Hello all, I am new to the site, so forgive me if this is a dead horse topic. I am a fairly inexperienced sailor (hobies, smaller cals, etc) avid water person, grew up on my dad's powerboat, surfer, knowledgeable about water conditions etc. I am purchasing my first boat, not looking for the perfect boat, but something to start with and learn on for a few years in the Bay and out the Gate a little before buying a bigger boat to head down the coast. My parameters: would like to stay under 75k, will be staying on it a few nights a week dockside with my 6year old and girlfriend (so I would prefer a newer boat with private aft cabin, not quarter berth), easy to single or double hand, and good in high winds 20-30knots. Some things I have been told already are that a lower displacement/ballast ratio will help here, smaller catalinas tend to round up, and beneteaus are good for SF Bay conditions. So, basically I need a roomier boat, but one that sails fairly well. And I probably would be wise to stay at 32' until I am more experienced. Thanks for your help! Bob
good sf bay sailboat
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Buy a Catalina 34
I like mine
and it answers your need for a private aft cabin with the world's largest V berth to boot. Plus you wouldn't have to buy another boat, ever. Smaller Catalinas tend to round is nonsense, they're simply over canvassed. And, BTW, rounding up is good, beats going over. Suggest you see the recent post from NoBoatYet - lots of good advice there. http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?&fno=21&uid=73200280089&sku=2006271145054.44 Stu
I like mine
and it answers your need for a private aft cabin with the world's largest V berth to boot. Plus you wouldn't have to buy another boat, ever. Smaller Catalinas tend to round is nonsense, they're simply over canvassed. And, BTW, rounding up is good, beats going over. Suggest you see the recent post from NoBoatYet - lots of good advice there. http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?&fno=21&uid=73200280089&sku=2006271145054.44 Stuthanks stu
Good point about going over. Have you taken yours coastal or ocean cruising for any extended period? I looked at a 34' Cat, it was on the market for two days!
Good point about going over. Have you taken yours coastal or ocean cruising for any extended period? I looked at a 34' Cat, it was on the market for two days!
Yes, we've had Aquavite out in the ocean to the
Lightbucket and Drake's Bay. Evidently, we've returned safely. Heck, we had our C25 to Monterey and back, and Half Moon bay's a great trip. I go out beyond Pt. Bonita regularly. Many of our members have been down the coast to So Cal and back. Great boats, hard to find, but within your price range, why buy twice? Try the ads in latitude and check Farallone Yachts ads, they usually have one or two used C34s.
Lightbucket and Drake's Bay. Evidently, we've returned safely. Heck, we had our C25 to Monterey and back, and Half Moon bay's a great trip. I go out beyond Pt. Bonita regularly. Many of our members have been down the coast to So Cal and back. Great boats, hard to find, but within your price range, why buy twice? Try the ads in latitude and check Farallone Yachts ads, they usually have one or two used C34s.
