On my way back from visiting my dad in Nova Scotia in late November, I stopped over in Toronto to drive to Erie PA to look at a Pacific Seacraft Orion. [Pacific Seacraft Orion 27' ]
I was looking at the Orion as it ticked a few boxes: smaller, sea worthy [ similar ratios to Tatoosh, only smaller boat!],etc.
This boat was well restored and in good shape. It has a few issues, as any boat will and I was relatively pleased with it. Some of the issues were:
The next Pacific Seacraft on the radar is the 31 foot. [ 31 ft Seacraft ]
In addition to ticking the boxes, it has more space, can sleep as many as Tatoosh for coastal cruising and better side decks,etc. There are 2 sea berths in the main cabin and the quarter berth is a double: so more crew or one crew with more storage! The layout has the head at the bottom of the companion way steps which is nice: crew using the head don't have to walk through the boat and disturb anyone.
The hunt continues ( as does waiting to hear if my E-dock neighbour has made a decision to put in an offer on Tatoosh.
The downside of the 31 is that there are few for sale; there were only 79 made prior to 2005 when Pacific Seacraft starting to build them again based on demand, and they are still built in US.
I was looking at the Orion as it ticked a few boxes: smaller, sea worthy [ similar ratios to Tatoosh, only smaller boat!],etc.
This boat was well restored and in good shape. It has a few issues, as any boat will and I was relatively pleased with it. Some of the issues were:
- we had to phone the owner to find out where the oil dip stick was! it is impossible to see and you have to feel with one hand to get the stick back in...likely result in infrequent oil checking.
- I liked the dinette seating, but for inshore cruising this would mean to easy place for someone to flop down without climbing into the V-berth
- the owner had disconnected the water heater, which will need to be put back into service
- the winches had not been serviced for some time; they felt very sticky to me.
- another issue was the water tanks: these are built-in fibreglass and he had permanently sealed them - no access opening. Maybe I'm just being picky??
- a long galley (as opposed to a U-shaped galley) is not my favourite, especially for offshore or cooking underway.
The next Pacific Seacraft on the radar is the 31 foot. [ 31 ft Seacraft ]
In addition to ticking the boxes, it has more space, can sleep as many as Tatoosh for coastal cruising and better side decks,etc. There are 2 sea berths in the main cabin and the quarter berth is a double: so more crew or one crew with more storage! The layout has the head at the bottom of the companion way steps which is nice: crew using the head don't have to walk through the boat and disturb anyone.
The hunt continues ( as does waiting to hear if my E-dock neighbour has made a decision to put in an offer on Tatoosh.
The downside of the 31 is that there are few for sale; there were only 79 made prior to 2005 when Pacific Seacraft starting to build them again based on demand, and they are still built in US.
