Ted Lockwood
(231) 218-5186
About Ted Lockwood
Buying a sailboat for serious Bluewater cruising is a different decision from buying a coastal cruiser or bay sailing boat. The right choice depends on how far you want to roam, how self‑sufficient you expect to be, and how much you value long‑term value retention and build quality.
In the 45–60 foot range, many respected yards build boats that are clearly optimized for ocean passages, while others fit better as fast coastal cruisers or performance cruisers. Hylas, Oyster, Hallberg‑Rassy, Taswell, Tayana, Island Packet, Outbound, Passport, Valiant, Pacific Seacraft, and Moody (on the heavier‑displacement side) are classic examples of Bluewater‑oriented monohulls, with hull forms, rigs, and interiors designed to cross oceans safely and comfortably. Swan and Grand Soleil, while certainly capable offshore in the right hands, are often skewed more toward performance, with lighter displacement and racier rigs that many owners use for a mix of racing and fast coastal or semi‑offshore cruising.
For Bluewater work, the priority is a strong hull and deck structure, well‑engineered keel and rudder, secure sea berths, ample tankage, and a deck layout that remains safe and workable in heavy weather. Coastal cruisers in the same size band can sometimes emphasize larger cockpits, big windows, and stern‑to‑berthing convenience ahead of storm‑proof ergonomics, which is fine for weekend sailing or short hops near shelter. When shopping, it is worth asking a simple question of each candidate: “Would this boat be happy 500 miles offshore in a gale?” The brands mentioned above that are known for ocean passages tend to answer “yes” more convincingly through their design DNA and track records.
The equipment and options you prioritize will differ significantly between Bluewater and Coastal use, even on the same hull. For offshore passages, redundancy and self‑sufficiency matter: dual autopilots or at least robust backups, windvane or serious electric pilot, storm sails, offshore‑ready communications (SSB, satellite, Starlink), upgraded ground tackle, and multiple independent navigation options (primary plotter, backup plotter or tablet, plus paper charts and a handheld GPS). On a coastal cruiser, a single modern plotter, moderate‑size anchor, and basic sail inventory can be enough, because you are rarely far from shelter or support.
Interior systems follow the same logic. Bluewater boats commonly carry larger fuel and water capacities, watermakers, robust charging systems, and serious ventilation for extended living aboard. Coastal cruisers—especially those spending more time plugged into shore power—can get away with smaller tanks and simpler systems, because marinas and service yards are always close. As you look at specific models such as Hylas, Oyster, Hallberg‑Rassy, Outbound, Passport, and Island Packet, you will see that their standard or commonly‑specified options lean strongly toward offshore self‑reliance, while production‑oriented coastal designs often require significant upgrades to reach that standard.
Proposed cruising destinations should heavily influence your choices around power and energy systems. A 54‑foot Hylas or Oyster headed for the Caribbean, Pacific, or a circumnavigation will demand a more serious power plan than a similar‑size Swan doing mainly Mediterranean or East Coast coastal cruising with frequent marina stops. Many newer quality boats now have large lithium house banks, efficient alternators, and generous solar arrays, making life off the grid far simpler than it was even a decade ago. For bluewater cruising and extended time at anchor, this can almost remove the need to run a generator daily and allows airier, more home‑like use of refrigeration, freezers, and electronics.
For coastal cruising in temperate regions, a conventional AGM house bank, modest solar, and a well‑sized alternator may be entirely adequate because long passages are rare and marinas are abundant. But if your plan includes the Bahamas, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, or remote high‑latitude anchorages, investing in a properly engineered lithium system and solar is a major quality‑of‑life upgrade, especially on a 45–60 foot boat with larger domestic loads. Matching the power system to your cruising plan should sit near the top of the specification list, particularly when evaluating newer Bluewater designs.
One of the hidden advantages of buying a high‑quality used Bluewater boat is the slower depreciation curve compared with buying new. A five‑ to ten‑year‑old boat that has been well maintained and sensibly upgraded has often already taken the steepest early depreciation hit. If you maintain it and choose a design that remains in demand, the future depreciation can be surprisingly low, especially compared with mass‑produced coastal cruisers bought new and sold in a crowded market a few years later.
Semi‑custom and limited‑production boats typically hold their value better because they are built to a higher standard, in smaller numbers, for a more knowledgeable and focused buyer pool. Brands like Oyster, Hylas, Hallberg‑Rassy, Outbound, Passport, and many Swans and Taswells fall into this category; they allow significant tailoring of layout, systems, and structure at build time, which makes each example more carefully thought‑out and more desirable to future Bluewater buyers. In contrast, high‑volume production boats often aim at the charter and general cruising market, where price and interior volume drive the design more than ultimate seakeeping or offshore redundancy, and resale values tend to reflect that.
Boats in the five‑ to ten‑year range often combine modern systems (including lithium‑ready charging, NMEA 2000 electronics, and efficient engines) with relatively low structural fatigue and less hidden corrosion. Once you reach fifteen to thirty years, even excellent brands can require major refits: standing rigging, chainplates, wiring harnesses, plumbing, tanks, and sometimes structural attention to decks or bulkheads. Buying an older premium bluewater boat can still make sense, but you must go in with realistic expectations about refit time and cost; a younger, high‑quality boat often represents better overall value once those refit costs are factored in.
Regardless of brand, size, or intended use, a thorough pre‑purchase survey is essential for any Bluewater‑capable boat, and the engine deserves special attention. A separate engine surveyor can provide compression testing, oil analysis, and a detailed inspection of cooling, fuel, and exhaust systems that goes beyond a general survey. On a 45–60 foot cruiser, the main engine is not just propulsion; it is also a critical generator for your electrical system and a major safety component offshore, so its condition has real implications for both cost and reliability.
Lastly, the process of selecting between Bluewater and Coastal‑focused designs, weighing semi‑custom versus production builds, and balancing new against used is complex enough that an experienced, qualified brokerage and consulting team can add substantial value. A good broker who understands the various brands can help you interpret survey findings, estimate realistic refit budgets, and match boat capabilities with your actual cruising plans rather than the brochure version. That guidance often saves not only money but years of trial and error, and it can be the difference between owning a boat that fits your dreams on paper and one that actually carries you comfortably and safely across the oceans or along the coasts you plan to explore.