Help on value of 1988 Catalina 30TR

JohnVTX · Mar 9, 2016

These boats can range from $15k to $35k. The shape of the sails depends on their use and storage care, not necessarily age. Mine are 15 years old, but well cared for and almost never used the past 6 years before I bought boat. You make no mention of hardware, standing and running rigging, which can be as much of more than new sails depending on what kind of shape they all are in and whether the running rigging terminates where you want it to. Batteries, their charging need to be thought of as well. Last time seals and stuffing box cared for? Not expensive, but need to know.

Heat and A/C are an expensive option, and of great use in Texas.

JohnVTX · Mar 10, 2016

Standing rigging and running rigging can be bought at a multitude of locations. Here on this forum is one place.
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/cat.php?54977/Rigging

Catalina has ready made standing kits, as well as do it yourself stuff.
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/category/404/shrouds.cfm

General rule of thumb among purists and for safety 8 to 15 years on standing rigging. However allot has to do with where and how a boat is used. Oceans and salt water are much harder on boats period. Mine has been all lake and I do not know the age of my rigging. But I watch it carefully. Any fraying is immediate need to replaced period. I mark the ends for pulling out from turnbuckles and go up the mast occasionally. One big no no is the use of non-stainless parts. When I purchased my boat, all the cotter pins were standard Home depot issue and crumbled upon removing to adjust the mast. Never went out until all replaced.

Skipper · Mar 10, 2016

Standing rigging is not a deal killer on a nice boat. Replacing is not a big deal. Maybe $1,500 - $1,800 on a boat as this. Would you pay $1,500 more for it if it had brand new stainless rigging?
I replaced mine last year. The rigging was original - 31 years old. Looked fabulous. Only some minor rust in the swages. But the boat had been on the upper Chesapeake the whole time, where there's not a huge amount of salt. I only recently moved her to SoCal. You're on a lake I'm guessing, so rigging should last longer than on ocean boats.
BTW the tall rig on the Cat 30 moved the headsail forward, which actually balanced the boat better. This in addition to the added sail area, plus sail aloft which increased initial heel in light wind. Good sailing boat.

And especially when combined with the fin keel. This is the setup that you want on a cat 30 for best performance.

JohnVTX · Mar 10, 2016

Skipper said:
Standing rigging is not a deal killer on a nice boat. Replacing is not a big deal. Maybe $1,500 - $1,800 on a boat as this. Would you pay $1,500 more for it if it had brand new stainless rigging?
I replaced mine last year. The rigging was original - 31 years old. Looked fabulous. Only some minor rust in the swages. But the boat had been on the upper Chesapeake the whole time, where there's not a huge amount of salt. I only recently moved her to SoCal. You're on a lake I'm guessing, so rigging should last longer than on ocean boats.
BTW the tall rig on the Cat 30 moved the headsail forward, which actually balanced the boat better. This in addition to the added sail area, plus sail aloft which increased initial heel in light wind. Good sailing boat.

And especially when combined with the fin keel. This is the setup that you want on a cat 30 for best performance.

Agreed, definitely not a deal killer

jeepbluetj · Mar 10, 2016

Not a deal killer, but you should mention it for price negotiations. I.e. it does drive the value of the boat down a bit. Same with running rigging. (And of course, same with sails.)

My boat had all new standing rigging when I bought it. Some $1300 worth of Garhaurerstuff later, I've now got a working mainsheet, a vang, and a working traveler. The stock C-30 traveler is somewhere between junk and useless (IMHO, and I think the '88 still had the curved one). The Garhaurer replacement is great.

Damifudo · Mar 11, 2016

FYI I bought a 1988 TR in October for 25K it was in good shape with AC and Ok sails. It still had some issues like motor mounts that was bad and and older battery charger. I have dumped in about 5K in upgrades but hey its a boat.

Alansails · Mar 26, 2016

I hope my reply is not too late to help, But here goes.....
#1. He knows you are a player because you are committed to driving that far to see it.
When we bought our boat we used a broker and a surveyor (They-if they are good, are worth their value in what you pay)
I would have my surveyor check the boat and he can advise on value-than renegotiate.
#2.Yes
#3. I would make an offer, put it in writing if they agree to it pending successful survey and sea trial.
You can Include anything in your offer, include extra sails, new VHF,launch,cover, extra boat parts new rigging, new electronics,.. It all a matter of what you both agree on,"pending successful survey and sea trial and after our survey ,we had things changed on the boat, that needed fixed, at the owners expense, prior to sale. Its all negotiable.
You can put $100 down on the boat with final payment on the agreed price at the completion when he signs the title over to you.
#4. I am sure there is somewhere.
#5. I will tell you our broker was a great guy, but he represents the seller, our surveyor was also great and he represents YOU!
Hope all goes well, keep us in the loop!
Best wishes!

mortyd · Mar 26, 2016

i have three ideas
get a surveyor.
get a surveyor
and, get a surveyor.

Alansails · Mar 26, 2016

EXACTLY

dj2210 · Mar 31, 2016

Jsl1- sent you a PM

BillyK · Apr 26, 2016

Don't just get a surveyor, get a GOOD one.. One with a reputation and samples of prior surveys.. I've been through 4-5 different ones through the years, and they all have different levels of ability. With my current boat, the surveyor totally missed a rotten mast block in the bilge even though i asked him to look at it specifically.

sail_MN · Apr 26, 2016

If it's only 2 hours away, I would go see it before doing anything. Many will probably agree that's not far away at all.

mortyd · Apr 27, 2016

i've been thinking about billy k's reply and can't figure out exactly you could find a 'good' surveyor but guess the best way to find what is wrong with a boat, beside a surveyor which you really need, is how much a rush the seller is in since he probably knows what's wrong better than anyone else. trading horses and sailboats....

shemandr · Apr 27, 2016

sail_MN said:
If it's only 2 hours away, I would go see it before doing anything. Many will probably agree that's not far away at all.

What he said.
Last weekend I took a ferry and drove an hour and them some to see a boat. There is nothing like an eyeballs on evaluation. I wanted to like the boat, but I didn't. In fact in five minutes I had ruled it out. But I still give it as through an evaluation as I could as a matter of practice. The online pics didn't accurately portray the condition of the interior. I choose to skip a surveyor and move on to the next boat - for now.

mortyd · Apr 28, 2016

unfortunately a big problem with buying a used catalina 30, which is an extremely popular boat, is that good ones don't last long on the market. there are lots of poeple out there, incuding brokers, who know a good boat when they see one. at my closing someone actually called my broker and overbid me by 3G but he was just too late. putting a deposit pending survey and sea trial should be ironclad in your favor. if you see a nice boat, don't hesitate.