Last week I put a contract and deposit on a Down East 45 in Fort Lauderdale, called Sorrento. We have made provisional inspections ourselves and are now talking about having a survey and lift. It is 33 years old and I haven’t bought it yet, but assuming I do, I hope to become an active contributor to this forum, but at the moment I have more questions than contributions. I would love to hear from members who own a 45.

Can anyone give me any information about this particular boat? 

I will be remodeling and making some pretty drastic changes over the next year, before we go cruising, so there will be quite a bit of equipment for sale.

Has anyone remodeled the aft cabin to make a fore-and-aft bed, or done anything with the aft head? My wife doesn’t much like the “outside” wash basin arrangement.

Anyone fitted air conditioning throughout. It has a 6.5 Kw genset and we are in Florida?

It is supposed to have a 40 gallon holding tank, but I can’t find it. Where were they put?

That’s just for starters: Obviously even general information about this model would be most appreciated. What to look for in the survey, where do they leak, etc.

Anyone know a good sailboat surveyor in the Fort Lauderdale area?

Reply on the forum or to my e-mail at Hughes_roger@hotmail.com

Thank you in advance.