So, what did I do ... I went down to look at the prospective boat again!  I am still in love!  The seller took off the awning so I get a good look at the cockpit and a feel for its size.  This is just a Catalina 27 (Jaguar 27 to those in UK), but it is an upgrade for me, so I am excited.  The deal has been agreed on by both parties and we are waiting for the maintence on the outboard to be completed and the boat to get hauled so I can do a check of the bottom. Oh, I still have to write the check...

A bit about my crusing grounds, The Chesapeake Bay is a protected estuary and while the storms (summer squalls in particular) can be fierce, it is not open ocean sailing.  In the 30+ years I have only had one storm that was dangerous.  In that storm (July '79) another boat near by sunk and several people drowned (I didn't know at the time).  The Bay is also very skinny water, with an average depth of just 15' and 4,000+ miles of shoreline and 30+ rivers and countless creeks the possibilities are almost limitless.  I tell you this about my Bay because you will understand why I opted for a light weight (6850 lbs displacement) boat.  In the heat of the summer we get light winds and I hate t motor.  So I am hoping the Catalina 27 will be well suited for sailing the Bay.  It has a 4' draft so so many anchorages are open to me, I have been poring over charts and guide books all winter.  Spring is fast approaching.  Everything is coming together right on schedule.