Morgan 40 1974 Masthead Ketch

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albinfinity

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Oct 7, 2014
4
Hunter 30 Bluffers
I am looking to buy a new boat and this cough my eye for two reasons. It is on my budget and it has a shoal draft since eventually I am planing to do long cruising and possibly [FONT=&quot]Caribbean[/FONT].

However I could not find almost nothing about Morgan 40 online and not sure if it is well built and what are concerns regarding this type of boat.
It needs some work but the price is under 20K. It has been sitting for the past 4-5 years. It has a recently rebuild diesel engine.

Does anyone know about these boats? I am better of buying a C&C 36 for a little more money?


http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=2050
 
JoeWhite

JoeWhite

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Mar 6, 2008
1,341
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
There is a big difference between this boat and the C&C. Morgan 40 with full keel is for cruising long distances. It is a heavy, slow, safe and comfortable boat. C&C isa race boat, fast, light weight and not on the comfortable side. So the real question is - not the price - but what are you planning to do with the boat - what type of sailing are you interested in. For this Morgan you may have to spend some time and money to make it sea worthy while you loose time and not sail. If that is OK then this is the boat for you.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,277
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
albinfinity, it seems that you may be comparing boats that are very dissimilar. Which is better for you is personal preference. I think the Morgan 40 would be far more comfortable for cruising, which appears to be your interest. C & C 36 is performance oriented, with a fin keel (of some configuration depending upon the model) opposed to the full length keel of the Morgan. The version of C & C is going to be dependent upon the year of production and even the options chosen.

You can find reviews on-line. I don't think you can go wrong with the Morgan for comfortable cruising on a relatively low-priced platform. They are solid, if that is what you are concerned about. Much depends upon the condition. At less than $20,000, I'd be wary of something. They seem to be priced higher (closer to $50 K?) for a nicely maintained boat.

She looks beautiful in the picture ... what's not to like about that gorgeous flag-blue hull?
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,277
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Does she have the Atomic 4 gas engine? That's probably a negative from a cruising standpoint.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,277
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Ahh ... yes!

:doh: I was looking at the sailboatdata link that was posted. That indicated an Atomic 4.

That said, I'd do some serious evaluation of the diesel, the sails and equipment inventory at that low price. Outfitting a 40' ketch for cruising can be serious denero if the boat is lacking, wouldn't you say?
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,585
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
I don't recommend buying a boat for how you might use it eventually. That almost never works out. It's much better to buy a boat for the way you will use it tomorrow and then when your needs change sell it and buy one that fits your new needs.
As for the comparison: The Morgan with it's ketch rig is much easier to handle for a short handed crew vs. the Masthead sloop rig of the C&C which will have overlapping headsails which will be challenging to trim in for a small crew. The C&C will sail upwind far better than the Morgan. But downwind the sloop rig is a dog for cruisers on a deep angles unless you fly a spinnaker, which isn't done much by cruisers. So, as others will tell you it depends completely on how you will use the boat.
 
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albinfinity

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Oct 7, 2014
4
Hunter 30 Bluffers
Thanks

Thank you all for the great replies. I am planing to do lake sailing (Lake Ontario mostly) for the next 3-4 years and then do a long cruising to Caribbean. I like the boat and it does not look like it would require a lot of money to be spend to make it ready for long cruising, but again that price there may be things that you cant find wrong at the beginning unless a professional inspection which I am planing to do anyway.

In mean time a C&C 36 would be very good for lake sailing and I am tempted by the performance I would get from her. Which is the main thing I do not like about Morgan 40. I don't know the hull speed but I am guessing it cant be that great.

I guess I will have to think what I want now and not what I want in few years.
 
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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
Look up Charley Morgan in Wikipedia for a history of the Brand. The Morgan was a well designed and sturdy built boat with a solid reputation for offshore cruising. Because of its good reputation Catalina purchased the brand and has renamed it's large cruisers. Offshore and perhaps in the Great Lakes speed is relative to a comfortable boat motion. When cruising is not the speed that you can attain but more the one that you can sustain.
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Benny17441 said:
Because of its good reputation Catalina purchased the Morgan brand and has renamed it's large cruisers.
Click to expand
The legend of King Arthur.
The isle of apples, where a wounded Arthur was brought to heal: Avalon.
Morgan, was the queen of Avalon.

Avalon is also the small town on the the real island, of Catalina.

Coincidence?
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
Skipper said:
The legend of King Arthur.
The isle of apples, where a wounded Arthur was brought to heal: Avalon.
Morgan, was the queen of Avalon.

Avalon is also the small town on the the real island, of Catalina.

Coincidence?
Click to expand
Morgan leFay how true.
 
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