Thanks to all for your replies. In case anyone is still interested in
helping further let me add: If all goes well, I'll never get out of
Puget Sound with the boat I get, so perhaps seaworthiness is not the
hugest concern? Crusing comfort for my family and liveaboardness for
weekends/week at a time are my chief concerns, I guess (two boys seven
and eight). Like, I think i want to get an inverter and a better heater
than it has (solid fuel).

I looked for all the boats recommended here by Trent and can find none
of them for sale within 500 miles, in my price range. My sailing buddy
specifically told me Newports were a better class of boat, was he
whacked? I am more interested in being able to get my money back out of
the boat in ten years or so when I move up in boats, if I put some elbow
grease and upgrades into it. Pie in the sky dreaming with this boat?

I went and looked at this '68 Newport yesterday and I like the
roominess. It needs some cleaning, the deck needs painting. The Atomic 4
looks clean. Dodger with a few years left on it. I'll check the sails
better during the sea trial/survey. I put down $635 and made an offer
($6350), contingent on survey and sea trial, so I can still get out of
it. The nearest boat I found to it so far around here was a Buccaneer
30, and supposedly those have a real bad reputation.

Thanks for any more advice!

Stephen

Trent D. Sanders wrote:
Steve,

Just as a suggestion,,,,,,,, look for a boat built before 1972 or so.
Back then they were much more heavily built and didn't use the "EPA"
approved resins. The old resins were much stronger. Also, because
fiberglass was new to the industry they weren't sure of how strong it
would be. So they tended to overbuild their boats. As a result the
early boats are generally "hell for stout".

There's lots of these older boats around, and they can be had for less
than the $7,000 asked for the Newport. In the 26' to 30' range
there's the Pearsons [26' Ariel & 32' Vanguard], Columbia 29',
Islander 29' & 32', Rawson 30', Alberg 30', etc. All of these boats
are far superior to the Newport. And far safer in a seaway.

As an example, my Islander 29' has been around the world once,
including a Cape Horn passage. I paid $4,500 for it [no, it's not for
sale!].

Trent
S/V Cimba


Stephen Trapani wrote in message ...

Hi, sorry to just drop in, but I think I can get a 1968 Newport 30' for
under $7000. I grew up sailing my dad's Blanchard 33' in Kaneohe Bay,
and between the HI islands, so I can sail, probably rusty, but anyway,
assuming I get a survey and nothing terrible is wrong, the Atomic 4 is
recently rebuilt, tiller, Autohelm, decent electronics, shore power, a
few other things, any particular big reason I shouldn't buy it? And, oh
yeah, I don't have much more than that to spend. What do you think the
boat will be worth in ten years? Any guesses?

Thanks,

Stephen