May 2015- On Our Way to a new Boat

It is now May and we have a business to attend to. The Bed & Breakfast business. We are Innkeepers on the North Shore coastal Massachusetts and are accepting reservations for our summer season. So--- Boat looking is starting to take a back seat to our revenue making business.
We are narrowing down our search and the two of us visiting some boats I have previously viewed. This included a whirlwind trip to Stoney Point, NY, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Stoney Point is the Mariner Pilothouse 38, I really did like the layout. After seeing sailboat, Suzan still felt it was too long to be maneuvered singlehanded and didn't like certain features such as the reefer being too deep and inaccessible and inside pilot located right beside the galley, additionally too much work to make it "Loop" ready. 
Next, Connecticut, to see a 36' Marine Trader Trawler. We felt we needed to see a few of the most popular style of boat on the Great Loop. A Trawler is literally a 1-2 bedroom apartment on the water, maximizing usable storage and living space. Some are complete with full size refrigeration, laundry, AC, queen size bed etc. After the Great Loop venture, I would consider a Trawler parked in Florida waters for our winter getaway.
The Marine Trader was a nice looking boat, but Suzan did not like the small ladder to the top deck and no railing on the second deck. If we are considering bringing children aboard, this is a safety issue.
On to Rhode Island to see a Morgan Out Island Pilothouse 33 in Portsmouth. 
All were ruled out for several concerns.
As said in the beginning, we had to make some decisions before our busy Inn season started or wait until after the season to purchase our Great Loop boat.
I still have my eye on the Coaster 33 in Maine. It has not much to do to be in the water and a length, draft,  and room to be comfortable for our trip.

Going Forward!!

April 2015- Dean- I look at a few more sailboats and motor sailors for our Great Adventure.  I took a trip with my Broker, Scott, to New Bedford, Ma area and on to Rhode Island and New York. We looked at a Mariner 38 Ketch in New Bedford. Morgan Out Islander 33 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Mariner 38 (see below) in Stoney Point, NY.
The Mariners had  a pilot house with a steering station both inside and out.
  I really liked the appearance of the Mariner 38 Sloop in Stoney Point, thought it would both motor and sail well and thought it had a nice interior overall. So I arranged to take Suzan to see it. Suzan and  I felt a boat of this size might be too much for me to handle if out by myself, and both required more work than we were prepared to do. 
 The Morgan Out Islander, touted as a Motor Sailor, was really a sail assisted motor boat with minimal sailing ability per former owners and sailing forums, and it also needed among other things some deck replacement.
We  are also now considering the Trawlers for live aboard as they are wider, far more roomy than sailboats.  A trawler is a motor boat, therefore using more of your trip finances for fuel. Our goal is to enjoy the Loop, it's scenery and stops along the way, not support the oil industry. Now we are getting into May and need to make some decisions as we will no longer be able to spend time looking as our Busy season begins as Innkeepers at our Bed and Breakfast, The Sally Webster Inn.
Stay tuned for May 2015 and---our decisions!!

End of March 2015

We are getting more excited with our new venture and search for the boat that we can make our journey in comfort ( more or less).
This is the end of March- one year ago- and we are traveling to Maryland to view yet another sailboat and attend an AGLCA ( America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association)www.greatloop.org seminar held 2 times a year in different locals. We spent time with friends and viewed a Nauticat 33 while there. Also purchased tickets to the seminar and with that, became members of the AGLCA.
The seminar was awesome, lots of great speakers and many attendees in different phases of their journey. Some were just thinking, some like us, were looking for a boat, some were making the Great Loop venture shortly, some had finished, some on their second Great Loop trip.
Some of the speakers had finished the Loop and could answer many of the questions from novice Great Loop to be participants. Lots of knowledge to be gained and many introductions including Boat Brokers, Insurance persons, and Boat Loan officers.
We were looking at older boats so there is a learning curve for Boat loans and Insurance. Many companies either do NOT loan and insure boats older than 1990's or there may be a premium to pay for insurance and loans. Much like a home near the water or a below average credit score. All in all, when we decided on a boat, there were originators that would work with us. You have to research to find them.
Next time- April 2015!!!