Buying and Cruising: Why the Pacific Northwest is the Ultimate Starting Point
By SV Prism
When looking for a cruising boat, scouring the internet on websites like yachtworld, sailboat listings or even Facebook marketplace, you might come across a number of boats located in the Pacific Northwest. There is particularly a high concentration of heavy displacement, long- range cruisers, which are ideal for coastal and offshore sailing. Few places in the world offer the unique combination of incredible boats, top-tier cruising grounds, and perfect staging for extended voyages like the Pacific Northwest (PNW). For anyone dreaming of life afloat, the PNW is more than just a region; it’s a launchpad into this lifestyle.
When I was looking for my boat, I found that most boats available in California, while often clean and well-maintained, came with inflated price tags and lacked the essential gear needed for offshore cruising. I began to also expand my search to include the PNW and found the prices of boats and in particular boats that were outfitted to be much more reasonable. A key reason for this is that in the Seattle area, owners are often more focused on maintaining their boats for the tough conditions of the Pacific Northwest, which means boats there tend to be well-prepared for long-range cruising—perfect for what I was looking for. If you’re on a budget and looking for a well-built boat, this region is worth a closer look, even if you’re based in California or beyond.
At the time, I had been searching for a boat in California, but the prices there—especially for well-equipped boats—were significantly higher, and many boats lacked important gear for offshore sailing like radar, windvane, and watermaker. Then, I stumbled upon Hans Christian 33 in Olympia, Washington. After some negotiation, I was able to bring the price down to $65,000, which was a major savings compared to the other HC33s in California, where prices were nearing $100,000 for similar models.
While PRISM was located far from my home base, I saw it as an opportunity. The timing was key. If I could make the purchase early in the spring, I would not only get a better boat at a better price, but I would also have the chance to cruise the San Juan Islands and then sail the boat down the coast to the San Francisco Bay. This would give me a unique cruising experience in the Pacific Northwest, a region that’s difficult to get to from California, and allow me to prepare PRISM for the next chapter of our journey.
Starting my sailing journey aboard Prism in Olympia, Washington, I can attest to how buying and outfitting a boat in the PNW sets the stage for success. I sailed through Puget Sound, ventured into Mexico and Central America, and crossed into the Caribbean via the Panama Canal, sailed up the east coast as far north as Maine, and now, in my second season cruising the Eastern Caribbean—all because I began in a region perfectly suited to prepare a cruiser for life at sea. If you plan it right, buying a boat in the PNW could see you sailing three world-class cruising grounds—Puget Sound, the California Coast, and Mexico—within a year. That is something very few if any regions offer for the would be cruiser.
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