Funny how Stu thought the C34 was a boat
you should look at Take a look at the Catalina 36 too. It might be a bit bigger than you were looking for but it is very similar in sailing characteristics to the C34 - just a different interior and unless you are looking at a recent years they can be had for under $75k. Even better is that they are very popular and if you take good care of her you'll be able to sell her for pretty much you bought her for. Its a great boat for staying on and the salon is considered one of the best for the size. Walk onto a C36 and you'll know what I mean. It has a aft cabin with door and forward cabin and a huge salon table that could be dropped and it becomes a huge lounge area The C36 Sa/Disp is one of the lower numbers you will find in this class boat (its probably about 16 for a standard rig which is ideal for the SF bay) . I will tell you I have the Standard Rig with the Wing keel (Sa/Disp ~ 15.6??) with a 135 genny and it easily handles 20-30 kts and doesn't round up. In fact its well know for its balanced helm. I single hand the C36 in with an Autohelm all the time, in all sorts of condirions. If there is one place I think the C36 (C34) is lacking its in light winds -- its really not a boat that moves really well under 6-8 kts unless you have an Asym spinnaker (Then again if I got rid of all the "stuff" (crap ) I have lying around on the boat then I might do better. LOL
you should look at
Take a look at the Catalina 36 too. It might be a bit bigger than you were looking for but it is very similar in sailing characteristics to the C34 - just a different interior and unless you are looking at a recent years they can be had for under $75k. Even better is that they are very popular and if you take good care of her you'll be able to sell her for pretty much you bought her for. Its a great boat for staying on and the salon is considered one of the best for the size. Walk onto a C36 and you'll know what I mean. It has a aft cabin with door and forward cabin and a huge salon table that could be dropped and it becomes a huge lounge area The C36 Sa/Disp is one of the lower numbers you will find in this class boat (its probably about 16 for a standard rig which is ideal for the SF bay) . I will tell you I have the Standard Rig with the Wing keel (Sa/Disp ~ 15.6??) with a 135 genny and it easily handles 20-30 kts and doesn't round up. In fact its well know for its balanced helm. I single hand the C36 in with an Autohelm all the time, in all sorts of condirions. If there is one place I think the C36 (C34) is lacking its in light winds -- its really not a boat that moves really well under 6-8 kts unless you have an Asym spinnaker (Then again if I got rid of all the "stuff" (crap ) I have lying around on the boat then I might do better. LOLIsn't the C36 a ship?
We have looked at the C36. I really like the post '95 cabin and it would be great for the amount of overnights we would be spending on it, both dockside and anchored. Okay, now don't start shooting at me, but how do you think it compares to Beneteaus?
We have looked at the C36. I really like the post '95 cabin and it would be great for the amount of overnights we would be spending on it, both dockside and anchored. Okay, now don't start shooting at me, but how do you think it compares to Beneteaus?
Hmmm, I agree with Tom S, the 34 and 36
are great. As for the B's, if you are going to do any maintenance on the boat (any), before you even think of doing anything else, do two things: 1. See how you get to the engine oil dipstick. Compare that to a C34 or C36 (Tom and I are friends from way back! We both have the same crap onboard... but I'm happy with our light air performance -- you're talkin' to a guy who thinks a 110 jib is a BIG jib...) 2. Try to trace a wire or a pipe. On the Bs they always seem to go behind something that you have to remove first. Compare. Bs sail very nicely and are great fun boats, we've bare boated with them many times. Even if you don't care much about #2, consider #1 VERY important. Stu PS Hi, Tom!
are great. As for the B's, if you are going to do any maintenance on the boat (any), before you even think of doing anything else, do two things: 1. See how you get to the engine oil dipstick. Compare that to a C34 or C36 (Tom and I are friends from way back! We both have the same crap onboard... but I'm happy with our light air performance -- you're talkin' to a guy who thinks a 110 jib is a BIG jib...) 2. Try to trace a wire or a pipe. On the Bs they always seem to go behind something that you have to remove first. Compare. Bs sail very nicely and are great fun boats, we've bare boated with them many times. Even if you don't care much about #2, consider #1 VERY important. Stu PS Hi, Tom!
C36
WOW ! Tom to here people say the C36 does not like light air is strange. I have the tall rig with a fin keel, and there is just not much of anything short of ULDB's that can keep up in air under 10 knots. I'm not saying our competition is world class, but they are'nt bad. We sail in SE Florida with predominatly light air and 95% of the time we are carrying the light 155. The C36 is a great cruiser for 2 to 4 people and can be raced like mad with 5 or 6. Carl
WOW ! Tom to here people say the C36 does not like light air is strange. I have the tall rig with a fin keel, and there is just not much of anything short of ULDB's that can keep up in air under 10 knots. I'm not saying our competition is world class, but they are'nt bad. We sail in SE Florida with predominatly light air and 95% of the time we are carrying the light 155. The C36 is a great cruiser for 2 to 4 people and can be raced like mad with 5 or 6. Carl
Range Rover of sailboats?
