Buying a used Hughes sailboat or a Catalina Looking to buy our first boat. We are considering a 1981 Hughes 31' or a l981 Hughes Columbia 29'. We have also been looking at Catalina 30'. The Catalina has more room inside than the Hughes. Wondering if you have any comments about either of the sailboats. Basically we would like some feedback or opinions from some Hughes owners.
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Can't comment on the Hughes
But the Catalina is a very able boat. It is nice inside and sails well. The company is still in business and that means that parts are easy to aquire. There are a lot more of the around (most popluar 30 footer made). There is a good reason behind ths. I have had mine for two years and I love the boat. It has seen some nasty weather and gone through it just fine. I would say that you should look at both boats, write a list of positives and negatives for both boats, and buy the boat that fits your wants the best
But the Catalina is a very able boat. It is nice inside and sails well. The company is still in business and that means that parts are easy to aquire. There are a lot more of the around (most popluar 30 footer made). There is a good reason behind ths. I have had mine for two years and I love the boat. It has seen some nasty weather and gone through it just fine. I would say that you should look at both boats, write a list of positives and negatives for both boats, and buy the boat that fits your wants the best
Thanks
So you are happy with your Catalina. What about the Catalina smile -- we are hearing so much about that. Is it fixable or does it matter. We looked at 2 boat in Michigan - one smile was smaller than the other. The Hughes, I believe is Canadian made so I am sure there aren't too many in the States. Just trying to find out more about them.
So you are happy with your Catalina. What about the Catalina smile -- we are hearing so much about that. Is it fixable or does it matter. We looked at 2 boat in Michigan - one smile was smaller than the other. The Hughes, I believe is Canadian made so I am sure there aren't too many in the States. Just trying to find out more about them.
We had a visit from a friend the other night and we were
talking about boat construction. Up until about 1960 most boats were built of wood to traditional shapes and amenities were added as they could be made to fit. The shapes were proven designs that sailed well and survived the sea well. From the early 1960's thru the mid 1970's the builders translated this to fiberglass. After that the builder started to build the amenities and fit the boats around the interior. I believe that a boater should buy the hull shape and style that will serve his needs and then find one that has the amenities that he would like to have.
talking about boat construction. Up until about 1960 most boats were built of wood to traditional shapes and amenities were added as they could be made to fit. The shapes were proven designs that sailed well and survived the sea well. From the early 1960's thru the mid 1970's the builders translated this to fiberglass. After that the builder started to build the amenities and fit the boats around the interior. I believe that a boater should buy the hull shape and style that will serve his needs and then find one that has the amenities that he would like to have.
Try The Yahoo Group
There is a Yahoo group for the Hughes 31.5. Group activity is up and down, but there are a group of owners there from whom you might get feedback. Worth a try. Some 31.5s were factory built, some were sold as DIY projects. Some are diesel, some are not. Generally, they are sturdily built.
There is a Yahoo group for the Hughes 31.5. Group activity is up and down, but there are a group of owners there from whom you might get feedback. Worth a try. Some 31.5s were factory built, some were sold as DIY projects. Some are diesel, some are not. Generally, they are sturdily built.
You should...
look at Pearsons too. I don't think I ever herd of Hughes... even in Yacht World. I will have to look them up. Good time to buy a boat... take your time and look at many.
look at Pearsons too. I don't think I ever herd of Hughes... even in Yacht World. I will have to look them up. Good time to buy a boat... take your time and look at many.
I had a Catalina 30
We lived aboard and coastal cruised it regularly. I loved my Catalina 30. We had the tall rig with the fin keel. It is a fun boat to sail, and that can not be said about a lot of other boats. In addition to what Bad Obsession said, the Catalina Owners website is very active and the factory is very helpful even with older boats. Mine was a 1984; I think that Catalina is the best built production boat. IMHO Tony B
We lived aboard and coastal cruised it regularly. I loved my Catalina 30. We had the tall rig with the fin keel. It is a fun boat to sail, and that can not be said about a lot of other boats. In addition to what Bad Obsession said, the Catalina Owners website is very active and the factory is very helpful even with older boats. Mine was a 1984; I think that Catalina is the best built production boat. IMHO Tony B
Hughes
Fatty Goodlander does a monthly column for Cruising World while he lives aboard sailing everywhere. He has a Hughes 38 and the fact he has done many offshore miles speaks for the boat. That makes me suspect that the Hughes line of boats are probably all pretty solid boats and are worth seriously looking into.
