My wife and I have sailed small (26 - 32') boats in protected waters, and have crewed on larger boats. We recently moved to the Virgin Islands, and are looking for a first sailboat to (a) cruise on weekends, while improving our confidence in our boat-handling skills, and (b) learn first-hand the time and money realities of boat maintenance. The ideal first boat can sleep at least four, if only for a night or two, and be in the $10K - $15K range, so that if the realities prove too much for our two-career lifestyle, we will not have mortgaged the ranch for our experiment.<br /><br />Can anyone recommend a good first boat based on the above? We have seen a 1970's vintage Ericson 27 that appears to fit the bill. Does anyone have any good / bad stories about these sailboats?<br /><br />I appreciate any information . . .<br /><br />David
