Just getting into sailing and am looking for the right boat. I'm 6'2" so headroom is an issue. Other than that, just want something about 30 feet, probably from the 70s or 80s, that I can buy and polish up a little for around $20k. It'll be a live aboard for me. And I'm thinking fiberglass. What would you suggest?
Choosing between 30 footers
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Hunter 31
Also being 6'-2" head room was the main criteria when I purchase my Hunter 31 (1985). Good roomy boat. Sails great, many available in your price range.
Also being 6'-2" head room was the main criteria when I purchase my Hunter 31 (1985). Good roomy boat. Sails great, many available in your price range.
choosing 30 footers
I had a 1984, 30' Catalina for 6 years and it is a good boat BUT due to minimal storage, especially hanging lockers, it is NOT a good choice for a live-aboard. I have a sailing buddy who has a 28' Columbia which has twice the storage that my Catalina did. Your choice. Novelman
I had a 1984, 30' Catalina for 6 years and it is a good boat BUT due to minimal storage, especially hanging lockers, it is NOT a good choice for a live-aboard. I have a sailing buddy who has a 28' Columbia which has twice the storage that my Catalina did. Your choice. Novelman
Hunter 31
I am also just getting into sailing, am also 6'-2" and just recently bought a 1983 Hunter 31 in the low to mid 20's range. It needs a little TLC and some electronics. Lots of room. Greg W.
I am also just getting into sailing, am also 6'-2" and just recently bought a 1983 Hunter 31 in the low to mid 20's range. It needs a little TLC and some electronics. Lots of room. Greg W.
Make Larry Pardey an offer
TALEISIN Designed for Lin and Larry by Lyle C Hess in 1977. Development of Seraffyn. Launched 10/ 31/1983. Length on deck 29' 6", waterline 27' 6", beam 10' 9", draft 5' 3", displacement for cruising 17,800. Racing displacement 16,400. Sail area - 740 square feet. Construction - Built by Lin and Larry, teak carvel planking over sawn black locust frames, bronze floors, bronze hanging knees. Solid teak decks, material cost $US 38,000 complete.
TALEISIN Designed for Lin and Larry by Lyle C Hess in 1977. Development of Seraffyn. Launched 10/ 31/1983. Length on deck 29' 6", waterline 27' 6", beam 10' 9", draft 5' 3", displacement for cruising 17,800. Racing displacement 16,400. Sail area - 740 square feet. Construction - Built by Lin and Larry, teak carvel planking over sawn black locust frames, bronze floors, bronze hanging knees. Solid teak decks, material cost $US 38,000 complete.
Depends
The Newport 30 is a good boat, but needs a lot of wind to make her go. If you are living alone, there are boats in your range that would work. I had an Irwin 32 that I found very comfortable for 1, athough I only lived aboard for 5 weeks straight - though I did spend 3-4 days a week every summer living aboard. Headroom was 6'3". The Endeavor 32 is the same boat, but Endeavor quality was better. Story is that Endeavor won the mold off Ted Irwin in a poker game. These boats are available in the low 20s.
The Newport 30 is a good boat, but needs a lot of wind to make her go. If you are living alone, there are boats in your range that would work. I had an Irwin 32 that I found very comfortable for 1, athough I only lived aboard for 5 weeks straight - though I did spend 3-4 days a week every summer living aboard. Headroom was 6'3". The Endeavor 32 is the same boat, but Endeavor quality was better. Story is that Endeavor won the mold off Ted Irwin in a poker game. These boats are available in the low 20s.
Newbie, My approach to buying anything
is always to define my needs and desires and then go looking for what fits. There are an awful lot of thirty foot boats out there and every builder had the best idea of what a boat should have and how it should look.
is always to define my needs and desires and then go looking for what fits. There are an awful lot of thirty foot boats out there and every builder had the best idea of what a boat should have and how it should look.
Just one, Al.
At this point it's just me. Although something comfortable for two is probably a better plan.