Benes do look nice and I have heard they sail well, but I am worried about repair and upkeep. I am a tinkerer, and like to do it myself if I can. I have always owned american cars for that reason, I fix them myself. I had a triumph once, it was fun, except when I had to turn around and pick up things that fell off it while I was driving. If you made too hard of a left turn, the gas poured out the side intake carb and the car stalled. I have been working with Roger at Farallone yachts, seems like a really nice honest guy who belives in what he sells and is not pushy at all.
Benes do look nice and I have heard they sail well, but I am worried about repair and upkeep. I am a tinkerer, and like to do it myself if I can. I have always owned american cars for that reason, I fix them myself. I had a triumph once, it was fun, except when I had to turn around and pick up things that fell off it while I was driving. If you made too hard of a left turn, the gas poured out the side intake carb and the car stalled. I have been working with Roger at Farallone yachts, seems like a really nice honest guy who belives in what he sells and is not pushy at all.
Beneteaus
The Beneteaus are not any more difficult to work on than any other boat, until you want to replace the toerail. This comes from experiance. Carl
The Beneteaus are not any more difficult to work on than any other boat, until you want to replace the toerail. This comes from experiance. Carl
toerail....
What did your experience with the toerail consist of, Carl? Have you worked on the engine or added electronics by yourself? Which model do you own? Thanks for your input, everyone, it all helps!
What did your experience with the toerail consist of, Carl? Have you worked on the engine or added electronics by yourself? Which model do you own? Thanks for your input, everyone, it all helps!
Beneteaus
I don't own a one, I just work on them. The toe rail is held in place by aluminium rivits that need to be drilled out when replacing. Which in itself is not a poblem. The problem occurs when trying to install the replacement screws, you need to put a wrench on them. All this of course was done at the factory before there was any cabinets in the boat. Needless to say, some areas are more difficult than others to tighten a nut. But you know what they say, sailing is a compromise. Carl
I don't own a one, I just work on them. The toe rail is held in place by aluminium rivits that need to be drilled out when replacing. Which in itself is not a poblem. The problem occurs when trying to install the replacement screws, you need to put a wrench on them. All this of course was done at the factory before there was any cabinets in the boat. Needless to say, some areas are more difficult than others to tighten a nut. But you know what they say, sailing is a compromise. Carl
Lots of choices
Lots of good suggestions so far. When we started looking six years ago for almost exactly the same type boat you are search for, we focused on Catalinas. Originally we looked at 30s, and then after a nice charter, we made an offer on a 34 we found in San Diego. Our offer was refused, which turne out to be lucky for us. We ended up with a 37 cutter, a Hunter, which I would not have considered (too big!) until I sailed it and found it easy to handle, safe, and roomy. We have never regretted it, and it is well within your price range. Check the Cherubini Forum on this site and see what owners have to say about the older 34s and the 37 cutters. And I still like the Catalina 34s and 36s, and Roger knows those boats very well. Or, take a lesson at a local sailing club that offers different boats (Tradewinds is one example) and actually try out the boats before you invest. Good luck with your search. Sanders s/v Good News
Lots of good suggestions so far. When we started looking six years ago for almost exactly the same type boat you are search for, we focused on Catalinas. Originally we looked at 30s, and then after a nice charter, we made an offer on a 34 we found in San Diego. Our offer was refused, which turne out to be lucky for us. We ended up with a 37 cutter, a Hunter, which I would not have considered (too big!) until I sailed it and found it easy to handle, safe, and roomy. We have never regretted it, and it is well within your price range. Check the Cherubini Forum on this site and see what owners have to say about the older 34s and the 37 cutters. And I still like the Catalina 34s and 36s, and Roger knows those boats very well. Or, take a lesson at a local sailing club that offers different boats (Tradewinds is one example) and actually try out the boats before you invest. Good luck with your search. Sanders s/v Good News
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