Need Help- Criteria: ex power boater with some sailing experience-coastal cruiser for long weekends and some multple week sailing-want to be able to singlehand yet will usually be crewed by two-accomidations for six-seaworthy-budget 50k or less- Of the three brands which way would you go and what models? Thanks for your time in advance!
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You Gotta be Kidding...
...asking this question on this forum. My guess is that you will recieve an incredible number of replies, with lots of personal feelings (all well intentioned) thrown in. These kinds of questions have been asked and answered before. I always feel like they're the "What's the best wife for me?" kind of questions. Simplest answer: buy the one you like the best, is most pleasing to your eye, and you can afford. Alsom, there's lots of technical information on the web of the different manufacturers, and you'll have to do your own homwork and research on the technical issues that each different model (size) and manufacturer has experienced. Good luck, Stu
...asking this question on this forum. My guess is that you will recieve an incredible number of replies, with lots of personal feelings (all well intentioned) thrown in. These kinds of questions have been asked and answered before. I always feel like they're the "What's the best wife for me?" kind of questions. Simplest answer: buy the one you like the best, is most pleasing to your eye, and you can afford. Alsom, there's lots of technical information on the web of the different manufacturers, and you'll have to do your own homwork and research on the technical issues that each different model (size) and manufacturer has experienced. Good luck, Stu
Yachtworld
Go to www.yachtworld.com and then "Boats for Sale" and "Advanced Search". Enter the criteria you want; length, age, price, and location and see what returns. You will have to look at the contenders yourself and end up evaluating what each boat has to offer and how closely any of them meet your criteria. You also need to consider where you'll be sailing and what the prevailing conditions are. Whatever you think you like, be sure to have it professionally surveyed before you commit. Fair winds, Steve S/V Options H380
Go to www.yachtworld.com and then "Boats for Sale" and "Advanced Search". Enter the criteria you want; length, age, price, and location and see what returns. You will have to look at the contenders yourself and end up evaluating what each boat has to offer and how closely any of them meet your criteria. You also need to consider where you'll be sailing and what the prevailing conditions are. Whatever you think you like, be sure to have it professionally surveyed before you commit. Fair winds, Steve S/V Options H380
This should be interesting!
While harsh in tone, Stu is right. I write to the process not the decision. Make your search/selection your hobby for this season. I was boatless for the last 20 years. Went out on a few day charter last summer with the wife and then went out again a few weeks later with the whole family. Got the "bug" again and spent all Fall and into Winter reading about and looking at boats. My wife and I always went together when we vistied any broker and I think if I hadn't listened to my wife, we would have ended up with the boat I "wanted" rather than the "best" boat for us. We made lists of features we thought would be of value, only to get frustrated when we realized that everything is a compromise. Then we concentrated on "us" and why we wanted a boat and what we were going to do with it. We kept at the search and after starting out running around in big circles mentally, we ended up circling around one boat. So, what boat did we get? It doesn't matter. The best feature of our boat? It has the ability to provide the perfect opportunity for the two of us to waste time together , while we try to figure out the solution for all the world's problems, starting with our two teenage children. PS, OK, Stu said it better.
While harsh in tone, Stu is right. I write to the process not the decision. Make your search/selection your hobby for this season. I was boatless for the last 20 years. Went out on a few day charter last summer with the wife and then went out again a few weeks later with the whole family. Got the "bug" again and spent all Fall and into Winter reading about and looking at boats. My wife and I always went together when we vistied any broker and I think if I hadn't listened to my wife, we would have ended up with the boat I "wanted" rather than the "best" boat for us. We made lists of features we thought would be of value, only to get frustrated when we realized that everything is a compromise. Then we concentrated on "us" and why we wanted a boat and what we were going to do with it. We kept at the search and after starting out running around in big circles mentally, we ended up circling around one boat. So, what boat did we get? It doesn't matter. The best feature of our boat? It has the ability to provide the perfect opportunity for the two of us to waste time together , while we try to figure out the solution for all the world's problems, starting with our two teenage children. PS, OK, Stu said it better.
The one that fits you.
All production boats have compromises. They all are worthy boats or they wouldn't still be in business. Each company builds around differant criteria. You need to look at them all and figure out which one fits you with the least number of compromises. I know I do not care for one of the companys design, but that is me. The more boats you look at and ask questions about, the happier you will be when you purchase. Good luck r.w.landau
All production boats have compromises. They all are worthy boats or they wouldn't still be in business. Each company builds around differant criteria. You need to look at them all and figure out which one fits you with the least number of compromises. I know I do not care for one of the companys design, but that is me. The more boats you look at and ask questions about, the happier you will be when you purchase. Good luck r.w.landau
Snag a ride
Leave a note on particular boats, asking for a ride. You'll be pleasantly surprised at who's willing to take you out. Take along a clipboard and quiz them on pros and cons. The devil (and angel) is in the details, and experienced owners are happy to share both. If nothing else, you'll get to see how they really sail.