At this point it's just me. Although something comfortable for two is probably a better plan.
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK
I had a 30foot Catalina 1986, am 6 foot and although a great boat it would get small if you had to live on. Head room was just over 6 foot maybe 6'2" max in the center of the cabin. It's hard to find more room in another boat for the money but keep an open mind. If you are handy you might find an older, bigger boat that has more room. You can always add more money over the next few years to get it really nice. Bellingham sounds like a great area to have a boat. I used to ski on Mt. Baker when I was stationed on Whidby Is. in the Navy in late 70's. Good luck.
I had a 30foot Catalina 1986, am 6 foot and although a great boat it would get small if you had to live on. Head room was just over 6 foot maybe 6'2" max in the center of the cabin. It's hard to find more room in another boat for the money but keep an open mind. If you are handy you might find an older, bigger boat that has more room. You can always add more money over the next few years to get it really nice. Bellingham sounds like a great area to have a boat. I used to ski on Mt. Baker when I was stationed on Whidby Is. in the Navy in late 70's. Good luck.
Catalina 30
I think that the Catalina 30 is a great boat for the money. We lived on ours for almost 5 years.
I think that the Catalina 30 is a great boat for the money. We lived on ours for almost 5 years.
add a few bucks ................
And go with an 89' or newer Hunter 30'. Huge aft cabin and a walk thru transom with a swim step. I was in the process of making an offer on a cat 30 until I spent a little time on my 1989 H30G. Im my humble opinion the best lay out for a 30' boat ever. Tim
And go with an 89' or newer Hunter 30'. Huge aft cabin and a walk thru transom with a swim step. I was in the process of making an offer on a cat 30 until I spent a little time on my 1989 H30G. Im my humble opinion the best lay out for a 30' boat ever. Tim
198X Hunter 31 Great Boat Meets Your Requirements
The 1983-1987 Hunter 31 meets all your requirements and is a great boat. Make sure you look at one of those.
The 1983-1987 Hunter 31 meets all your requirements and is a great boat. Make sure you look at one of those.
In the 30 ft production class the Catalina is
a proven design very suitable for living aboard. On all the other sizes I would prefer the Hunters.
a proven design very suitable for living aboard. On all the other sizes I would prefer the Hunters.
30 footer
a lot more research on the cost of owning a 30 foot boat and the reality of trying to live on one, is what i suggest. 20 k indeed.
a lot more research on the cost of owning a 30 foot boat and the reality of trying to live on one, is what i suggest. 20 k indeed.
pearson 303
80's pearson 303 is very well built boat. Plenty of head room and roomy overall. Good stable cruising boat, but not for racing (doesn't point well).
80's pearson 303 is very well built boat. Plenty of head room and roomy overall. Good stable cruising boat, but not for racing (doesn't point well).
Cruising or Live Aboard??
If your goal is cruising get the best sailing boat and don't worry so much about headroom. If your goal is something tied to a dock and used like a trailer youmight want to look at stinkpots maybe even a houseboat. A lot more room for the dollar. Having sailed a hunter 30 and a catalina 30 I like the 30 better. Neither are really suitable for more than coastal sailing. The hunter was more comfortable and the catalina sailed better IMHO. I have a Pearson 323 which has about the same room as a Catalina 30 but the 323 is probably more seaworthy. I really like the Catalina 30 for the easy access to the engine. The Pearson's engine access really sucks. As always very carefully consider what you plan to do with the boat. For living aboard a trawler or houseboat is hard to beat. No halyards slapping no worry about getting under most bridges. A sailboat has all of the problems of a stinkpot PLUS dealing with sails /mast etc. The only advantage of a sailboat is that you can sail to get places and if you love sailing(as I do). But if I didn't love sailing and wanted to live aboard I'd buy a smaller trawler. That opens up a lot of rivers and lakes that aren't accessable to sailboats. Plus when you go to anchor you don't have to worry about several tons of lead sticking 4-6' into the water.
