The "Golden Retriever" & The Marriage Saver
We found a boat for your dog, a boat for your marriage, and a boat for your ego.
The Myth of the “Perfect Boat”
It usually starts at 11:00 PM on a Tuesday.
You have twenty tabs open on your browser. In one tab, you’re looking at a sleek express cruiser that does 30 knots. In the next, you’re looking at a heavy displacement trawler that does 7 knots. In the third, you’re fantasizing about a sailboat that can cross oceans for free.
By midnight, you aren’t closer to buying a boat; you’re just confused.
The truth is, there is no “Perfect Boat.” There is only the perfect tool for the specific life you want to lead. A hammer makes a terrible screwdriver. A 7-knot trawler makes a terrible weekend runabout.
This week, we stopped looking for “good deals” and started looking for specific solutions. We found a boat for the solo captain, a boat for the couple that can’t agree, and even a boat for the dog.
Here is the “Smart Money” lineup for the week.
1. The Swiss Army Knife
1999 Albin 28 TE - $59,000
Most people want a boat that does everything: fishing, cruising, weekending, and sprinting. Usually, that’s impossible. This boat is the exception. It is the single most popular 28-foot Downeast hull ever built because it refuses to compromise. It’s fast enough to outrun a storm, tough enough for offshore fishing, and comfortable enough to sleep a family of four.
The Swiss Army Knife
If you ask ten boaters what the “perfect” boat is, you will get ten different answers. But if you ask them what the most versatile boat is, they will likely point to this one.
2. The “Little Ship”
1978 DeFever 34 - $80,000
If the Albin is a sprinter, this is a fortress. This is for the buyer who looks at the weather report and worries about “sea state.” Built with a heavy, full-displacement hull, the DeFever 34 doesn’t bounce over waves; it rolls through them. It offers the range (1,000+ miles) and the safety of a 50-footer, just in a manageable 34-foot package.
The “Little Ship”
In the world of trawlers, there is a metric that matters more than horsepower or top speed. It is Displacement.
3. The Marriage Saver
1980 Gulfstar 47 Sailmaster - $120,000
The number one reason couples quit cruising isn’t storms; it’s comfort. One partner dreams of sailing; the other hates the idea of living in a dark, tilting cave. This vessel is the peace treaty. It’s a “Raised Salon” motorsailer, meaning you get the infinite range of a sailboat with the big windows and living room vibe of a condo.
The Marriage Saver
The number one reason couples quit the cruising life isn’t storms, pirates, or engine failure. It’s comfort. Usually, one partner dreams of crossing oceans under sail, while the other dreads the idea of living in a dark, tilting hallway. This boat is the peace treaty.
4. The Cult Solo-Handling Machine
1985 Nordic Tug 32 - $64,000
There are boats you buy to impress your neighbors, and boats you buy to escape them. This Nordic Tug is the latter. It is rugged, salty, and designed for one specific mission: Solo Cruising. With sliding pilothouse doors on both sides, you can step from the wheel to the dock in one second. It is the ultimate “Cheat Code” for single-handed captains.
The Cult Solo-Handling Machine
There are boats you buy to impress your neighbors, and there are boats you buy to escape them. This is the latter.
5. The “Golden Retriever” Trawler
1999 Mainship 390 - $139,000
This boat is famous for exactly one feature: The Stairs. While other trawlers force you to climb a dangerous vertical ladder to get to the flybridge, the Mainship 390 gives you a molded fiberglass staircase. It sounds simple, but it changes everything. It means you can carry a tray of cocktails up top without spilling. More importantly, it means your 60lb Golden Retriever can join you for the ride.
The "Golden Retriever" Trawler
If you have ever tried to carry a tray of cocktails (or a 60lb dog) up a vertical stainless steel ladder to a flybridge, you know the struggle. Most boats in this size range require you to be a gymnast to enjoy the upper deck. The Mainship 390 changed the game.
The Verdict
If I had to choose one lifestyle from this list? I’m taking the Nordic Tug. There is something undeniably cool about a boat that is small enough to handle alone but tough enough to go anywhere. It’s not just a boat; it’s a “Go Bag” that floats.
See you on the water,
The East Coast Cruiser Team