Realistic Boat Choices

I've been looking at boats that we might afford.  The Mainship 350/390 looks interesting.  There are also a few 400s available.  On the plus side they are

• Affordable - Several reasonably current and equiped are available for under $150,000.
• Adequate accommodations for a couple - These are 1 1/2 stateroom boats with an acceptable bow birth and a small guest birth that could be used for storage and personal gear.
• Head with separate shower - While there is only one head, it's large enough to have a separate shower.
• Adequate galley - It's not that large but it IS big enough and there is a separate refrigerator/freezer under the lower helm.
• Adequate salon - The salon has reasonable seating with a couch and one or two chairs
  
• Dual helms -
  
• Good draft and bridge clearance
  

There are some negatives of course

• Single head - This is an issue for BB but from my perspective is not all that important.
• Salon and galley share space - This is not a configuration I particularly like but is a trade off I'd be willing to make.

All that being said, the boats are still expensive.  It would be nice to find something even less expensive.

In that vein there are a number of gas powered express cruisers at prices well under $100K, often $50,000.  Cruisers (som 3575 Esprit), Regal, Sea Ray, Carver, and Chris Craft all have models in the 28' to 32' range with a place to sleep, a cudy that could be used for storage, a head, and a limited galley.  They are clearly weekenders where one 'camps' comfortably on the boat but could indeed be used to do the loop.