On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:12:08 -0400, 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.

I agree that under 30' is a real buyer's market these days. There are
lots of sail away options at under $10K.

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.

There is also a really enjoyable process in going out to buy a whole
bunch of new, cool stuff that makes it much more *your* boat than just
taking delivery of the whole package.

Ryk

(initiator of thread - thanks for keeping this discussion going) There
are definately lots of boats for sale in the 30' range and last weekend
at a large marina on the northern part of the Chesapeake I counted
relatively few boats under 32'; most being 38' and above (most of them
Hunters, Catalinas, and Beneteaus - in that order).
This question is directed at those who know something about
Bristols. I have been following the listings for five months now. I
copy the specs and I keep track of what the asking prices are. In
comparison to Tartans, C&C's, Sabres, etc., the variance in asking
price for the Bristol, whether it is the 31.1 or 35.5 (especially this
one) is much higher. And this wide range of asking prices (55-119k) is
within the same region and with what appear to me equally equipped and
aged boats. I have visited some of them them, though have not gotten to
the point where I have had them surveyed, so I do not know if there is
something fundamentally wrong with the ones in the 50-ish range and
something spectacular with those priced much higher. The cosmetically
cleaner boats are the pricier ones, but not so nice that they should be
priced 75% higher than the others. Sure, the Bristol may have a cult
following, but so does the Tartan 37, Ericson 38, Westsail 32, and the
Sabres, and I do not see a similar range in asking prices for these
boats. The Bristol has a lot of things going for it, but its downside
is also common knowledge. Is there something I am missing? Or are some
sellers irrational? Few are moving.
My hope is that if I remain patient the market will be more rational
toward the end of the season. But I am a new to this game. Any advice?

wrote:

My hope is that if I remain patient the market will be more rational
toward the end of the season. But I am a new to this game. Any advice?

Well-priced, well-found boats can be had at either end of the market.
What you are doing now could be termed due diligence. Keep asking lots
of questions.
Good luck and eventually good sailing!