More research has revealed finally, some helpful information. Apparently in this world of political correctness, no one wants to come right out and say this or that boat really sucks. I guess I can understand the reluctance; no one wants to be sued. So barring lack of real facts, everyone (even most reviews) shy away from the it sucks ruling.
Well that attitude makes it very difficult for newbies, such as myself to get a grasp on what to look for in a boat. Sure, I know how to estimate how much room we might need. I have an idea of how we might use the boat (and thus the types of boats we are looking at). But barring that I need a 40+ foot semi displacement or no displacement boat, that is really all I know. And guess what, everyone making boats about make boats that fit this class. Sure there seem to be a few big players out there (eg. carver, Brunswick, SeaRay and they are sold all over the US. But what even distinguishes these boats from one another. How do we know which one is the Honda and which is the kia?
Finally one website I found stepped out completely on a limb. This guy, David Pascoe, speaks the plain truth and lots of it. He is a surveyor. Surveyors are used to review the boat, after the buyer is ready to purchase. Sort of and odd way to do things, but there it is. The buyer pays the surveyor to review and assess the boat, only after the seller has decided on the boat.
Anyway David has been collecting data over the last 20+ years about the boat surveys he has been conducting. So, his reviews accomplish 3 things for me, 1) he rates used boats, 2) he gives an indication of quality boats construction, and 3) which manufactures are concerned at all about quality.
I have only read through a portion of his website, but this is what I have learned thus far. Now mind you, his reviews are for used boats, and the information on his website is about 5+ years out of date, but here is what is there.
1) Carver of the 1990s was a Ford of the ’80s. The quality and consistency sucked, big time. These boats would not last a few years seaside. Most were freshwater buys and even then, after years of sailing, they were leaky, moldy, barely fixable messes.
2) This class of boats seems similar to the compact car set. No one gives a damn about how shabbily is constructed because they know the users will rarely put the boat to any use other than a floating barge just off the beach.
3) trawler class (semi displacement and displacement hull) boats inherently seem to be better built, since the manufacturers know the boat may actually be sailed somewhere.
4) modernization and style in the boat world (for this size boats) seems to equate with cheezy construction. Best looking boats, have worst ratings. They value flesh over form and additionally think the buyer will not know the difference.
This is a big blow for us. We are back to square one, on boat choice. Since we can not obviously pick a boat that suits our comfort needs, but wont sail. LOL. That makes no sense, and in this boat world. That is they way things seem to be shaping up. Back to more research.
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