Most durable boat?

[llaskin]

I am about to buy my first sailboat and I really don’t know that much about them. What I am looking for is the boat equivalent to a Land Rover Defender, a G-Wagen, or a Landcruiser. I am looking for something extremely robust, simple, and durable. Something requiring very low maintenance and that will last forever. I would like a boat that almost has an industrial heavy-duty utilitarian sturdiness. I am not interested in aesthetics or speed, at all, just reliability, longevity, and ruggedness. I am thinking around 35-45”. I will be living aboard it long-term. I also want the option of making very long voyages, perhaps, one day, a trans-pacific crossing. In the near future, I will be going up and down the West coast from Vancouver to Southern California. I feel that an overbuilt steel of aluminum boat will best meet these criteria. Is there one boat builder and model that stands out as the best to meet my needs? Is there a boat that is the equivalent to a Land Rover Defender or a Leica camera?

[betelgeuserdude]

Waterline Yachts is in your neck of the woods, though I'm fairly positive that they only build larger than 35-45 inches.

However, Waterline builds their boats to a very high aesthetic standard, and correspondingly high price.

Steel and aluminium are wonderful materials. Many, many boats of dubious quality have achieved extraordinary feats. Certainly, the West coast of North America has been conquered by any number of flotsam. Can you ever reasonably ask a bulletproof metal boat to perform to it's true potential, or is it merely the potential which fascinates you? It is a reasonable question, which I pose quite seriously. I find that most folks are in love with the potential, the history, or the lineage, rather than the practicality.

If you're of a more economical, metalic bent, you may look around at the proven Brent Swain designs. Tom Colvin also comes to mind. George Bueller, too.

Nothing lasts forever. All materials require maintenance.

Enjoy the journey.

DC

[Tohbi]

metal boats, especially big, complicated ones, require corrosion maintenance and are subject to electrolysis, but they're strong. epoxy glass over wood can be very strong without the electrolysis/corrosion problems. a big, heavy tub will sail like a toad and you won't enjoy that.

[Charlie Calli]

Take a look at the following URL: sandsendsailing.com

[L.DOSSO]

I DREW A 19.9M LOA ALU.SAILBAT IF YOU WANT.LUCAS