New Member in Montana (of all places)

[SV Second Spring]

Hello all, My wife and I sail a San Juan 28 on Flathead Lake in western Montana. We have plans to be live aboard cruisers for the first part of our retirement, starting in about 6 years. In the meantime, we'd like to buy a safe and comfortable boat and get it it ready to cruise while learning how to sail her well. Our boat search has so far put the Pearson 365/367 on the short list. I've joined this forum to learn about these boats and possibly talk one of you out of your boat someday. Thanks for letting me come aboard.

Ron

[Dale Tanski]

Ron,

Welcome aboard!  Great to hear that you like the 365's. Probably that separate shower stall.

Dale

[S/V Deo Volente]

Welcome! They are nice little ships and that shower is great for really living aboard!

[EdHouston]

Welcome aboard

I just know your going to love that extra 8.5 feet of space, not to mention the shower she is a great boat.

Ed

S/V Moonlight Mile

[EdHouston]

Hey Ray is selling his 365 this is a great boat he has done lots of upgrades and work, worth a flight to TX if nothing else.

Ed

[SV Second Spring]

Thank you all for the welcome. Do all of the 365's have the pilot berth? My first thought is that I don't care for it but I've not seen it for myself so I could be wrong. Those of you who have one, what do you think?

Ron

[Dale Tanski]

Ron,

I believe that only the ketch has the pilot berth.  I could be wrong and Pearson did a lot of things to muddy the water. 

We do have the pilot berth and love it.  Our kids consider that area prime real estate.  If you are going to sleep under way, that is the place to do it.  Many will argue that a quarter berth is better but we had a boat with one and I personally disagree.  The problem with a quarter berth is that any noise in the cockpit (winches, feet, radio, talking) and it is right above your head.  Lord help you if the diesel fires up.  Unless you are sailing in the ice pack a quarter berth can be hot and stuffy.  The only advantage I can see is there is no need for lee cloths in a quarter berth. Pearson made a few 365's with quarter berths by the way.

If you are not planing on sleeping while on the water, and looking at the map I would assume Peck Lake is big enough to do that, the pilot berth has many more uses.  We have a set of six cockpit cushions and when we leave the boat they go in the pilot berth.  All life jackets that are regularly worn (kids) end up in the pilot berth.  When we leave the boat the flag and flag staff go there.  Our man overboard pole goes there while at the dock. I carry a complete set of 3 ring binders full of documentation of every item on the boat, they are stored in the pilot berth all the way forward.  They have never escaped.  If someone is sleepy or not feeling well, they can hold up there and you can still utilize the table and settee. 

We love it, and if some day we don't, one could always build out the area into additional storage.

Dale

[EdHouston]

Just what Dale said Love ours

Ed

[slokat]

only use ours for storage...  looking at ways to make that a permanent solution.

[BlameItOnBuffett]

Ditto on Ed and Dale. In fact, othe rthen the three ring binders, it stores the same stuff at dock....