is as defined by SailboatData: This is a ratio created by Ted Brewer as a measure of motion comfort. It provides a reasonable comparison between yachts of similar size and type. It is based on the fact that the faster the motion the more upsetting it is to the average person. Consider, though, that the typical summertime coastal cruiser will rarely encounter the wind and seas that an ocean going yacht will meet. Numbers below 20 indicate a lightweight racing boat, small dinghy and such; 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser; 30 to 40 indicates a moderate bluewater cruising boat; 40 to 50 indicates a heavy bluewater boat; over 50 indicates an extremely heavy bluewater boat. Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam^1.33), where displacement is expressed in pounds, and length is expressed in feet.

[@nodogrunner]

Hey, what boat stat tells you how close a boat will point into the wind?

[@todddunn945]

That is determined by the combination of hull form, keel type, rig design and sails. Basically to be able to point high you want a deep fin keel with an inboard sheeted rig. New sails help a lot too.

[@boatfools]

Agree with Todd 100%. On the Morgan the jib tracks are outside the lifelines on the toe rail - so she will not point as well as, say, the Sabre, which has her tracks on the deck between the shrouds and the lifelines - so you can trim that sail in closer, thus pointing closer to the wind - all else being equal.

[@nodogrunner]

If I were to plan to buy either of these boats how would I get insurance? How hard is it to get, and can I always just get liability?

[@boatfools]

If you have homeowners or auto insurance, you could start with those carriers and see what the say. If you use a local insurance company/broker (the person you would call to shop around for auto insurance or homeowner insurance deals, etc), you could ask them to shop around and see what might be available. We insured our 1980 Morgan through a company our broker found called Berkley One - full coverage. We did have to submit our survey and our sailing "resume" - our annual premium is $1,035. Hope this helps!

[@nodogrunner]

@@boatfools Great, thank you so much.

[@Lars-ly5dt]

Go Morgan for sure

[@juancuartas8061]

Great channel

[@boatfools]

Thank you!

[@supertrooper0264]

Would it be possible for you to list the websites you use in this video?

[@boatfools]

Hello! Wow, you are deep in the archives! The key site for comparing boats is SailboatData.com - you can compare up to three boats at a time. You can also download a free version of the app. But online is best for comparing. We look for most of the boats we profile on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Thanks for watching!

[@joegarrick2760]

Performance might be the same, but the space isn't close. Four extra feet of length and two of beam. No contest there for me.

[@todddunn945]

That Sabre 34 is over priced. A more realistic price would be in the $22K-$23K range. Also the Sabre 34 is actually a very small boat below. It is fine for a couple, but would be cramped with your hypothetical family. Having been on a few older Sabre 34s (maybe 15 or so), I can say that they all had a cramped, somewhat dingy feel below. I would want to know the details of the diesel and have a close look at the on deck wood. I would also look closely at other equipment (ST winches, windlass, etc.). Sabre built a nice sailboat, but I would be happier putting a few more dollars on the table for a Sabre 362 if I wanted a Sabre. I am not a big fan of Morgan yachts. I have only sailed on 1 (a 60' Morgan custom Yawl) and have only been on three other Morgans - An OI37, and OI41 and a 42-2 as I recall. The Out Islands were huge down below, but kind of cheap feeling and the 42-2 was sort of spartan. One thing I generally don't like much is the use of those calculated ratios for selecting a boat. I think you need to consider hull form, keel type and build quality much more than those calculated numbers. Also you should have considered only similar sized boats based on displacement, LOA and beam. There is no real comparison between a 28 and a 33 and similarly the difference between a 34 and a 38 is huge. That said, the 38 would not be much harder to sail than the 34 except that the loads would be bigger. How easy any of those boats would be to sail would depend on how the boat was set up. Personally, I prefer a boat set up so that I don't have to leave the cockpit, but I am an old guy who effectively single hands because my 79 year old wife is now a passenger

[@nodogrunner]

At least you can get your wife onboard. I am just hoping I'm not solo.

[@markpeter1968]

You sound very experienced with boating etc, maybe boatfools can interview you. Always good to hear from people who have knowledge to impart.

[@terrydickinson7252]

Anyone sailing at 80 is a hero in my opinion. I’m 63 and started sailing this year.

[@todddunn945]

@@nodogrunner She likes being on board.

[@todddunn945]

@@markpeter1968 Well I have been sailing for almost 60 years so I suppose I have picked up a few tidbits about boating. At least I know what I like. Another consideration I left out of the above is Maine specific. That is dealing with lobster traps. From that perspective, the Cape Dory 30 is the best boat since it will seldom snag a trap line and when it does it will be simple to get free. You can't say that for any of the other boats.

[@christophmahler]

Unless one has 50k 'laying around', not invested into dividends, it is really hard to make an informed decision without having sailed on any of these boats before - as such it boils down to oogling stats which says little of assembly quality and potential design shortcomings (the same as browsing apartment advertisement). Probably, anything with a standing galley and wet head will be comfortable below sea state 6... and these interior features require a certain beam width and cabin height (recently seen on a production 21 feet boat). Some say, today there is little difference in handling a 50 feet and 20 feet when shorthanded, arguing for 'growing' into the size (e.g. docking maneuvers) - but then there is also dock fees and regular maintenance if not draft, making as small as tolerable less of a catastrophe if a disaster strikes (and opening up exploration of river systems - which matters in the Old World). Maybe it's a complete non-issue to simply ask a yard for help (if one means to cruise along the coast, seriously one better gets used to such crucial infrastructure), but e.g. being able to single-handedly erect the mast seems practical - at least in my mind, considering cruising.

[@andydetweiler766]

I'd pick the Morgan so I could live aboard with all my scuba gear.

[@boatfools]

Sounds like an excellent plan!

[@nodogrunner]

I think you rigged us into picking the Morgan. 😅

[@boatfools]

Maybe...but that Sabre is pretty sweet! I'd be happy with either in our hypothetical situation. There are actually 6 humans and 2 beagles in my family, so the Morgan would be better for me in reality. Thanks for watching!

[@Shepherdservices317]

Is there a magazine for the everage Joe? US guys who a 20k boat is years of savings? Rather than these rich a holes with 400k boats? I want to see the nitry gritty old school sailing not wealthy folks coastal cruising quarter million dollar boats.

[@boatfools]

Yes, Good Old Boat. Comes out 6x a year. It's for the rest of us sailors, not the SAIL magazine demographic.

[@beorbeorian150]

To pick up chicks

[@boatfools]

100%!