Timeline may have just been sped up

[Bad Obsession]

Some not so good news may have sped up my return to sailboat timeline.

After I sold the Compac 23 (knowing that my daughter was being born and I wouldn't have the time to invest in the Compac and I would want to) I bought a bayboat and did the whole grin and bear it thing for the past 3 years. With limited trips, in the three years I have had the powerboat, I have burned more gas than I burned in 11 years of owning sailboats. Still, it was good for a quick trip to zip out, fish, and come back in. It was low maintenance since it sat on a trailer at my Mom's house, near the water.

Well, not sure how much longer my Mom will be in her home. Thinking that she may have to go to a home is crushing but some things have declined and I am waiting to see what the new norm will be for her. Still, this is probably going to make me sell the powerboat because of storage options.

If I am going to store a boat, it is going to be in the water. I wanted to go back to sail anyway and I have been missing it horribly. My daughter is still a bit young (20 months) for a few years for her to do the few day cruises that I love, but she also has to start somewhere.

Anyway, if I sell the powerboat I am going to start looking to buy another sailboat. Maybe not this season but I can be patient this time so that is the best way to be with a lower budget. I am thinking that my budget will be around $8,000. I also thinking of staying in the 27-30 foot range to keep maintenance costs down. That being said 27 may be the sweet spot (Catalina 27 or something similar).

Fortunately I can get a slip for $80-$100 a month. My maintenance budget is about $2400 a year (Slip, taxes, insurance, etc will have to come out of this). I usually haul ever two to three years so that helps some.

I guess the real question is can it be done on this much of a shoe string budget? Am I crazy to think I can get and maintain an aged boat like this? Many of you know me on here and know that I can do most maintenance myself.

 

[dLj]

What can I say - I lived on a limited budget most of my life and always found a way to keep a sailboat. Even in college with essentially no budget I kept a sailboat.

Too bad you don't have a spot to store on a trailer, that really helps keep down the overhead. So I don't really know for you, but I've always somehow made it work - you know the old saying "where there's a will there's a way".

dj

 

[dlochner]

My experience buying used boats is the maintenance costs in the first few years are higher than later years. Initially there will be the "deferred" maintenance that will need to be done, such as replacing running rigging, new batteries and other what not and things you'll want to add to make it yours.

 

[Will Gilmore]

That being said 27 may be the sweet spot (Catalina 27 or something similar)

You had a ComPac 23. Those are nice boats. It sounds like your family is still small. Why the move up in size? I take it you don't have room to store a trailersailer, but the cost of a sailboat is proportional to its size. Sails, electronics, maintenance, repairs and storage are all of varying expenditures that have a relationship to size. I'm sure you understand this. It's not news.

I guess the real question is, can it be done on this much of a shoe string budget? Am I crazy to think I can get and maintain an aged boat like this?

Absolutely!

I can be patient this time

This is the key.

@TomY posted a thread about buying a sailboat for a dollar My sons $1 Dollar sailboat, gets a re-fit.
I went and googled one dollar sailboats. There are a few YouTube videos about such finds. So, of course those deals are out there. I'm just prompting you to really consider whether you really want a bigger boat. There is a beauty of a deck house Compac out, that looks like an ideal family weekender. I doubt, however you'll easily find one within your budget. Just pointing out the positives of staying small.

Anyhow, I know you'll be able to find something to fit your needs with your budget and I'm looking forward to following your progress.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Bad Obsession]

The thing with the Compac was it was just too small for me. It was a great boat and I had it equipped to the max. The lack of standing headroom was killing my back. I also hated taking the bed apart to use the head and knew with a kid aboard it was going to be even more of a pain.

I have been around boats my whole life and sailing since I was a child. I know the thresholds were a 27 will give you enough creature comforts but it is kinder on the budget than a bigger boat. My Catalina 30 was an awesome boat and I would love to go back to a boat that size, but the Catalina 30 is pretty much the maintenance costs of a 32-34 foot boat when you figure the costs of sails etc.

I did the trailer sailor thing twice, it just didn't fit how I was sailing. I have also lost a place to store my boat and trailer so I will be back to slip storage then. The trailer sailor is the ultimate budget boat when you can store a boat at your place. I live in a town home with no storage.

