I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

While your taking your power squadron course, start asking around about the
avalabilty of a slip for the size boat your considering.. Often there is a
several year waiting list for slips in So. Calf.

If your lucky enough to find a boat that is advertised as having a slip
available, before you purchase, check it the marina will allow you to assume
the slip lease.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Well, I'd recommend you look at Catalina. Tons of them out there,
easy to find parts for, and a lot of boat for the money (yeah, I
have a 30' so I'm biased :-) Not particularly fast, but beamy and
comfortable.

Steve makes a *very* good point about slips. Mine is on Harbor
Island in San Diego. We've been in the same marina for 12 years
(only a couple with the Catalina) and its either feast or famine.
When we moved up to the 30', we had to change slips (couldn't fit
on the end tie where we had our 26' - sniff, sniff) and we started
looking around at other marinas. There weren't any open anywhere,
with most having a 6-12 month lead time. Dana Point can take many
years to have an opening.

One word of Marina advice, when you look for a slip (before you
get the boat - definitely) go to the marinas in person and talk to
them. Quite a few will tell you, on the phone, that they're
booked, but in person - *if* you don't look like a flake - they
may change their tune. They will want to know what your boat looks
like also, so get a picture (when you're looking at a particular
boat seriously) and shop it around the marinas. Good luck,

Keith Hughes

Steve wrote:

While your taking your power squadron course, start asking around about the
avalabilty of a slip for the size boat your considering.. Often there is a
several year waiting list for slips in So. Calf.

If your lucky enough to find a boat that is advertised as having a slip
available, before you purchase, check it the marina will allow you to assume
the slip lease.

Not a lot to go on ...... are you going to have time for slow cruising,
if so, maybe a single screw trawler will be for you (possible
bowthruster), if not, you may need to go to twin screw with more power.
There are many possibilities which include many types of hulls and layouts.

otn


cm wrote:
I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

Thanks for all your inputs. I am looking for something that is safe
and seaworthy and that can cruise at 15 knots or more. Any other
ideas?

Thanks,

CM


otnmbrd wrote in message hlink.net...
Not a lot to go on ...... are you going to have time for slow cruising,
if so, maybe a single screw trawler will be for you (possible
bowthruster), if not, you may need to go to twin screw with more power.
There are many possibilities which include many types of hulls and layouts.

otn


cm wrote:
I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

As a follow up to my previous message, all of my cruising will be
local cruising (e.g., to catalina, and up and down the coast). I want
to be able to get to a location and back in a day.

Thanks again,

CM


otnmbrd wrote in message hlink.net...
Not a lot to go on ...... are you going to have time for slow cruising,
if so, maybe a single screw trawler will be for you (possible
bowthruster), if not, you may need to go to twin screw with more power.
There are many possibilities which include many types of hulls and layouts.

otn


cm wrote:
I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

In article ,
(cm) wrote:

I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I think you should look closer to 40 as that will provide for two cabins
generally. For a sport cruiser, you will probably have to get gas
engines. You just missed the 'in water' Long Beach Boat show.. I would
suggest you plan to go to the Newport show (March?) to look at the range
of boats.

Avalon, a great destination, is 38 miles from Marina Del Rey... look for
something with POWER/speed IMHO, and a good and quite genset as well as
ample amps to get you through the 10pm-7am 'quite time'.

Never return/go to Avalon in the afternoon, its just not worth it. In
the mornings its usually very calm... you can fly....

Also getting a mooring in Avalon during the summer season is very, very
hard. It is first come first serve. You can always go up to Isthmus
(much more laid back: 1 bar) or drop a hook in anchorage. Even in
Hamilton cove (next to Avalon) and somewhat protected... I just could
never leave my boat unattended. The other Channel Islands have no
moorings.

You can not wake up on a beautiful July Friday and decide to go to
Avalon and expect to get a mooring... It is a HUGE frustration for me.


I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Are you taking the course at the Marina Del Rey Hotel ? That's where my
slip is and I know they have a class now. I think we have slips
available... but it really helps if you are willing to pay some cash
under the table... sad but true.

jay
Sat, Nov 1, 2003




Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Everyone, thanks alot for the advice.

I am now looking at a Carver Mariner, a Silverton 34 ft convertible
and a Cruisers 3370 Esprit Express Cruisers. Would these boats suffice
for offshore cruising to catalina and the channel islands?

Any comment would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

CM




Go Fig wrote in message ...
In article ,
(cm) wrote:

I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I think you should look closer to 40 as that will provide for two cabins
generally. For a sport cruiser, you will probably have to get gas
engines. You just missed the 'in water' Long Beach Boat show.. I would
suggest you plan to go to the Newport show (March?) to look at the range
of boats.

Avalon, a great destination, is 38 miles from Marina Del Rey... look for
something with POWER/speed IMHO, and a good and quite genset as well as
ample amps to get you through the 10pm-7am 'quite time'.

Never return/go to Avalon in the afternoon, its just not worth it. In
the mornings its usually very calm... you can fly....

Also getting a mooring in Avalon during the summer season is very, very
hard. It is first come first serve. You can always go up to Isthmus
(much more laid back: 1 bar) or drop a hook in anchorage. Even in
Hamilton cove (next to Avalon) and somewhat protected... I just could
never leave my boat unattended. The other Channel Islands have no
moorings.

You can not wake up on a beautiful July Friday and decide to go to
Avalon and expect to get a mooring... It is a HUGE frustration for me.


