the search for our boat: from smelly cabins to love at first sight
Boat shopping is a journey - sometimes exhilarating, sometimes exhausting, and occasionally downright stinky. When we first set out to find the right boat, we were living in Long Beach, CA, and focused our search within a two-hour radius. We spent months touring boats, revisiting a few, and sifting through an overwhelming mix of options. Some were affordable but in desperate need of love, others were newer production models with spacious layouts that just weren’t built for true blue water cruising. One tour was particularly memorable; the moment I stepped down the companionway, a wave of mildew and diesel fumes hit me so hard I nearly turned right back around. The real unfortunate part - that was probably the closest to what we were looking for so far.
One boat, a Spindrift with a stunning wooden spiral staircase leading into a pilot house, completely stole my heart. She was a stark contrast to the many darker interiors we’d seen - light poured in and I could see myself blogging at the table or helming from inside in poor weather. We put in an offer, but the owners couldn’t come down to our price point. I was crushed. After that, any boat I stepped foot on seemingly didn’t measure up.
Having struck out on our search in Southern California, we decided to start the search in the Pacific Northwest. That’s when we decided to book a trip north and make a whirlwind tour of potential boats. We based ourselves in Seattle for a long weekend and drove to Westport, Anacortes, and Olympia—anyone familiar with the area knows that’s no small feat, but we were committed. We saw a range of boats, from a feather-light trimaran that was bare bones (to put it nicely) to a steel-hulled beast perched on stilts. We braved the rain and even hail to tour blue water cruisers, determined to find the right fit.
It wasn’t until we’d run through our pre-selected listings in Olympia that the broker told us about a new listing. He had only shown it once so far, but it was already generating lots of interest. She was on the next dock over and her name was Tango.
Jared always jokes that when I find a boat I love, I get a “creepy smile,” but when we stepped aboard Tango, it was Jared’s face that lit up. He was hooked, and I was convinced. We had some time before our flight back to California, so we stopped for oysters and a glass of wine, letting the decision settle in and weighing options. By the next day, we had an offer in. Fingers crossed - and the rest is history.
A Detour Before the Big Move
Not long after that trip, I headed to the UK for my first two levels of Clipper Round the World Race training. In between training weeks, I explored Europe on my own. With a glimpse of sails on the open water in my heart, I returned home more excited than ever to head back up to Olympia for our sea trial and to explore marinas around the Puget Sound.
The sea trial and survey process went seemingly well. When Tango was hauled out, we were struck by just how big she was, but once she was back in the water, we saw what she could do in light winds under sail - and loved every second of it. The owner turned the helm over to me and there was no turning back. We headed back down to Long Beach to await the paperwork process and start packing up our lives for the big move.
What We Were Looking For
From the start, we knew we wanted a boat that could handle long-term blue water cruising. Our non-negotiables included a 3/4 or full keel for stability, at least 40 feet in length, a water maker, and a solid solar setup. We initially leaned toward well-known production boats because of their reputation, but as we dug deeper, we realized that wasn’t necessarily the best fit for ocean crossings. In fact, when we found the Kelly Peterson, we had never even heard of it - but it turns out, it has a great reputation as a solid blue water cruiser.
Lessons Learned
Patience is key. The right boat takes time to find, and rushing the process can lead to regret.
See a boat in the rain. Leaks reveal themselves quickly in wet weather, and we learned the hard way that some boats have more than a few surprises.
Bigger-name production boats aren't always best. What works for coastal cruising might not be built for offshore adventures.
Brokers aren't always knowledgeable about blue water cruising. We were shocked by how many brokers had no idea what features truly matter for an ocean-crossing vessel.
What We Wish We Had Done Differently
Looking back, there are a few things we wish we'd paid closer attention to:
The survey. We should have scrutinized it more and pushed for further inspections where needed. The survey provided high-level information, but whenever we go back to reference it we wished for just one level deeper.
Buddy system. Being entirely new to boat ownership and maintenance, we didn’t know what to ask or where to push. Having someone present that understands the nuances may have saved us from future headaches.
Aged rigging. Given its age, we should have been more forceful about negotiating for the pending rigging replacement.
Testing electronics. Just because a system is installed doesn’t mean it works—we should have tested everything before buying and understood how things were wired to save us time down the line.
In the end, despite a few missteps, we found the right boat for us. Tango was the perfect fit, and looking back on our search, we wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. We turned from hopeful boat shoppers in Long Beach to full-time cruisers without ties to land. I could’ve gone with a few less smells, but it was all part of the adventure - hail, creepy smiles, and all.