 

[Bad Obsession]

My experience buying used boats is the maintenance costs in the first few years are higher than later years. Initially there will be the "deferred" maintenance that will need to be done, such as replacing running rigging, new batteries and other what not and things you'll want to add to make it yours.

This is very true so you should always try to avoid buying a boat in the upper reaches of your boat money. Refit will always cost quite a bit and 90% of the time you never find a "turn key" boat. There are always things to add, repair, replace, etc.

 

[DArcy]

Your budget is tight but not much different from what I spent on my 27 footer when my kids were young. I bought the boat the year before my first daughter was born and kept it for 20 years. I did most of the work myself, some of what I contracted out I wish I had done myself
I sure learned a lot from that boat.
I still managed to buy an occasional sail, replace running rigging, buy engine parts, new batteries, new windows. I learned to sew canvas, how to repair cored decks, marine wiring. And even had time for sailing We had a lot of fun in 27 feet.

 

[Bad Obsession]

haven't done the deck repair, but I have rewired boats, did some minor glass work, know all the basic engine stuff, and overall I am fairly capable. 27 seems like a particular window where you get some nice comforts but at the same time the maintenance isn't crazy yet. Once you hit 30 feet, based on my experience, things go up a lot.

 

[dLj]

@DArcy - ya just had to do it, drop in a beautiful photo of one of your kids out sailing.... talk about pulling on the heart strings... ya didn't need to, the guy is already sold Hahahahaha

@Bad Obsession - there's a Pearson 27 in Annapolis for sale right now that falls within your budget and looks pretty decent. You are on the Chesapeake, no?

Boats for sale - YachtWorld

Find new or used boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of boats to choose from.

www.yachtworld.com

(this is a sailing forum, you won't likely get advice NOT to get a sailboat - jus' sayin')

dj

 

[jssailem]

It is all about the boat and what you want to do.
DO you want to go out into big water, Blue water, sail in storms?

• You will need a bigger boat that will be able to manage these conditions. A 30 footer or so. More costs.

Will you be sailing alone or with one person, on day sails, no need to cook?

• A smaller boat, 15 to 25 feet is easy to sail solo. Easy to day sail. Take along maybe one or two people for some fun on the water.

Over night like a camp out experience but for 1 or 2 days?

• Then you might explore the boats with a cuddy. A small cabin that lets you sleep and move about like a 2 man tent. More of the campout on the water experience.

These types of boats can be enjoyed on a frugal budget. Trailer Pocket Yachts give you multiple choices. You can move the boat about to different locations. These small boats give you various ways to overnight. They can pull right upto a beach and you can spend the night ashore.

Identify your dreams then open your options and you may find the perfect fit.

 

[jssailem]

@DArcy You devil. I am a succor for a cute girl on a boat. You are very lucky.

 

[Will Gilmore]

ya just had to do it, drop in a beautiful photo of one of your kids out sailing

OOh! It's a picture of his kid. I thought it was just a picture of DArcy when he got his first boat. That makes more sense now. and yes, the 'appeal to emotion' is strong in that one.

It sounds like Bad Obsession has a good handle on what he's looking for. Patience is the key. The Pearson does look good.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Bad Obsession]

I have done the cuddy cabin (Compac 23) but I would cruise her for 10-14 days at a time a few times a year. A few overnights thrown in. I prefer the camper to the tent...

I have no desire to go into hardcore bluewater sailing. I cruise the Chesapeake Bay and I have logged a lot of mileage in the area. I know the area, know what it is capable of, and know what I am capable of.

What I am looking for is a boat with a cabin that will be okay for myself and once in a while my daughter and my wife. My wife isn't much of a sailor but who knows, maybe if my daughter takes to it she will. I prefer to have a destination when I cruise and at least want to be out for a day, go somewhere, spend the night, and come back.

What this translates to: Capable boat. Sleeping room for 4 (let's face it, when they give the amount of people a boat can sleep they are very generous). Separate head. Inboard diesel (don't want to do the outboard thing again), galley that can do light cooking (1-2 burner stove top is fine), I prefer wheel steering (autopilot is a must since I will manage the boat singlehanded most of the time)

Since we broke out the daughter pictures. So far she LOVES the water. Hopefully she will be a boat person too.

