Even if the first thing you're going to do is install a
heater, winter time is not fun for boating around Philly.
Kernix wrote:
I understand - until I get my photog biz paying the bills, I'll need a
regular 9-5 job - so rough it out one winter.
Two problems (or two real big ones out of many)- any boat in
your price range is likely to be lacking in some necessity,
which means you'll have to work on it first. This can be
gotten around by shrewdly shopping for a boat that is
servicable as a cheap apartment within your possible
commuting area, even if it's lacking some basics for actualy
cruising. It's more expensive that you'd think to add gear &
fix up old boats, so you might have to keep working as
lucratively as you can for a few more years.
The other biggy is that a beat-up older boat, by definition
lacking in some comforts most of us consider basic, is going
to really suck as a place to live... doubly or triply so in
the winter. You may end up spending a lot of money and
hating it, just because you've jumped in too deep at the
start. It's seasonal! As a summer cottage, cheap old boats
ain't so bad.
.... I'm also curious as to why you
have settled on a Catalina 30 as *the* boat for you.
First off, anything bigger is too much $. Secondly, a # of liveaboards
mentioned that it would be a good boat for a novice sailor and have
enough room for the basics that I would want onboard: guitar, photog
equip, laptop, ...
Hmm. There are certainly exceptions, but IMHO liveabards...
by which I means guys who live on boats in one location long
term... are not knowledgeable sailors or about a range of
boats. That may sound contradictory, but it's what I've
seen. Guys who are serious about going cruising... GO! and
they learn about a lot beyond the range of heavily-marketed
Catalina/Hunter/Beneteau plasticky boats.
That said, a Catalina 30 isn't necessarily a bad choice. The
biggest count against them I can think of is the wierdo main
hatch/humpy floor/headroom situation. When you've looked at
one in person, you'll quickly see what I mean. It's not bad
but it could be a PITA if you have to step on it & duck
every day, and put up with a leaky hatch to boot.
FWIW five minutes at Yachtworld came up with a list of
likely picks, to my mind, for what you're looking for, at
least as good as a Catalina 30 on the cheap.
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=1616992
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi..._boats=1450137
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=1607829
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=1381465
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi..._boats=1534105
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=1294685
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=1320974
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=1476070
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi..._boats=1562910
One thing you could persue as a hobby, is traveling around
to some boatyards and poking around, chatting with people.
You will learn a lot and you may find a real deal. Plus it's
not a bad hobby.
Fresh BReezes- Doug King