GL: Top 30 Criteria for selecting the "Ideal" boat

[Bob DeGroot, DCH]

Hello all,

 

After 12 years of searching (seriously and non-seriously) for the perfect
boat for cruising the ICW, Bahamas, and other places of interest, my wife
Kemba and I developed a list of the top things we would like to have in the
"IDEAL" boat.

 

We didn't do this in a vacuum. We read a lot of boating magazines, read a
lot of discussion group ideas,  attended many Trawler-fests, Trawler ports,
boat shows, chartered sailboats, trawlers, dragged friends along across
country, modified our list, until we finally decided on the boat of "our
dreams" according to the checklist. Interestingly, it met all but one of the
30 items on our list. Our 44 foot boat has a 5 foot cockpit on the stern.
But, by prioritizing the top 10 for me and the top 10 for Kemba, we really
BOTH found the "boat of our dreams."

 

Top 30 Criteria

 

1.            Live above the waterline with large windows to let the light
in and to see the view

2.            Inside helm station

3.            Sea kindly, stable, and well built

4.            Comfortable size for two people to handle and live aboard
full-time in comfort for many years (36 to 45 foot range)

5.            Less than 5 foot draft and able to achieve air draft of less
than 19 feet to be able to travel the great loop

6.            Easy on and off the swim platform (don't want to face the
"wall")

7.            Large enough to handle safely in any waters we may go

8.            Strong enough for safe passage in any storm situation we might
encounter

9.            Small, economical, naturally aspirated twin diesels - 8 to 10
knot boat

10.          Walk in engine room

11.          Walk around decks

12.          Generator

13.          Full electronics (chart plotter, radar, depth gauge, radios,
etc.)

14.          Chart table (space)

15.          Head with separate shower

16.          Large fuel capacity for extended cruising

17.          Large fresh water capacity for extended cruising

18.          Ample holding tank for head

19.          Side doors for main salon

20.          Heater (+ AC would be nice)

21.          Dinghy

22.          Anchor and chain rode with heavy duty wench

23.          Walk around bed

24.          Washer / Dryer

25.          Comfortable, large aft deck

26.          "U" shape galley on main salon deck

27.          Ample refrigeration

28.          Oven, stove, microwave, twin sinks

29.          Lots of storage for all the "stuff" you can't live without

30.          Guest stateroom with in suite head

 

The boat we chose was a DeFever 44 + 5 CPMY. It met the criteria.

 

http://www.boatersites.com/SpiritDancer/SpiritDancerHome.htm 

 

Remember, this is a list of the things we wanted. we have to continue to
work as we take this journey. Fortunately, we've been able to transition our
instructor led training courses into web-based training.

 

We'll finally be underway October 1, 2008 from Seabrook Texas.

 

Best regards,

Bob

 

Bob DeGroot, D.C.H.

M/V Spirit Dancer

DeFever 49 CPMY

Lakewood Yacht Club - Seabrook, Texas

MTOA # 1896 - DeFever Cruisers # 857

Great Loop Assoc. (AGLCA) # 427

Texas Mariners Cruisers Association

www.BoaterSites.com

Cell (713) 876-878

 

Bob DeGroot, DCH

Sales Training International

(281) 367-5599 (800) 551-7355 (713) 876-8787 (cell)

www.SalesHelp.com