Beech duchess comments?

I've contemplating buying my first plane.

C182 is almost perfect for what Iwant to do with the plane.
alas the last few flights have had some significant overwater legs.
CRQ-AVX-SBA
I also want to be able to comfortably return home after dark.

Thus I was thinking about a light twin, something like a barron or
C310 would be nice, but getting a really nice one is probably
streching my budget.

I'll usually be carrying about 400 lbs of people, pilot and bags.

I see a bunch of duchess for sale around the same price as a similarly
equipped 182.


The simple engines with 2000 TBO and no boots, hot [props etc...
should make the costs a bit lower than the 310 or B58

Any comments from people that have owned one?

Any comments from anyone that uses one in a flight school (seems to be
the most common MEL trainer)

Paul