Leave a note on particular boats, asking for a ride. You'll be pleasantly surprised at who's willing to take you out. Take along a clipboard and quiz them on pros and cons. The devil (and angel) is in the details, and experienced owners are happy to share both. If nothing else, you'll get to see how they really sail.
The fit you like - really
That's what all the others are saying. We chose a Hunter 27 over a Catalina 30 for a shallower keel, and a feeling about the looks and the interior - we just felt good about it. In all the time I've spent on these forums, I've never heard anything about these three models that would rule one out. They are all good boats - just check them out until your find the one you like at your price. Since your price will put you into the older boats (no problem, ours is a '77) _do_ plan a good survey as part of the deal. Good luck - you are on a great road! David Lady Lillie
That's what all the others are saying. We chose a Hunter 27 over a Catalina 30 for a shallower keel, and a feeling about the looks and the interior - we just felt good about it. In all the time I've spent on these forums, I've never heard anything about these three models that would rule one out. They are all good boats - just check them out until your find the one you like at your price. Since your price will put you into the older boats (no problem, ours is a '77) _do_ plan a good survey as part of the deal. Good luck - you are on a great road! David Lady Lillie
ford, chevy, dodge
Hunter, Beneteau & Catalina are the Ford, Chevy and Dodge of the sailing industry. Lots of value for the money. None is 'better' than the others. As other have suggested, find the one that best fits your family's needs now and in the forseeable future. In some ways the shopping is the most fun.
Hunter, Beneteau & Catalina are the Ford, Chevy and Dodge of the sailing industry. Lots of value for the money. None is 'better' than the others. As other have suggested, find the one that best fits your family's needs now and in the forseeable future. In some ways the shopping is the most fun.
Include your First Mate!!
What boat manufacturer you decide on is not any more important than that you include your first mate in your decision! My wife went with me for over a year as we looked at what must have been a hundred boats. I fell in love with each one of them! She being female and more pragmatic was able to be more objective and now we have a boat that we both love and enjoy sharing with one another.
What boat manufacturer you decide on is not any more important than that you include your first mate in your decision! My wife went with me for over a year as we looked at what must have been a hundred boats. I fell in love with each one of them! She being female and more pragmatic was able to be more objective and now we have a boat that we both love and enjoy sharing with one another.
No not a Hunter
We ended up purhasing a 1981 Watkins MKII. It fit our needs perfectly and was a good compromise between what I thought was a perfect boat and my first mate's ideas of the perfect boat.
We ended up purhasing a 1981 Watkins MKII. It fit our needs perfectly and was a good compromise between what I thought was a perfect boat and my first mate's ideas of the perfect boat.
Opening a can of worms...
I am the proud owner of a Hunter 29.5. It is a great sailing boat, however, it does have one major difference from Catalina's and Beneteau's. Hunter's today are fractional b&r rigs. I am still in the process of "adjusting" to the fractional rig (ie Big Mainsail, small jib). In 15 knots of wind, you must put one reef in the main, or you get lots of weather helm....in 20 knots, two reefs. This can be a bit of a pain if you are sailing singlehanded, or with an inexperienced crew. There are certainly a few things that I like about the b&r rig (no backstay etc), but, I'm still trying to decide if I will go this way in the future.
I am the proud owner of a Hunter 29.5. It is a great sailing boat, however, it does have one major difference from Catalina's and Beneteau's. Hunter's today are fractional b&r rigs. I am still in the process of "adjusting" to the fractional rig (ie Big Mainsail, small jib). In 15 knots of wind, you must put one reef in the main, or you get lots of weather helm....in 20 knots, two reefs. This can be a bit of a pain if you are sailing singlehanded, or with an inexperienced crew. There are certainly a few things that I like about the b&r rig (no backstay etc), but, I'm still trying to decide if I will go this way in the future.
Practical Sailor did an evaluation on all 3
around the 32 foot size. They were all pretty equal, but overall they like the Catalina the best. You should connect them and get a copy and decide for yourself.
around the 32 foot size. They were all pretty equal, but overall they like the Catalina the best. You should connect them and get a copy and decide for yourself.
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