Fatty Goodlander does a monthly column for Cruising World while he lives aboard sailing everywhere. He has a Hughes 38 and the fact he has done many offshore miles speaks for the boat. That makes me suspect that the Hughes line of boats are probably all pretty solid boats and are worth seriously looking into.
Hughes Boats Were Well Built..
Hughes boat were very well built but current condition matters more than original build quality in many, many instances.. Hughes began life as a small Canadian organization started in the mid to late 60's. The original owner, Howard Hughes, not to be confused with the rich one sold Huges to U.S. Steel during the sailboat boom of the 70's the name was changed from Hughes to Hughes/Northstar. Many, if not all, of the Hughes/Northstar boats were designed by Sparkman and Stevens including the 31. They were well built boats for their day and have stood the test of time well. many have been used for extended cruising and the construction lends itself well to holding up under those conditions. Bulkheads are glassed/tabbed to the hull and are not free floating like they are on a Catalina. Overall they are decent boats with quality similar to that of early Tartans. Keep in mind that Hughes boats were mostly designed as racer/cruisers, for their day, and S&S designed them to IOR specs so they can be squirmy down wind. Though the skeg hung rudder helps alleviates this somewhat. US Steel later sold the company again and I don't know who built them after US Steel/ Hughes/Northstar but I think it may have been called Hughes Boat Company. One of the Hughes 38's, they built a couple of different models of the 38, actually shared the same S&S designed hull with the Hinckley Competition 38 and Hinckley actually had Hughes lay up some of their hulls due to the quality of work coming out of Hughes (after US Steel).. I don't know much about the Hughes 31 other than to say it was probably well put together and the teak interior joinery will be far better than that of a Catalina. They have a stern quarter berth instead of a double and a skeg hung rudder which is a nice feature. Most that I've seen have mid boom sheeting.. As for future re-sale the Catalina 30 may do better as it is the MOST POPULAR cruising boat ever built and one many people choose as their first "big boat". the Catalina also has a FAR better owners association as the Hughes owners assoc. is mostly no-existent. As Catalina's go the C-30 owners group is somewhat lacking when compared to the Catalina 34 & Catalina 36 groups (both of which are perhaps the best in the entire industry) but it's still better than most! All things being equal you MUST buy CONDITION first. Condition & maintenance is the single most important factor in boat buying and future re-sale, which WILL happen at some point. You'll have far more Catalina's to choose from, than Hughes, for condition, but if you buy a Catalina buy the cleanest & best maintained one you can possibly find. There are literally thousands of JUNK Catalina 30's out there clogging up the used boat market. Crappy ones are a dime a dozen and take FOREVER to sell DO NOT BUY A FIXER UPPER. Clean, well maintained boats in the top 10% of the market, condition wise, sell FAST so have your check book ready. DO NOT BUY A CLUNKER AND THINK YOU WILL SAVE MONEY FIXING IT UP! It won't happen... As always: 1) Please register and fill out a profile including sailing waters so we can answer your questions with better and more thorough information. 2) Include as much information in a questions as you can such as; ...A) How you will use the boat coastal or blue water cruising. ...B) Your experience. ...C) How many people you'll sail with. ...D) What is your budget. Hope this helps..!
