But you are wrong in one respect - I wouldnt dream of having one on a drying berth. Far too light build and too easy for rocks and rubbish to damage the hull and even hole it. We had a 24 ft cat do just that on a mud berth near here. Wore through the hull where it grounded.
I wouldn't want to keep such a boat on a drying mooring, but the ability to creek crawl, and occasionally take the ground opens up so many possibilities.
Pal has just managed to get rid of a Swan of that sort of age and about 40/45 ft. Only way he could shift it was to take a Ferrari 355 in as a part ex. It really was an expensive boat to keep up to scratch and a problem to crew properly since it neede quite a few people.
That's exactly why I've resisted joining the syndicate. The boat eats money, and as you say, was designed to be sailed with a large crew; we race her with a crew of 8 or 9. I would want any boat that I own to be fun to sail short handed.
