W32 too small??

  • May 25, 2015 9:46 PM
    Message # 3355835
    Deleted user

    I want a W32 to cruise with always have.Wife feels 32 feet is to small to cruise with.Any words of encouragement for her.Hope to have my W32 at the Richmond Rendezous in October

  • May 26, 2015 4:53 AM
    Reply # 3355962 on 3355835

    Whether it is or isn't, if your wife feels it is too small then it is :)

    That said, I guess it depends on your definition of cruising. Do you mean to sell the house, move aboard, and sail off into the sunset or just weekend/week long jaunts down the coast?

    Just in my own opinion, living aboard full time I don't think the WS32 is roomy enough for more than two people max. Preferably one but that's just me. Oh it can carry more if you really really like them and you don't mind people being in your face all the time.

  • May 26, 2015 5:38 AM
    Reply # 3356013 on 3355835

    My wife and I just enjoyed our 10th anniversary on our W32, after ditching our house, cars, and storage lockers.   We are delighted.  IMO, the W32 is the ideal cruising boat for two people.

    Our friends, Jeff and Wendy on W32 Calypso, started on a W32,  upgraded to a W42.  Then they found that the W42 was too big to suit them, and they sold it and bought their original W32 back again.  They still live on board today.

    The bigger the boat, the more expensive, and the more muscle it takes to operate.  Complexity in addition to size, adds greatly to the problem. Every additional system that provides comfort and luxury will fail at some point, and you'll have to fix it.  Even rich cruisers eventually learn that someday they must become self sufficient.

    I once read that 2/3 of circumnavigators who abandon their dream before completion, cite too big a boat as the reason.

    One essential point.  Make sure that the layout of your boat provides comfortable places for both of you to lounge simultaneously in off hours; especially during bad weather.

    Good luck living your dreams.


  • May 26, 2015 8:33 AM
    Reply # 3356334 on 3355835
    Deleted user

    We tried to live aboard when we bought our 32 twenty years ago and found it to small for both of us to live on.  It was especially trying for us with both getting ready for work.  It's not the same for everyone as I know many who live on 32's and similar sized boats with no problem.  A lot depends on your lifestyle and how you take to down sizing. We couldn't live aboard now as we have to many interest/activities like Fly fishing, archery, shooting (including reloading) and many others which all takes room.  We 're currently looking for a larger house, hopefully out of California.    

    We cruised for two years in Mexico and never felt we needed a larger boat.  But remember cruising is entirely different than living aboard. Even today we'd still pick a 32 for cruising.  Also the price of refit doubles or triples with every ten foot of increase.  

    Jim

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