 

[jssailem]

oh my @Bad Obsession. She is cute. Must take after your wife.
May she enjoy the water like her father.

 

[DArcy]

We did sleep 5 on the C&C27 for weekends. I did replace the 8 gallon holding tank with a larger 14 gallon which helped stretch to 3 days. Water capacity was plenty, I think it was about 25 gallons. Sleeping arrangements were snug (I'm 6'4") but manageable. The galley was small but worked well with a two burner cook top and hand pumped water. I did put an electric inline pump for the sink in the head to make hand washing easier.
It was also easy to single hand. I sailed often by myself. Even with a hanked on jib. 27 feet can be seaworthy enough for coastal cruising. We did fine bashing into 50 knots. 20 to 30 knots on the beam was a blast.

 

[capta]

My guess is that if you can offload the motor boat soonest, the pandemic will cause boat prices to drop significantly. Boats and RVs are the first thing to go when finances get iffy. You'll probably get almost twice the boat (condition wise) than you would have just a few months back, for around half the money.
So, get your ducks in a row and have your cash ready. Good luck.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Matt, those of us who know you know what kind of sailing you like to do.

Have you considered a Catalina 25 instead of a 27? Reasons I ask are these: The space down below in a C27 is close to that of a C25. This is because the C27 was originally designed with the outboard in a well in the lazarette, taking up a lot of space at the aft end of the boat, thus making the space down below similar. The headroom in a C25 can be made liveable with the use of a poptop, although there is decent headroom in the C27 compared to the C25. Also the C25 had three different layouts down below (dinette, traditional, L shaped), the C27 had only two (traditional with pull out bed or dinette). The head on the C27 is larger, and many have marine heads instead of the more ubiquitous porta potty on the C25.

I would also caution you to avoid an inboard C27. The engine access sucks and you simply can't get to the stuffing box.

We had a traditional C25 for 13 years, 1981. 7.5 hp outboard on the transom. After the dinette on our prior C22 we loved the space - three times as much volume in 3 more feet of length. A dinette on either boat is a serious space waster.

And the C25 seems to have better "support" on their still-active association forum than the C27 group.

Just some options for you to consider.

Good luck, and welcome back.

FWIW, when our son was born in 88 we took him sailing right away (maybe a few months old), just brought the car seat along and found ways to strap it down. No reason to wait.

 

[Bad Obsession]

You'll probably get almost twice the boat (condition wise) than you would have just a few months back, for around half the money.

One can only hope. Bad hobby but I watch the sailboat market in my area frequently, quite frequently really. I tend to know what the price should be etc. because I have been doing this for many many years. We will see if there are some deals to be had.

It may be hard to offload the powerboat right now though. We shall see. Hope to get about $8,000 for it but should list a bit higher. 2000 Sea Pro SV2100cc Bay Boat with a one year old electric motor, GPS/Fish Finder chart plotter (1 year old), 2 Group 31 AGM batteries (1 Year Old), 1 house battery (1 year old), 1 start battery (2 years old), 1 dual battery charger (1 year old), 1 dual battery charger (brand new), 2 year old front casting deck bike seat, and a few other things. I routinely see them listed for over $10,000 but we shall see. The trailer is in pretty good shape with 2 year old tires.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Matt, those of us who know you know what kind of sailing you like to do.

Have you considered a Catalina 25 instead of a 27?

I would also caution you to avoid an inboard C27. The engine access sucks and you simply can't get to the stuffing box.

Very familiar with the C27. My Uncle had the C27 dinette and outboard well version. I believe his was a 1973 and he had it for 20 years 1980s through the 1990s.

I know that the engine access is tight for the diesel BUT I prefer diesel. Also prefer the bigger head and hope to have a marine head in it. Outboards are a whole new issue with cavitation issues in waves and really poor battery charging.

I am not as brand specific as I would look at other brands too.

 

[dLj]

@Bad Obsession Here's S2 that's not far from you it seems. Definitely in your price range and seems to have what you've described above...

S2 8.5 boats for sale - YachtWorld

Find S2 8.5 boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of S2 boats to choose from.

www.yachtworld.com

Now, just get that motor boat sold, you'll easily find a decent sailboat in your price/size range...

dj