Hughes boat were very well built but current condition matters more than original build quality in many, many instances.. Hughes began life as a small Canadian organization started in the mid to late 60's. The original owner, Howard Hughes, not to be confused with the rich one sold Huges to U.S. Steel during the sailboat boom of the 70's the name was changed from Hughes to Hughes/Northstar. Many, if not all, of the Hughes/Northstar boats were designed by Sparkman and Stevens including the 31. They were well built boats for their day and have stood the test of time well. many have been used for extended cruising and the construction lends itself well to holding up under those conditions. Bulkheads are glassed/tabbed to the hull and are not free floating like they are on a Catalina. Overall they are decent boats with quality similar to that of early Tartans. Keep in mind that Hughes boats were mostly designed as racer/cruisers, for their day, and S&S designed them to IOR specs so they can be squirmy down wind. Though the skeg hung rudder helps alleviates this somewhat. US Steel later sold the company again and I don't know who built them after US Steel/ Hughes/Northstar but I think it may have been called Hughes Boat Company. One of the Hughes 38's, they built a couple of different models of the 38, actually shared the same S&S designed hull with the Hinckley Competition 38 and Hinckley actually had Hughes lay up some of their hulls due to the quality of work coming out of Hughes (after US Steel).. I don't know much about the Hughes 31 other than to say it was probably well put together and the teak interior joinery will be far better than that of a Catalina. They have a stern quarter berth instead of a double and a skeg hung rudder which is a nice feature. Most that I've seen have mid boom sheeting.. As for future re-sale the Catalina 30 may do better as it is the MOST POPULAR cruising boat ever built and one many people choose as their first "big boat". the Catalina also has a FAR better owners association as the Hughes owners assoc. is mostly no-existent. As Catalina's go the C-30 owners group is somewhat lacking when compared to the Catalina 34 & Catalina 36 groups (both of which are perhaps the best in the entire industry) but it's still better than most! All things being equal you MUST buy CONDITION first. Condition & maintenance is the single most important factor in boat buying and future re-sale, which WILL happen at some point. You'll have far more Catalina's to choose from, than Hughes, for condition, but if you buy a Catalina buy the cleanest & best maintained one you can possibly find. There are literally thousands of JUNK Catalina 30's out there clogging up the used boat market. Crappy ones are a dime a dozen and take FOREVER to sell DO NOT BUY A FIXER UPPER. Clean, well maintained boats in the top 10% of the market, condition wise, sell FAST so have your check book ready. DO NOT BUY A CLUNKER AND THINK YOU WILL SAVE MONEY FIXING IT UP! It won't happen... As always: 1) Please register and fill out a profile including sailing waters so we can answer your questions with better and more thorough information. 2) Include as much information in a questions as you can such as; ...A) How you will use the boat coastal or blue water cruising. ...B) Your experience. ...C) How many people you'll sail with. ...D) What is your budget. Hope this helps..!
Catalina Smile
I can't speak for the Hughes, but, as far as the Catalina smile, this is really a cosmetic issue involving the keel joint. I know Cat 30 owners who just leave it there season after season, and I know some that try fairing it out, either way, it does not comprimise the structural integrity of the boat. I do agree with the others though, the Catalina 30 was and still is hugely popular, but for that age of a boat, you need to be careful and get a survey done. Good luck, and fair winds...
I can't speak for the Hughes, but, as far as the Catalina smile, this is really a cosmetic issue involving the keel joint. I know Cat 30 owners who just leave it there season after season, and I know some that try fairing it out, either way, it does not comprimise the structural integrity of the boat. I do agree with the others though, the Catalina 30 was and still is hugely popular, but for that age of a boat, you need to be careful and get a survey done. Good luck, and fair winds...
blisters
Our first boat was a 1982 Catalina 30. We really enjoyed it, but there is one thing to keep in consideration: Catalinas built in the 1980s are prone to having osmotic blisters. Ours had a lot of them. The boat was relatively inexpensive, and it was also very easy to sell so I have no regrets, but it is just one thing to be aware of. (I think in the early '90s Catalina changed something in their formula or methods and later model Catalinas are not as prone to blistering.)
Our first boat was a 1982 Catalina 30. We really enjoyed it, but there is one thing to keep in consideration: Catalinas built in the 1980s are prone to having osmotic blisters. Ours had a lot of them. The boat was relatively inexpensive, and it was also very easy to sell so I have no regrets, but it is just one thing to be aware of. (I think in the early '90s Catalina changed something in their formula or methods and later model Catalinas are not as prone to blistering.)
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