I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Are you taking the course at the Marina Del Rey Hotel ? That's where my
slip is and I know they have a class now. I think we have slips
available... but it really helps if you are willing to pay some cash
under the table... sad but true.

jay
Sat, Nov 1, 2003




Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

In article ,
(cm) wrote:

Everyone, thanks alot for the advice.

I am now looking at a Carver Mariner, a Silverton 34 ft convertible

These have a more open salon and much better natural light and easier
access to the inside.

and a Cruisers 3370 Esprit Express Cruisers.

This has a cabin that you have to climb down into, right ? You'll
probably get better speed from this one. But with 4 people
overnighting, I think the other 2 might be better. May be better for
fishing and the easiest of the 3 to find a slip for in Marina Del Rey.

Would these boats suffice
for offshore cruising to catalina and the channel islands?

Both do very well for this purpose. But how are the individual boats
outfitted; radar, chartplotter,sounder, genset, battery amp hours,
freshwater capacity, Comm, multi media and most importantly the power
plants and the electrical starting/house battery system.

Get a good marine surveyor to check out any boat, especially since this
is your first boat.

Let me add this... go on the cheap for your first boat, something you
can turnover easy. If you like boating, you will want to get something
bigger (always) if not you can rid yourself of the overhead.

If you have direct links to boats, you may get more and better help.

jay
Sat, Nov 1, 2003





Any comment would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

CM




Go Fig wrote in message
...
In article ,
(cm) wrote:

I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I think you should look closer to 40 as that will provide for two cabins
generally. For a sport cruiser, you will probably have to get gas
engines. You just missed the 'in water' Long Beach Boat show.. I would
suggest you plan to go to the Newport show (March?) to look at the range
of boats.

Avalon, a great destination, is 38 miles from Marina Del Rey... look for
something with POWER/speed IMHO, and a good and quite genset as well as
ample amps to get you through the 10pm-7am 'quite time'.

Never return/go to Avalon in the afternoon, its just not worth it. In
the mornings its usually very calm... you can fly....

Also getting a mooring in Avalon during the summer season is very, very
hard. It is first come first serve. You can always go up to Isthmus
(much more laid back: 1 bar) or drop a hook in anchorage. Even in
Hamilton cove (next to Avalon) and somewhat protected... I just could
never leave my boat unattended. The other Channel Islands have no
moorings.

You can not wake up on a beautiful July Friday and decide to go to
Avalon and expect to get a mooring... It is a HUGE frustration for me.


I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Are you taking the course at the Marina Del Rey Hotel ? That's where my
slip is and I know they have a class now. I think we have slips
available... but it really helps if you are willing to pay some cash
under the table... sad but true.

jay
Sat, Nov 1, 2003




Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

In article ,
(cm) wrote:

Everyone, thanks alot for the advice.

I am now looking at a Carver Mariner, a Silverton 34 ft convertible

These have a more open salon and much better natural light and easier
access to the inside.

and a Cruisers 3370 Esprit Express Cruisers.

This has a cabin that you have to climb down into, right ? You'll
probably get better speed from this one. But with 4 people
overnighting, I think the other 2 might be better. May be better for
fishing and the easiest of the 3 to find a slip for in Marina Del Rey.

Would these boats suffice
for offshore cruising to catalina and the channel islands?

Both do very well for this purpose. But how are the individual boats
outfitted; radar, chartplotter,sounder, genset, battery amp hours,
freshwater capacity, Comm, multi media and most importantly the power
plants and the electrical starting/house battery system.

Get a good marine surveyor to check out any boat, especially since this
is your first boat.

Let me add this... go on the cheap for your first boat, something you
can turnover easy. If you like boating, you will want to get something
bigger (always) if not you can rid yourself of the overhead.

If you have direct links to boats, you may get more and better help.

jay
Sat, Nov 1, 2003





Any comment would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

CM




Go Fig wrote in message
...
In article ,
(cm) wrote:

I am looking into buying a used boat for doing some offshore cruising
(e.g., from southern california to catalina or the channel islands),
as well as some fishing. The boat should have amenities for
accommodating my family (2 adults and 2kids) for a weekend. I am
looking for something in the 30 to 40 foot range.

I think you should look closer to 40 as that will provide for two cabins
generally. For a sport cruiser, you will probably have to get gas
engines. You just missed the 'in water' Long Beach Boat show.. I would
suggest you plan to go to the Newport show (March?) to look at the range
of boats.

Avalon, a great destination, is 38 miles from Marina Del Rey... look for
something with POWER/speed IMHO, and a good and quite genset as well as
ample amps to get you through the 10pm-7am 'quite time'.

Never return/go to Avalon in the afternoon, its just not worth it. In
the mornings its usually very calm... you can fly....

Also getting a mooring in Avalon during the summer season is very, very
hard. It is first come first serve. You can always go up to Isthmus
(much more laid back: 1 bar) or drop a hook in anchorage. Even in
Hamilton cove (next to Avalon) and somewhat protected... I just could
never leave my boat unattended. The other Channel Islands have no
moorings.

You can not wake up on a beautiful July Friday and decide to go to
Avalon and expect to get a mooring... It is a HUGE frustration for me.


I am new to boating. I am currently taking a boating course at a local
power squadron and will start taking private lessons on the operation
of larger power boats (30ft and over) in Marina Del Rey.

Are you taking the course at the Marina Del Rey Hotel ? That's where my
slip is and I know they have a class now. I think we have slips
available... but it really helps if you are willing to pay some cash
under the table... sad but true.

jay
Sat, Nov 1, 2003




Any suggestions or comments as to the type of boat I should be looking
at will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CM

--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."