If your goal is cruising get the best sailing boat and don't worry so much about headroom. If your goal is something tied to a dock and used like a trailer youmight want to look at stinkpots maybe even a houseboat. A lot more room for the dollar. Having sailed a hunter 30 and a catalina 30 I like the 30 better. Neither are really suitable for more than coastal sailing. The hunter was more comfortable and the catalina sailed better IMHO. I have a Pearson 323 which has about the same room as a Catalina 30 but the 323 is probably more seaworthy. I really like the Catalina 30 for the easy access to the engine. The Pearson's engine access really sucks. As always very carefully consider what you plan to do with the boat. For living aboard a trawler or houseboat is hard to beat. No halyards slapping no worry about getting under most bridges. A sailboat has all of the problems of a stinkpot PLUS dealing with sails /mast etc. The only advantage of a sailboat is that you can sail to get places and if you love sailing(as I do). But if I didn't love sailing and wanted to live aboard I'd buy a smaller trawler. That opens up a lot of rivers and lakes that aren't accessable to sailboats. Plus when you go to anchor you don't have to worry about several tons of lead sticking 4-6' into the water.
Depends on where
Newbie- Not to dispute earlier posts , the first thing you want to take into account is how you plan to use the boat, and where. Climate, weather, water depths and sea conditions in whatever area you hope to sail in and should be given some consideration before you go shopping. Also your intentions: are you aiming for leisurely cruising for extended periods, or mostly day-sailing with the occasional week-end on board, some racing or maybe, ultimately, a boat you can circumnavigate in ? The design of any boat involves a number of compromises: some designs are sharply focused in one direction, and thus sacrifice in other areas- for example a design that's biased toward the racer/cruiser may be faster and able to sail closer to the wind than a somewhat tubbier, heavier boat that is biased toward cruising, but the cruiser will have more room & storeage space belowdecks, larger tanks for fuel & water,etc etc. Many of the boats mentioned are production boats that try to offer as much of everything as they can, within their targeted price range, to have a broader appeal & usefulness (and greater sales volume too): as a rule, the designers/builders have done a great job and the results are very impressive. You might find it worthwhile to do a little reading first: one book I can recommend is "Your First Sailboat" by Daniel Spurr (International Marine-2004) You mentioned plans to live aboard, so the design that is biased toward cruising is probably better suited to your needs. It'll be a bit slower(usually) but more roomy & comfortable. Be prepared for an attack of "two-footitis" : it's a very common condition, especially with first-time buyers. The symptoms? You buy a boat, live with it for a while, then regret that you didn't buy one that's two feet longer.
Newbie- Not to dispute earlier posts , the first thing you want to take into account is how you plan to use the boat, and where. Climate, weather, water depths and sea conditions in whatever area you hope to sail in and should be given some consideration before you go shopping. Also your intentions: are you aiming for leisurely cruising for extended periods, or mostly day-sailing with the occasional week-end on board, some racing or maybe, ultimately, a boat you can circumnavigate in ? The design of any boat involves a number of compromises: some designs are sharply focused in one direction, and thus sacrifice in other areas- for example a design that's biased toward the racer/cruiser may be faster and able to sail closer to the wind than a somewhat tubbier, heavier boat that is biased toward cruising, but the cruiser will have more room & storeage space belowdecks, larger tanks for fuel & water,etc etc. Many of the boats mentioned are production boats that try to offer as much of everything as they can, within their targeted price range, to have a broader appeal & usefulness (and greater sales volume too): as a rule, the designers/builders have done a great job and the results are very impressive. You might find it worthwhile to do a little reading first: one book I can recommend is "Your First Sailboat" by Daniel Spurr (International Marine-2004) You mentioned plans to live aboard, so the design that is biased toward cruising is probably better suited to your needs. It'll be a bit slower(usually) but more roomy & comfortable. Be prepared for an attack of "two-footitis" : it's a very common condition, especially with first-time buyers. The symptoms? You buy a boat, live with it for a while, then regret that you didn't buy one that's two feet longer.
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