rhys wrote:
On 27 Apr 2005 04:33:25 -0700, wrote:
I am definately thinking smaller (and feeling
wealthier).
Well, you have that part exactly right. Smaller is cheaper and cheaper
still on a per-foot basis. When I got my 33.5 footer in 1999, I was
squarely in the middle of boat size at my club. Six years on, and I am
at the high end of "small" and 27 footers stay unsold for months and
go for what is in my opinion a song. It's a great time to buy a 25-30
foot late '70s-1990 boat, I think. A friend here can't move an updated
race-winning '84 Newport 27 (essentially a C&C 27) for $15,000 Cdn.,
which is about $11,500 U.S.
Speaking of Newports, the 28 and 30 are some of the roomiest boats of their
size. They sail well too. I've never sailed the 28, but I think it's similar
to the 30 -- which I've sailed a lot. It's decent in light air, and handles a
breeze just fine (they're a Gary Mull design from San Francisco, where they're
still popular). For some reason these boats are pretty cheap. I've seen nice
Newport 30s for under 10 grand.
I'm also very partial to the Cal 27 II and III, which is a great sailor, and
also cheap. Same with the 34 -- which is larger but less expensive than some of
the boats mentioned. Some friends circumnavigated in one, so I trust it. If
you can find a Cal 2-30 they're a gem of a sailor and more modern looking too.
Cals aren't as fancy as some other boats, but they're well built, good sailors.
If you spend less money on the boat, you'll have more available for improving
and outfitting. I'd rather spend my money on new sails than a bunch of teak.
The good news is that you can reasonably over-budget on the basis of
getting a circa 30 footer that is immaculate and/or discounted on the
basis of known and easily fixable stuff. Frequently you will see an
older fellow or couple who have been the single owners of a smaller
sailboat for 25 + years. The things frequently look factory, and some
have been incrementally improved (hot running water, newer electrical
panels, etc.) by owners who spend a long of time aboard.
Frequently, the only problems are old, sometimes original sails and/or
tired rigging. You can say that as you will need to buy these items,
you wish a discount. Frequently, you'll get it and then some, and with
new sails and rigging on a dry, tight, well-maintained boat, it's
essentially new at 15%-20% of the price of a comparably new boat...if
you can find anyone making a 30 foot or under boat that isn't a pure
one-design. The idea is that you get to buy a better boat for less,
and then do a major gear upgrade at once, given that the hull and
systems are either good or gone, but you'd probably change the sails
anyway.
All good points. One advantage of popular mass-produced boats like Beneteaus
and Catalinas is that sails and other parts are more widely available, at lower
prices. Cals and Newports fall into this category too.
Also, Catalina has always made a lot of stuff in-house, and still offers better
support for their old boats than just about anybody.
Matt O.