Other Yachts

Dave,

Have you looked at a Cape Dory 32 or an Alberg 35? The big sisters in the family so to speak???

A35, A35 Yawl in particular, is kind of my holy grail in ways. The old Spencer 35 is also a particularly good boat.

I mention a big Commander in concept because of the really slick, flat run and fine entry that the A/C underbody has. Actually, the LeCompte Medalist (a Tripp Design)--at least the version with the attached rudder--resembles the wish pretty close in that regard. There's even one--an engineless conversion, at that--for sale reasonably here local. The expense of reworking a boat in that size range, let alone just acquiring it, is one factor that drove me to a Triton. When we get to a 35, that's pretty well above the maximum size I personally want to deal with in an engineless configuration in and out of the harbor.

Another consideration is an old rule of thumb that the boat sellers of the world would like to forget most likely...the "Safe Tonnage" rule which holds that it takes appx. 170 pounds of able-bodied sailor per 10,000 pounds of vessel displacement to safely operate the boat alone for extended periods. Although we are heading off with two adults and one junior Magellan, I have to look at the need for everyone to survive if one of us is seriously ill, injured or killed...so that sort of kills my A35 grail. The LeCompte would push beyond that by a bit, but I'd probably still do it, had I not already started the Triton when the LeCompte here became available and were the additional expanses of boat not a real issue in terms of refitting expense.

For that matter, I really like the Cal 40 a lot! :D

Dave

I apologise to everyone for taking this so far off topic, but I don't know how to move it..

Dave

My Dad got me involved in big boat racing when we lived in Baltimore...yup I'm a Balimere, Murland kid and a TERP besides. Dad was racing on a 8 Meter in the late 50's (believe it or not...there were two although the other had converted to masthead rigging) and I crewed on several boats. The one that took my heart was a NY 32 (that's WL...48 on deck). With a tiller I might add. Nothing like leaning on the lifelines with your foot on the tiller, working to windward. The prettiest one and the one that still stirs my heartstrings is another Tripp design...the BI 40. Classic lines, comfortable ride..what more could you ask.

I agree with you on what I want to handle essentially with 1 1/2 hands on board. We (my wife and I) will look at other boats but other than the condominium, don't see what they have to offer. I am a captive of Alberg's. I would buy a Alberg 29, 30 or a Cape Dory 28, 30 in a minute, if the right deal came along but it hasn't yet...

Back to work.. Apologies to all but what a coffe break.

Another one that really turned my crank was the 30' Pearson Coaster, and I looked high and low for one before I ended up with the Triton. FWIW, any of these boats are hard to find in my geographical area (Pacific NW)...so when 397 came along, I jumped. Four months later, I encountered a fellow who had bought a fully fitted Coaster out of a guy's backyard about 40 miles south of me...for about the same I'd paid for a derelict MH Triton. DOH!

As I ground away at an amazing skin of bottom paint last summer, in a Tyvek suit in the sun under a vizquene tent, I decided that it was just as well as I was glad the boat wasn't one square inch bigger!

Dave

Sorry to continue with the off-topic topic...

I have also been thinking about larger Commander-type boat 'what ifs' ...

I recently saw this one in Vallejo,CA and I drooled a bit. It had 'Alameda, CA' as its homeport. I could not get on the pier for a chat with the apparent owner.

Does anyone know what kind of boat this is?

Looks like a Pearson Vanguard with different ports to me.

http://pearsoninfo.net/vanguard/vanguard.htm
http://pearsoninfo.net/vanguard/layout.gif

http://www.indianasailing.org/images...efjuly2005.gif

http://www.geocities.com/%20sailapearson/Vang174.jpg

http://vinci.org/rlv/blue-angel/photos/IMG_x008.JPG